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Monday's Gospel reading, Luke 1:26 - 38 , is a repeat from December 8. It starts with.... ...A little earlier in that chapter we get an account of Gabriel's interview with Zachariah: Luke 1:10 - 20 . That's when Gabriel personally delivers God's response to Zachariah's prayer — and Zachariah demands proof. Zachariah got proof, all right. He couldn't talk for for months. Not until he agreed with his wife about his son's name: in writing. Elizabeth said the boy's name was John, the same name Gabriel had specified.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The Dream of St Joseph, Georges de la Tour  Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 ( NRSV, Anglicised Catholic Ed .) Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’,which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the

Dear Readers, With Advent rushing by and Christmas just around the corner, I've also decided to start a series of Christmas movie reviews. I'm kicking my reviews off with one of my family's favorites:  Miracle on 34th Street  (1994). Yes, this is a remake of an older, even more beloved 1947 George Seaton film. Les Mayfield is the director here, and I'm not sure if Mayfield or his cinematographer is to be credited for the film's glossy beauty, but it certainly fits a film with the word 'Miracle' in the title. The production is led by a trio strong adult actors, Elizabeth Perkins, Richard Attenborough and Dylan McDermott, and anchored by a gifted youngster, Mara Wilson. The plot's summary is thus: A lonely, albeit well-off, single mother Mrs. Walker (Perkins) and sweet daughter Susan (Wilson) find some much-needed Christmas cheer when Kris Kringle (Attenborough) arrives to save the day at a flagship 34th Street store. Christmas charm sweeps through the cit

I'd love to be talking about unambiguously artificial signals picked up by the Allen Telescope Array , or reports of a ship from beyond the Solar System settling into orbit around our moon. But that hasn't happened, and probably won't. Not in my lifetime. Instead, I'll talk about why I don't "believe in" extraterrestrial life; and do not assume that we are alone in the universe. That puts me in the third of folks who aren't sure, and I'll get back to that. My 'Friday' posts are usually about more-or-less-current 'science news.' That won't happen this week. I've read a few interesting articles, and will be talking about them — after the Christmas-New Year's gymkhana is over. This week I'm using material that didn't quite fit into an earlier post. I'll also talk about the Great Moon Hoax, Nicola Tesla and Martians; and what I think about life in the universe. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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When a BOOK is a Blessing My son does not know if he wants to be Catholic. In fact he is not even sure if he even believes in God. When the subject comes up between us, my response, quite frankly is usually terse and accompanied with a tone much louder and more frustration filled than I intend it to be.  The result from the pain in my heart hearing his words which cut much deeper than he intends them to. I blame myself for his faith struggle, wondering what I could have done better or differently, and if it is now too late to make a difference.  Yet the truth remains despite my greatest efforts, or at least my best attempts at a greatest effort, my son is not sure where he stands with the faith that I love so very much. For the Remaining 9 LIFE CHANGING lessons... CLICK HERE !  All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras, 2016

St. John of the Cross, a 16 th century saint, is most well-known for working with St. Teresa of Avila at reforming the Carmelite orders of priests and nuns. John of the Cross received his Carmelite habit in 1563. Upon obtaining his habit, he immediately asked to live a more austere life than his fellow Carmelites of the day. John sought to live a life more in line with the original meaning of being a Carmelite. In John’s day, the Carmelites had grown accustomed to the amenities of the 16 th century. By living a more austere life, John of the Cross believed he lived a life more like the life of Christ. Ordained to the priesthood in 1567, he met St. Teresa of Avila shortly thereafter in 1568. Together they worked tirelessly to reform the Carmelite orders of priest and nuns, bringing back the austerity of what it meant to walk with Christ. In 1577, the Carmelite Order ordered St. John of the Cross to return to Medina. He refused, noting that he believed... Read more... 

Pink. Sunday's advent candle was pink. In a house full of boys, pink stands out. Pink is rare. Pink is welcome. Pink is often part of my wardrobe in some form or another. Maybe it's found in my sweater, maybe in my accessories, or maybe in my socks where only I know it's there, but I am usually wearing pink something, somewhere, somehow... Pink in Advent And the third Sunday in Advent always makes me smile. In a wreath dominated by purple candles signifying both repentance and royalty, the pink candle stands out. It stands alone. It burns brightly surrounded by the others, a flame lit by the same hand that lit the others' this flame attracts the eye simply because of its difference. Pink is the sign of Gaudate Sunday, a sign of Joy beyond mere happiness. It is a Joy understood by a few and longed for by all. To finish the post, please join me at SingleMomSmiling.com God Bless...

As I researched Christmas customs recently, I discovered the meaning behind some of them that many people, even Christians, are probably not aware of. I found the symbolism interesting. Maybe you will too. Christmas   The name for this feast comes from “Christ Mass” because Mass was celebrated in honor of the birth of Christ. The short form of Christmas, Xmas, comes from the Greek word for Christ, which is also the origin of the chi-rho symbol used for Christ in Christian art. December 25   This date was chosen for the celebration of Jesus’ birth because it was the day the Romans celebrated the feast of the invincible Sun and the Persians celebrated the birth of their god Mithras.  Click to continue

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Interviewer:   "Hello,  and welcome to Mystical Talk Radio, I'm John of Mystical Talk.  We have with us a woman who says that she is a warrior in the true mystical sense of the word.  Welcome Miss Anne.  Now I want our listeners to know that Anne is not her real name, our guest only agreed to the interview on the condition that we not reveal her identity, is that correct Miss Anne?  Miss Anne:   "Yes." Interviewer:   "And Anne is not your real name of course." Miss Anne:   "No, I'm afraid not." Interviewer:   "Well tell us Miss Anne, our show is Mystical Talk Radio and from your book,  Encounters with St. Michael the Archangel . you claim to have encountered the mystical realm, is that correct?" Miss Anne:   "Yes, many times in fact." Interviewer:  "So the mystical realm is real, is that what you are trying to tell us." TO READ MORE OF THIS INTERVIEW... CLICK HERE . 

Nada tenemos tan fuerte en común los mexicanos como el culto a la Virgen de   Guadalupe. Le rinden homenaje desde los más ricos hasta los más pobres, los artistas, los que no creen en nada más que en su Guadalupana....   Inclusive “el movimiento de independencia tuvo como primer estandarte la Virgen de Guadalupe.”

I don't know why encounters with angels, 1 and God, aren't all alike. Sometimes, like Abraham's meeting with the Almighty and two angels, described in Genesis 18:2 , or Habakkuk's getting airlifted in Daniel 14:33 - 37 , it's apparently much like meeting another human. Other times, like Daniel's interview with Gabriel, it takes days to recover. I suspect that it depends on the personalities involved, and on just how much unshielded power we're exposed to. "The writing on the wall" is still an idiom in my language, meaning "the likelihood that something bad will happen." ( TheFreeDictionary by Farlex ) It comes from a reality check Belshazzar experienced.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

By the time I was pregnant with my sixth child, I was desperate to find a supportive family doctor and obstetrician. Four of my five children had been delivered by Dr. Leslie E.,  a brilliant, strong feminist.  As a mother of a growing family, I was an enigma to her as she was to me. In her office, successful professional women waited for gynecological care and women in their late thirties or early forties were pregnant with their first child.  I felt like every eye was on me when I walked through her door for my first visit, pregnant with a toddler on my hip and by my last visit with three or four other children clustered around me. Birth control devices enshrined on this doctor’s desk, encased in glass, seemed to glare at me every time I sat across from her. After one visit, this obstetrician said, in what I hope was a teasing tone, “Would you quit bringing your  beautiful children  to my office. Someone always wants a reversal (from tubal ligation) after you leave.”

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; a day to remember and reflect upon Our Blessed Mother’s appearance to Juan Diego. When Our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego, his country was under the influence of pagan beliefs in false gods. Mary appeared to him to set into motion a means for personally evangelizing the people of Central America. Her specific words to Juan Diego were: I greatly desire that a church be built in my honor, in which I will show my love, compassion, and protection. I am your Mother, full of mercy and love for you and all those who love Me, trust in Me, and have recourse to Me. I will hear their complaints and I will comfort their affliction and their sufferings. So that I might show all My love, go now to... Read more...  

‘Silence is so lacking in this world which is often too noisy, which is not favorable to recollection and listening to the voice of God. In this time of preparation for Christmas, let us cultivate interior recollection, so as to receive and keep Jesus in our lives.’ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI    (from The Cloistered Heart)

Pip's Christmas doesn't have much to do with Christmas, or Advent, but I figured this post should have something that looks 'seasonal.' "...Blessed is the One Who Takes No Offense at Me" We'll be hearing Matthew 11:2 - 11 this morning. The readings still aren't particularly 'Christmassy.' " 2 When John heard in prison 3 of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him " 4 with this question, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' "Jesus said to them in reply, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: " 5 the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. "And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.' " ( Matthew 11:4 - 6 ) Our Lord balanced that rebuke with a reminder of the Baptist's great function in Matthew 11:7 - 15 , and a complai

There are so many wonderful feast days in December that help kids deal with the long, waiting period of Advent. December 12 is the feast of  La Virgen de Guadalupe , Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is a marvelous story to tell children.  In 1521 – Our Blessed Mother appeared to San Juan Diego on the Hill of Tepeyac, near Mexico City. So much of  Mexican folk art  depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe is vibrant, colourful, and beautiful in its simplicity. continue reading

As the Morning Rising: Guadete Garden : Guadete Garden The 'o' at the centre of joy Is the unseen-to-the eye shape Of a blackbird's throat As from its orange b...

A wonderful Christmas story to share by the Christmas tree with family and friends. A story you will never forget. PLEASE CLICK HERE

Scientists have been wondering how our moon formed, and why its orbit isn't over Earth's equator. It looks like our moon formed after something about the size of Mars hit Earth, roughly 4,500,000,000 years back. But the giant-impact hypothesis didn't explain why our moon orbits Earth only five degrees away from Earth's orbital plane. The math had said that our moon would be orbiting pretty much over Earth's equator.... ...God is Large and In Charge I occasionally wonder if I should keep explaining why reality doesn't offend me, and why facts don’t threaten my faith.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

As the Morning Rising: Beloved of all the Nations : We are a waiting people, whose prayerful ushering airs the rooms of home and heart, as we prepare for the coming of the One who is belove...

God always comes to be born anew in our hearts. I can trust that He will come. For He comes even on a  frosty whisper, Lighting the darkness with pinpoints of hope Just as the stars appear each dark night. He will come, i n spite  of myself; His arrival does not depend on my preparations. Only that I wait expectantly in the dark. If I open my inner stable door, He will come like a tiny child Silently slipping into the open spaces in my heart.    continue reading

St John the Baptist in Prison Juan Fernández de Navarrete Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 ( NRSV, Anglicised Catholic Ed .) When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who

In his book  A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur,  Mark Twain imagines the old and ailing King becoming a commoner, visiting his people, hoping to improve their lot. This idea was an afterthought, but with God it was his first thought. Nor did he visit his people merely to improve their lot, but to transform it by bringing back all who so chose, to enjoy the rapturous joy without ending that he enjoyed.  Because it was his first thought, not just to dress like a human being, but to become one through his Son Jesus, then that decision inevitably entailed another -  a human mother. Now it stands to reason that if she was to give birth to a perfect human being, then she too must be perfect or her imperfections would be transmitted to her son.   read on....

Christians in the first centuries of the Church believed in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In fact, all Christians, until 500 years ago, up until and including Martin Luther, believed in the Immaculate Conception. Luther was the founder of Protestant Reformation. continue reading

8 Notes to a Nobody , by Cynthia T. Toney, is a heartwarming, yet truthful, depiction of what it is like to be a teenage girl, coming of age. In Cynthia Toney’s tale, Wendy Robichaud, an eighth grader, comes face-to-face with some of the struggles that teens unfortunately face: eating disorders and teen suicide; feelings of inferiority and loneliness. Read more...

As the Morning Rising: Immaculate Conception Prayer/ Poem : Immaculate Conception  O Mary conceived without sin Chosen to bear God’s only Son You are more beautiful Than our imagini...

Advent readings at Mass focus us on the coming of Jesus in Majesty at the end of time, while Christmas decorations recall his coming in History in Bethlehem, but his third coming that we commemorate during Advent is his coming in Mystery. This coming gets pushed aside. Let’s think about it, for it is the coming that most personally impacts us. Jesus comes to us mysteriously through the kindness of strangers. On Thanksgiving a newspaper appeared on lawns all down my street, but I didn’t get one. I even went out and checked behind the large maple on my tree lawn. I called the publisher and a recording informed me that I hadn’t ordered this special edition. Later, when I went out to Mass, there was a newspaper propped against my back door. When I returned from Mass, there was another paper at my front door. I can only guess that neighbors saw me looking for paper and generously gave me theirs. This thought made me feel warm and cozy all day long. That afternoon I prepared

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There is a wonderful blog written by a man of prayer, David Torkington, who considers it his life’s work to share the joy of true Christian prayer and to teach people how to pray.  He has also published countless books.   In his own words, David says,” All my writings try to promote the Christian way of prayer, and I consider it my life’s work.” read an interview with David on true Christian prayer  

As the Morning Rising: Dublin in the Half-Light of December

I wish that when I was 28 and taking classes for the RCIA program at our local Catholic church, that someone had come up to me and said this: "In five or six more years, you are going to love this. You are going to love being Catholic. You are going to find the rosary beads and the Church calendar so beautiful. All the things that seem so foreign to you now will be deep with rich, meaty meaning. You will look around and your faith will make you so deeply happy."

God does 'Impossible Things'  Spend just a few minutes  learning my story  and you'll know without a doubt that God truly does impossible things.  He mends the broken so  they are able to forgive  the seemingly unforgiveable. Prepares the unqualified and anxious to be soldiers in his army.  Jesus worked miracles to allow the blind to see and lame to walk; today he continues to give sight, but now perhaps moreso to those who are spiritually blind.  Offering strength to walk in His ways to those stumbling due more to circumstance than physical ailment.  He  raised Lazarus from death  to life; and awakens our hearts to new life in him. Close your eyes (after you hit play of course) and allow  Sarah Kroger's  beautiful voice to transport us in this moment to a place in our hearts where we believe - that God can truly do  Impossible Things.        CONTINUE HERE for the Seeking Scripture and Reflection ... All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2016

La promoción de los derechos humanos ha sido, desde el siglo pasado, uno de los grandes labores de los grandes organismos internacionales y de muchos gobiernos alrededor del mundo. Su importancia es central para construir una cultura de paz y progreso. Pero la realidad de los informes sobre su implementación y seguimiento son desalentadores: estos derechos se transgreden continuamente alrededor del mundo.(1) Pero ¿Por qué? ¿Cuáles son las razones de fondo que minan el respeto a lo más elemental del ser humano? La respuesta está más cerca de lo que pensamos y, además, la solución germina dentro de cada uno de nosotros. En este sentido el escritor Eduardo Carrasco nos presenta una guía al cuestionamiento escribiendo en un artículo: “Pero los derechos existen únicamente en la medida en que sean reconocidos por quienes deben respetarlos. Por lo tanto, nuestros derechos dependen de que los demás los reconozcan… Lo único que nos cabe a nosotros en cuanto a ellos, es res

I want to tell you about a criminal who escaped from justice even though he had committed terrible atrocities, including murder. He avoided punishment because the authorities who should have condemned him, were delighted that he was doing their dirty work for them. When he caught his victims, he had them flogged and thrown into prison before putting them to death. Who was this devil incarnate and what finally happened to him? He was a Jew called Saul who finally became a saint called Paul. He confessed his crimes to Jesus himself, as you can see if you read the Acts of the Apostles (22:17-21). Jesus not only forgave him but told him a great mystery, a secret that he had not told anyone whilst he was alive on earth, at least not the whole of it. We are preparing to celebrate the beginning of this secret, this mystery, in only a few weeks’ time, so I want to do for you what St Paul did for the very first Christians.           read on....

As the Morning Rising: St John the Baptist : A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord! Isaiah 40:3

My 'Advent Window' opened when I was twenty years old. I was in what I call my 'God doesn't bother me and I don't bother Him' phase. There was so much to do... friends to hang out with, boys to date, parties to go to. I took no time to think about God; in fact, I was ignoring Him altogether. God, however, was 'thinking' of me, and began reminding me of Himself through a series of little seasonal things. A song heard on the radio, a nativity scene featured on the courthouse steps, Christmas songs piped into stores to draw customers... (click to continue..)

Today's reading from the Gospels, Matthew 3:1 - 12 , doesn't seem particularly Christmassy. Not in the 'presents wrapped under the tree' sense. " 1 2 In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea. "(and) saying, 'Repent, 3 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' ... "...When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees 7 coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? "Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance....." ( Matthew 3:1 - 2 , 7 - 8 ) More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

As the Morning Rising: Advent Prayer : Lord, may my actions this day be as the twinkling of light so that someone somewhere will say. 'There goes a Christian.'