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As the Morning Rising: Butterflies : Butterflies In a meadow teeming with wild flowers No single stem has power to stall them Partnered as they seem to be Elopi...

The Calling of St Matthew (detail), Caravaggio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings  (NAB: USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible) Gospel Matthew 10:37-42 ( NR SV, Catholic Ed ) Jesus said to his Apostles: ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. ‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ Post-World War II Japan [ Source ] Whoever loves father

We wouldn't expect to find life on 51 Eridani b, even if were the size of Earth and at the right distance from its star. The planet is only a bit over 20,000,000 years old. At that point in our home's long story, the earliest critters wouldn't appear for at least another several million years. We've discovered thousands of new worlds so far, some a bit like Earth, most not; and many not like anything in our Solar System. Scientists are starting to make sense of what's being found, and discovering that we have a very great deal left to learn. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Every once in a while, a song, a book or a speaker manages to cut through our pride, our preoccupations with our busy lives to pierce through to our inner longing for God. Then our emptiness and poverty are revealed and we have enough space within to receive more of Christ. This following worship song,  sung during a Eucharistic procession, pierced through all my scattered preoccupations ushering me into the Merciful Presence of  Christ. Matt Maher sings “Lord, I Need You,” followed by Audrey Assad’s singing the Exposition hymn “O Salutaris Hostia” in front of 25,000 pilgrims kneeling before the procession of the Blessed Sacrament at the Tauron Arena Mercy Centre.          continue

I think my husband and I didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into when we started watching the Netflix original drama-thriller “Bloodline.” Mostly, I think we decided to give it a whirl because Kyle Chandler, the dad/coach from “Friday Night Lights” was the star. We'd liked that show quite a bit and considered him a pretty good actor; “Bloodline” looked at least mildly interesting, so what the heck, we decided to try it. We had no idea how dark and twisty a story we were about to enter... Continue Reading

Hoy hay sombras en la Capilla...quizá sea porque está atardeciendo....   Tú, Jesús, estás como siempre, silencioso en tu eterna espera....pero tienes el oído atento para todo el que llega, para todo el que te quiere decir algo… : penas, anhelos, sueños, alegrías y tristezas....Tú corazón abierto está para quién a ti llega....y yo se que te quedaste ahí precisamente porque sabías que en el mundo... hay dolor. ¡Vaya que si lo hay!

I have to admit, the reason it has taken me this long to write this post is because I had to work out some personal issues before I could share my story with the world. So I guess on that note, I should just stop beating around the bush and say what I need to say. I did not want to write this because I was embarrassed. I felt as though industrious and my name could not even be in the same sentence. So I pouted about it for a few days until the Holy Spirit touched my heart. Click here to continue!  

Look no futher than... here. {insert ha ha, eye roll, and lol here} I'm looking for a solid faith... but where do I go? I'm not going to tell you I have the corner on the truth because honestly, I don't.  I think that honor goes to gifted teachers like...: Father Robert Barron Scott Hahn Peter Kreeft and R.C. Sproul (maybe also the very gifted and wise  Tim Keller ) There are so many!!! :) I think one of the things that is hardest about parenting are the times when I am at a loss. It is when I come up short in knowing how to guide my children. Perhaps it is not having the correct answer when they ask ... Top Ten Ways to Know You're on Solid Ground: read the rest at tacywilliamsbeck.com

Love Letters from God, Bible Stories for a Girl’s Heart , by Glenys Nellist is endearing, wonderful, chocked filled with virtue, and beautifully illustrated. Nellist shares with us fourteen stories from the Bible, centered on heroic females, highlighting their good traits. She takes us from the Old Testament, through to the New Testament; giving us a different story about each protagonist, salient Bible quotes, and most importantly, personalized letters from God, addressed to your child (with lift the flap notes). Love Letters from God Make for Sweet Dreams! Each of the fourteen tales make for excellent bedtime stories to read to your child; sending them into slumber with heroic females to dream about. Nellist starts with... Read more...

I've just completed a week-long retreat on the Gospel of St. John packed with insights about this "maverick" account of the life of Jesus. I thought I'd share some of what I gleaned from the conferences. As background, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were composed rather early. John's Gospel took shape much later after the Church had time to reflect on Jesus (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and when Christians were not regarded as a Jewish sect that still worshiped in the Temple but as a new and highly suspect religion in the eyes of Jewish leaders. That being said, here are ten insights. The poetic prologue (which we used to pray after Mass when I was a little girl) immediately identifies Jesus as God. The opening verses, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . All things came to be through him" echo Genesis, whose first words are "In the beginning" and which goes on to tell how merel

As the Morning Rising: Before the Blessed Sacrament : O Sacrament most holy O Sacrament divine All praise and all thanksgiving Be every moment thine

With all the political turmoil going on in the world right now regardless of what you believe it is important to get involved. Change starts with you the individual not with society. This past weekend, I was able to attend the 6th annual Gov BBQ, with Gov. Hogan and it really is an honor to hear him speak. His speaking skills portray his down to earth personality while still articulating his points intelligently. I am always interested in promoting Catholics who are actually working towards making a difference in the world. It is about small things with great love. Gov. Hogan has done so much for the state of Maryland. You can find out what he has done and is doing  here.   Gov. Hogan is also a Catholic and is doing this for the church as well. You can find that info  here . I am also happy to say that not only is he bringing back jobs to the state of Maryland but he is also working on international relations Click here to continue and for the video of Gov. Hogan's uplift

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A  good friend, Martha, from Madonna House, “happened” to sit beside a self-proclaimed witch on an old bus heading towards the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. Noticing Martha’s large cross identifying her as a member of the Lay Apostolate, the witch cynically remarked that most Christians were stupid because they were completely clueless about the potential power that existed within each of them. Chuckling, she pointed out all the people on the bus who were Christians. How did she know? The witch could “see” a blue light or aura around every baptized Christian.  She then mocked Christians who acted like weak victims but was pleased that the power of the Holy Spirit was usually wasted on them and lay dormant. At the time Martha was having trouble fasting and praying in seclusion twice a week. When her seat mate boasted that she fasted regularly for the destruction of Christian families, Martha was appalled. continue

In My Brother’s Keeper , by Bill Kassel, we read a great piece of Catholic fiction. Now, right off the bat, let me explain the definition of the genre, “Catholic Fiction,” using Kassel’s own words to describe his effort: This book is a work of speculative fiction, based on incidents in the New Testament, reimagined and elaborated on extensively. I have not attempted to create a ‘fifth Gospel.’ Rather, I’ve tried to fill in some gaps between facts given in Scripture with inventive suppositions about how things might have been (p. 574).   This imaginative effort, coupled with an excellent understanding of Jewish-Roman relations during first-century life in Nazareth and Jerusalem, results in a masterpiece worthy of your time. James: My Brother’s Keeper My Brother’s Keeper , centers on the character of James, the youngest child of Saint Joseph and his deceased wife, Escha; who died shortly after giving birth to James. Kassel spends a good portion of the book setting the stag

by   childlogiclabs I know the devils plan.  The devil has been working up to this moment for a very long time. You see the devil has a lot of time to think and he is constantly retracing his steps to see where he went wrong ... TO READ THE REST OF THE DEVIL'S PLAN: CLICK HERE!

'In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.' - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (from The Cloistered Heart)

Many folks who lived in Grenfell Tower got out. Many others died. We don't know how many. A current estimate is 79. Determining the exact number will be difficult, since high temperatures may have effectively obliterated some human remains. Some survived because they didn't listen to official instructions to stay in their homes. That advice makes sense in a building with sprinklers and adequate interior firewalls. In Grenfell Tower, not so much.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Currently I’m working on a chapter about the afterlife. We people engrossed in the demands of this present life don’t tend to think about this topic until we come to a landmark birthday, someone we know dies, or a movie like The Mummy is released.  Then we wonder, Is this all there is? We Catholics are in good company in believing there is life beyond this one. The concept runs across civilizations and centuries, indicating that human beings possess an innate sense that death is not the end. The Egyptians preserved the bodies of their leaders in pyramids and surrounded them with items they would need in the next life. Qin, the first emperor of China, had a replica of his capital city built and about 8,000 terracotta soldiers, hundreds of chariots, and other things ready for his pleasure when he awoke from death. American Indians buried their dead with food and tools they might need in the next life. Mediums claim to put us in touch with our deceased loved ones. Click t

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PRAISE        P raise R ise A spire I lluminate S oar E nlighten ©   2012 Donna De Guglielmo We are called to be ambassadors of and for God. We live move and have our being in Him. What are you doing today or doing soon for Him? It does not matter the size of it. He loves us.  I even offer to brush my teeth up to Him. All I do. Share below in the comments, we all want to know and help one another through our prayer time. Another great poem to show love to the Lord is  here . Thank you, Blessings; God Loves You!! God is paradise. We are His to soar in His grace and mercy

Typically, when I sit down to watch a Pixar movie with my toddler (or in the past, by myself or with my husband...), I know it's going to be good. Let's forget about Cars 2 for a moment, and acknowledge that Pixar knows what they're doing when they set out to make an animated film that will appeal to both kids and their parents. So when we watched Inside Out , I expected it to be good. My (then)two-year-old was enthralled and wanted to watch the “movie with those funny guys” again and again. But I didn't let him. Because I just couldn't take it... Continue Reading

Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] First Reading, Jeremiah 20:10-13 Gospel Matthew 10:26-33 (NRSV, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus said to the Twelve: ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. I think it was during

The biggest critters with backbones are living today: baleen whales. Finding the largest of them started getting harder about a century back. We didn't quite drive the blue and fin whales to extinction, happily. We're learning when they got so big, and maybe why. We're also learning more about origins of dinosaurs and the domestic cat. It's not the same origin. One happened around the time we started storing grain, the other 200,000,000 years ago. Give or take a bit. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

DO YOU REALLY REALLY BELIEVE IN EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR FAITH? CLICK HERE

As the Morning Rising: Sacred Heart - Fire of Approachability : Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Sacred Heart. How many Irish homes had a picture hanging on the living-room wall, and may...

So I am happy to announce that I came in 3rd place for the faithwriters.com writing competition.  I can say that my lack of beta shows and I know now where to improve. I am just so blessed that I can share my relationship with God with all of you! I know that we all have been struggling lately. You can not turn on the TV or even look at your phone with out seeing the state of the world today. As a Christian it actually hardens my heart to the world. Christ commands us to be an example on how to not live in the world but as my heart hardens; I slip slowly back into the world I was begging God to help me escape. I slip back in to the world because I get angry about the state of things and I sit back and do nothing. I slip back into the world because I let fear over take me and I begin to worry. However I know that walking in faith means giving up worry for trust and faith in Christ. And what a blessing to strive for! To be affirmed enough in faith to be able to relax and trust God

When interceding for our self and others it is important to have a correct view of God and proper mindset. How do we see God? Do we see him as a loving Father who has our best interest at heart or do we see him as a distant god, withholding his grace and gifts unless we jump through certain hoops? We do not need to beg him to act! His mercy and gifts are abundant! Continue Reading @ Beautifulthorns>

How Scriptures Helps Me Overcome Anxiety and Insecurity By Allison Gingras, Reconciled To You Most of my life I have struggled with anxiety and insecurity. There were days, if I could get myself out of bed, I would not leave my home afraid of what evil or injury may befell me. Honestly, there are still days my Germaphobia paralyzes me at the entrance of a building afraid to touch the door handle or hinders me from even shaking people's hands. When fear is not wrestling with me insecurity is. Unsure of my abilities and fear of failing has left many a dream incomplete or unfulfilled. Discovering the Word of God has been this empowering gift! While I continue to battle my fears and phobias, the Scriptures have given me strength that nothing else was able to. I can stand on the Word of God to battle those demons that threaten to steal my joy and derail the plans God has for me. Listening to Jesus in the Gospels teaches me how to trust in Him, have hope and discover that

The devotion to the Sacred Heart ( Sacratissimi Cordis Iesu in Latin) is a well-known Roman Catholic devotion, centring on Jesus Christ’s heart as a symbol of His Divine love. I love You more than everything, more than myself. Tell me what You would have me do; for I am ready to do everything with Your help. Bind me, unite me to Your heart and permit me not, during the years that remain to me, to offend You or grieve You anymore. O my Jesus, it is the time that I should love You now. continue