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I see her every day at Mass, frumpish, about 60, shaved head with a little longer bit at the top, like a man’s. She wears thick glasses and a long handle purse across her chest. I don’t know her name. I also don’t remember when she began to notice me and smile. I can’t imagine why, among all parishioners why she would more and more glance at me. She says all the responses of the Mass, a bit loud, with a pronounced baby talk speech. That was my clue that she is mentally handicapped. to keep reading......     http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/the-mirror/

Occasionally,  I post "unsolicited advice". I was told, after I turned 50 that I was old enough to give unsolicited advice, so I though - why not?! One of my favorite posts from last year that I re-blogged today is about praying the Rosary. When going through security, Sister Helena Burns was asked if she had any firearms or weapons, her response, "I'm wondering if I should declare my Rosary". HA... My unsolicited advice today – PRAY THE ROSARY! I have a special relationship with Mary. She has always been with me, since we met long ago. I needed a mother and she stepped in. Praise God!  And – Because I have an affinity with Mary, I love to pray the Rosary.  It helps that my birthday month celebrates praying the Holy Rosary. How lucky am I? For more, read  Unsolicited Advice - Vol. 5 - Pray The Rosary ! Blessings All, Emily

The other day as I prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, at the line “God himself will set me free from the hunter’s snare” suddenly I imagined myself in the woods with my foot caught in the sharp jaws of a trap. I felt the pain and the desperation. “Hmm,” I thought. “This is how I teach people to pray the Gospel stories, by putting themselves into the scene and letting all their senses come into play.” For some reason it never occurred to me to apply this method St. Ignatius promoted to other prayers too.  Let’s experiment with a psalm. Psalm 127:1 is “Unless the LORD builds the house those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.” For the first sentence see and hear someone hammering the last plank of wood onto a house. But then the house collapses. Hear the deafening sounds. Breathe in the dust. For the second sentence visualize a city with a soldier stationed in the tower but hordes of enemies forces breaking through th

Today I have a guest post at Julian O'Dea's blog on the controversial topic of prostitution laws.  It includes a Catholic historical perspective and should provide plenty food for thought.

  On March 19, 2014, Ellen Gable, a Catholic Fiction author, released another beautifully written Historical Romance called A Subtle Grace which is Book 2 of the O’Donovan Family Series. This Kindle book is published by Full Quiver which will publish the print version on March 25, 2014.  1896, Philadelphia. In this sequel to “In Name Only” (2009 FQP), “A Subtle Grace” continues the story of the wealthy and unconventional O’Donovan Family as they approach the dawn of a new century. At 19, Kathleen (oldest daughter) is unmarried with no prospects. Fearing the lonely fate of an old maid, her impatience leads to an infatuation with the first man who shows interest. The suave, handsome son of the local police chief seems a perfect match. But will her impulsive manner prevent her from recognizing her true beloved? A disturbing turn of events brings a dark shadow that threatens   continue>

God always seeks out His children.  Like the Shepherd who searches for the lost sheep, God seeks to bring us closer to Him.  God might be silent so that we may hear.  God might give us signs of His Love so that we may believe.  God might bind us close in His Love, so that we do not stray.  God might remind us of our sinfulness so that we may be saved.  God might make us uncomfortable as He shapes us in the Flames of His Unending Love.  God might pull back so that we may learn to trust.  God, the Lord of Creation, does what He needs to do so that when time has ended, we will share heaven with Him. Lent is a time in which we can, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, grow closer to God.  As we have walked this Camino del Rey, we have improved our prayer lives, we have fasted, and we have given alms.  Some of us have been strict in our adherence to these practices.  Some  of us have fallen.  (Yes, I have!)  Some have not practiced any of the pillars of Lent.  As Pope Fr

Finding God in our surroundings is getting harder and harder these days. As I was growing up, God was always somewhere within eyeshot. As a Catholic child, going to an all girl school run by nuns gave me a real good understanding of what my teachers were saying to me, God is everywhere, God is always watching, and my lack of trauma and cataclysms ( I thought) gave me a sense of protection. That is how His omnipresence affected me. I did not like nor dislike Him been there, all the time, watching me always. I just knew He was there and it was ok with me. Such apathetic attitude about God did not serve me well.  As I grew up, that He was there or He was not there only helped me to forget to know that He was not there. Eventually if He was there or He was not there was the same to me. to continue reading follow link .... http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/finding-the-hand-of-god/

The Roman Catholic artist, from the onset of the religious expression, acts on what possesses his/her mind and heart. Just like the prehistoric man, he paints what preoccupies him. His prowess in conquering the mammoth, capturing the wild deer.               Just like them, at the revelation of God to us, thus it preoccupies the mind, but the prowess now to express the newness of something truly awesome with a vague identity but the cause of powerful feelings.             It is said that St Luke painted The Black Madonna of Czestochowa. to continue reading .......   http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/aaaaah-the-artist/

Sunset at Kakaako Beach Park, Oahu First of all, I want to apologize for not sharing any posts in such a long time.  Thank you for keeping me on as a contributor! The following was written by St. John Chrysostom.  It is from my spiritual journal entry of September 13, 2012 after reading the Magnficat meditation of the day.  I feel it will apply to us during this time of penance and contrition. "Being a disciple of Christ means being meek and gentle.  And from what source may we draw this meekness?  If we are continually mindful of our sins; if we grieve for them; if we weep for them.  A soul which habitually feels such contrition does not permit itself to become vexed and angry.  In truth, where there is sorrow, anger cannot be;  where there is compunction, anger is altogether out of place; where there is contrition of soul, there is no irritation.  The soul that suffers the lash of contrition has no time to be aroused to anger, but it groans bitterly and weeps more bitter

Happy Tuesday All, I hope your day is blessed. I wanted to invite you all to participate in a Veiling Series on my blog. There is a new lady telling her veiling story every Tuesday. We hope to have a husband or two and a Priest or two also participate. Additionally, there are many kinds of head coverings that are being spoken about. If you are discerning wearing a head covering or you already wear one, you will love this series. The Introduction to Our Lady's Image is here: Our Lady's Image, An Introduction So far, I have told my story: Our Lady's Image, My Veiling Story Karen Zenti has told her story: Our Lady's Image, Karen's Veiling Story Mae Lacy has told her story: Our Lady's Image, Mae Lacy's Veiling Story AND - today, Lily Wilson Beck has told her story: Our Lady's Image, Lily's Veiling Story Next Tuesday there will be a new story told. Each story is original to the series (meaning we've all told our stories before but these

Ready to celebrate the rest of Lent as a family? Here are several activities you can do together, whether or not you homeschool. p=suitable for grades 1-3 m=suitable for grades 4-6 j=suitable for grades 7-9 s=suitable for grades 10-12  Books Besides reading the Gospel accounts of Holy Week, try reading and discussing the following books that deal with sacrifice, martyrdom, or resurrection: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (p). The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt (p+). The Queen and the Cross: The Story of St. Helen by Cornelia Mary Bilinsky (p, m) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (p+ for reading aloud; m+ for independent reading). Continue reading at Contemplative Homeschool.

Last week, Pope Francis did something that shocked the Catholic world - he went to confession....Watch the video of it here. (Video credit: Catholic News Service) Why are Catholics around the world talking about this?  Why are we all so shocked? We have all heard reports that Pope Francis (like Benedict and John Paul before him) celebrates the sacrament of Reconciliation with great frequency. He has encouraged Catholics on multiple occasions to go to Confession. We have seen pictures of him hearing confessions at World Youth Day. But this, this was different. There is nothing shocking about the fact that he went to confession. The Pope is, after all,  Catholic . What has the world's attention is that he did it publicly. We can watch him on video kneeling before the priest, quietly sharing the sins he has committed, and humbly bowing his head to receive absolution. Just like we do.  So what's the big deal about the Pope going to Confession then.... Read more here.

J o y  is l o ve rej oi cing....... to read the rest follow link http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/the-love-tree-7/  

Matthew 11:29 - Take  my  yoke upon you and learn from  me ,  for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. When I first gave my life to the Lord at the age of 19, I was like a runaway train. I became very active doing many good things but completely ran ahead of the Lord. Over the years the Lord has taught me to lean back in him and rest. I am still pretty active in my Church and community but I have become better at listening to His promptings, His heartbeat and doing everything I do out of a place of rest; trying to only go where He goes and do the things He is prompting me to do. Continue reading >

In 1997 I lived in Mexico City for a few months. I went there in my private airline... On the wings of Zeal. I wore it every day as a badge of Christianity. Eager to make myself useful, I plunged into my self made ministry, but I did not really do much in that ministry that I thought I went there for. I found myself overwhelmed by the street kids. to continue reading......     http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/when-god-became-an-outlaw/

It occurred to me, as I was praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, that we ought to meditate on His Most Sorrowful Passion, but…why do we? I was deeply asking Jesus to have mercy on us as I imagined how it felt to have the crown of thorns slide down His Most Precious skull. It did not make sense to me to ask Him for mercy as He suffered so unimaginably. Did He not have enough to think about during His agony than to listen to our pleas for mercy?     http://theoutlawedgod.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/ill-try-to-say-crucify-him-next-time/

Have faith. But when you are at the lowest of your moods, how do you have faith?  Where does that ability to have faith come from? Presently I am reading a book about being happy despite your circumstances.  Being happy doesn't fix the problems and concerns of daily life, happiness doesn't even pay the bills or find the lost spirit.  Happiness is fleeting for the most part. Joy is what seems to be lasting, but how do you find joy?  Where does the joy come from?  Someone, I'm sure will come back and say that you find it in Jesus Christ.  Yes, yes, I agree that knowing our Savior should bring us joy...joy that is everlasting and eternal. But how do you find joy or HAVE joy when you are down, lost, depressed, feeling out of sorts? Read more...

painting by a daughter If  you feel sorry  for a struggling  butterfly and in empathy,  cut the cocoon to help him  escape, his wings  will be  deformed. If  you allow  a butterfly to struggle,  emerging slowly,  agonizingly from his prison, his wings will be perfectly formed. My tendency and I think all mother's tendency is to want to save our children from suffering, from making mistakes. So I try to intellectually explain everything to death. But really, it rook suffering to strip me , heal me and bring me to place of humility where I could finally perceive reality. Do I really think that I can extricate them from the cocoon they are struggling to emerge from. If I do, all that I will do is to stunt their wings, just like when a butterfly is cut from a cocoon too early. continue

'Take no notice of that feeling you get of wanting to leave off in the middle of your prayer, but praise the Lord for the desire you have to pray. That, you may be sure, comes from your will which loves to be with God. It is just melancholy that oppresses you and gives you the feeling of constraint.             ' Try occasionally, when you feel yourself oppressed in that way, to go to some place where you can see the sky, and walk up and down a little...    'It is essential that the soul be led gently.'   S t. Teresa of Avila P ainting:  George Hitchcock, Calypso   Post from The Cloistered Heart

People sometimes ask: Why pray? Will it change the will of God, or budge Him in any way? Sometimes we pray and pray for days on end with seemingly no results? Are we wasting our time? Why bother? Please continue HERE