Association Of Catholic Bloggers

We've been learning quite a bit about humanity's family history recently: thanks partly to our increasingly-detailed knowledge of DNA and the human genome . I'll be taking a look at what scientists are learning about Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxons, and headless skeletons.... ...I'll also indulge in an uncharacteristically-terse (for me) explanation of what science is doing in a 'religious' blog.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Beloved   I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,     do not stir up or awaken love     until it is ready!  SS 8:4 Read on Blog: http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

The second  Catholic Conference 4 Moms: Faces of Mercy  is  coming up in February. It is hard to find childcare or travel to a conference, so Tami brings the Catholic Conference 4 Mom right to us. The 2016 “Faces of Mercy” Catholic Conference 4 Moms will offer: 20+ all new popular presenters and presentations  (see them here) a Spanish Track, featuring presentations specifically for Hispanic moms access to all the videos all the time throughout Lent Live-streamed sessions on Saturday morning featuring Jennifer Fulwiler and on Saturday afternoon of the Divine Mercy Chaplet HD videos also available as MP3 /Podcasts for download read more

An extract from Franco Zeffirelli's  Jesus of Nazareth  [Today's gospel ends at 2:28] Gospel Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 (NRSV, Catholic Edition, Canada) Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isa

As the Morning Rising: What On Earth Are We Doing? : The church in Ireland has had many heroes of the faith. Edmund Rice, Matt Talbot,Catherine McAuley, Edel Quinn, Alfie L...

She’s busy. She knows her Son is on His way to the wedding with His friends. She came with other members of her family since the wedding was more than an hour’s walk. They have been busy since they arrived at Cana. The bride and groom are very excited and shy. The wedding had been arranged, but the couple had known each other since childhood and had grown to love each other through the years. They were pleased that their parents, with some encouragement from Mary, had chosen them to be wed. Read more at:  Prayerfully Yours

As the Morning Rising: Kissing the Wood of the Cross :  In kissing the wood of the cross,  The thorn becomes the rose, Good triumphs over evil,   Light over darkness.

10 I am my beloved’s,      and his desire is for me.  SS 7:10 Read on Blog: http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

I ran across paintings by the Catholic artist Ladislav Zaborsky this morning.  His art helped clarify and communicate my experiences with God because the essence of his work is linked to the experience of his inner life. Each painting is an attempt to discover God, eternity. He is a painter of spiritual light. “The substance of my work is the experience of God transferred into my heart (…) Art that seeks truth and beauty is the anticipation of eternity.” continue reading

Mercy in the City by Kerry Weber Mercy flows in abundance during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to share with you my review of Kerry Weber’s book, Mercy in the City . Kerry is a young, single woman living in New York City. This book tells her true life story of her attempt to perform all of the Corporal Acts of Mercy within one Lenten season. In this book, we traverse through the season of Lent with Kerry chronicling her adventures. She shows us how to... Read more...

My theology class at Cleveland Central Catholic was on the fifth floor of St. Michael School. One of the topics was death and dying. As one student entered the room, he commented, “Sister, do you know what it’s like to climb those stairs knowing that for the next forty minutes you’ll be thinking about death?” (This, despite the fact that most of the dramas on TV deal with murder!) Usually, though, we find death depressing. Why not? On the surface it seems like it’s the end of existence, not to mention that it takes away our family and friends. Now that we are in the dead of winter and so many beloved movie stars, pop stars, and people we know personally are departing—not to mention the homicide victims in the daily news—I dare to bring up the subject of death. It’s important. After all, no one leaves this world alive. As my father commented on his deathbed, “Someone has to go first.” We all can look forward to being harvested by “the grim reaper” someday. But I don’t in

Lover: and your kisses[ a ] like the best wine     that goes down[ b ] smoothly,     gliding over lips and teeth.[ c ] SS 7:9 Read on Blog: http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

I am so happy to introduce you to an amazing lady, who I never had the pleasure of meeting in this lifetime, but in true testimony to the divine connection of heaven and earth; through the Church, I have come to know Irene quite well! If you have ever found yourself bouncing without a care in the world to the fun and energetic Celtic rock music of the band  Scythian ,  in a crowded bar, arena, then you might have an idea of what I am talking about in the article’s introduction. If not, I recommend a fun date night of dancing the night away in your near future! Never have I had an experience quite like this one; in which someone I have never met (other than a recognized saint) has had such an impact on me, and a continuing relationship at that. Irene’s story continues to impact me, challenge me, and I have truly found her interceding for me as well! Here is my interview with  Aleteia  Irene Fedoryka, a Musician, Mother of Ten and Icon of Self-Giving An upon researching he

Materialism. Atheism. Secularism. Call it what you like, but the vortex created through these beliefs will suck your soul dry and leave you battered and broken and, maybe, still believing the lies. the prince of lies, in his greatest defeat, has convinced a generation that he doesn’t exist. he has convinced our society that nothing is wrong. “What about the Commandments?” they used to say? he lied because he knew they’d want to believe. It’s easier that way.  Read more at Prayerfully Yours

I wanted to pray "for families" today. Then I looked in my little book of Ignatian thoughts and realized that's too vague. His words challenge me to become a better wife and mother myself--THAT is an important step in praying for families! Open this booklet with me at Praying with Grace !

Lover: How fair and pleasant you are,     O loved one, delectable maiden![ a ] SS 7:6 Read on Blog: http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – A Man of Peace Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of peace, receiving the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent efforts to bring racial equality to the forefront of American society. He organized peaceful protests, as in the case of Rosa Parks, where he was known to have said: “ We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown an amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice .” 1 Martin Luther King Jr.’s rhetorical skills, calm demeanor, and peace loving nature, combined with his theological training, ... Read more...

Lover   Your hair is like royal tapestry;      the king is held captive by its tresses.   Song of Songs 7:5 Read on Blog:  http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

As the Morning Rising: Make Her Known to The World

Lover 2  Your navel is a rounded bowl      that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat,      encircled with lilies.  SS 7:2 Read on Blog:  http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

How can a man or woman leave home, possessions, career, entertainment - and so many things the world considers important - in order to take up residence behind monastery walls?      For what reason would a person even consider such a thing? (click to continue)

I'm in the lower half of America's economic ladder, but I've never been homeless. That's just as well, since I've spent the bulk of my life in Minnesota and North Dakota. Winters get cold up here. I am, however, a recovering English teacher; and I like to verify my assumptions about what words mean. Here's part of my country's definition of "homeless." There will not be a test on this.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Instead of 'Christmas crackers' the parish priest had bought 'Christian crackers' for the parish party. So instead of wearing paper hats everyone wore paper halos instead and received miniature plastic saints, and instead of side-splitting jokes they had to meditate on mind-bending religious epigrams. Mine not only bent my mind but also tied it in knots for weeks trying to work out what on earth it meant. It was ascribed to a certain  H Smith (circa 1630)  and went something like this  ‘He is not thankful before God who only thanks him for his benefits’ . I don't think I would ever have fully unravelled its meaning had I not been to a retreat given by Archbishop Anthony Bloom three weeks later. .... read on

Just a few quotes from the Saints, Scripture and fellow Christians  to remind serious-minded Catholics to laugh.  Somehow the average Catholic does not associate joy with holiness but believes holiness is synonymous with misery and suffering.  However, suffering is not miserable when we are suffused with the love of God and filled with His Spirit. In this post, I will simply overwhelm you with quotes all affirming the fact that joy is at the core of our spirits when we live in, with, and through Christ. St. Ignatius of Loyola understood the power of God's joy when he  invited  believers to, "Laugh and grow strong." He understood, "The joy of the Lord IS our strength." C.S. Lewis had an amusing way of describing Christian joy as the serious business of heaven. continue reading

As the Morning Rising: Merciful Kindness : Nazareth Care Village Chapel Belfast Recently I was in the company of a retired teaching nun, Glasgow-born, who taught in Scotland, C...

Lover 5  Your head crowns you like Mt Carmel,  SS 7:5 Unlike Israel, the setting for the Song, Australia doesn’t have a lot of mountains.  In the heart of our country, we do have Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock.  Uluru is famous for its transforming colours.  Read more on Blog: http://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

THEODORE LUXTON-JOYCE English eccentric millionaire of Scottish descent speaks his mind. Do you agree with him? CLICK HERE

I think God is pleased with all our prayers, no matter how imperfect they may be. After all, even if we’re pretty distracted, the fact that we’re praying tells God that we care. We believe in him. We want him involved in our lives. And he’s merciful. If we take one step toward him, he’ll take ten toward us. So if you’re praying and trying to connect with God even just once a day ( more about how to do that here ), you’re already doing great. But there is a way to make our prayers more meaningful. Our attitudes make a difference. Not because God gives more grace or less grace depending on how “good” our prayer is, but because the state of our mind and heart makes a difference on how open we are to receiving that grace. Think of the simple image of a cup. You’re standing before a waterfall. The water flows on, and on, and on… ceaselessly. How much you receive depends on you, and the cup you bring with you. If your cup is full of other stuff, you can’t take as much water away wi

If we don’t learn now, we might never learn. That’s frightening. Mercy. One of the greatest gifts from God is Mercy. Our God is Love and Mercy. He made us to be with Him in heaven. He gave us free will so that we could choose Him above all else. Even if we choose to sin, He does not interfere because of the gift of free will. We did not earn His love, because that is impossible. God gave us His love freely, without reserve, and He cannot love us more than the moment when we were conceived. That love is so great that we cannot imagine what this love could be. God loves. That is all, and yet, it’s everything. God is everything. Read more at Prayerfully Yours

Some scientist think globular clusters aren't good places to look for neighbors. Others took a fresh look at the data, crunched numbers, and pointed out that parts of globular clusters might be better spots for interstellar civilizations that the boonies where we live. Meanwhile, someone with a lot more money that I'll ever see decided to spend some of it on a systematic search for extraterrestrial intelligence. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .