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Entre las grandes tragedias de la historia humana hay una que ha sido especialmente recordada, llorada y enmarcada con museos, monumentos y aniversarios a través de los años y alrededor del orbe por nuestros hermanos en la fe, los judíos para que su recuerdo y remembranza prevenga otra atrocidad de tanto odio: el Holocausto. Pero, tristemente, estas memorias del sufrimiento del hombre a manos del mismo hombre se han mostrado, en su mayoría parciales, pues reflejan solo parte del gran horror perpetrado contra millones de personas, olvidando el contexto completo del genocidio. Esto sucede porque la mayoría de las veces no recuerdan cómo sufrieron una suerte parecida judíos, católicos y cristianos y borran la forma como se apoyaron entre hermanos de fe, poniendo a un lado sus diferencias para ayudarse a sobrevivir.  

Many years ago Bishop Casey of Brentwood, England,  asked me to set up a Residential Retreat and Conference Centre in Chingford, London. He wanted to use it as a place where priests, religious and laity could come to learn about the Biblical Theology that had made the Second Vatican Council possible. I made it my prime objective to recruit the best and most qualified lecturers in the country to  this end, from whom I too could learn with everyone else. One particular theologian was outstanding in his mastery of what we then called the New Biblical Theology, although he was initially trained in Thomistic Theology in Rome where he received the highest degree possible, a summa cum laude. I therefore approached him with my misgivings about the demise of Mystical Theology. Until four hundred years ago its practical teaching from the very beginning was the bedrock of authentic Catholic Spirituality.       read on.....

Last week for World Communications Day, Pope Francis released a statement saying that “fake news” is as old as the Garden of Eden. He urged the faithful to share information responsibly. He said that the spread of fake news leads to an increase of arrogance and hatred. He’s right. The devil isn’t just the inventor of fake news. He hasn’t let up since that story in Genesis. He is and always will be the Father of Lies and yes, the Prince of Fake News too. To prove my point, take a look at some of his best (or worst, I suppose) headlines. THE NEW SUPERFOOD THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT!! Ah, yes. The First Fake News. Pope Francis talked about how this incident was so similar to what happens today. The devil used manipulation and fabrication of facts to confuse and trick Eve. She thought she was getting an easy way to find equal footing with God. Boy, was she in for a miserable surprise! CONTINUE READING 

Have you ever wondered why Catholics do the things they do, and why they call themselves “Christians?” Then Evangelical Catholic , by Troy Guy, is the book for you! Guy takes us through the evangelical arguments, one by one, and shows us the truth of the Catholic faith. He then addresses the faith, pre-Protestantism (from year 1 AD to 1500 AD). Guy then ventures into the hot topics: sola scriptura, papal infallibility, Mary, and the Eucharist. Evangelical Catholic is for Everyone! As a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Coordinator for my parish, I propose that this book should be given to every individual seeking to understand the Catholic faith. Guy does a masterful job at laying out the facts; facts that convinced him to convert to the Catholic faith. Guy’s use of language makes this book easy to understand. His source referencing is outstanding. He draws on the early Church fathers to convey the facts, so that you need not take his word for it. Read more...

You are a child of the Universe, No less than the trees and the stars; You have a right to be here, So click HERE - what are you waiting for?

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4th-century synagogue, Capernaum [ Wikipedia ] Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel Mark 1:21-28 ( NRSV, Anglicised Catholic Edition ) They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they

I have always heard the mother is the heart of the family, especially a stay at home mother with a crew of kids, who also helps with a hobby farm. So why was I not missed when I spent hours locked in the chicken coop? You must first understand that even if this was a subconscious belief, I behaved as if  I  was the most important member of the family. It took a drastic experience to shake me out of my arrogance. God has a sense of humour and will use any and all experiences to teach us. continue

Fr Donal Gerard Patrick O’Farrell  (29 October 1928 - 22 January 2018) Father Donal was born in Limerick on 29 October 1928 when the family lived in Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland. He was educated at Presentation Convent, Lismore, Christian Brothers' School, Lismore and St Joseph’s College, Ballinasloe, County Galway. He entered St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, in 1946 and was ordained priest there on 21 December 1953. St Senan's, Cahiracon, County Clare Father Donal suffered from tuberculosis, and while being treated for it he spent the first years after ordination in Ireland doing temporary pastoral work in Ardee, County Louth, in Clonfert, County Galway, and later serving for a four- year period as chaplain to the Columban Sisters at St Senan's, Cahiracon. In 1965, he was appointed to the United States and served in New Jersey, and then Philadelphia, before being transferred to Los Angeles where he served as bursar, superior, and in every other role over a

I am not just reciting theology when I remind you there is neither time nor distance when we live and move and breathe in the Spirit. When someone dies or moves far away, I don’t have to say goodbye just whisper hello, a different kind of hello which moves with the speed of light to brighten each heart when I think of them. God is the great “I AM” who exists in yesterday, today and tomorrow. His Spirit mysteriously unites all of us, intimately present to each soul, all at the same time. Our whispered hello to God and each other is called prayer. continue

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales, a 16 th century Bishop of Geneva, who is also designated as a Doctor of the Church. What better way to celebrate this man, then to discuss one of his masterpieces. I found Philothea, or An Introduction to a Devout Life  to be a gem! We start with the title. “Philothea” translates to the study of God. How better to study God than by trying to emulate Him via living a devout life. How does one go about living a devout life? By embracing virtue and incorporating said virtue into the fabric of one’s life. Saint Francis de Sales, A Master of Virtue In Philothea or An Introduction to a Devout Life, Saint Francis de Sales does a masterful job of setting the stage by counseling us in understanding a desire for a devout life. He then instructs us on our approach to God in prayer and through the sacraments. Then, de Sales devotes an entire part of the book to the practice of virtue. He places special emphasis on dealing with temp

On the way to Germany, when we flew over the Alps, a Sister with me had tears running down her face as she gazed at the beauty spread out below us. Mountains are awe-inspiring. No wonder people imagined their gods living on a mountain. For example, the Greeks and Romans believed their gods dwelt on Mount Olympus. Mountains play a role frequently in the Bible. Noah's ark settles on Mount Ararat, God orders Abraham to take Isaac up a mountain and sacrifice him as a test of faith, Moses receives the Commandments on Mount Sinai and dies on Mount Nebo, God speaks to the prophet Elijah on a mountain, and the Temple is built on a mount. Today that Temple Mount is holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The psalmist, because of a mountain's solid endurance, calls God a mountain. God says in Isaiah, "Though the mountains may fall, my steadfast love will never leave you" (Isaiah 54:10).  Hikers are drawn to climb mountains like Mt. Everest. Scaling a mountain is a

There are so many causes to pray for. Go to any Christian forum, and you’ll see an abundance of prayer requests like begging for the miraculous healing of a dying child to asking that a dog come through surgery okay. With so much to pray for, how does one choose? I found myself in a bit of a personal dilemma when trying to decide whom to pray for. Two of my siblings left the Church decades ago, and I do want to pray for their return. On the other hand, I read a book about how greatly the souls in Purgatory suffer. If you saw someone on fire, and you could alleviate his suffering just by praying, wouldn’t you? Well, wouldn’t you? I was caught between these two needs. Which should take priority? Or should I perhaps split my prayer and give 50% to each? Then I came up with a solution that covers both.     continue

Fr Matthew Reilly 5 April 1934 - 17 January 2018 Fr Matthew ('Mattie') Reilly was born in Bellair, Moynalty, County Meath, Ireland, on 5 April 1934. Educated at Moynalty National School and St Finian's College, Mullingar, he entered St Columban's, Dalgan Park, in September 1952 and was ordained priest there on 21 December 1958. He was a younger brother of the late Columban Fr Patrick Reilly who died in 1998. Moynalty   [ Wikipedia ] Father Mattie's first appointment, in 1959, was to Korea where he was to spend twelve years. After language studies he worked in the Kwangju area, spent some time as secretary to the Papal Nuncio, completed a course in catechetics atthe East Asian Pastoral Institute, Quezon City, Philippines, and served as pastor of Youngsanpo, Gwangju, before doing pastoral work in Seoul. Continue here . 

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You know what you do well, and you know where you fall short. The question is do you know why? In the areas that you do well, where the task comes easy to you, these are the results of God’s grace. He has showered you with talents. In the areas in need of improvement, these are your imperfections. It is with the imperfections, aka faults, that God gives us an opportunity to transcend beyond our current state, and grow in virtue; come closer to perfection. But, before we can strive for perfection, we first need to assess our Virtue Maturity. Assessing Virtue Maturity So, how do we assess our good qualities and those areas in need of improvement? We do so by evaluating how well we... Read more...

I'm a Christian. So why, one might ask, am I not denouncing something most folks enjoy: like demon rum or Bingo? Or playing the Grinch for Halloween? Or enjoying a friendly pint with the boys, but adding my voice to the ensemble 'prophesying' the purported perils of fantasy and imagination? Or at least stalwartly refusing to learn anything we didn't know before the 18th century.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

                                         Todas nosotras, mamás, hijas y hermanas, necesitamos de su ayuda para hacer crecer a las mujeres valiosas y emocionalmente saludables que el mundo está esperando. Necesitamos cada gramo del valor masculino y de la sabiduría que ustedes tienen, porque los PADRES, más que cualquier otra persona, dejan una profunda huella en el sendero que ha de recorrer la vida de una hija. Tu hija necesita lo mejor de lo que tú eres: tu coraje, tu fortaleza, tu inteligencia y tu actitud valiente ante los problemas de la vida. Necesita tu empatía, asertividad y autoconfianza. Tu hija necesita de ti. Es más: ¡tu hija te necesita a ti!   Porque una hija necesita un héroe y desde pequeñita ¡te ha elegido a ti!   Piensa en lo que hace un héroe: protege a las personas, es perseverante, muestra amor altruista, es fiel a sus propias convicciones, sabe qué está bien y que está mal. Y actúa de acuerdo a sus convicciones. Un héroe es respetuoso y amabl

Calling of Peter and Andrew Duccio di Buoninsegna  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Mark 1:14-20 ( New Revised  Standard Version, Anglicised CatholicEdition )   Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,   and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.  Immediately he called them; and they left t

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