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Transfiguration , Blessed Fra Angelico  [ 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   Luke 9:28b-36 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.   And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.    Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one

Many of us are quick to seek mercy. But how about giving mercy? I doubt we are as quick to give mercy as we are to seek mercy. That’s human nature at work. We run to Our Lord and ask for His mercy every time we sin. In His graciousness, He is quick to grant our request.  So, why don’t we run to grant mercy when someone hurts our feelings? Unlike God, who knows everything, we need time to assess the situation, determine the extent of the offense, and evaluate the depth of hurt. Only then can we mete out the necessary amount of mercy warranted. I recently had an exchange with someone on Facebook Messenger for which I took offense. My immediate reaction was one of indignation. I was not in the mood to grant mercy. However, after assessing the situation, I was able to put things in perspective. I was able to determine the amount of hurt this person caused me by her snarky comments. Taking into consideration where this person was coming from, and not knowing her true intentions (a

Last year after Mass, someone said, "Come with me. You have to meet Father's sister. She looks just like you." Did anyone ever tell you, "You look just like my ________________"?  (Fill in the blank.) Maybe we do have a doppelganger or two. But no one will ever be exactly like us, even if we are cloned.  Each one of us is unique, a nonrepeatable combination of physical characteristics, talents, and memories. Each is to be cherished and loved. No wonder Jesus tells us to love others as we love ourselves. He takes it for granted that we love ourselves. And what's not to love? You may dislike certain aspects of your looks or personality. You may wish you had a voice like Lady Gaga or Andrea Bocelli or could play basketball like LeBron James. But there are many reasons to love yourself.  Let's count the ways—at least some of them. Click to continue

It’s not enough to say, “I’m sorry.” True contrition means that in the depths of our souls we seek a conversion of heart. We want to change our ways, with the goal of becoming a better person in the eyes of God and neighbor. That’s true repentance; true contrition of heart. Yet, how often do we slip back into repetitive sin? Identifying the Root Cause of Our Sins Lent is the perfect time to dig deep and learn the reason(s) why we commit the same sins repeatedly. There is a root cause, and that root cause usually pertains to one of the seven deadly sins. Anger “ arises when an evil persists in the face of our resistance or when a good remains beyond our grasp, despite our efforts.” 1 Envy  stems from feelings of inadequacy that result in an inordinate desire for the goods of others. Gluttony  causes you to ... Read more...

The matter of “bread” in recent headlines caught my attention, particularly because I specialize in food sensitivities and the matter of gluten-free diets. First appeared the headline:   “Get Ready  –  Signs Point to a New Attack on the Eucharist Coming Soon”  (by Msgr. Charles Pope) on why a potential proposal to permit the replacement of the bread used in the consecration of the Eucharist with yuca must be opposed... >> Click HERE to Read More at: The Way To Nourish For Life <<

El triunfo de Nuevo León tirando la ley para legalizar el aborto en su estado, ha evitado traer una violación, es decir, matar al ser que por no ser deseado, después de un acto de barbarie y atropello, fue fecundado y comenzó una nueva vida inocente, no pedida, nos duele profundamente al igual que todos aquellos seres que por una mala conformación genética serán suprimidos sin derecho a la vida.(1) No sabemos qué pensarán los que nacieron con limitaciones y ahora traen el triunfo de medallas de oro, plata y bronce para el país, que si les dio el permiso de nacer, y este dice que se siente orgulloso de estos atletas que con esfuerzo y alegría alcanzaron la victoria en la conquista de una anhelad y competida meta.  leer más...

When you pray ... who is listening? Is anyone there? Or are you talking to yourself? Praying to the dark? CLICK HERE

The truth is, Christians can change their outer actions through spiritual discipline but they cannot transform their inner spirits so they can say with St. Paul, “No longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.”  Jesus had to die and rise again to save us from our selves, from the slavery of sin. So why does Jesus tell us: “In truth I tell you, unless you  change  and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.” ( Matthew 18:3 ) Since I was surrounded by lots of little people for years, I like to keep things simple. However, when it comes to understanding Holy Scripture, we must turn to the Church and to Scripture scholars to help us discern the truth of what Christ is actually trying to teach us. The Word “Change” is Passive continue

The SpaceX Crew Dragon demonstration and test flight has gone well. The spacecraft returns to Earth Friday morning. Folks may be riding Crew Dragon to and from the ISS later this year. I found quite a bit about space stations, docking technology and other more-or-less-related topics. But if this is going to be done in time, that must wait until another day. (More at A Catholic Citizen in America .)

The Temptation of  Christ , Juan de Flandes  [ 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   Luke 4:1-13 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,  where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’  Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”’ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyo

Have you decided yet how you will make the most of this Lenten season that begins today – Ash Wednesday? I find this time of year to be quite cathartic, in that I use it to make things right with God. In essence, I clean out my “spiritual closet.” I look for those things in my life that I want to keep, such as prayer time, good deeds, etc. and find a dedicated place for them in my spiritual closet. Then, I find those areas of my life that need to be tossed – you know – those sins that need to be thrown out. I take them to the Confessional and leave them with God. He knows what to do with them. It’s my way of placing everything in its right order. What’s in Your Spiritual Closet? How will you spend your Lenten season to prepare your soul for sharing in Christ’s Resurrection? What will you do to place everything in right order within your life? Some people like to give up their favorite foods/drink as a sacrifice for our Lord. Others give of themselves to meet the needs of the le

The heart of Jesus was formed and began beating in the body of a young Jewish girl. It stopped beating about thirty-three years later and was pierced by a soldier's lance. Ever since, it has been a symbol of the God-Man's love for the human race, for us. Three recent experiences have renewed my interest in devotion to the Sacred Heart. First, was a story Sister Mary John Albert told. Her family had always had devotion to Jesus under this title, and they displayed the image in their home. As a girl, Sister was drawn to the Sisters of Notre Dame, her teachers, who had special devotion to the Sacred Heart. She joined the community, leaving her parents with an empty nest, for she was an only child. When she was a novice, her parents informed her that they wished to adopt a baby. For months they applied to various agencies but were rejected because of their age. (The father was 40, the mother, 36!) Sister prayed furiously to the Sacred Heart. As time drew near for her to make her

If you are looking for a quick read that sets your heart aglow, then you will want to pick up a copy of  Life’s Greatest Lesson , by Allen R. Hunt.  We can all use a feel-good story every now and then, and this one is a winner! In this charming story, we meet 10-year-old Christopher Grace, the first-born grandson of Lavish Grace. Christopher, and his Grandpa, Tom Grace, tell us all about Lavish through various interactions and stories. Grandma was one special lady. Her passing brought all kinds of people to her funeral. Throughout Lavish’s life, she poured love on everyone, exemplifying the virtues of love and generosity. Life’s Greatest Lesson Grandma Lavish lived by the credo and acronym LEGS: L ove all you can. E arn all you can. G ive all you can. S ave all you can. This wonderful story demonstrates one woman’s earnest efforts at living a Christ-like life. Lavish shows us all how to bless many more people. For, it is by loving all you can, that you are able give s

Lent starts March 6 this year. It's a time for abstinence, prayer and penance, among other things, which is why we've got rules about Fridays and fish. Following "fish" rules to the letter, I could splurge on lobster thermidor each Friday. I won't. The household can't afford it, for one thing. For another, gourmet dining isn't what Lent is about. I'll talk about fish, fasting and my goals for Lent. Briefly. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Blind Pensioner with a Stick , 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   Luke 6:39-45 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.  Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye. ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good