Association Of Catholic Bloggers

As I was writing out my Christmas cards this year, I was saddened by some of the people that are no longer with us. Flipping through the pages I see the address of an old friend from high school who died this year.   Her name has been in my address book for years, but she passed away without our ever being able to reconnect. The names and addresses of beloved family members that I hold close to my heart, including special aunts and uncles, as well as long ago neighbors, bring back sacred memories as I turn each page. While I keep current the addresses of several people on my phone today, our address book reads like a history book.   It speaks of moves, deaths and friends that have somehow slipped away. Why is it that we stay close with some people, but others have disappeared from our lives?   Is it simply a matter of losing touch, or do we grow apart as we grow up, and our life—and interests—change? This makes me think of a situation recently where I was talk

Today’s reading follows both the Baptism of Jesus (which we will celebrate January 12 th ) and the temptation of Jesus by the devil in the desert. In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4, Jesus learns that John the Baptist has been arrested so Jesus goes to Galilee.   He has left Nazareth and gone to live in Capernaum “by the sea.”   See above map. Here’s what I want to focus on:   Jesus takes up the words of John the Baptist when he says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Of course, the kingdom is at hand due to the presence of Jesus as he is speaking the words, as well as his presence with us today, but what does that message mean for us today? While listening to the latest episode of Opening God’s Word , let those words of John and Jesus sink in.   We are always wondering what we can DO to make a difference in this world, and here we have Jesus himself telling us! Are we ready to repent of our sins and the sins of the world?   Just imagine how

In my  last post , I related my reasons for gaining weight this past year. Now, as my ankle completely heals, it’s time to get serious about losing the weight. Increasing my walking will help me to lose weight, but that alone will not do the trick. I also need to stop eating the sweets! What better time to lose weight, than when we turn the page on the calendar? Or, for me, as my ankle completely heals. I have no more excuses, other than I lack Temperance.  Therefore, it’s time for Temperance, as well. We start each new year with hope. If I ever hope to get out of the sweatpants, and back into my clothes, then I need to call on God to give me some Temperance. I know that I cannot stop eating the sweets on my own, as sugar is so addictive. I need the strength of Christ to assist me in my endeavor to lose the weight. And while He’s indulging me with Temperance, a smidgen of... Read more...

CLICK HERE

I’ve just finished writing out my Christmas cards a few days ago. We don’t send out nearly as many as we did when we were younger, but there are a few that we do still send. You may think I am late, but the way I figure it, I am right on time.   Since we are still in the Christmas season, I like to fill in my cards with notes about our Christmas festivities, and with the easy-going days following Christmas, I find I am not so hurried when I do so. As you know, Christmas isn’t just one day.   For us, we try to keep the celebration going until Epiphany (January 6 th ) when the wise men finally arrive after their long journey! I hope you had a truly beautiful Advent and maybe even took up some new practices related to those four weeks before Christmas.   When Christmas arrives with a genuine focus on Jesus, the season begins with increased gratitude for his saving work. One of the prayer practices I tried to add during Advent was to pray the Angelus.   I’ve tried it befor

Happy New Year everyone! I’m not sure how you viewed 2019, but I found 2019 challenging; both personally and professionally. I’m looking forward to 2020 with a clear sense of purpose. There’s something hopeful regarding the turning of the calendar to a new year. With hope, I look forward to better health, now that my ankle fusion has taken hold. I’ve suffered for several years with difficulty walking. The last few months prior to surgery resulted in several falls. Apparently, my ligaments in my ankle kept giving way and couldn’t support me any longer. Thus, the reasons for the falls. So, surgery became my only option. The difficulty in walking resulted in a good deal of inactivity on my part, and I gained a good deal of weight. With the ankle fusion nearly healed, I’m ready to take on new adventures. I simply want to walk, and in the process possibly lose the weight I gained by being inactive. It’s my own personal belief, that if you feel better about yourself, and live a healt

Adoration of the Magi Jan de Bray [ Web Gallery of Art ] In most countries where English is widely used The Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 5 January 2020. However, in Ireland, where it is a holy day of obligation, the feast is observed on its traditional date, 6 January. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Matthew 2:1-12 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;  and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of

The American holiday and Christmas seasons overlap, with fuzzy terminuses. Termini. Beginnings and endings. For some, Christmas starts with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. That fine old American tradition has been joined by Cyber Monday. Oddly enough, I haven't noticed anguished laments over that newfangled technology and Macy's inflated cartoon characters.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

My reflection for today’s episode of Opening God’s Word gets its inspiration from the scripture reading for today—the prologue of the Gospel of John. We’re talking about beginnings! As you contemplate the past year and the one to come, I hope you will also be inspired by Psalm 96 to sing a new song to the Lord! I hope you have a blessed day in God’s Word! Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.blogspot.com janetcassidy.blubrry.net

The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St John the Baptist  Francisco de Zurbarán [ Web Gallery of Art ] You can learn more about the painting   here . In Ireland the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation and is celebrated this year on Monday 6 January. In many countries the Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 5 January. The readings below are those for the Second Sunday After the Nativity, observed in Ireland. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   John 1:1-18. Shorter form: John 1:1-5, 9-14  [omitted]  ( Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition )     In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God;  all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the d

Looking for a New Year’s resolution, as we close out 2019, and move toward 2020? I have the best New Year’s resolution ever, considering the degree of divisiveness and vitriol language permeating our society.  Embrace friendliness! Make it a point to make friends with someone new each month, especially someone with whom you may not see eye to eye. You might be surprised at what you do have in common. Embrace Friendliness It never hurts to be kind and amiable to others; to offer support. Perhaps you have a relatively new coworker who could use a friend. Help that person navigate the politics of the work environment. Or, maybe, a new neighbor recently moved in. Show some kindness by inviting them for dinner or assist them in finding their way around town. Maybe, you see a new face at Church on Sunday. Introduce yourself and your family. Welcome the new parishioners and let them know some of the great things happening at your parish. As you can see, there are numerous opportunit

Oh my!   Is today’s reading from the First Letter of John really telling me I cannot love the world? Am I not allowed to love beautiful sunsets and sandy beaches? And what about my family? My family is in the world.   Am I not supposed to love them either? In today’s episode of Opening God’s Word I clarify this passage by putting it into perspective as I consider the “enticements” this letter warns against and the importance of doing God’s will. After you have listened to this episode, I would like you to do two things.   If you have not already done so, please subscribe.   Secondly, please pray about who in your life might be struggling with worldliness and encourage them to listen to this episode, or better yet, discuss today’s passage with them! I hope you have a blessed day in God’s Word! Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.blogspot.com janetcassidy.blubrry.net

Flight into Egypt 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   Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt,  and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,  ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go