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Good news: the SARS-CoV-2 virus isn't killing us nearly as fast as it was in April, May and the first part of June. Bad news: the COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress. Minnesotans are still dying. So are folks in other states and nations.... ...There is, however, quite a bit we can do to help each other. If we use our brains. COVID-19, Minnesota and Me Minnesota Masks: Executive Order 20-81 Common Sense Watching the Weirdness Wannabe Prophets and Need-to-Know The Paranoids are After Me!!! Conspiracy Theories: the Usual Suspects Politics More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Mary Magdalene, friend, and follower of Christ. Known throughout the centuries as the repentant sinner, she represents us all. We see in Luke (8:1-3) and Mark (16:9) where Christ exorcised her from seven demons. These seven demons relate to the seven deadly sins (anger, envy, gluttony, greed, laziness, lust, and pride). Saint Mary Magdalene proves to all of us that: God loves each one of us, regardless of what we did in the past God can do wonderful things with each of us, if only we open our hearts to him. Saint Mary Magdalene, Follower of Christ We first learn of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Luke. Here, Luke describes Jesus’ travels through the town of Magdala. It was here that Jesus... Read more... 

Sometimes when I am getting dressed in the morning and making my bed, I listen to the radio.   As I move about my room, I have noticed that when I move in closer proximity to my radio, it cuts out.   If I want to hear it, I have to move to the other side of the room. I am wondering if this means I have a magnetic personality.   You know, someone with “extraordinary power or ability to attract?” Here’s what I found online (because I had to know.) “In the presence of charged matter, if that matter is not rigid (i.e., if it responds to electrostatic or magnetic forces) things change. ... So yes, electromagnetic waves are in fact affected by magnetic fields, but it is a very weak effect that only becomes manifest in the presence of extremely strong magnetic fields.” Based on what I have read, I have decided the answer to my question is yes, I must have a magnetic personality because I am quite “charged” at times and I believe my “magnetic field” is quite strong, evi

Three years ago, this past weekend, I went to confession and experienced something I never thought would happen. As I finished my confession, I told the Pastor that my husband and I were transferring to his Parish. I said that I would call him the following week to see where I might best fit from a volunteer perspective. And — that is the moment when God called me! God Called Me So, with a long line waiting outside of the Confessional, the Pastor proceeded to ask me about myself. I told him what I did in the past as a volunteer, and what I do now, as an adjunct professor of Theology, and then it came – boom! “You know, I just had my RCIA Coordinator tell me that he is moving, and I’ll need a new RCIA Coordinator. Would you like to do that?” Here I am sitting in the Confessional, technically talking to Christ (along with the pastor). How could I say no? Up to that point, my only participation with the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) was as a sponsor (for about t

Listen to this.   I came across it the other day during the daily readings. “Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power.” (Micah 2:1-2) Have you ever known someone like this?   I feel bad for you if you have, but the truth is, I think this happens more than we think, and on occasion, we may even be guilty of it ourselves. Let’s start with iniquity.   What is it?   The dictionary describes it as “immoral or grossly unfair behavior.” Altogether, this passage suggests one who plans iniquity, working it out in secret at home, and carrying it out when you get the chance.   This is really an ugly thing to do. I think most of us would spontaneously say, “I would never do such a thing!” But wait, let’s be sure. Have you ever thought in advance what you might say or do in order to get back at someone who has been mean to you? After being treated unfairly, have you ev

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Every once in awhile, you have to turn to the Book of Job in the Old Testament.   We could easily say “poor Job.” (Job is pronounced with a long “o”) Job had it all.   Wealthy, he had seven sons and three daughters, thousands of sheep and camels, and hundreds yoke of oxen.   The list goes on and on. Then he lost everything.   He was faced with endless trials.   Set up as a back-and-forth conversation, the book is filled with speeches and replies, until finally, in the last chapter, it all comes to an end. Job’s determination to be faithful in the midst of trials makes reading this book worthwhile, but it is the conclusion that provides real comfort. Here’s what he says to God in the end: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered . . . . I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you.” Even though Job speaks of his confidence in God in the final chapter, he had his moments.   In Chapter 30 he says:

RSCJ It’s funny, we were just having a discussion recently about today’s reading where Jesus says:   “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (MT 11:28-30) Of course, we weren’t talking about “yolk” as in the egg kind, but the kind where a team of animals are “yoked” together.   Whenever two can share in the work, the burden is indeed lighter. But more than simply lightening up the task at hand, to be yoked is to be united in a deeper way.   I was thinking about this in two ways . . . We are yoked to Jesus and share in his mission and secondly, we are yoked to each other. There is a “yoking” among Christians that is easy to see.   We come together in our love of Jesus and invite others to join us—or at least we should. Sharing our faith and inviting others into it is evangelization. I watched a video with Curtis Martin recently.   Martin is a popular Catholic evangelist who has a way of bringing the message home in funny, interesting and concrete ways.