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Birth of the Baptist , Andrea Pisano  [ Web Gallery of Art ] The Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist takes precedence liturgically over the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At the Vigil Mass The Vigil Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening and has its own proper antiphons, prayers and readings, different from those of the Sunday Mass. Taking part in this Mass fulfils one's Sunday obligation. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Luke 1:5-17 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) At the Mass during the Day Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 1:57-66, 80 ( New Revised Standard Version, Angli

Fr Martin Ryan 23 January 1929 - 15 June 2018 Fr Martin Ryan was born on 23 January 1929 in Wildfield, Muckalee, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Educated at Muckalee National School and St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, he entered St Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan, in 1947 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1953. St Kieran's College, Kilkenny   [ Wikipedia ] Father Martin was assigned to Mindanao, Philippines, in 1954 where he would work in various pastoral assignments over the following fifty years. He served in Gingoog City (Misamis Oriental, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro), Dumalinao (Zamboanga del Sur, Diocese of Pagadian), Mambajao (Camiguin, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro), Maranding, Linamon and Maigo (all in Lanao del Norte) and in Corpus Christi, Iligan City (those four in the Diocese of Iligan). Mambajao, Camiguin   [ Wikipedia ] Around the mid-1980s Father Martin became acutely aware that he had a drinking problem. After many fruitles

In  Emily’s Hope , by Ellen Gable, Gable gives us a glimpse into the two mindsets of the abortion/pro-life movements. In this fictional tale, Gable introduces us to Katherine Clayman, circa early 20 th  century, when women did not have the right to an abortion, let alone the right to vote. We learn of the illegality of ending a pregnancy and the lengths women would go to do just that.  Kathryn is a proponent of ending unwanted pregnancies and she doesn’t believe in God. Her philosophy was, “ we live our lives, then we die and that’s the end of us .” (p.304). Contrast that thought with that of Emily Greer, Katherine’s Great-Granddaughter, who believes in the sanctity of life. Emily, born in 1959, sees life as a precious gift from God. She believes in a God who is the giver of life; seeing children as the fruit of self-giving love between a husband and wife. Katherine and Emily’s viewpoints on life offer a stark contrast, worthy of the read. Throughout the novel, Gable takes us bac

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Our culture isn’t really atheist. It isn’t even agnostic. It’s just really apathetic and has a horrible case of  FOMO . “Let’s live it up now, try everything, have all the fun, and then after we’ve had all the fun, then think about our eternal salvation. Maybe.” There’s a way to reach the FOMO Millenials (and others) before they land themselves in that proverbial foxhole. The way to do that is through  joy. The fear is that when we turn to God, all the good and fun things we used to do will be taken away. We’ll be sour-faced saints, sitting in Church for hours at a time being bored out of our brains, turning down every party invitation, and never having a raucous Friday night again. For some, that might be what Christianity looks like, but not for us! Read more at Messy Buns & Latin Chant

The Sower (after Millet) , Van Gogh  [ 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 4:26-34 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,  and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.  The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.  But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?  It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;  yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest

Today is the Feast Day of my favorite saint, Saint Anthony of Padua, Italy. Although a Portuguese native, he died in Padua, Italy in 1231. His remains are buried at the Basilica of Saint Anthony, in Padua, Italy, which I had the good fortune to visit back in 2011. He was a Franciscan friar, who dedicated his life to serving the poor. He is one of my favorite saints because he acts as my role model, in giving self-sacrificing love to Jesus, by always being willing to do God’s will and God’s will alone. Oh, if I could be like Saint Anthony, I would be a far better person! Many acclaim Saint Anthony with being the patron saint of lost items. But, did you know that he is also known for his devotion to prayer, his knowledge of Scripture and as a theology scholar? He preached against heresies, bringing souls back to Christ. Also, he wrote theological sermons as well. Other kids may want to grow up to be like Mike (Michael Jordan), but I want to grow up to be like Saint Anthony of Padua

Incongruente y gran contrasentido es que vivamos en un mundo en que se defiende con ahínco la ecología y se olvidan los derechos del hombre. Es maravilloso que los individuos luchen en forma denodada y sin tregua por el respeto a la naturaleza animal y vegetal. Es enternecedor como se ponen miles de cuidados en conservar las especies en extinción, como se lucha por salvar a los animales y las aves que están atrapados o malheridos y cómo se trata de que los árboles y las plantas no mueran y en ello se invierte dinero y esfuerzo.    Todo esto es encomiable y como seres civilizados nos esforzamos en ser vigilantes del bienestar de los animales y las plantas y dar la batalla por un ambiente sano y benéfico, pero volvemos al contrasentido: si se alzan voces y grupos en defensa de todo esto que hemos mencionado, ¿ por qué no se propugna con el mismo vigor, con la misma fuerza, con el mismo entusiasmo, con el mismo respeto por los primeros momentos

My sense of fashion withered while raising nine kids on a hobby farm.  I barely had enough time to make sure my dress was clean and my hair and teeth were brushed before I hustled everyone out the door and made sure they were all well groomed. This changed when my daughters were in their late teens because they organized an all-out assault to bring me into the 21st century. continue

In today’s Gospel reading from Matt 5:1-12, we hear Jesus teach about the Beatitudes. I am quite partial to the Beatitudes, as they embody virtue. As you all know, virtue is my “thing.” When we look at each one of the Beatitudes, we see that they are actually God’s gift of grace. That is because, to master the Beatitudes, we must embrace virtue. To embrace virtue, we need God’s grace. The Beatitudes – Jesus’ Way! To be poor in spirit, one must embrace and exemplify   humility If you are one who mourns, you are   compassionate Meekness is obvious. Yet to be   meek , one requires great strength ( fortitude ). If you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you embody   justice Merciful is obvious, like meekness. However, to be   merciful,   to the extent necessary, one must be ready to also   forgive ... Read more...