Association Of Catholic Bloggers

+JMJ+ AMDG "Dear young people, you bring us the joy of Faith and you tell us that we must live the Faith with a young heart." ~ Pope Francis Bl Chiara "Luce" Badano Blessed Chiara died in 1990 at the age of eighteen from a form of bone cancer.  When she was diagnosed with the illness, she united her sufferings to Christ's Passion, declaring quietly, "It's for You, Jesus; if You want it, I want it, too."  She fought her illness for two years, always smiling and comforting others ~ truly radiating Christ. When asked how her eyes were so luminous, she responded simply, "I try to love Jesus as much as I can." Before her death, Chiara told her mother, "Y oung people…they are the future. You see, I can’t run anymore, but how I would like to pass on to them the torch, like in the Olympics! Young people have only one life and it’s worthwhile to spend it well." "Verso l'alto" - "ever higher" &qu

I don't have a paying job at this time, but I am very busy. Even though I no longer homeschool, my house is messy and my girls are over ten. I spend most of my day on Facebook and Twitter. Why? Christina, my daughter with Down syndrome is growing up in a world where no one invites her over to play. Children avoid her on playgrounds and at school. She has never been insulted to her face, but she certainly gets some weird looks. I imagine that some people who see her are happy they don't have a child like her; she is challenging, and, well, different. She has Down syndrome. The main reason that I am on the Internet all day is to make the world a better place for her to grow up. Sometimes my work involves her particular circumstances, such as seeking out successful speech therapy strategies, sometimes it involves investigating and promoting promising research, passing on inspiring stories or violations of human rights, but most importantly I strive to raise awareness in

It felt as if someone had taken a load of bricks and thrown them onto my chest. Tomorrow marks the 12th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. My husband, who walked out of Tower One 11 minutes before it fell, still is with me. He's alive to help me guide our two boys to adulthood, to make awesome chicken wings, and to coach middle school basketball. So why did I cry - no why did I  sob  - so many tears today? Keep Reading...

If my children could  remember only three things to take with them into their adult life, what would I want them to be? 1 .  I love you ,  believe in you. Let that love be your foundation and your springboard into life. 2.   God loves you,    just as you are. Relax in that  Love, let it sink in , heal you, strengthen you and  release you into freedom and joy. Don’t try to save  yourself and  everybody else on your own because  He   is the only Saviour . Notice that I called  God   Lord.   Let  God be the Lord and don’t steal His job. 3.   Reach out and allow that   Divine Love to flow through you  to your partner, children, neighbours and in doing so discover your unique vocation, your work in the world. A child rooted in love becomes a secure, warm, giving adult who attracts as much light as he reflects. He can live in relative peace with himself and others. With his basic emotional needs fulfilled, he is free to love and serve other people and to develop intel

      Springtime and summer breezes strengthen the stems of these wildflowers as they grow throughout the seasons.      A dear loved one asked that as a family we join in prayer and fasting during a specific forty day time frame. Assuredly, there was no bread and water involved. Our fast was a matter of a more loving engagement in prayer, scripture reading and works of mercy. Now, at the conclusion of this blessed time, we find that some issues may remain unclear to us indefinitely. Driven by the desire for concrete answers, I have to repeatedly remind myself to follow Our Blessed Mother's example. Through her interaction with Jesus during the wedding at Cana she was, as always, the perfect model of Christian demeanor.  Read More

  His prayer for us Part 1 John 17: 4-19 We’ve established context, and we’ve talked about the first three verses of John 17.  After asking to be glorified for doing the work His father gave Him, He turns his attention to the second main part of this prayer, that is focusing specifically on praying for His disciples. Here Jesus affirms that these disciples: were given to Him by God the Father from the world have kept God’s word know that everything Jesus told them is from God have received His words know the truth that God sent Jesus, and know that He came from God He asks on behalf of the disciples that God has given him, and then states that they belong to the Father.  This sets up the next part of this passage where Jesus claims to be one with God the Father, boldly stating “what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine”, then testifies that they (the disciples that God gave to Him from the world) have glorified Him, the Son. Are you catching all the

Dear Moms and Dads, I want to talk about something uncomfortable.  It has come to my attention that many of the best among you are making a big mistake.  I understand.  I was too, two years ago. My daughter has a rare genetic syndrome, called Apert syndrome.  When she was a baby, the plates in her skull fused together.  That meant that there was no room for her brain to grow, and she needed surgery right away to relieve pressure.  Her head is larger than average.  When she was born, her fingers and toes were fused together.  She has had the first surgery to separate her fingers, so now her thumb and pinkie are released.  She has a tracheotomy, so she cannot talk yet.  Because of various complications, she has spent a significant portion of her young life in the hospital.  She is developing muscles that she needs to sit up on her own and to walk.  She will do these things, but for now she is in an adaptive chair.  My beautiful girl stands out.  I already have to teach my girls th

     When I was a little girl, I was walking with my father in Puerto Rico. I saw a lady wearing a simple, long, brown robe. Hanging from her waist were large knotted Rosaries. My Papi explained to me that she was making "Una Promesa", a promise. Either in petition or thanksgiving for a favor from God, she would wear her "habit" for a year and pray the Rosary every day.      Our final conversation was sweetly entwined  with praying the Rosary.  I am so grateful! En Los Corazones de Jesús y María  Camino La Mancha

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