Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Jesus is the epitome of virtue; the exemplar of how we are to live. We are all good at some virtues but, unlike Jesus, we are unable to master all of them. It seems that no matter how hard we try, we seem to continue to struggle mastering some of them. With what virtues do you excel? With what virtues do you struggle? In the areas where you excel, do you find the virtues come easy to you? In the areas where you struggle, do you have any idea why you experience such difficulty in mastering said virtues? Let’s do a very quick analysis: On a scale of one to ten, with ten being outstanding, how virtuous do you think you are in each of the following categories? Read more...

As the Morning Rising: I'll Not Let Mary Go : I'll not let Mary go Should rain and snow Blind my eyes And cover every path I know Should sickness come And weaken ...

Really. Where is your Rosary? It’s May, and May is dedicated to the Mother of God, Mary, our Mother, too, and the practice of prayer called the Rosary. I have to admit, I am a Rosary Hoarder. I think I own about 20 rosaries, and I look to collect more. I also carry rosaries with me to give away. It is a weird thing to do, but when the Holy Spirit prompts, I have found, even though I feel silly giving away Rosaries to people I don’t know, and sometimes to people I do know, that in the gesture are many blessings. I am both blessed and bless in the gift of the Rosary. Read More at Prayerfully Yours.

(from The Cloistered Heart)

Something I found on page 59 of "Amoris Laetitia" 1 is an example of why I love being Catholic — common sense, drawing on the Church's experience and wisdom, developed by dealing with people for two millennia. Some folks have been having conniptions over the encyclical: some because the Pope won't redefine marriage to suit their preferences; others, I suspect, for his failure to heap abuse on couples in " 'irregular' situations." Instead of denouncing them as loathsome sinners who should be cast into the outer darkness, Pope Francis actually talks about "...offering them assistance so they can reach the fullness of God's plan for them...." (" Amoris Laetitia ," page 227) More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

We are chosen  for love. We are sent out into the world to love one another.  Sometimes we live as if we were sent into the world to compete with one another, or to dispute with one another, or even to quarrel with one another. But the Christian is  to live in such a way that he shows what is meant  by loving. It is here that Jesus makes another of his great claims. Read on:  10 Minute Daily Retreat I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. John 15:23-24

We have a choice to let go of fear and trust in the fire of the Holy Spirit. However, as we mature, we are conditioned by society to resist the latent firepower within. The saints show us how to let go of control and allow God to do His job within our souls because the truth is only the fire of God can purify, refine and changes us into the Image of Jesus Christ so Love shines through us into the world. God will use anything to help use let go. "Standing Outside the Fire" , by Garth Brooks ,  a l ways brings me to tears because it triggers my own yearning for the fire of God hidden deep in my soul. It is easy to lose touch with this longing, focusing on the business of each day as I function efficiently, approved of by society. On the other hand, whenever someone surrenders to the power of the fire, the ensuing process of transformation usually looks messy and foolish. continue reading

The Trinity , El Greco, 1577, Madrid  Gospel John 14:23-29 ( NRSV,Catholic Ed , Can) Jesus said to his disciples: “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

There are days you can do it, and days that you can’t. I personally think I should become a hermit, perhaps, then, I could lead a life of holiness and good example for the secular world because when I fall, I don’t just fall, I implode and explode at the same time. At times like these, I am thankful that to become a saint, you don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to love God above all else; love yourself as God loves you; and love your neighbor as yourself.  Read More at Prayerfully Yours

My biggest issue.  I want everything to be a PIECE OF CAKE - or a yummy gluten-free cupcake as my case may be. When I first opened the  Navigating Your Finances God's Way  small group study back on February 21st, my subconscious expectation was to have  all my financial woes  FIXED by time I reached Lesson 10!  Well, we are only on Lesson 8, and I can attest that many of our fiscal problems still exist.   We still live paycheck to paycheck, we still occasionally need a boost from our lone credit card to make our ends meet, I still do not have a steady stream of income, and our cars are still both on their last leg.   I paint such  a pretty picture every week  don't I!  Well, that comes from some years in marketing and others in human resources - you always give the negative 'strokes' before launching into the positive. IT will not be the quick fix ... READ MORE of how we are pulling ourselves out of debt All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2016

I remember when heart transplants were front-page international news, not local human interest stories: and when polio vaccinations were new. I really do not miss the 'good old days.' I remember them, and they weren't. I also remember when cryonics was 'science fiction stuff,' not a highly-experimental and controversial medical procedure. I probably won't live long enough to see whether it works. But if you're young enough: you might.... ...Since I'll be talking about life, death, and medical practices, I'd better start by saying that I'm a Christian: a Catholic. Like it says in the Apostles Creed , "I believe in ... the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting." I'll be explaining why I don't see a conflict between that belief and trying to save lives.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Last week my nephew Andy videotaped my sister and me recalling our experiences growing up in our house on Donald Avenue and the people who made up our family, immediate and extended. This trip down memory lane was a lovely experience. It unearthed events that I had long forgotten about. My sister and I remembered different things. By coincidence, in a homily last week, Pope Francis spoke of the value of treasuring memories. They can be a great source of prayer. So how do we let our memories inspire prayer? We replay them in our minds, aware of the presence of God as we do so. click to continue

The Christian woman beamed when I told her I'd accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior but had never heard of the Salvation Prayer. After receiving permission, she put her hands on me and prayed the Salvation Prayer over me. When it was completed, she practically squealed  with delight at having "saved" me and ran off to tell others. It was overly simple. I'd accepted Christ as Savior, said The Salvation Prayer,  and  -  BOOM! -   she said I was now going to Heaven. In those few moments, I'd received a golden ticket to paradise. It was an experience I was happy to have, but it was also one that made me think more deeply about what it means to be Catholic-Christian. The more cynical part of me wondered if I could be saved simply because of my faith and saying the Salvation Prayer as many Christians profess. I'd accepted Jesus, but I had before I'd known the Salvation Prayer existed. I'd sought out faith in Jesus and the Holy Tr

As the Morning Rising: Going Places : Going Places Bedraggled Unwashed untended Toe-peeping shoes past needing mended Clothed in a carnival coloured shawl and wrap-ro...

Today is April 27, 2016, and it’s cold. The wind is blowing making it feel colder. Yes, we have a wind chill. The actual air temperature is 47 degrees. That’s cold! My joints ache. I’m tired. I’m cranky. I need a nap, but, because it’s cold, my dog is hogging the couch where I should be taking a well deserved morning nap, right now. Then there’s the politics. I’m more discouraged than I have ever been in my adult life about the state of our candidates. I’m wondering which candidate is the one for whom I will vote. Should I simply vote for me? I don’t know. Right now, I don’t care. I feel disconnected, not only from God, but from everyone I know.  Read more at Prayerfully Yours

April is a time of renewal; new beginnings! I spent most of this past month of April caring for a friend, who underwent her second hip replacement. Throughout the month, I was repeatedly reminded of God’s presence in the midst of all that went on; from the day of her surgery, until she departed to return to her own home, with her brand, spanking, new hip. It started with the day of her surgery (March 30 th ). While walking down the hall to my friend’s hospital room, I noticed that each room had signs under the room numbers with unique quotes . For my friend’s room we had a quote from Saint Thomas Aquinas (my virtues mentor!). It read: “ There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship .” As I read this quote I realized... Read more...

(from The Breadbox Letters)

Have you ever had a bad day? Read more here: http://www.tacywilliamsbeck.com/2016/04/sidelined-by-gratitude-and-grace.html

Not only were we made to live, we were made to die. I think back to the people who lived and walked with Jesus, and I am reminded of my mortality. The Obituary Section of the paper is never empty. There are always names and stories there. I had one ancestor who fought in the Civil War. He’s dead now, along with his wife who outlived him and claimed the benefits due to her after he died. She died 20 years later. My grandparents are dead. My parents are deceased. We were made to live, but, one day, we have to die. There’s no getting out of that. We cannot stay in this world forever. Our real home is in eternity. Read More at Prayerfully Yours :  

As the Morning Rising: Prayer, Power, and the Universal Church : I spent some time today in the Adoration Chapel in my local parish. There were others there too. The fact that our personal or communal pra...