Association Of Catholic Bloggers

For me, it was easy to look like a saint on the outside as I mothered nine little people. The trouble was, although I looked like I lived a life of self-denial, losing myself to give life to others, I tended to over control. I depended on my strength to get through the overwhelming chores which were part of running a household of eleven.   I slowly learned how to let some things go and centre on the essentials, on loving and not maintaining a perfectly clean house with all the laundry folded in dresser drawers. I learned to let go of control in my daily life which spilled over into my inner life. Surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit within our spirits can seem like a rather esoteric activity, something to talk about, write about, and perhaps pray about but not part of our daily lives but our inner and outer lives are intricately entwined. continue

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Yeah ... right ... After what he has done ... You must be joking ... Please click HERE

Diana von Glahn - also know as  The Faithful Traveler  -- visits A Seeking Heart with Allison Gingras ( BreadboxMedia) to discuss her new MAGNIFICENT series:  A PAPAL PILGRIMAGE IN THE HOLY LAND  We look at the 3 main locations featured in the series:  Jordan, Bethlehem and Israel​ We learn how Diana came to produce  A Papal Pilgrimage in the Holy Land Hear about the SUPER embarrassing thing I did concerning Diana back in 2008 Let your mouth water as Diana shares some of the amazing Holy Land meals and treats  Did you know why Pope Francis made this historic trip?  Diana makes some compelling arguments  for joining her some day on a pilgrimage  to the Holy Land .... you will be sold too!!   To READ MORE - or listen to Diana's Podcast visit:  Reconciled To You / Radio Show All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2016

St Nicolaaskerk Church, Amsterdam, the Netherlands When light shines through stained glass windows, they can lift our souls up from our own narrow miserable awareness into His Presence as we contemplate them. Light is more powerful than darkness and beautiful colourful glass works of art can touch us with a mystical, heavenly light that moves our hearts and souls towards God. No wonder stained glass windows were crafted in the Middle Ages as a way of teaching illiterate parishioners the basic Christian message and inspiring them to live holy, prayerful lives. CONTINUE

As the Morning Rising: Peace from the Prince of Peace : http://holy-familyparish.com/ There is a statuary of the Holy Family in my local parish church in a little side chapel and because th...

Lying on his deathbed, Jane de Chantal’s husband forgave his cousin who had accidentally shot him while hunting. His young, devoted, heart-broken widow—now a single mother of four young children—was not as fast to reconcile. Jane approached forgiveness with great contemplation. A woman of deep faith, Jane knew that this task would not only take God’s grace to accomplish  but would also require time. At first, she could only greet the man on the street—slowly progressing to inviting him to their home. Jane eventually reached such peace in her relationship with this man that she became the godmother of one of his children. Forgiveness is a process. Sometimes a very long, arduous one but with God's grace it is possible to forgive even in the most difficult of circumstances. As St. Jane experienced herself... READ MORE All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2016 *First appeared in  7 Qualities of Mercy  --   Light Along the Way.

Have you ever really given this question much thought: What are you doing with the rest of your life? I ask from the perspective of what you plan to do with your eternal life. At the time of your departure from this earthly life, you will go down one of two paths: a life with God, or a life without God – for all eternity! What is your preference? If you prefer an eternal life with God, then the question begs to ask: How involved do you allow God to be in your earthly life? What kind of relationship do you have with Him now? Might it be that you tend to keep Him somewhat at a distance? You think that if He were actively involved, then you... Read more...

In honor of the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (or Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ) celebrated this Sunday, here is a Eucharist IQ Quiz that I use in my workshops on the liturgy. You simply have to tell whether each statement is true or false. The answers are at the end. Don’t peek! The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. The Mass is our highest form of worship. The word Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper. He told us to do it in remembrance of him. At Mass we remember his death and resurrection. Click to continue

Who doesn't enjoy  a beautiful wedding? Our senses are delighted with music, food, flowers, the colours and textures of fabrics, the transforming impact of hairstyles and makeup and the elegance of jewellery. Our spirit is lifted by the palpable joy between the couple. Like any event, weddings  don't just happen.  Hours of hard work, negotiation - conflict management - and careful planning have set the scene. My own wedding preparation was no different. When we requested a non-traditional hymn in the church repertoire, the musician obliged, but not before muttering, 'that's an odd choice of song for a wedding.'

As the Morning Rising: Belfast : Belfast If you press an ear to the pillow of ground beneath this pulsing city You may hear the river of collected tears that Runs under...

(from The Cloistered Heart)

Father Ignatius was in his office when George came running in. “Father come quick” he gasped in between breaths, “the Virgin Mary is crying ….” “Calm down George … take a deep breath … now tell me, what is going on?” “The statue of the Virgin Mary, in church …” said George, “it is crying. Come and see for yourself ….” Please continue reading HERE

As the Morning Rising: Visitation Poem : Visitation All I can recall now Is an exchange between two Whose presence to each other, And to the room, Exuded a kind of ...

Our daughter graduated from college in May. My husband and I have been to many college graduations, but this one was different. It wasn’t different because it was our daughter, it was different because she graduated from a Lutheran college. You can read the article at  Catholic365.com .

In this Year of Mercy, I continue to cover at least one or more of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy each month. Given that today is Memorial Day, a day where we remember those who have given their lives in service to the United States of America, I thought it fitting that we should cover the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead. When you think of burying the dead, you think of attending someone’s funeral, correct? In one sense that is exactly what this corporal work of mercy requires us to do: to bury the dead by giving them a place of rest in a grave or urn. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity; ever more so in death, by preparing that place of rest until the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus will raise us all to new life. Until that day though, we all need that place of rest for our physical bodies. Honoring the dead is part of the work of mercy to bury the dead. On this day, I remember my dad, a World War II veteran... Read more...

When I first decided to spend my life searching for God I visited the great Carthusian monastery, St Hugh’s Charterhouse, Parkminster in Sussex, England with the intention of living the enclosed eremitical life. I was deeply impressed and I immediately came to the conclusion that it was here that I would like to spend the rest of my life. That is until I had a long talk with the monk who had shown me around. It was obvious that he was deeply happy in his chosen vocation despite long periods of spiritual darkness when the light of God’s love highlighted the sinfulness that kept him out. However, this did not deter me, for I had long since understood that before union with God could begin, it would have to be preceded by an inner purification, and I was eager for this purification to take place so that my deepest heart’s desire could be fulfilled.   read on.....

"...Take patiently the petty annoyances, the trifling discomforts, the unimportant losses which come upon all of us daily; for by means of these little matters, lovingly and freely accepted, you will give him your whole heart, and win His. I mean the acts of daily forbearance;  the headache, or toothache, or heavy cold; the tiresome peculiarities of husband or wife..." (continue...)

  Every large organisation or institution has a Mission Statement. A statement outlining what the Organisation is set up to do, what are its values, ethics, and purpose.   Many years ago, in the year 325, the first ecumenical council of churches met and wrote a "mission statement" which is better known as the Nicene Creed. The name originates from the city of Nicaea in Turkey, where the ecumenical council met. Also known as the Credo, (I believe), this document or statement has been accepted by most Christian denominations in the world. It is, in fact, what a Christian truly believes. It is what identifies a Christian from anyone else.  Let's look at it in some detail: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty. This proclaims at the onset that there is only one God. We are taught to see him and address Him as a Father. A symbol of love, caring, mercy and forgiveness. And that He is almighty; not like any other father here on earth.

I recently received the gift of tickets to see Andre Rieu. The concert isn’t scheduled for another six months so I've stored the tickets away until I need them. Imagine if I lose them! Or if I forget I even had them! I will never experience the true joy the gift was intended to bring me. Nor could I genuinely show appreciation to my generous gift giver. God has provided us with spiritual gifts with which to live the spiritual life. Over the next 7 months, the 10 Minute Daily Retreat will reflect on 7 of these gifts; one every month. In June, we will reflect on the gift of Wisdom. 'Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.' Proverbs 4:6 Join us on our journey! Reflections can be sent by email. Details on: 10 Minute Daily Retreat Blog

(from The Breadbox Letters)

Gospel Luke 9:11b-17 ( NRSV, Catholic Ed , Canada) When the crowds found out about it, they followed Jesus; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. Sheaves of Wheat , Van Gogh, 1885 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled.

MOVING MOUNTAINS Easy? Difficult? Impossible? PLEASE CLICK HERE

Melanie and a friend were the only Catholics at a non-denominational conference for Sunday School teachers. Melanie was prayed with for her crooked spine. Her legs become the same length and she could stand straight. It was not until weeks later when a chiropractor was struck dumb and Melanie’s agnostic mother wept with joy, that she allowed herself to relax and simply accept the bizarre, the surreal. She was healed. continue reading

A Reflection based on the movie Risen  ... Halfway through our viewing of the movie  Risen  ( DVD available May 24th ) - my husband, Kevin, turned to me and said; "Do you ever wonder what you would have believed if you were there during the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus?"  While it is impossible to know how exactly I have believe, there is way too much hindsight and history behind my contemplation - I am very certain I would have been like  Nicodemus .  The one who was curious, sensed there was something to what this man was preaching, and followed him in secret; however in the end, after all he had heard and witnessed, was truly convinced Jesus was the Messiah.  If 2000 years later, this is who I am, why would I have been any different if it was unfolding before my very eyes.     Read more and view exclusive movie content   All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2016 

How do you want to be perceived by others? Do you want to be perceived in light of honesty and trustworthiness? I’m sure the answer is yes; who wouldn’t want to be perceived in such a manner? Well, to be considered honest and trustworthy, you have to be honest and trustworthy in your words and actions. Even con men get found out sooner or later; so deception will never win the day for you. So, “everyone lies,” you say? Even if that were true, does that give you the right to lie? Just because everyone else does it, does that make it morally right for you? The answer is “no!” For 36 years, I was a banking professional; more specifically, for 23 of those 36 years I was an auditor for a few banks. Therefore, I know what it feels like to be lied to by an audit client. It’s amazing... Read more...

As I was working on a book about teaching prayer, it occurred to me that the chapter on silence would make a good blog. So here it is with a few adaptations . . .  All of us have memories stashed away that bear out the truth of the saying “silence is golden.” Maybe you remember walking into the peace of your own home after a noisy party, or taking a stroll before anyone else was awake, or gazing at a baby fast asleep. Such times are valuable because they draw us more deeply into reality. Usually the world packs our minds with a million noises: music, chatter, commercials, traffic sounds, crowds. Sheltered from these distractions, we are free to concentrate on essentials. In silence we find truth goodness, and beauty. In silence we discover who we are. Silence is the air that our spirit must breathe if our spiritual life is to thrive. Click to continue

Please visit Praying with Grace to enjoy my very last post for the Apostleship of Prayer.

Today, I am so happy to announce to you that my latest E-book,  Beautiful Souls: Holiness in the Home , is finally  for sale for 1.99 over on Amazon ! {Yaay!} From the Amazon description: In this new e-book, Tacy Williams Beck seeks to discover the path to holiness as it relates to parenting, living by the Spirit in the home, and seeking to see the fruit of this holiness as a way of life. This book has been a process. As you may or may not know, it started as a series on this blog. Although you might think: Why are you selling what is already available on your blog as an e-book? That doesn't make any sense! Well, the answer is simple. I want you to have it in a beautiful format, fully edited and ready to go. No distractions, no hullabaloo. I want you to be able to keep it in a more permanent, put-together form! Please catch the e-book today, as it is only 1.99 for a limited time!  And if you don't mind, take a second to leave me a quick review on Amazon. I would love

As the Morning Rising: Icon Poem - Our Mother of Perpetual Help : Icon The Mother's eyes are sorrowful While the wise eyes of her child are fixed On a future all too visible No matter what the Moth...

Last night, about 10 PM, I searched the darkened sky for the planet Mars. News reports said that Mars would be visible without a telescope. I saw a beautiful “flower” moon rising in the sky. I don’t know why it was called a flower moon, but it was beautiful!  Read More at Prayerfully Yours