Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19) Although God’s presence is everywhere, m ass is my favorite place to come into his presence. Every part of the liturgy helps me experience a personal encounter with Jesus. It will provide the same relationship with Jesus for you. ·             Christ is present in the assembly of the body of Christ in the pews, for he has promised “where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20)   So sing and pray knowing that Christ is among us, gathered as the body of Christ. READ MORE    

    A mother of 9 grown children reflects on dinnertime: the central hub that held all the spokes of her family’s activities together in one cohesive whole- a wheel of family life. by melanie jean juneau "Oh good, you’re done barn chores. Perfect timing; dinner is almost ready." "Two more minutes, everybody!" "Daniel I’ll help with that after we eat, okay?" "Mary, please run up and open Claire’s door and shut off the music." "Dinner is ready!" "Lucy, I know you love that book sweetheart but, remember, no reading at the dinner table." "Where’s Matthew?' "Honey would you lift up David into the high chair?" "Are we all here?..Anyone missing?" Ahh…. dinner time in a large family. READ MORE of my first article in   in TENDER TIDINGS Fall 2013 Tender Tidings, CAPC’s free seasonal magazine, is a wonderful resource for Catholic parents interested in intentional, gentle 

Remembering with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept.8 SEE MORE

It seems as if everyone nowadays is so  obsessed  with appearance.  Many are trapped in the world that tells them that unless they wear their makeup the "right" way, they'll never be good enough.  Our society tells us that unless we look a certain way, and dress a certain style, and carry ourselves the "popular" way, we'll never be accepted and we'll never be cherished. I beg to differ.  I'm a teenage girl ~ I  know  what's out there, waiting to starve our true spirits and transform us into jealous creatures who are intent on fighting what is a losing battle. For "Dove Evolution" video (This video shows just how much our society has negatively warped the perception of beauty.  In 1.25 minutes, we're shown that an average-looking woman is "airbrushed" into being model-perfect.  It's scary, actually.) It seems like when culture tried to conform us all into the mold of the "perfect person", it threw ou

  UBI CARITAS ET AMOR. DEUS IBI EST.  Unexpected Correspondence. Father Ignatius was enjoying breakfast when Father Donald came in holding a letter. “Only one for you today … and it’s from the USA judging by the stamp.” Father Ignatius frowned, “I don’t know anyone in the States …” he mumbled. Father Donald chuckled as he poured himself a cup of tea. “Maybe it’s from Hollywood. They probably want to make a film about you …” The older priest was not amused. He opened the letter and read: “Dear Father Ignatius, “You’d be surprised how long it took me to trace you down. I contacted almost every bishop in England. I hope this letter finally reaches you. “I’m Johnny Nottingham. Do you remember me?” Father Ignatius mumbled … “Johnny Nottingham …”   READ MORE

Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning  from the sky ."  Luke 10:18  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We know that the devil's sin was pride that caused him to fall for all time.  Let us examine this.  Lucifer is an Angelic intelligence.  Before the fall he was constantly before the face of God, so he knew God, and he knew all God's attributes.  Lucifer knew that God's justice was perfect, if God said it was so, it was right and just. Lucifer new that the will of God was perfect, that if God willed something it was perfect and right.  Lucifer knew God and he knew the love of God.  Yes, God loved Lucifer, His light bearer. The angels have free will just like we do, the danger came when in being God's light bearer, that Lucifer saw himself as having the attributes of God.  He thought because he bore the light, he was the light.  Lucifer also thought God could not do without him.  Lucifer was the light bearer, only  he  could do this job for God, no one else

God is a spring of living water  which flows unceasingly  into the hearts of those who pray.  St. Louis de Montfort

'The one sure cloister is the cloister of the heart,   where Jesus and the soul live their love-life together,    untroubled and undisturbed by all the riot and tumult of the world.   With every movement of memory, mind, and imagination stilled,      every desire quelled, there in the silent cloister of the heart,     the soul is flooded with the calm tranquil peace of perfect love...'            'The outward cloister matters little; the inward cloister matters much.' ( from "Listening to the Indwelling Presence," compiled by a Religious, Pellegrini, Australia, 1940)

This is the day Pope Francis asked Christians worldwide to fast and to pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria. It also is the feast day of Our Lady of Good Health (Vailankanni). Today, I traveled with our younger son and three of my CL friends from New Jersey to a Staten Island parish where we joined hundreds of others in fasting for Syria and feasting for Our Lady of Good Health. Keep Reading...

What is the  first  thing that comes to mind when you think of   LOVE ? A chubby baby dressed as a Greek god for Halloween? Sappy pictures of hands joined together? A red rose? A box of favorite chocolates? Let's go a bit deeper, shall we?   Relationships .  Cuddly feelings?   Smiles? Are these really great examples (or even, for goodness' sake,  realistic ) examples of true love?  (By the way, I never  really  understood the whole last part of  The Princess Bride  where they rated the kisses ~ what kind of job would that be to do such a thing?  It would stink.) But, it seems as if society has  twisted  the definition of true  love. One of the definitions for "love" on dictionary.com is   " a   feeling   of   warm   personal   attachment   or   deep   affection".  If love becomes reduced to a happy emotion, it quickly   deteriorates   and loses its value.  "Love is not affectionate feeling, but a s

When I was upset and panicking as I worried whether I was pregnant with my Fifth child or not, a wave of peace came over me and I heard a gentle whisper within : Thus began an unexpected life where I discovered fulfilment and joy mothering nine children on a hobby farm. My children literally were my salvation, the key to my heart and the way God chose to heal and transform me into who I really am..a child of God, no more and no less. After surrendering any thought of a career and raising nine kids for 33 years, a whole new vocation has begun. God is opening the door to writing and I am filled with joy. This post was written Friday at "the mother of nine9" about my ability to change now that my youngest is off to university. My closing words: "I have even more time to write and  I am thrilled.   I  have the ability to change. Considering that my great grand-mother lived till 95, my grandmother 86 and my mother is a young 82-year-old. Heck, my husband/s grand

Irish Peace Tower, Belgium For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)                                         Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)  Gospel  Luke 14:25-33  (Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition) Now great multitudes accompanied Jesus; and he turned and said to them, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to

"Call me an evangelical charismatic liberal conservative progressive traditionalist" Catholic, stated  Fr. Dwight Longenecker  recently. I'm sorry, Fr. Longenecker, but I don't think that means what you think it means. And it adds more confusion than clarity to the issue of Catholic infighting. It's not possible to be all things to all Catholics nowadays. Sad to say, a lot of Catholics behave as if they have splintered into as many different sects as the Protestants have. We can only be liberal and conservative and progressive Catholics all at the same time if we ignore what these words have come to mean  and  the battling factions that these words represent. Read more...

When overcome with annoyance at someone, I really need to put my feet in their shoes and try to walk.  "...Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good."  Teresa de Jes ú s (Avila)       Will I grimace, hunched at the spine clutching my belly in pain, because they are too tight?       Will I try to wiggle out of them because they are filled with clammy, mushy mud or sharp, grainy sand and pebbles?       Will I walk with my head hanging down in shame  because they are old, stained, torn and faded?        Perhaps I will be dissatisfied with myself  because I cannot fill them!      The person I have judged so mercilessly is probably bearing their burden with much more grace than I ever could.  A walk in their shoes must bring my heart to a place of compassion and forgiveness... if I am willing to take the risk. "Let nothing upset you, let nothing startle you. All things pass; God does not change. Patience wins all it seeks. Whoever

written Sunday, September 01, 2013 +JMJ+ I had a dream last night - I was in Mexico, being shown around by a young priest who was newly ordained and native to that area.  He was telling me about the faith in Mexico, and I remember most clearly that he added, "Today is Sunday - today is the most important day of all time." It's the day of the Resurrection.  So I thought about that a great deal (yes, while still dreaming). I think we oftentimes (or I do, anyway) unconsciously downplay the importance of a Sunday.  Modern culture, after all, is definitely an anti-help to restoring the great reverence due to this day. link   (I thought the above vintage advertisement for Sunday school was intriguing and also a bit amusing.  But I loved how the women were so classy, even down to the little cloche and pillbox hats and their spotless white gloves... Don't go to Mass as if you were going to a baseball game.  Dignity, people.) Read the rest here. http://tr

While thousands of faithful   gather in St. Peter's Square  this Saturday at 7 p.m., I'd like to host a virtual prayer for peace in Syria. That will be at 1 p.m. New York time. I'm not sure where I will be since I am still sorting out my Saturday plans, which include a cyclocross race in Trexlertown, Pa.. But I plan to participate in the fast from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and to pray for peace at 1 p.m.  Will you join me? Keep Reading...

Don’t let  sweet angel pictures fool you. Angels are huge, powerful beings with the ability to perform great acts of strength.  The phone call comes on a Saturday night. I listen to the police in shocked silence. “Your son has been in a serious car accident.” “No, we have  not ascertained the extent of his injuries.” “We did use the jaws of life to extract your son and his girlfriend from the vehicle.” “No, I told you, I cannot tell you the extent of his injuries but if you head over to Trauma 1 at the Civic, they will give you an update.” ” All I can tell you is it seems that the vehicle did flip end over end and then barrel-rolled down into a ditch filled with water.” ” Off the record, I will say that in 25 years of service, I have never seen a car look as bad as his does and not have someone dead on arrival.” Sheer heart stopping panic grips me. I can hardly breath and my heart is  pounding.We  pass his car on the side of the highway. Spot

9   Pray then like this:  First, how not to pray…now, the instruction of how rather to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, — I love that God is not just Jesus’ Father…and he’s not just my Father…but our Father.  I am not an only child here!  I have a huge family unit consisting of brothers and sisters, spanning the globe and the ages.  We are one big family!  “Father” is a personal, intimate term.  It indicates a family relationship, of favor, love, nurturing and protection.  We might not have the best example in our earthly fathers, but everything that we would expect and respect in our own earthly daddy, God is to us, and infinitely more.  In fact, He sets the bar for earthly fathers, even the best daddy in this world will fall short of the excellency of our Heavenly Father. Read more...

Rick Smith, the effervescent dad of "Noah's Dad" fame didn't see it coming. He ignited controversy by saying he wanted to "whack" the saying that God only gives special children to special parents. Tempers ran high and he was stunned to be attacked. He answered with typical good sense and a sense of humor, Christian charity, which is why, even though I disagree with his statement, I wanted to comment on it.  We both understand that if God were selecting parents of children with special needs, He's doing a crummy job, since around 90% of these parents abort their baby before they realize what a blessing they said "no" to. So maybe we special needs parents aren't so special. But hold on, I am not ready to toss out the special parent idea just yet. Which one of us hasn't marvelled in the patience we see in the mom or dad who, like Rick, take extra time to teach their babies the simplest skills and broadcast them over the blogosphere as

Every time a Catholic recites the Nicene Creed , he is proclaimingbelief in the “Four Marks of the Church.” He joins with all other believers and professes a faith which says, “We believe in one , holy , catholic , and apostolic church…” These “four marks” are called “indelible” in that they cannot be changed or removed. They are the same as when Christ founded the church and will remain the same until his return. As indicated in the Nicene Creed , they bind together the believers in a unique and significant way. The first mark: the church is one . As diverse as we are, we are also considered one in that we are one body in Christ. Even as we bring our different cultures to the one body of Christ, we all believe that this Christ is our Lord and Savior; in him we have our redemption. All who have been baptized are part of his one, true church. The second mark: the church is holy . The teachings of the church lead each believer to holiness . They never lead away from God—who

My heart melted upon seeing this video. Please spare time to watch this My child, you may not know me, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up. I am familiar with all your ways. Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. For you were made in my image. In me you live and move and have your being. For you are my offspring. I knew you even before you were conceived. I chose you when I planned creation. You were not a mistake. For all your days are written in my book. READ MORE

SFC night has always been worth attending to for it is a venue of so much learning's.  In one way or another, people had a heart on teachings about love and relationship. Wonderful it is to be guided on issues like this. This is an excerpt from one of the many teachings given to us, sharing with you a copy. Whatever is the status of your heart, it’s always been rewarding to be reminded of the Lord’s wisdom. :) *************************************************************** Everyone longs for to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God says to a Christian, “No, not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content with living, loved by me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me alone.” Here’s to continue on the details of His love letter for you… I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not

I have fallen in love with icons; looking at them is not like appreciating a great painting, there is a spirit to Spirit connection that occurs. Painted in prayer, saturated with the Holy Spirit, a wordless flow of the love, light and most especially and an energizing joy fills my soul as God himself blesses me.  I simply open my heart, soul and spirit to the icon. It is powerful and direct; the perfect way to connect with God when I am exhausted. God is in charge as I let go of mental logic and control and allow the Spirit of the Lord Himself to minister to me through the image. r ead more