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In  Playing by Heart , by Carmela Martino, we meet two gifted sisters. The story,  set in 1730’s, Milan, Italy, introduces us to Maria, a gifted linguist, mathematician and speaker. Her sister, Emilia, excels at playing and composing music, as well as singing. Where Maria shines in knowledge of the sciences, Emilia glistens in the arts. In 1730’s Italy, it was rare to come across educated females. We find that the girls father’s long held desire to gain a noble title, drives the entire story; propelling the girls into situations that a young lady of the 21 st  century would never need to confront. In the 1730’s, for example, parents arranged the marriages of their children. Young ladies had little to no say about who they would spend the remainder of their lives with as a wife. They found themselves married in their late teens. So, Maria and Emilia were approaching the age when their father would desire to marry them off to suitable husbands. Yet, Maria wants to become a nun. Emi

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati   [ Wikipedia ] (6 April 1901 - 4 July 1925) Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Mark 9:30-37 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it;  for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’  But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’  But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest

Fr John Roderick Long (13 November 1934 - 14 September 2018) Fr John Roderick ('Derrick') Long was born in Dublin on 13 November 1934. He was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Loughrea, County Galway, St Brendan’s National School, Loughrea, and St Joseph’s College, Garbally Park, Ballinasloe. He entered St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath, in September 1953 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1959. St Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea  [ Wikipedia ] Father Derrick’s first appointment was to Burma (now Myanmar), but while he awaited a visa he served as temporary dean at the Templeogue house of studies in Dublin. When his visa came through, he left for Burma in October 1962. There he worked with Fr Jim Fisher as the latter ran a procure in Rangoon (now Yangon) for various Catholic groups working in Burma. However, Father Derrick was expelled from there in 1966 when the military government put further restrictions on missionar

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks “ to what shall I compare the people of this generation ” (Luke 7:31)? Jesus compares the people of His time to John the Baptist, considering John to be the greatest of the prophets on earth, with the caveat that the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Something to think about! Remember, at this moment in time, Jesus had not yet opened the gates of Heaven. That would not happen until after Jesus died on the cross, and prior to the Resurrection. So, who were the members of the Kingdom of God at that moment? The Father Almighty, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the angels, were the only members. John the Baptist represents the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and Jesus represents the greatest of the New Testament, as He is God. It is at Jesus’ Baptism, that Jesus ushers in his ministry and brings the Kingdom of God to earth. Thus, now allowing us to participate in the Kingdom of God. Every time we attend Mass, God invites

I’ve always been fascinated by words—a useful trait for a writer. A friend emailed the following roots of common sayings that you might enjoy knowing as I did. Next week I plan to write about sayings that originated in Scripture. There is an old hotel/pub in Marble Arch, London, which used to have a gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows to be hanged. The horse-drawn dray carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the  prisoner if he would  like ”ONE LAST DRINK.”  If he said YES, it was referred to as ONE FOR THE ROAD.  If he declined, that Prisoner was ON THE WAGON. Click to continue

Two years before his death St Francis received the stigmata which we celebrate on the 17th September. It is fitting therefore to conclude this series on the feast day of Francis receiving the stigmata. As the end drew near St Francis asked to be taken to the Portiuncula that he might die in the poverty to which he had been accustomed all his life, surrounded by the brothers who loved it as he did. Read on.....

I don’t know about you, but lately, I am finding it difficult in forgiving others for egregious deeds. My head is swimming with all the guilty pleas/convictions from the Mueller investigation within our government. I’m appalled with the news of the priestly sex abuse scandal and cover-up. I’m disappointed with the people in power, both in government and in the Church, who stand by idly and do nothing to bring about justice. With every great sin, the sinful do not want to see the disinfectant of transparency and accountability come knocking on their doors. When it does, it is like a proverbial “bomb” explodes around us, covering us in the sinner’s filth. That’s how I am feeling lately. The Mueller investigation is racking up one guilty plea after another, with multiple indictments and convictions. Everyone who is guilty is looking for a plea agreement and immunity from prosecution. The “bomb” has exploded, and I feel the filth of corruption, and it makes me sick. With the alarmi

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St Peter in Prison , Rembrandt  [ 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 8:27-35 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’  And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’  He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’   And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and bega

Three times this week kindness has been the topic of a homily I heard or a reflection I read. I'm taking this as a sign that I should write about it. Besides, the world sorely needs this virtue today. My community has created the decal pictured here to promote kindness. Aristotle defined kindness: "Helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped." The first step in being kind is to be aware of someone who needs help. For example, we see a woman burdened with packages approaching the door we just passed through. Then we can be prompted to hold it open for her. Or we notice that a friend has a troubled look. Then we can inquire, "Is something bothering you?" Click to continue

Lately, I feel like there has been a major assault on the objective truth. We hear phrases like “alternative facts,” or “truth isn’t truth!” Politicians and the media put so much spin on the truth, that we feel like we are spiraling out of orbit! No longer do we know who, or what, to believe. Whatever happened to everyone having a clear understanding of objective truth based upon facts? The Old Testament attests that God is  the source of all truth . His Word is truth. His Law is truth…Since God is ‘true,’ the members of his people are called to live in the truth.  1 Subjective Truth vs. Objective Truth Apparently, we are living in some sort of truth. It’s subjective truth, rather than objective truth. Subjective truth is when we choose to believe what we want to believe because it is convenient for us. We discard some facts, because they don’t fit our preconceived notions. When we embrace subjective truth, we... Read more...

Kendra Von Esh, author of  Am I Catholic?:  A Struggle with Faith, Humility, and Surrendering to God , has written a humorous, frank account about her own journey back to the Catholic Church. Her audience includes clueless/ uncatechized Catholics as well as faithful Catholics at a loss about how to evangelize. Kendra has a passion for people who don’t know where to turn for answers but keep looking for “something more”. Surprised by a conversion experience, Kendra, in turn, shocked her family and associates a few years later by leaving a high powered  executive career  to work full time for God. Melanie:   Kendra, describe your career before God intervened in your life. continue

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks. “ is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it ” (Luke 6:9)?  In the Theology course that I teach, on the Fundamentals of Catholic Moral Theology, I specifically address this question with my students. The scenario goes something like this: A doctor and her family are on their way to Sunday Mass when they come upon a serious car accident. The doctor stopped her car to give comfort and aid to the victims of the crash, until the paramedics arrived. As a result, she and her family missed the last Mass of the day. What I ask of my students is to tell me whether missing Mass is a sin, in this case. What do you think is the correct answer? Do Good in the Spirit of the Law In today’s passage from Luke, Jesus is asking a similar question of the Pharisees. In Jesus’ questioning, He debates the Pharisees on the strictness of the law, versus the spirit of the law. What Jesus tried to convey is... Read

Es frecuente que nos pongamos a pensar, si algo tenemos, en cómo serán repartidos esos bienes cuando dejemos este mundo. Bien sabemos que nada nos vamos a llevar, aunque haya personas que lo deben de poner en duda por el empeño y la obsesión en acumular fortunas, objetos, joyas, propiedades, etcétera, pero...aunque no sea mayor cosa lo que poseemos siempre hay una inquietud sobre el destino de lo que hoy y ahora es nuestro. Naturalmente que, como cosa normal, será el cónyuge o los hijos los que recibirán ese beneficio. Y pensando en estas cosas es que hacemos Testamento. Hay personas que les da miedo hacerlo, pues les parece que es como rozar un poco la mano fría de la muerte, como un mal presagio, como soltar las ataduras de esos bienes y sentir que ya no son tan nuestros, ... en fin, conceptos totalmente equivocados, pues el tomar la decisión de hacer Testamento es, bien podría decirse, una obligación para que a nuestra partida no dejemos enredos y disgus