Association Of Catholic Bloggers

      Here's what's scary to me. Two pictures side by side, and you cannot really tell which one is in the United States and which was is in Iran. Relative to the U.S., we have a so-called leader who is encouraging the people of Iran to protest against their leader, offering to send them support, while at the same time he is causing a riot against our protesters in the U.S. who are speaking up against him. Too often when I take a bird's'-eye of the situation on the ground in the United States, I can see that our cities are literally on fire, people are disappearing, and even citizens are being arrested and killed. Let's just say I really needed to listen to Fr. John Riccardo's podcast about peace. Where do we find peace amidst the turmoil going on around us? Is it possible to sustain peace at a time such as this? Fortunately, the answer is yes.  I strongly encourage you to listen to his podcast "Peace in Troubled Times" because, for me, it...

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Lily of the valley. Rosendahl's photo. Depending on who's talking and what they're talking about, lily of the valley is a woodland flower that likes shade, a 19th century hymn, a French novel, or something else. 1 I'm not going to be talking about hymns or novels. Not today, anyway. There's a whole mess of symbolism hanging around these little white flowers, too. Mostly involving humility, happiness and good stuff like that. Which strikes me as odd, since the wildflowers are distinctly poisonous. 2 On the other hand, they do — I gather — smell nice. I'm not going to talk about that, either. Mostly because the lily of the valley's sprays of tiny white flowers are, for me, symbolic of a house I grew up in. Along with a rhubarb patch. And clothes lines. Among other things.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering little bell-shaped flowers that grew near my childhood home. Learning why they are undesirable, but keeping the delightful memor...

The Gospel According to Matthew , Baptism scene Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 3:13-17   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’  Léachtaíi nGaeilge     ...

    Do you ever feel yourself getting more and more frustrated or angry these days with everything going on?  Between the news reports about what is happening with Venezuela, Iceland, ICE, the Epstein files and everything else, it can impact us more than we might realize. If you feel heaviness is starting to encroach on you daily, I'd like to share a link with you that you might find helpful. You can read the reflection, or listen to it. It's by Father John Riccardo. In "Knocking Down Walls of Division (Part II)" he helps us to face down our fears by recalling how Peter preached the Gospel to the Roman soldiers and how he counted on the courage he had in Jesus to help him do so. Often we need to move more toward Jesus if we find ourselves getting sucked into the ugliness going on in our country today. We need to prevent ourselves from being "filled up" with hopelessness and sin by drawing ourselves closer to the love and mercy we are afforded in...

  I just can't help it. I really, really like the new Verizon ad with Kevin Hart as an elf (see the link below). It just really cracks me up. There aren't a lot of commercials I find truly funny, but this one makes me laugh every time I see it. Laughing is a great way to begin the new year, so I thought I would share it with you, in case you haven't seen it. We can become so preoccupied with all of the terrible things going on in this world, it is good to enjoy a light moment.  I also want to mention how fortunate we are to celebrate 2026 as the Year of Grace. I am including a link with a two-minute video about grace. I am going to try to keep it in the forefront of my thoughts and appreciate the gift that it is. I hope you will do the same. Happy New Year!  Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy     To learn more about grace, you can g...

I may offend pretty much everyone this week. Then again, maybe not. Either way, instead of what I'd planned on writing, I'll be sharing a video which, despite some rather dated terminology, makes good points about the devil: and why living as if 'right' and 'wrong' exist makes sense. I've got a bit to say about that, too. This isn't my favorite topic, but — touching on it seemed like a good idea.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (An old video with ideas that still matter. How I see fashions, slogans, and things that do not change. A Chesterton quote about theology, and its source.)

The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St John the Baptist  Francisco de Zurbarán [ Web Gallery of Art ] In Ireland, England & Wales the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation and is celebrated this year on Tuesday, 6 January, the traditional date. In many countries the Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 4 January. The readings below are those for the Second Sunday After the Nativity, observed in Ireland, England & Wales. You will find  Sunday Reflections   for the Solemnity of the Epiphany  here . Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Ireland) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales) Gospel  John 1:1-18 or 1-5, 9-14   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life,...

Adoration of the Magi  (Bern) Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] Where the Epiphany is celebrated this year on its proper date, Tuesday 6 January, it is a holyday of obligation. This applies in England & Wales and in Ireland. In countries where the Epiphany is not a holyday of obligation it is celebrated this year on Sunday 4 January. These countries include Philippines, Scotland and the USA. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales)   Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel   Matthew 2:1-12   (English  Standard Version, Anglicised )     Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he wa...

Adoration of the Shepherds  [London] Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger  (Luke 2:16). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India)    Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 2:16-21   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he wa...

  "God can make possible to me which seems impossible to me by nature."  Boy did Thomas á Kempis say that well!  Have you ever wanted to be more patient, kind, generous, prayerful, self-less, accepting, tolerant or less judgmental but felt that it is simply not in your nature? If we open ourselves up to God and become less attached to our own ways, we can be transformed by God's love and grace and counter those things that frustrate us about ourselves. When our focus is on Jesus, change becomes a possibility. We can become less prideful and more humble. We can learn to put others before ourselves. Possessions can take a back seat to sharing love with others. During this holy Christmas season, may the birth of Christ make a difference in your life. Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy        

Chorus of mice, part of this household's Advent scene. (December 20, 2025) This is a very 'Catholic' household. But everything we do isn't uniquely 'Catholic', or something Catholics must always do. Take those mice, for example. My wife made them from bits of felt and cloth some years back, and they've been part of our Advent/Christmas displays ever since. But having a chorus of felt mice isn't an essential part of being Catholic. Although there's 11 of them, one short of the 12 days of Christmas, there's no profound symbolism involved. Aside from maybe representing the festive songs of this season.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Drummers, pipers, variable birds and The Twelve Days of Christmas. The Apostles Creed as a 12 point list. Human nature, Christmas.)