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    I've had an epiphany! Well, maybe not. I just thought it might be a good way to mention the Feast of the Epiphany. In our house, we use this feast day as a marker to take down our Christmas decorations and put away our nativity set, which includes three beautiful, kingly statues.   Anyway, I've been thinking about something I heard in a homily on Epiphany. There was some reference to holiness which elicited from me the sad thought, "I'm so far away from holiness." But as I was receiving the Eucharist (the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus), I thought perhaps I was wrong about being so far from holiness. After all, Jesus is "uniquely holy." (Lumen Gentium, Chapter V)   We are called to follow our "own proper path (to holiness) by faithful love." (Lumen Gentium) You and I can become holy as we receive the graces God gives us and strive to build up others and "tend toward the perfection of charity." In our humanity we m

They were looking for supernovae. What they found may become a double planet, like the Earth-Moon system, once it cools down. Or a planet with a giant moon, again like the Earth-Moon system. Then again, an oddly-uneven dusty disk may be orbiting this young, very "Sun-like" star. Either way, ASASSN-2qj is much more interesting than it was a few years back. strong>Barycenters and Binaries: Briefly Rabbit Holes and an ‘Assassin Star’ Professional Scientists, Amateur Astronomers, Teamwork and Twitter/X "...So Slow Smart" ASASSN-21qj: Once Obscure, Now Intriguing A Very Sun-Like Star Uncertainty and Science '...A Star to Steer By...' More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Scientists looking for supernovae noticed a very sunlike star that flared in infrared and then dimmed. It may be evidence of a planetary collision.)

Baptistry, San Marco, Venice Italian Mosaic Artist [ Web Gallery of Art ]  Where The Epiphany is a holy day of obligation and is celebrated this year on Saturday 6 January, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus is celebrated on Sunday 7 January. Where The Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday 7 January the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus is observed on Monday 8 January. The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus ends Christmas Time and Ordinary Time begins the following day. Readings  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 1:7-11 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) [John the Baptist] preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.   I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  

  I'm reading a book by Clint Hill, who was the secret service agent who jumped on the back of the car in which President and Mrs. Kennedy were riding when the President was assassinated. It is a first-hand account by Hill, who was one of the main agents responsible for taking care of Jackie Kennedy throughout that trip. The throngs of people who turned out to see them throughout the day was amazing, and the people clearly adored both of them. It was almost a sentimental, romanticized relationship that connected the President and his wife with the people. Something we just do not see today. The closest we have come, I think, was with President and Mrs. Obama, who, like Jackie, was (and still is), beloved as much, if not more than, the former President himself. Anyway, these powerful men (and women) raised hopes and offered visions which the citizenry needed; something we still need today. As we raise the next generation of leaders, we should look to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter

  Adoration of the Magi Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] In most countries where English is widely used The Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 7 January 2024. However, in Ireland, where it is a holy day of obligation, the feast is observed on its traditional date, 6 January, Saturday. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Matthew 2:1-12 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,   saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;   and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   They told him, “In Bethleh

  En este fin de 2023 y principio de 2024 , la declaración FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS ha estado levantando muchas dudas y reacciones en el mundo y al interior de la Iglesia Católica. Viendo la necesidad de aclarar el sentido y forma de las bendiciones que se mencionan en el documento original, La Santa Sede ha visto la necesidad de emitir una carta que detalla las partes confusas y generales de la declaración original. Es muy importante leer el documento original para entender lo sucedido. Y por ser tan importante el transmitir el mensaje intacto, nos limitamos a hacerlos llegar, para no agregar estática al mensaje de misericordia que el Papa Francisco ha tratado de transmitir. DOCUMENTO FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS ORIGINAL 2023: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_sp.html CARTA ACLARATORIA EMITIDA PRINCIPIOS DE 2024: https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/102586/fiducia-supplicans-vaticano-responde-a-comprensibles-reacciones-de-obispos Y

  I came across a video where two women were having a conversation. The older, accented woman was telling the younger woman something she would never want her to forget. Although it was a cliche I've heard a million times ("When a door closes, a window opens") I heard it differently than I had before, because of its relevant application today. If you have had a door closed on you--maybe a relationship, a job, a disappointment, a dream--do not stand at the door, knocking (or pounding!) on it to try to open it again. "Look for the window" as the older woman suggests. This is really quite profound when you relate it to something you might be going through, because it helps you move on. Rather than continuing to stand at the closed door, frustrated, wringing your hands, and grumbling, discover the breath of fresh air that the window offers. You will not see the new opportunity if you do not turn away from the closed door. As we begin the new year, I sincerely hop

    When you are employed by the Church (which I am not at this time), you get steeped in everything connected to faith. From the liturgical (seasonal) cycles, to saints' days, holy days, diocesan events, parish councils and even educational and inspirational webinars--needless to say, awareness and engagement come easily. When you do not live in church-world, these things may not have such a prominent place in your life. What inspires you to participate in the community life of your church? What gets you thinking about current church issues, reading documents or supporting your church's needs? What needs do you have? What helps you prioritize your faith so that it is integrated into every part of your life? It bears repeating--life is profoundly greater with God than without. I hope you will make 2024 the year you find new and exciting ways to walk with God every day. Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com   Click "follow/like" to see my posts on Facebook:   https:

  In today's reading (1Jn 2:22-28), the sentences are rather circular, but one in particular stood out for me: "And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you." This is a good reminder to us that the promise we receive through Jesus is one of hope, hope in eternal life, and that we need to be careful about allowing ourselves to be misled. We are deceived if we start thinking that this world--what we see around us--is all there is. We are deceived if we think that how we treat each other doesn't really matter. We are deceived if, knowing about God, we choose to ignore him. That promise of eternal life isn't a ticket to do whatever we want. Seriously, don't talk yourself out of believing in God because you have been unable to rationalize your way to him.   We have just celebrated the Incarnation of Jesus, God in the flesh. Soak that in. Let's be careful not to reduce this to a man-made ho

  As we celebrate "Mary, Mother of God" and World Day of Peace today, I want to offer something I thought about after hearing Bishop Robert Barron's prayer on the Joyful Mysteries. He mentioned in the introduction that Mary is being addressed "as someone who is able to accept gifts, who is ready to receive." Are you ready to receive the gifts that God has for you? How might you prepare to receive them? Of course Mary was prepared specially by God to bring Jesus into the world, but it should be obvious at this point that if he chose a "lowly handmaiden" for such exalted work, that he can call us--in our perceived ordinariness--to continue his mission today. But we need to be ready. I encourage you to reflect on this point and consider how you might open yourself up to hear and answer God's call. Through the love of Mary who brings the Prince of Peace into our lives, may God bless you as we close out this Octave of Christmas. Merry Christmas! Janet

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Whether they're called the Swiss Guard, Papal Swiss Guard, or Pontificia Cohors Helvetica, those 135 men wear what may be today's most colorful full dress uniforms. Although they look like something straight out of the Renaissance, the uniform's not much over a century old. Up until 1914, when Pope St. Pius X died, each pope had tweaked the design a bit. Maybe because our next Pope, Benedict XV, came on duty about the same time that World War I started, the Swiss Guard's then-commander, Jules Repond, did the uniform redesign. Or authorized it, at any rate. I gather that the blue, red, and yellow stripes are Medici family colors. The Basque hat reflects Swiss Guard uniforms painted by Raphael. 1 And none of that's what I was going to be talking about today. Background: Vatican by the Tiber — Popes, 16th Century Politics — And Unpaid Troops May 6, 1527: Death and Honor — Remembering the Rearguard: 147 Against 20,000 — Reputations — And Raphael

St Joseph and the Christ Child El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 2:22-40 [or 22, 39-40] ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they [the parents of Jesus] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  [(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)   and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons”.   Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.   And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.   And

  Oh Brother. Leading up to Christmas, I started spontaneously waking up too early. I would lie in bed and eventually get up, kind of frustrated that I couldn't sleep in. Sleeping in for me is 7:00 am, so 4:30 or 5:00 am was pushing it because it would cause me to be tired too early at night. As a lot of you can relate, I'm sure, it becomes quite a cycle. Well, I decided if I was going to wake up that early, maybe God was trying to get my attention, so I used that great quiet in the early morning hours to get in a holy hour. Instead of staying frustrated, I turned that time into quality time with God. Now that I am back to my normal routine, I try to do it whenever the house is quiet and my mind is clear. There's something refreshing when you rest in God, whatever time of the night or day you have available to you. If I get sleepy or nod off, I figure that's okay, because resting in God is quality time. When our oldest daughter came home at four months old, she wa