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    When our mom was in a nursing home, I noticed another resident carrying a baby doll. I thought it was sweet; I imagine it reminded her of caring for her own children long-ago. There are some things that are so ingrained in us, that like muscle memory, we do them without thinking about them. That should be true of our human striving to love and care for others. God planted deep within us, a natural law, which "is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man . . . human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin . . ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1954) You may have noticed that when someone struggles with their motivation or actions, it may be because of the interior tension that is created when they act against natural law, which is encapsulated in our humanity.   On this Friday after Ash Wednesday, we might check ourselves to be sure that all we do is selflessly directed toward the good of others, and the glory of God, a...

  I don't know why so many good quotes come from atheists, like this one from Abraham Maslow: "The great lesson from the true mystics . . . is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's back yard." I like this, but I do think it might be limited (the quote is the extent of my familiarity with Maslow.) I would say that the ordinary is sacred, because God makes it that way. To recognize the sacred in the ordinary and not attribute it to the Father, would be severely misleading. Here's another quote I pulled from "The Power of Pause," which I think is insightful: "Over a century ago, John Ruskin wrote: 'Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.'" Sit with that one awhile. (Lent is a great time to consider purging some of your stuff. You will find it very freeing.)   After all, what are you waiting for? Janet Cassidy janetcass...

  Here we are, Ash Wednesday! These forty days of Lent are a special opportunity for us. I often think this is not a time set aside as a self-improvement plan. That isn't our goal. But the truth is, we do hope to experience a transformation in body, mind and spirit as we improve our self discipline, help others in need and grow closer to God in prayer. Our personal transformation is a consequence of our Lenten commitments. While we may not do them perfectly, it is in the striving that we experience the outpouring of God's grace on our efforts. If we are doing Lent "right," we will probably experience temptation, but we will grow stronger as we resist temptation and turn over all of our challenges to God. We will grow closer to the Father throughout this process. Do not be afraid of what sacrifices or discomfort you may experience, but rely on the Holy Spirit when things get tough and have confidence in the power of God to see you through. Have a wonderful Ash Wed...

  I was meditating before a crucifix after listening to a recitation of the Rosary by Bishop Robert Barron and I realized that too often we take our clues from the world around us, rather than Jesus himself. It would be a whole different world if we moved from the cross out into the world, rather than engaging in the world around us and trying to figure out how the cross fits in. Imagine a world where the love of Jesus from the cross penetrated our very being, so much so that the transformation of the world could take place. In other words, as the Lord's Prayer states, "Thy kingdom come, the will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." That would be heaven on earth, but we are a ways from it, because all too often we accept our world and the way it is, instead of trying to change it by radical love. This is God's work, of course, and when we cooperate in it, good things happen. Just a thought for today. Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com Follow my Facebook page at: https...

I was reading an article about the actress Susan Sullivan having lung cancer (even though she was not a smoker.) I have appreciated her acting talent over the years (too many roles to mention here.) The article mentioned that Sullivan is 81, and her partner of 35 years, is 85. That "partner" mention caught my attention. She's been with him a long time. I have no idea why they never married each other, but like me, I'm sure you have heard people say over the years "I don't need a piece of paper to know he/she loves me," etc., etc. Goldie Hawn has said, about her partnership with Kurt Russell, "I like the idea that I can wake up in the morning and make decisions every day if I want to be here," she said. "Ultimately, staying independent with independent thinking is important. So you can hold on to yourself and you're going to actually have that feeling." ( usatoday.com ) Hogwash. That's right, I said it. Hogwash. Why are som...

Good news from number-two daughter's operation last week. As she put it, 'I've still got my smile'. Medicos had gone back into her neck last Wednesday. One of the possible outcomes was disruption of nerves that control the lower-right side of her face.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Still dealing with cancer in the family: second operation, and no news from the man in the extended family who couldn't walk.)

Last month ended with headlines hinting that our first glimpse of extraterrestrial life was just around the corner. " Discovery Alert: A ‘Super-Earth’ in the Habitable Zone " Pat Brennan, NASA News (January 31, 2024) " Scientists More Hopeful Than Ever That Perseverance Has Already Found Life on Mars " Carly Cassella, ScienceAlert (January 24, 2024) A week later, there's the usual politics and pandemonium in the news: but no space aliens. I'm not surprised. I'm not disappointed, either. I am, however, excited about what we've found in Jezero crater, and a new world that's not quite Earth 2.0. Perseverance on Mars: Sediment and Speculation Bacteria and Mars TOI-715 b: Habitable? Maybe — Worth Studying? Definitely! Extraterrestrial Life: Bat-People and Making Sense Anyway Evidence, Logic, and — Maybe — Extraterrestrial Life Earth 2.0, Reality, and an Op-Ed 'Because Aristotle Says So'?! Belief, Preference, and God Mor...

Yachounomori Garden,Tatebayashi, Gunma, Japan  [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Mark 1:40-45  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) And a leper  came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”   Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him,  “I will; be clean.”   And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.   And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,   and said to him,  “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”   But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly...

  I knew our January was pretty gloomy, so I wasn't surprised to read that we had 25/31 cloudy days, no sunny days and only six partly sunny days. In fact, according to the National Weather Service at Grand Rapids (Michigan), we had the second cloudiest January since 1904! (mlive.com/weather/2024) In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, there is a discussion about the weather. Jesus was being tested by religious leaders and was asked for a sign. His response? Well, if you can read the sky, how is it you cannot read the signs of the times? In other words, it was pretty obvious to most of us that January was super gloomy because it was really cloudy. If we can figure that out, how is it we miss so much else that's going on around us? How do we not recognize the Creator in his creation? "For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen." (Wisdom, Chapter 13, Verse 5) Think about it. Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com Follow...

  Living Water It was about midday dusty, hot,  earth scorched underfoot. I came to the well.  The other women, I avoid them,  had long gone. He was there, sitting beside it. He asked me for a drink. What was this? Me, a Samaritan woman, Him, a Jew. I looked up, warily,  His eyes searched mine, I felt His gaze reach way down inside me. He talked about giving me, Living water How, I thought Where is your bucket? But He went on, He said with the water He gave I would never thirst again. What did He mean?  I wanted that water. His voice, spoke softly about, A spring of living water Welling up to  Eternal Life. Who was this man? He knew all about me, for sure, My whole life, everything. I went to tell the whole village That I'd found  The Messiah

  We keep the newspaper's crossword puzzle on our table, and throughout the day(s) we take turns working on it. I'm not good at starting them. I step in when partial words or phrases have already been filled in.    My husband has to wait until words can be cross-checked. I don't wait for such foolishness; I just fill in what seems to make sense to me. He likes to claim he thought of the word before me, but he was waiting for "proof." Yeah right.   Admittedly, sometimes I come up with some wild guesses, but I do get the answers right now and again. I like to brag that I always swoop in and save the day. I claim I accomplish what others cannot, or at least I lead the way. But, as my husband uniquely put it the other day, "Your unusual thought pattern breaks things loose sometimes." I'm taking that as a compliment. Wouldn't you? Anyway, I'm sticking with my method, because even Psalm 37, supports me: "Commit to the LORD your way; tr...

    I started watching the pilot of the T.V. show Feud: Capote Vs. the Swans. Really, just because I saw an advertisement for it; I didn't know anything about Capote, or the show, so I thought it might be interesting as a period drama. Yuck. I didn't even make it through the Pilot. My husband came in as I was watching it and I started complaining to him about how immoral some of the scenes were. This was my second attempt at finishing the Pilot. For some reason, I am always optimistic that shows will magically improve. Coincidentally, he had just been reading about St. Cyril of Jerusalem in a book by Scott Hahn/Mike Aquilina--"Living the Mysteries. A Guide for Unfinished Christians." He mentioned reading about how we are to live differently after our Confirmation. Later, I saw in the book, the authors' challenge to apply St. Cyril's thought to our life: "Consider your pastimes in light of your new life. Are the movies and television ...

Recapping what I said week before last: our number-two daughter has cancer, but our granddaughter's left arm has healed nicely. I'm still feeling blank, emotionally. As I said then.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (How my family is handing cancer: a second planned operation tomorrow, no new diagnosis.)