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The warmer weather has finally arrived and getting outside will be my priority.  I'm looking forward to a summer of long walks, long bike rides and anything else that entails breathing fresh air.  I can't wait for our annual trip to Ravinia, neighborhood summerfests and all that summer brings. You can read the rest of the article and view the photo gallery at Being Catholic ... Really .

Woman Praying in Church by Jean-Baptiste Jules Trayer (Wikimedia Commons). How should a person behave when he enters the fourth mansions? How should he act throughout the day? How should he pray? First, let’s look at our behavior during prayer. As I have said (some might say ad nausuem) contemplative prayer is a gift from God. It does not come from the soul’s willing it or applying any technique. Spiritual growth through the seven (groups of) mansions is gradual. Contemplative prayer begins subtly. It usually grows slowly deeper. Infused recollection blends into the prayer of quiet, which blends into the union of the fifth mansions. A soul in the fourth mansions will probably not experience contemplation every time she prays–at least not at first. What should she do? She should not try to produce contemplation, since that’s impossible. Instead, she should go back to meditating on Sacred Scripture, affective prayer, or acquired recollection. Continue reading at Contemp

Allison Gringas is interviewing Catholic mum’s who are bloggers May 4-9 The link to Melanie's podcast is http://realjoy.podbean.com/e/a-seeking-heart-w-allison-gingras-feat-melanie-juneau-joyofnine9/#.VUzmq4B_rdg.facebook A Seeking Heart with Allison Gingras: LIVE!  WEEKDAYS – 10:00 am ET on  RealLifeRadio.com DOWNLOAD THE RADIO APP:  iOs App  or  Android App    Her  Catholic Blogger Week- Mega Giveaway Prepare for a special Seeking Heart week of shows! FIVE days — 5 Catholic Bloggers! AND to Celebrate we are hosting a MEGA GIVEAWAY! Prize #1 from me:  Books, Bracelet and a Squirrel BUDDY! read more

I even considered sleeping in and not going to Mass at 7.  Depression is that way.  However, God had other plans.   Pixie needed to go outside, and I had to get up, go downstairs and open the door for her.  So, I was up.  When she came upstairs, she demanded her breakfast.  After looking around the kitchen, I found her “cup.”  That finished the process of waking up. I showered.  Threw on some mismatched clothes.  (I’m at that age where I can do that now!)  I drove to Mass, and I sat in the back for fear of crying.  That’s fine.  I have found i can focus more on the Mass when I sit in the back.  I pulled my veil over my face, and I listened as the Mass began. At best, I can say, prayer was difficult. Read More at:: Prayerfully Yours

Every year on Labor Day, an organization called  Improvingbirth.org  arranges protests and various social media activism events to bring awareness to the state of birth in the US. The US has one of the highest  maternal  and  the highest   infant mortality  rate in the industrialized world. An untold number of women carry with them horrific birth stories. Many more women suffer from post-partum depression and psychosis. I have my  own traumatic birth story  to tell, so I have participated in some of these events and I always keep an eye out on what their organization is doing. This past year, they asked people to share their birth horror stories as part of their #breakthesilence campaign. One woman shared two that I would like to share with you... Hear this woman's eye-opening story on True Dignity of Women:  https://truedignityofwomen.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/theology-of-the-body-thursday-5-the-birthing-body/

This is my body: an outward sign. Full of meaning: rich, not empty. Full of remembering, full of life. To read the full poem, see  lenkdesigns.blogspot.com.au

Today’s Gospel:  John 14:21-26 This gospel passage is a typical example from the Gospel of John—deep, with layers of meaning and odd, cryptic language which could easily lead us in circles of confusion The best way to read this passage and most of John’s gospel is with our hearts, allowing the words to soak into our spirits. As you read this beautiful description of our intimate relationship with God, the Almighty Ruler of the entire universe, let John’s words nourish you spiritually. Jesus tells us both He and the Eternal, Immortal Father will come to us and make their dwelling within us. Then, Jesus promises even more. When He leaves His disciples physically, He will send “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”    continue

I knew, when the idea of the cloistered heart first came to me in the 1980s, that monasteries of nuns or monks have special places not open to outsiders.  I realized that these areas were called cloisters.  It was enough information to get me started.  “The whole idea of a cloistered heart,” I wrote in 1988, “is that the part of me referred to as the ‘heart’ – meaning my spirit, who I really AM – should be detached from the world in its attachment to the Creator of the world...." (read the rest here)

I grew up in the 'good old days,' when many Americans enjoyed the seemingly-secure middle class lives of the Cleavers and Andersons . Some parents, mine included, remembered that there's more to life than wealth: so I never considered running away to a commune . But I understood why some folks my age, and a bit older, decided that buying stuff you don't need with money you don't have to impress people you don't like — made no sense at all.... ...I didn't have the horror that some older folks had for places like Drop City . It seemed to me that 'those crazy kids,' with their 'un-American' talk about peace, love, and brotherhood, had decided to take at least some of my Lord's values seriously.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The essence of the prayer of Jesus entailed dedicating every moment of every day to loving God with every part and with every fibre of his being (Lk 2:29. Jn 4:34). All his prayer was directed to this end. Pledging himself to love his Father come what may, day in day out, might be simple, but it certainly wasn’t always plain sailing. In fact on occasions it became close to hell on earth for a person of such a delicate and sensitive nature, and sometimes excruciatingly painful, both physically and mentally. What is interesting is that on two of these occasions ‘though he was alone in his prayer, Jesus took the trouble to tell others of how he prayed, and the inner anguish that this caused him, otherwise we would never have known. Quite evidently he did this so that we could be in no doubt that prayer can be at one moment ecstasy, and at another moment agony, and all stations in between. That is why he told us, through his disciples, that at the prelude to his public ministry, when he p

How do you pray? Do you find your prayer overflowing with images, thoughts and conversations or instead find yourself wrapped in silence surrounded by God’s awe inspiring presence? While at various times we may find ourselves practicing both of these, understanding the shape your prayer takes helps us to simply understand how we personally connect with God. The first form of prayer,  kataphatic , is my own prevailing mode of prayer. At times our prayer begins in seeking God, in a desire to feel the immanence and closeness of God when our mind seems busied with the affairs of this world. In these moments, as I reflect on the presence, ministry and Passion of Jesus, as Word revealed, I recognize that I am being beckoned closer. In an instant, behind closed eyes, I am enveloped by the sights, sounds and scripture intended to speak to my heart. Aware of my own transgressions and surrendering, I find myself humbled by the love and grace so undeservedly but gratuitously given. A beaut

Today is marks the start of the weekend.  It’s time to let yourself relax.   Today is the First Friday of the month.  The First Friday of the month honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  If you attended Mass today, you probably heard the priest speak about First Friday.    Today is also the feast day of St. Joseph the patron saint of workers.  Wednesday is the day dedicated to St. Joseph as the earthly father of Jesus.   If you didn’t get a chance to attend Mass today, hopefully, tomorrow, on the first Saturday of the month which honors the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The lines for confession will be long tomorrow. What time is Mass and confession at your church tomorrow?  You might want to look it up so that you won’t forget, especially, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Read More at:: Prayerfully Yours

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The 'Vatican science academy' is in the news again: this time because they've said we should use our brains. The topic was climate change, which tends to stir up sound and fury more than rational discourse. Meanwhile, one scientist implied a link between our "carbon dioxide crisis" and a lot of dead critters, some 201,000,000 years back. More to the point, I think, the team he was on has added a few more pieces to the puzzle of what caused the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

I don’t know who said it, but they were right.  “satan’s greatest lie is convincing us that he does not exist.” When I was growing up, way back when, I remember that I did not know what sex was.  I didn’t know what a huge swear word meant.  I didn’t learn the meaning of THAT word until I was in college, and, even then, I was shocked! In the 21st century, we are being challenged to love the sinner but hate the sin.  What we once considered to be appropriate behavior is considered old and outdated.  Politicians are calling for people to change religion so that their ideas will be accepted and acceptable. Women’s health is inevitably tied to abortion.  “It is a right,” they say.  The baby in the womb has no rights, but that doesn’t matter.  The sick and elderly, in many places of the world, are being subjected to euthanasia.  Assisted suicide is being promoted as a means of relieving unnecessary suffering.  People want to die on their “own terms.”  We are trying to be

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'Faithfully do what God expects of you in each moment, and leave  the rest up to Him. I assure you that living in this manner will bring you great peace.' St. Jane de Chantal   (from The Breadbox Letters)

The art of patting someone on the back is not complicated. First we have to train ourselves to see goodness. For instance, we can spare a child the ignominy of being a total failure at needlework when she crochets bedroom slippers if we ignore the lumps and uneven stitches and point out that the pompoms are positively perfect. click to continue

I realized that the Holy Spirit has a wonderful sense of humor.  I was looking for Catholic Blog Prompts on Prayer. I prayed to the Holy Spirit for fruitful ideas.  As I prayed, I began to see blog posts about prayer journals.  I kept searching. There had to be something to this.  The Holy Spirit knows what He is doing. I found a set of blog prompts for a prayer journal. Do you keep a prayer journal?  I do.  It’s on and off, but, yes, I have one. Read More at: Prayerfully Yours

When we talk to children about suffering, it's unhelpful to discuss WHY bad things happen. Suffering--a result of the Fall--makes no sense in and of itself. What children need to hear is that our suffering can be a powerful source of good for others. Jesus shows us how. Children can learn to be sensitive to suffering. When adults empathize with them ( I'm so sorry you tripped and scraped your knee. Oooh, I know that must hurt! ), they learn to share others' sadness. And when empathetic children grow up, they become courageous citizens who defend the weak and the suffering. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.   (Ezekiel 36:26) Please click on over to Praying with Grace to read more of today's article and to see the reflection & activity sheets for children.