30 June 2018
Patti Page: "Old Cape Cod"
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Patti Page presenting "Old Cape Cod":
On Joyce Kilmer, Pope John Paul II, and the Artistic Vocation
"All who reverence the Bible, but especially Christians, ought to have a
deep appreciation for words and for those who take words and give them
form and meaning."
The Catholic World Report recently published a presentation on Catholic Poetry, delivered by Father Reverend Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D, in celebration of the centennial of the death of Catholic Laureate, Joyce Kilmer.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Catholic World Report: Joyce Kilmer, John Paul II, and the artistic vocation (15 JUN 18)
The Catholic World Report recently published a presentation on Catholic Poetry, delivered by Father Reverend Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D, in celebration of the centennial of the death of Catholic Laureate, Joyce Kilmer.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Catholic World Report: Joyce Kilmer, John Paul II, and the artistic vocation (15 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from George Bernard Shaw
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
29 June 2018
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles. The assigned readings are Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; and Matthew 16:13-19. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 34 (Psalm 34:2-9).
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflections on this feast day:
Whispers in the Loggia: On Peter and Paul, "Tradition," "Temptations"... and "Empty Triumphalism" (29 JUN 18)
Franciscan Media: Saint of the Day: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Community in Mission: Five Lessons on Faith From Peter's Time in Jail (28 JUN 18)
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflections on this feast day:
Whispers in the Loggia: On Peter and Paul, "Tradition," "Temptations"... and "Empty Triumphalism" (29 JUN 18)
Franciscan Media: Saint of the Day: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Community in Mission: Five Lessons on Faith From Peter's Time in Jail (28 JUN 18)
Foster Friendship Despite Differences
At a 2016 World Youth Day prayer vigil in Krakow, Poland, Pope Francis told young people, "Today we adults need you to teach us, like you are doing now, how to live with diversity, in dialogue, to experience multiculturalism not as a threat but an opportunity…Have the courage to teach us that it is easier to build bridges than walls."
It was the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and Francis lamented what is too often an absence of mercy in public discourse today. He implored young people to take a different approach, saying, "We are not here to shout against anyone. We are not about to fight. We do not want to destroy. We do not want to insult anyone. We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror."
A year before the event, Francis had encouraged young people to focus on performing one corporal work of mercy a month to prepare for the gathering. It was an appropriate way to ready the soul for such an important spiritual pilgrimage, and it is also a perfect way for each of us to cultivate the disposition needed for civil discourse.
Francis' call at World Youth Day for young Catholics to take the lead in demonstrating how to relate to people from different backgrounds and belief systems remains relevant, yet practicing civil discourse under challenging circumstances is a constant struggle. A first principle to remember when we have profound differences with others is that it is not our job to convert people by winning arguments that seem to be going nowhere. The Holy Spirit converts people's hearts. It is our job to give witness to the truth and plant seeds of the Gospel's hopeful message wherever we can.
Christ said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) And what a light burden it is to realize we are not on our own in winning people to the truth. Christ also said to the disciples, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." (Matthew 10:14)
One way to apply that principle to our own lives is to be willing to agree to disagree with people when a confrontation is going nowhere. This principle is particularly helpful in regard to petty conflicts where it doesn't really matter in the greater scheme of things who is right or wrong. But even in regard to larger matters, we need to be willing to walk away from a conflict and ask the Holy Spirit to work on people's hearts. Agreeing to disagree even on larger matters can facilitate friendships to remain intact despite our differences, and sometimes the friendship we offer to people and the good we do for them does more to plant those seeds of hope in their lives than any argument we might present.
This truth is exemplified in Francis' words to young people: "In the face of evil, suffering and sin, the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self, even of one's own life, in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service."
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
It was the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and Francis lamented what is too often an absence of mercy in public discourse today. He implored young people to take a different approach, saying, "We are not here to shout against anyone. We are not about to fight. We do not want to destroy. We do not want to insult anyone. We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror."
A year before the event, Francis had encouraged young people to focus on performing one corporal work of mercy a month to prepare for the gathering. It was an appropriate way to ready the soul for such an important spiritual pilgrimage, and it is also a perfect way for each of us to cultivate the disposition needed for civil discourse.
Francis' call at World Youth Day for young Catholics to take the lead in demonstrating how to relate to people from different backgrounds and belief systems remains relevant, yet practicing civil discourse under challenging circumstances is a constant struggle. A first principle to remember when we have profound differences with others is that it is not our job to convert people by winning arguments that seem to be going nowhere. The Holy Spirit converts people's hearts. It is our job to give witness to the truth and plant seeds of the Gospel's hopeful message wherever we can.
Christ said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) And what a light burden it is to realize we are not on our own in winning people to the truth. Christ also said to the disciples, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." (Matthew 10:14)
One way to apply that principle to our own lives is to be willing to agree to disagree with people when a confrontation is going nowhere. This principle is particularly helpful in regard to petty conflicts where it doesn't really matter in the greater scheme of things who is right or wrong. But even in regard to larger matters, we need to be willing to walk away from a conflict and ask the Holy Spirit to work on people's hearts. Agreeing to disagree even on larger matters can facilitate friendships to remain intact despite our differences, and sometimes the friendship we offer to people and the good we do for them does more to plant those seeds of hope in their lives than any argument we might present.
This truth is exemplified in Francis' words to young people: "In the face of evil, suffering and sin, the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self, even of one's own life, in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service."
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Henry Ward Beecher
"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road." - Henry Ward Beecher
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/henry_ward_beecher
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/henry_ward_beecher
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/henry_ward_beecher
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/henry_ward_beecher
28 June 2018
Johann Christian Bach: "Symphony in G-minor, Op.6, No.6"
It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Johann Christian Bach's "Symphony in G-minor, Op.6, No.6", as played by the Academy of Ancient Music, conducted by Simon Standage:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings You bestow on us as we participate in Holy Mass.
David Mills on Dorothy Day and the Mass.
"'I awoke too late for Mass and that spoiled my day,' she
wrote in her diaries one day early in her Catholic life. Many years
later she wrote, 'The weight of the world is on me when I awake, and
until I get to Mass.' A lot of people think of Dorothy Day as a
political figure, the radical who founded the Catholic Worker movement,
and maybe as someone who lived her life in service to the poor.
"She saw herself as first a faithful Catholic enfolded by
the Church and fed by her sacraments. That comes through very strongly
in her diaries. Published as The Duty of Delight, the diaries cover her life from 1934 - she'd entered the Church in 1927 - to a few days before her death on November 29, 1980.
"I think the book.s at least a minor classic. It helps explain why her cause for canonization proceeds. . . ."
In a recent commentary, writer David Mills reflected on the importance of the Mass in Dorothy Day's life, including how the Mass transformed the way she saw the things of our world.
To access Mr. Mill's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: David Mills: A handful of Dorothy Day's most profound thoughts on the Mass (27 JUN 18)
To access Mr. Mill's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: David Mills: A handful of Dorothy Day's most profound thoughts on the Mass (27 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Dorothy Day
"They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time." - Dorothy Day
27 June 2018
Johnny Cash and Family: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Johnny Cash and Family presenting "Will The Circle Be Unbroken":
K. V. Turley on the Creative Mind of J.R.R. Tolkien
"J.R.R. Tolkien was interested in all things linguistic, as his
written work more than demonstrates. What the new exhibition 'Tolkien:
Maker of Middle-Earth,' reveals, however, is how much of a visual artist
Tolkien was.
"He liked to visualize the scenes and the world about which he was writing. The fact that this world was being born inside his head, with many influences from Beowulf to the Norse sagas, makes this all the more intriguing.
"The most surprising thing was the Irish-English Dictionary."
In a recent commentary, writer K. V. Turley reflected on the artistic bent of author J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.
To access Mr. Turley's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: K. V. Turley: The Creative Mind of J.R.R. Tolkien (16 JUN 18)
"He liked to visualize the scenes and the world about which he was writing. The fact that this world was being born inside his head, with many influences from Beowulf to the Norse sagas, makes this all the more intriguing.
"The most surprising thing was the Irish-English Dictionary."
In a recent commentary, writer K. V. Turley reflected on the artistic bent of author J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.
To access Mr. Turley's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: K. V. Turley: The Creative Mind of J.R.R. Tolkien (16 JUN 18)
Fr. Roger Landry on the Seal of Coinfession
"One of the least appreciated aspects of the priesthood is the
priest's absolute commitment to keeping sacred and inviolable the seal
of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
"What this means is that under no circumstances whatsoever will a priest divulge what a particular person told him in Confession. Even if he's threatened with imprisonment, torture or death. Even if others are about to scourge his mother. Even if someone is destroying his reputation by unjustly accusing him of doing nefarious things in the Confessional or of having committed the very crime that the penitent himself confessed. Even if the only thing a penitent has confessed is impatience at a red light.
"The sacramental seal is something that makes even the most humanly inadequate, faint-hearted, easily intimidated, conflict adverse and pusillanimous priest ready for heroism. I often ask Catholics with whom I speak about the Sacrament of Penance: Do you realize that every priest is ready to die for you, to protect what you say through him to God? Most, young and old, have never really thought about it.
"Many priests have in fact died in protecting the seal of Confession."
In a recent commentary, writer Father Roger Landry reflected on the seal of Confession and on some recent attacks on this seal.
To access Fr. Landry's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Fr. Roger Landry: Your Priest is Ready to Die For You, to Protect the Seal of Confession (26 JUN 18)
"What this means is that under no circumstances whatsoever will a priest divulge what a particular person told him in Confession. Even if he's threatened with imprisonment, torture or death. Even if others are about to scourge his mother. Even if someone is destroying his reputation by unjustly accusing him of doing nefarious things in the Confessional or of having committed the very crime that the penitent himself confessed. Even if the only thing a penitent has confessed is impatience at a red light.
"The sacramental seal is something that makes even the most humanly inadequate, faint-hearted, easily intimidated, conflict adverse and pusillanimous priest ready for heroism. I often ask Catholics with whom I speak about the Sacrament of Penance: Do you realize that every priest is ready to die for you, to protect what you say through him to God? Most, young and old, have never really thought about it.
"Many priests have in fact died in protecting the seal of Confession."
In a recent commentary, writer Father Roger Landry reflected on the seal of Confession and on some recent attacks on this seal.
To access Fr. Landry's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Fr. Roger Landry: Your Priest is Ready to Die For You, to Protect the Seal of Confession (26 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Hal Borland
"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." - Hal Borland
26 June 2018
Br. Irenaeus Dunlevy, O.P., on the Beauty of the Soul
"Ever since the creation
of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity
have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. - Rom 1:20
"We learn and come to know what is invisible through our senses. We know the invisible through the visible. God, Who is invisible, immaterial, and hidden from our senses, reveals something of Himself in creation. In Thomistic terms, we say a cause can be known through its effects, albeit in a limited way.
"Something spectacular about humanity, the crown of visible creation, is that it mimics God with its creativity. We don't create as God creates - not even the angels do that - but we do reveal something hidden in our artistic creations. The artist reveals something of his soul in his work. The invisible life of the soul takes on a sensible form in the art. The visible effect reveals something of the invisible cause."
In a recent commentary, Brother Irenaeus Dunlevy, O.P., reflected on how "artistic work, architectural or otherwise, that is centered on God can begin to reveal the beauty of the soul in which God dwell."
To access Br. Pier’s complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: The Beauty of the Soul (26 JUN 18)
"We learn and come to know what is invisible through our senses. We know the invisible through the visible. God, Who is invisible, immaterial, and hidden from our senses, reveals something of Himself in creation. In Thomistic terms, we say a cause can be known through its effects, albeit in a limited way.
"Something spectacular about humanity, the crown of visible creation, is that it mimics God with its creativity. We don't create as God creates - not even the angels do that - but we do reveal something hidden in our artistic creations. The artist reveals something of his soul in his work. The invisible life of the soul takes on a sensible form in the art. The visible effect reveals something of the invisible cause."
In a recent commentary, Brother Irenaeus Dunlevy, O.P., reflected on how "artistic work, architectural or otherwise, that is centered on God can begin to reveal the beauty of the soul in which God dwell."
To access Br. Pier’s complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: The Beauty of the Soul (26 JUN 18)
Refelction Starter from St. Josemaría Escrivá
"Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it." - Saint Josemaría Escrivá, whose memory the Church celebrates today (26 June)
25 June 2018
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many good ways in which social media may be use to carry Your gospel message.
H. Edgar Henríquez Carrasco on Tips to Remeber When Using Social Media
"The Christian Catholic presence on the Internet is so important
nowadays. A few years ago TV and radio were the massive means of
communication. Today it’s clear that they’ve all come together in one: the Internet.
"Pope Benedict XVI, when speaking about social communication in 2009, urged youth with these words: 'Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communication and information technology the values on which you have built your lives'.
"We’re no longer speaking of the internet as merely a tool for evangelization, but of an environment, a common place in which we all encounter. . . ."
In a recent commentary, writer H. Edgar Henríquez Carrasco offered a number of suggestions designed to help improve one's personal experience on social media and to help carry the message of Jesus to our online friends/contacts.
To access his complete post, please visit:
Catholic Link: 7 Important Tips to Remember for Any Catholic Online (13 JUN 18)
"Pope Benedict XVI, when speaking about social communication in 2009, urged youth with these words: 'Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communication and information technology the values on which you have built your lives'.
"We’re no longer speaking of the internet as merely a tool for evangelization, but of an environment, a common place in which we all encounter. . . ."
In a recent commentary, writer H. Edgar Henríquez Carrasco offered a number of suggestions designed to help improve one's personal experience on social media and to help carry the message of Jesus to our online friends/contacts.
To access his complete post, please visit:
Catholic Link: 7 Important Tips to Remember for Any Catholic Online (13 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Thomas Edison
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison
24 June 2018
"O God, You Search Me and You Know Me"
As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Bernadette Farrell's "O God, You Search Me and You Know Me":
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. The assigned readings are Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; and Luke 1:57-66, 80.
The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 139 (Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 139 I praise You O Lord for I am wonderfully made
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.\
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24, 2018)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24, 2018)
Community in Mission: The Mission of St. John the Baptist - A Homily for the Birth of John the Baptist (23 JUN 18)
The Deacon's Bench: We are better than this: Homily for June 24, 2018, Nativity of St. John the Baptist (23 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Birth of a Glorious Failure: The Nativity of John the Baptist (21 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: The Nativity of John the Baptist (The Mass Readings Explained) (18 JUN 18)
St. Paul Center: He Must Increase: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Father George William Rutler Homilies: 2018-06-24 - Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Word on Fire: He Must Increase and I Must Decrease (Solemnities * Birth of John the Baptist)
Spirituality of the Readings: What's in a Name? (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
In Exile: The God Who Was Revealed in Christmas (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
Let the Scriptures Speak: The Baptist and Us (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Maximus of Turin (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 139 I praise You O Lord for I am wonderfully made
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.\
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24, 2018)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24, 2018)
Community in Mission: The Mission of St. John the Baptist - A Homily for the Birth of John the Baptist (23 JUN 18)
The Deacon's Bench: We are better than this: Homily for June 24, 2018, Nativity of St. John the Baptist (23 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Birth of a Glorious Failure: The Nativity of John the Baptist (21 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: The Nativity of John the Baptist (The Mass Readings Explained) (18 JUN 18)
St. Paul Center: He Must Increase: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Father George William Rutler Homilies: 2018-06-24 - Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Word on Fire: He Must Increase and I Must Decrease (Solemnities * Birth of John the Baptist)
Spirituality of the Readings: What's in a Name? (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
In Exile: The God Who Was Revealed in Christmas (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
Let the Scriptures Speak: The Baptist and Us (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Maximus of Turin (Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
Msgr. Pope on Why Our Spiritual Life Needs Fixing
"When I was a good bit younger, in
college actually, I had to take a few economics and marketing courses.
At that time I thought to myself, 'God has a bad marketing department,'
since things like Scripture and prayer were often so difficult to
understand and do. God seemed to insist that we pray, but everyone I
ever asked admitted that prayer was difficult. And while many had
reasons they offered as to why prayer was difficult, I still wondered
why, if God could just zap prayer and make it delightful, He didn't just
do so. 'Yes,' I thought, 'God has a bad marketing plan!'
"But of course God isn't selling products; He's raising children. He's healing hearts, and heart surgery involves pain and often lengthy procedures. Many purifications, mortifications, and changes are going to be necessary if we want to attain holiness and Heaven."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the many purifications necessary for us (whether we admit it or not), including our spiritual pride, sensuality, and sloth.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Fix Me, Jesus; Fix Me - Three Reasons Why Even Our Spiritual Life Needs Fixing (18 JUN 18)
"But of course God isn't selling products; He's raising children. He's healing hearts, and heart surgery involves pain and often lengthy procedures. Many purifications, mortifications, and changes are going to be necessary if we want to attain holiness and Heaven."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the many purifications necessary for us (whether we admit it or not), including our spiritual pride, sensuality, and sloth.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Fix Me, Jesus; Fix Me - Three Reasons Why Even Our Spiritual Life Needs Fixing (18 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Choosing to follow Christ helps build a more just, more friendly, more humane society, that is closer to the heart of God." - Pope Francis
23 June 2018
Philip Kosloski on Useful Sacramentals to Carry
"Sacramentals are meant to enrich our spiritual lives, reminding us of God wherever we are in the world. They have been instituted by the Church to draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ and are focused on sanctifying every part of our lives. Sacramentals are extensions of the seven sacraments and bring the grace of God into everything that we do, whether it be at home, church, or work.
"One place we don't always think to bring sacramentals is in our briefcase or purse, so that they can be used in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. If used in a spirit of faith, sacramentals can protect us (and others) from spiritual harm or inspire us to live a holy life dedicated to God."
In a recent commentary, writer Philip Kosloski reflected on three sacramentals a person may find helpful to carry (holy water, rosary, crucifix).
To access Philip's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Philip Kosloski: 3 Useful sacramentals to have in your briefcase or purse (23 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Robert Hughes
"A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop." - Robert Hughes
22 June 2018
On Businesses Looking for Philosophy Majors
"Last month, a philosophy major from the University of Dallas carried
his diploma straight from academia to a job in investment banking. He
got this job not despite his degree, but because of it. A firm that
manages trillions of dollars in assets contacted UD's career office
seeking a liberal arts major.
"During the Republican presidential debates in 2015, Marco Rubio told America that 'we need more welders and less philosophers.' But if that's so, why would a major investment bank view a degree in the liberal arts, and in philosophy in particular, as an asset rather than a liability?"
In a recent commentary, writers
"During the Republican presidential debates in 2015, Marco Rubio told America that 'we need more welders and less philosophers.' But if that's so, why would a major investment bank view a degree in the liberal arts, and in philosophy in particular, as an asset rather than a liability?"
In a recent commentary, writers
Foster Friendship Despite Differences
At a 2016 World Youth Day prayer vigil in Krakow, Poland, Pope Francis told young people, "Today we adults need you to teach us, like you are doing now, how to live with diversity, in dialogue, to experience multiculturalism not as a threat but an opportunity… Have the courage to teach us that it is easier to build bridges than walls."
It was the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and Francis lamented what is too often an absence of mercy in public discourse today. He implored young people to take a different approach, saying, "We are not here to shout against anyone. We are not about to fight. We do not want to destroy. We do not want to insult anyone. We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror."
A year before the event, Francis had encouraged young people to focus on performing one corporal work of mercy a month to prepare for the gathering. It was an appropriate way to ready the soul for such an important spiritual pilgrimage, and it is also a perfect way for each of us to cultivate the disposition needed for civil discourse.
Francis' call at World Youth Day for young Catholics to take the lead in demonstrating how to relate to people from different backgrounds and belief systems remains relevant, yet practicing civil discourse under challenging circumstances is a constant struggle. A first principle to remember when we have profound differences with others is that it is not our job to convert people by winning arguments that seem to be going nowhere. The Holy Spirit converts people's hearts. It is our job to give witness to the truth and plant seeds of the Gospel's hopeful message wherever we can.
Christ said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) And what a light burden it is to realize we are not on our own in winning people to the truth. Christ also said to the disciples, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." (Matthew 10:14) One way to apply that principle to our own lives is to be willing to agree to disagree with people when a confrontation is going nowhere. This principle is particularly helpful in regard to petty conflicts where it doesn't really matter in the greater scheme of things who is right or wrong. But even in regard to larger matters, we need to be willing to walk away from a conflict and ask the Holy Spirit to work on people's hearts. Agreeing to disagree even on larger matters can facilitate friendships to remain intact despite our differences, and sometimes the friendship we offer to people and the good we do for them does more to plant those seeds of hope in their lives than any argument we might present.
This truth is exemplified in Francis' words to young people: "In the face of evil, suffering and sin, the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self, even of one's own life, in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service."
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
It was the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and Francis lamented what is too often an absence of mercy in public discourse today. He implored young people to take a different approach, saying, "We are not here to shout against anyone. We are not about to fight. We do not want to destroy. We do not want to insult anyone. We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror."
A year before the event, Francis had encouraged young people to focus on performing one corporal work of mercy a month to prepare for the gathering. It was an appropriate way to ready the soul for such an important spiritual pilgrimage, and it is also a perfect way for each of us to cultivate the disposition needed for civil discourse.
Francis' call at World Youth Day for young Catholics to take the lead in demonstrating how to relate to people from different backgrounds and belief systems remains relevant, yet practicing civil discourse under challenging circumstances is a constant struggle. A first principle to remember when we have profound differences with others is that it is not our job to convert people by winning arguments that seem to be going nowhere. The Holy Spirit converts people's hearts. It is our job to give witness to the truth and plant seeds of the Gospel's hopeful message wherever we can.
Christ said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) And what a light burden it is to realize we are not on our own in winning people to the truth. Christ also said to the disciples, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." (Matthew 10:14) One way to apply that principle to our own lives is to be willing to agree to disagree with people when a confrontation is going nowhere. This principle is particularly helpful in regard to petty conflicts where it doesn't really matter in the greater scheme of things who is right or wrong. But even in regard to larger matters, we need to be willing to walk away from a conflict and ask the Holy Spirit to work on people's hearts. Agreeing to disagree even on larger matters can facilitate friendships to remain intact despite our differences, and sometimes the friendship we offer to people and the good we do for them does more to plant those seeds of hope in their lives than any argument we might present.
This truth is exemplified in Francis' words to young people: "In the face of evil, suffering and sin, the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self, even of one's own life, in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service."
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Earl Nightingale
"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change." - Earl Nightingale
21 June 2018
On the Retail Changes of Main Street Reshaping Cities
"Retailers are middlemen, for the most part. They don't usually make
stuff themselves. Mostly they just buy it from elsewhere and then make
it available to the passerby. Increasingly, of course, that shopper is
virtual, surfing along an online street. Rather than heading downtown or
to a suburban mall, customers fire up their computers or phone apps,
make a purchase and then wait for the cardboard box to be delivered.
"It's hardly news that this trend endangers some brick-and-mortar stores, whether they sell pants, cat food, eyeglasses, mattresses, shoes, printers, televisions, novels, hammers or toothbrushes. It's a fact city leaders must wrestle with as they watch their malls go dark and their Main Streets mutate into new roles -- or try to."
In a recent commentary, Alex Marshall, Senior Fellow at The Regional Plan Association in New York City, reflected on some of the changes occurring in downtown commercial districts, including how brick-and-mortar stores are surviving, but what they're selling is changing.
To access Mr. Marshall's complete post, please visit:
Governing Magazine: How the Mutation of Main Street Is Reshaping Cities (June 2018)
"It's hardly news that this trend endangers some brick-and-mortar stores, whether they sell pants, cat food, eyeglasses, mattresses, shoes, printers, televisions, novels, hammers or toothbrushes. It's a fact city leaders must wrestle with as they watch their malls go dark and their Main Streets mutate into new roles -- or try to."
In a recent commentary, Alex Marshall, Senior Fellow at The Regional Plan Association in New York City, reflected on some of the changes occurring in downtown commercial districts, including how brick-and-mortar stores are surviving, but what they're selling is changing.
To access Mr. Marshall's complete post, please visit:
Governing Magazine: How the Mutation of Main Street Is Reshaping Cities (June 2018)
Pope Francis on Ecumenism
"Pope Francis landed in Geneva Thursday for a daytrip aimed at
bolstering ecumenical relations, saying off the bat that division among
Christians is borne from worldliness, and Christ must be prioritized
over any differences that might get in the way of unity.
"In his first official speech after touching down, the Pope said Christians are called to walk together along the path of the Spirit, which means 'rejecting worldliness' and 'opting for a mindset of service and growing in forgiveness.'
"Pope Francis spoke to participants in an ecumenical prayer gathering during his June 21 visit to Geneva for the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches."
A recent National Catholic Register article reported on Pope Francis' presentation at this prayer gathering.
To access the complete National Catholic Register report, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Pope in Geneva: Real Ecumenism Puts Christ Over Division (21 JUN 18)
"In his first official speech after touching down, the Pope said Christians are called to walk together along the path of the Spirit, which means 'rejecting worldliness' and 'opting for a mindset of service and growing in forgiveness.'
"Pope Francis spoke to participants in an ecumenical prayer gathering during his June 21 visit to Geneva for the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches."
A recent National Catholic Register article reported on Pope Francis' presentation at this prayer gathering.
To access the complete National Catholic Register report, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Pope in Geneva: Real Ecumenism Puts Christ Over Division (21 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from St. Aloysius Gonzaga
"It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world!" - Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, whose memory the Church celebrates today (21 June)
18 June 2018
Challenging Interchanges and Intersections
"Normally, the basic rules of the road are enough to keep traffic in
order, but sometimes sheer volume means that things get a little messy.
Other times, anarchy rules the day."
A recent Popular Mechanics post presented seven challenging interchanges/intersections from various places throughout the world.
To access the complete post, please visit:
Popular Mechanics: 7 of the World's Wackiest Interchanges and Intersections (15 JUN 18)
A recent Popular Mechanics post presented seven challenging interchanges/intersections from various places throughout the world.
To access the complete post, please visit:
Popular Mechanics: 7 of the World's Wackiest Interchanges and Intersections (15 JUN 18)
A Baptist Explains Why He Likes to Pray in a Catholic Church
"As a Baptist, I watch people in airports, in restaurants, in the mall…
and in church. I wish I could focus on God in church, but I just can’t
when there are people around.
"As a Baptist, I watch people in airports, in restaurants, in the mall… and in church. I wish I could focus on God in church, but I just can't when there are people around. . . .
"Fortunately, there is a church near my home that is open most of the time. I have never been there except during daylight hours, but it has always been open and there are seldom people there.
"Yes, it is a Catholic church and I am not Catholic, but no one has ever tried to stop me from entering and praying. I don't think anyone ever would, although I'm sure I look very much like an average interloping Baptist."
In a recent commentary, writer Michael McDonald reflected on his positive experience in praying in Catholic churches (including, besides the silence, holy water and the crucifix).
To access Michael's complete post, please visit:
ChurchPOP: Why This Baptist's Favorite Place to Pray is His Local Catholic Parish Church (13 JUN 18)
"As a Baptist, I watch people in airports, in restaurants, in the mall… and in church. I wish I could focus on God in church, but I just can't when there are people around. . . .
"Fortunately, there is a church near my home that is open most of the time. I have never been there except during daylight hours, but it has always been open and there are seldom people there.
"Yes, it is a Catholic church and I am not Catholic, but no one has ever tried to stop me from entering and praying. I don't think anyone ever would, although I'm sure I look very much like an average interloping Baptist."
In a recent commentary, writer Michael McDonald reflected on his positive experience in praying in Catholic churches (including, besides the silence, holy water and the crucifix).
To access Michael's complete post, please visit:
ChurchPOP: Why This Baptist's Favorite Place to Pray is His Local Catholic Parish Church (13 JUN 18)
17 June 2018
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our fathers and all those who fill the role of a father.
Msgr. Pope on Pope Leo XIII Insights that Diagnose Our Cultural Malaise
"Pope Leo XIII penned an insightful
analysis of three trends that both alarmed him and pointed to future
problems. He wrote of these three concerns in 1893 in the Encyclical on
the Holy Rosary entitled Laetitiae Sanctae
(Of Holy Joy). The Pope laid out these three areas of concern and then
offered the Mysteries of the Rosary as a remedy. Let's look at how he
described the problems and then consider what he proposed as a solution."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on these concerns: the distaste for a simple and laborious life, repugnance to suffering of any kind, and the forgetfulness of the future life.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Three Insights of Pope Leo XIII That Diagnose Our Cultural Malaise (11 JUN 18)
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on these concerns: the distaste for a simple and laborious life, repugnance to suffering of any kind, and the forgetfulness of the future life.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Three Insights of Pope Leo XIII That Diagnose Our Cultural Malaise (11 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"The Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need to achieve holiness in the midst of our everyday lives." - Pope Francis
16 June 2018
The Whiptones: "Rama Lama Ding Dong"
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of The Whiptones presenting "Rama Lama Ding Dong":
Bruce Springsteen on His Catholic Childhood
"Wow, this was very moving.
"Last Sunday, Bruce Springsteen won a special Tony award for his one-man show Springsteen on Broadway. At the awards show, he performed a version of his old song My Hometown, with added reminiscing about the Catholic faith of his childhood (you can watch the video below).
"'We lived spitting distance from the Catholic church,' Springsteen began in the powerful number, 'the priest's rectory, the nun's convent, the St. Rose of Lima grammar school. All of it just a football's toss away, across the field of wild grass.
"'I literally grew up surrounded by God. Surrounded by God and all my relatives. We had cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, great-grandmas, great-grandpas – all of us, were jammed into five little houses on two adjoining streets."
A recent Church Pop post highlighted this presentation by "The Boss."
To access this complete post, please visit:
ChurchPOP: Bruce Springsteen Praises the Wonders of His Catholic Childhood in Stunning Tony's Performance (14 JUN 18)
"Last Sunday, Bruce Springsteen won a special Tony award for his one-man show Springsteen on Broadway. At the awards show, he performed a version of his old song My Hometown, with added reminiscing about the Catholic faith of his childhood (you can watch the video below).
"'We lived spitting distance from the Catholic church,' Springsteen began in the powerful number, 'the priest's rectory, the nun's convent, the St. Rose of Lima grammar school. All of it just a football's toss away, across the field of wild grass.
"'I literally grew up surrounded by God. Surrounded by God and all my relatives. We had cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, great-grandmas, great-grandpas – all of us, were jammed into five little houses on two adjoining streets."
A recent Church Pop post highlighted this presentation by "The Boss."
To access this complete post, please visit:
ChurchPOP: Bruce Springsteen Praises the Wonders of His Catholic Childhood in Stunning Tony's Performance (14 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Muhammad Ali
"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe." - Muhammad Ali
15 June 2018
"You're a Grand Old Flag"
As we continue to live this week and remembering yesterday's celebration of Flag Day, I offer this version of "You're a Grand Old Flag":
The Irish Monks of Skellig Michael
If you've seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi, you're familiar with the planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker has isolated himself for many years. In reality, that is an island in Ireland called Skellig Michael, on which 12 Christian monks established a monastery over 1,000 years ago. Christian history lover Philip Kosloski found his curiosity piqued by this detail, so he set out to learn more about the island itself and the monks who inhabited it.
During a Christopher Closeup interview, Kosloski explained that for centuries after St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, monasteries were founded throughout the country. "They were inspired in particular by a tradition from Egypt, to go into the desert, dedicating one's life to God. In Ireland, there are no deserts, but they have a lot of places where it's really hard to get to."
That made Skellig Michael a desirable destination. Located about seven miles off Ireland's coast, the monks saw it "as a great place to get away from the world so they can enter into a greater communion with God." Skellig Michael's terrain made life difficult, but again, the monks found this to be an attractive aspect of the location. Kosloski says, "They embraced the call to fast and to pray, to do these things that intentionally cause suffering to their bodies so they can offer that suffering up to God."
Interestingly, the monks of Skellig Michael considered themselves warrior monks, a description that could also describe the Jedi of Star Wars. Kosloski sees a connection between the two: "It's providential that the filmmakers chose Skellig Michael to be this place where supposedly was the first Jedi temple. The Jedi, in some ways, teach a doctrine similar to Buddhist teachings. [But] they also were, at least in the eyes of George Lucas, fashioned after warrior monks of early Christianity. What I mean is: the monks in the first two centuries of Christianity saw themselves as waging this spiritual battle - the struggle of temptations but also in the greater spiritual cosmos. The fight of good and evil with angels and demons. So there's that connection of these monks on Skellig Michael who saw themselves as spiritual warriors - and the Jedi in the Star Wars universe, in a similar way, are these pillars of the galaxy that fight for truth, justice and peace."
With that kind of background, the monks of Skellig Michael seem to be a rife source for visual storytelling, so Kosloski is taking advantage of his own interest in the island - and that of others as well - by creating a comic book about life there. He assembled a team to work on the first issue, which will be out later this year. "A lot of people in the Star Wars community love comic books, so this is a perfect bridge between the two worlds," he says.
Kosloski hopes to take readers deeper into the minds and hearts of these religious who, in their own way, saw themselves as lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness. He concludes, "They saw their lives as doing something greater than themselves. They wanted to wrestle with those demons that are within themselves, but also, in a certain sense, protect the world from the evil outside through their prayers and sacrifices. They didn't curse or shun the world, but they were doing it as a sacrifice, in honor of union with Christ…to protect the world from those spiritual forces that we don't usually see.”
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
During a Christopher Closeup interview, Kosloski explained that for centuries after St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, monasteries were founded throughout the country. "They were inspired in particular by a tradition from Egypt, to go into the desert, dedicating one's life to God. In Ireland, there are no deserts, but they have a lot of places where it's really hard to get to."
That made Skellig Michael a desirable destination. Located about seven miles off Ireland's coast, the monks saw it "as a great place to get away from the world so they can enter into a greater communion with God." Skellig Michael's terrain made life difficult, but again, the monks found this to be an attractive aspect of the location. Kosloski says, "They embraced the call to fast and to pray, to do these things that intentionally cause suffering to their bodies so they can offer that suffering up to God."
Interestingly, the monks of Skellig Michael considered themselves warrior monks, a description that could also describe the Jedi of Star Wars. Kosloski sees a connection between the two: "It's providential that the filmmakers chose Skellig Michael to be this place where supposedly was the first Jedi temple. The Jedi, in some ways, teach a doctrine similar to Buddhist teachings. [But] they also were, at least in the eyes of George Lucas, fashioned after warrior monks of early Christianity. What I mean is: the monks in the first two centuries of Christianity saw themselves as waging this spiritual battle - the struggle of temptations but also in the greater spiritual cosmos. The fight of good and evil with angels and demons. So there's that connection of these monks on Skellig Michael who saw themselves as spiritual warriors - and the Jedi in the Star Wars universe, in a similar way, are these pillars of the galaxy that fight for truth, justice and peace."
With that kind of background, the monks of Skellig Michael seem to be a rife source for visual storytelling, so Kosloski is taking advantage of his own interest in the island - and that of others as well - by creating a comic book about life there. He assembled a team to work on the first issue, which will be out later this year. "A lot of people in the Star Wars community love comic books, so this is a perfect bridge between the two worlds," he says.
Kosloski hopes to take readers deeper into the minds and hearts of these religious who, in their own way, saw themselves as lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness. He concludes, "They saw their lives as doing something greater than themselves. They wanted to wrestle with those demons that are within themselves, but also, in a certain sense, protect the world from the evil outside through their prayers and sacrifices. They didn't curse or shun the world, but they were doing it as a sacrifice, in honor of union with Christ…to protect the world from those spiritual forces that we don't usually see.”
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Eric Hoffer
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric Hoffer
13 June 2018
Delaware Community Chorus: "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of the Delaware Community Chorus (Delaware, OH) singing "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace":
Elizabeth Scalia on Internet Searches, Mr. Rogers, and Listening to People
"The younger of my two sons has expressed his concerns to me about Google and the internet in general.
"'When we were kids, and we wondered about something, we asked you and Dad. Now, kids don't ask their parents anything; if they're curious about something, they go to Google or You Tube. Or, even if they ask their parents a question, a lot of times the parents will say, 'I don't know. Google it,' and the conversation, the exchange, the discussion - it all ends right there.'
"He has probably hit on an important truth: How much has our comfort with technology and our dependence upon search engines affected our interpersonal exchanges? How have they narrowed our outreach to one another, rather than broadening it?
"These are good questions and worth some study by specialists in social and family dynamics, but they remind me of a time when my older son's curiosity could not always be assuaged by a turn at an internet browser, or even by 'asking Mom,' and it caused him to reach out to a particularly distant (but paradoxically close and trusted) source: Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."
In a recent commentary, writer Elizabeth Scalia, content editor at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, reflected on lessons from Mr. Rogers on the importance of interacting with people (as opposed to doing Internet searches) as part of the process of learning about different things.
To access Ms. Scalia's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Elizabeth Scalia: We Should All Want to Be Neighbors With Mr. Rogers (12 JUN 18)
"'When we were kids, and we wondered about something, we asked you and Dad. Now, kids don't ask their parents anything; if they're curious about something, they go to Google or You Tube. Or, even if they ask their parents a question, a lot of times the parents will say, 'I don't know. Google it,' and the conversation, the exchange, the discussion - it all ends right there.'
"He has probably hit on an important truth: How much has our comfort with technology and our dependence upon search engines affected our interpersonal exchanges? How have they narrowed our outreach to one another, rather than broadening it?
"These are good questions and worth some study by specialists in social and family dynamics, but they remind me of a time when my older son's curiosity could not always be assuaged by a turn at an internet browser, or even by 'asking Mom,' and it caused him to reach out to a particularly distant (but paradoxically close and trusted) source: Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."
In a recent commentary, writer Elizabeth Scalia, content editor at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, reflected on lessons from Mr. Rogers on the importance of interacting with people (as opposed to doing Internet searches) as part of the process of learning about different things.
To access Ms. Scalia's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Elizabeth Scalia: We Should All Want to Be Neighbors With Mr. Rogers (12 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from St. Anthony of Padua
"Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft." - Saint Anthony of Padua, whose memory the Church celebrates today (13 June)
12 June 2018
Dwight Duncan on Smiling and Having a Sense of Humor as Signs of Holiness
"At the end of the new feature-length documentary 'Pope Francis: A Man of
His Word,' still playing at local movie theaters, the Pope encourages
us to smile and have a good sense of humor. His various solemn
pronouncements have usually been named with some variant of joy: from
the 'Joy of the Gospel' to the 'Joy of Love.' Indeed, his recent
Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today's World is aptly
entitled 'Rejoice and Be Glad,' which repeats the idea of being happy,
really happy, as a response to the good news of Jesus Christ, a bit like
the Magi who, as St. Matthew tells us, 'rejoiced with exceedingly great
joy,' when they rediscovered the star that led them to Bethlehem."
In a recent commentary, Dwight G. Duncan, professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth, reflected on the role of a sense of humor in our spiritual lives.
To access Professor Duncan's complete post, please visit:
Boston Pilot: Echoes. Smiling and having a sense of humor as signs of holiness (1 JUN 18)
In a recent commentary, Dwight G. Duncan, professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth, reflected on the role of a sense of humor in our spiritual lives.
To access Professor Duncan's complete post, please visit:
Boston Pilot: Echoes. Smiling and having a sense of humor as signs of holiness (1 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Matthew
"[Y]our light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." - Matthew5:16
11 June 2018
Landslide Stops Just Short of Church
"Praise the Lord!
"Landslides can be extremely destructive. Which is why when one started on the side of a mountain in Valle Spluga in Italy heading toward a historic church, things looked pretty bad.
"But amazingly, even though around 7500 cubic meters of rock fell off the mountain and enveloped the church and town in dust, the substance of the landslide stopped just a few yards from the church!"
A recent Catholic Pop post posted a video of this event.
To access the complete post (with its related video), please visit:
ChurchPOP: Enormous Landslide Miraculously Stops RIGHT BEFORE 420-Yr-Old Church in Italy (Video & Photos Inside) (7 JUN 18)
"Landslides can be extremely destructive. Which is why when one started on the side of a mountain in Valle Spluga in Italy heading toward a historic church, things looked pretty bad.
"But amazingly, even though around 7500 cubic meters of rock fell off the mountain and enveloped the church and town in dust, the substance of the landslide stopped just a few yards from the church!"
A recent Catholic Pop post posted a video of this event.
To access the complete post (with its related video), please visit:
ChurchPOP: Enormous Landslide Miraculously Stops RIGHT BEFORE 420-Yr-Old Church in Italy (Video & Photos Inside) (7 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Carl Jung
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." - Carl Jung
10 June 2018
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Holy Scripture and the many ways in which You reach out to us and touch us lives through this great gift.
Msgr. Pope on the Second Letter of Peter
"The first reading for Mass [last] Tuesday, taken from the Second Letter of Peter, is a warning to us. There's an old spiritual that says, 'God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water but the fire next time.' This reading today speaks to us of the 'fire next time' and reminds of the need to be ready for the coming of the Lord."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on four aspects of teaching contained in the Second Letter of Peter (the patience that is purposeful, the passing that is perilous, the prescription that is proclaimed, and the perfection that is promised).
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: The Fire Next Time: A Meditation on the Second Letter of Peter (4 JUN 18)
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on four aspects of teaching contained in the Second Letter of Peter (the patience that is purposeful, the passing that is perilous, the prescription that is proclaimed, and the perfection that is promised).
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: The Fire Next Time: A Meditation on the Second Letter of Peter (4 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Loving Christ is not a superficial sentiment. It is an attitude of the heart that we demonstrate when we live as He wants us to." - Pope Francis
09 June 2018
Frank Pizarro: "Only You"
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Frank Pizarro presenting (with the Coda Band) "Only You":
Note: Frank is a New York City firefighter who was one of the first responders at the 9-11 Twin Towers tragedy.
Note: Frank is a New York City firefighter who was one of the first responders at the 9-11 Twin Towers tragedy.
Philip Kosloski on Dealing with Distractions during Prayer
"For many of us, when we sit down to pray, we are bombarded by constant
distractions. It could be anything from the ticking of the clock on the
wall, the honking of a horn outside, or even a barrage of thoughts
about various people or relationships in our lives.
"It can be difficult to focus our attention on God and remain in a conversation with him.
"However, sometimes these distractions aren't 'distractions' at all, they are thoughts introduced by God that are aimed at our spiritual benefit.
"For example, here is what St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about being distracted during prayer.
"I also have many [distractions] but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray for those people the thought of whom is diverting my attention, and in this way they reap benefit from my distractions.
"Sometimes God wants to divert our attention and shed light on a struggling friend or family member. They may need our prayers or our charity. This way the distraction is turned in the right way and instead of taking us away from God, it brings us closer to him and his divine plan."
In a recent commentary, writer Philip Kosloski reflected on some thoughts from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux regarding handling distractions during prayer.
To access Philip's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs; Philip Kosloski: How to deal with distractions during prayer, according to St. Therese of Lisieux (8 MAY 18)
"It can be difficult to focus our attention on God and remain in a conversation with him.
"However, sometimes these distractions aren't 'distractions' at all, they are thoughts introduced by God that are aimed at our spiritual benefit.
"For example, here is what St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about being distracted during prayer.
"I also have many [distractions] but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray for those people the thought of whom is diverting my attention, and in this way they reap benefit from my distractions.
"Sometimes God wants to divert our attention and shed light on a struggling friend or family member. They may need our prayers or our charity. This way the distraction is turned in the right way and instead of taking us away from God, it brings us closer to him and his divine plan."
In a recent commentary, writer Philip Kosloski reflected on some thoughts from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux regarding handling distractions during prayer.
To access Philip's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs; Philip Kosloski: How to deal with distractions during prayer, according to St. Therese of Lisieux (8 MAY 18)
Reflection Starter
"Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen." - Source Unknown
08 June 2018
"Sweet Heart of Jesus"
As our solemnity celebration continues, I offer this version of "Sweet Heart of Jesus":
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus. The assigned readings are Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9; Ephesians 3:8-12,
14-19; and John 19:31-37. The Responsorial Psalm is from Isaiah
12 (Isaiah 12:2-6).
Today's Gospel reading is as follows:
Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: "Not a bone of it will be broken." And again another passage says: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced."
Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Fr. Burke Masters: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 8, 2018)
YouTube: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - JMT Gospel Reflection
Ignitum Today: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (8 JUN 18)
A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 6/7 (6 JUN 13)
YouTube: Fr. James Kubicki on the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Background information:
Annun Sacrum: Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on Consecration to the Sacred Heart
Haurietis Aquas: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Today's Gospel reading is as follows:
Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: "Not a bone of it will be broken." And again another passage says: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced."
Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Fr. Burke Masters: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 8, 2018)
YouTube: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - JMT Gospel Reflection
Ignitum Today: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (8 JUN 18)
A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 6/7 (6 JUN 13)
YouTube: Fr. James Kubicki on the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Background information:
Annun Sacrum: Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on Consecration to the Sacred Heart
Haurietis Aquas: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of each person, each with his/her own set of gifts to be shared with Your people.
The Infinite Value of People with Disabilities
At a recent U.N. gathering, the Holy See brought together a group of panelists to highlight the value of disabled persons in our society. A video was presented that told of a woman who was pregnant and had just discovered her child would be born with Down Syndrome. She emailed an organization for the disabled, saying, "I'm scared: what kind of life will my child have?" Their response was to compile video clips of people with Down Syndrome answering her question.
From different places around the world and in different languages, they took turns delivering pieces of the message written in subtitles beneath their beautiful, smiling faces: "Dear future mom, don't be afraid. Your child will be able to do many things. He'll be able to hug you. He'll be able to run towards you. He'll be able to speak and tell you he loves you." They explained all the things a child with Down Syndrome would be able to do, including work, travel, and independent living, adding, "Sometimes it will be difficult. Very difficult...But isn't it like that for all mothers?"
Tears flowed at the U.N. as mothers joined their children on screen, one at a time in each different location, mother and child hugging each other as the final words of the message were delivered: "Dear future mom, your child can be happy. Just like I am. And you'll be happy too. Right, mom?" Each in turn, they looked to their mothers, whose smiles and warmth answered the question, "Right, mom?"
This short video message so beautifully captures the impact people with disabilities have on the world around them. The mothers in that video looked happy because of the bonds they had created with their children. It is important to remember that those bonds of love within a family or community are often strengthened through unique challenges faced together. The entire group may cultivate teamwork, learn empathy, and discover that everyone has amazing talents, if only given the circumstances to thrive.
On a day devoted to persons with disabilities during the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2016, Pope Francis said, "The world does not become better because only apparently 'perfect' - not to mention fake - people live there, but when human solidarity, mutual acceptance and respect increase…. Each of us, sooner or later, is called to face - at times painfully - frailty and illness, both our own and those of others."
Sadly, in some parts of the world, disability-based abortion threatens to eliminate certain populations of the disabled, which the Holy See called, "the greatest hate-crime of this generation." Francis correctly highlights that it is an illusion to think we can eradicate the obstacles of life. All we are doing by weeding out people with disabilities is creating a society that is less compassionate and less oriented towards problem solving.
But this is not the way that Christ has taught us to live. We are called to care for one another and in so doing we discover the joy of becoming more like Christ. This is why the mothers and their children featured in the U.N. video radiated such joy. They had discovered Christ in their relation to one another. What greater gift could a person bring into your life? So have the courage to embrace those with disabilities in your family and community, and you will awaken Christ within each other and help to build a compassionate society that values all people as children of God.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
From different places around the world and in different languages, they took turns delivering pieces of the message written in subtitles beneath their beautiful, smiling faces: "Dear future mom, don't be afraid. Your child will be able to do many things. He'll be able to hug you. He'll be able to run towards you. He'll be able to speak and tell you he loves you." They explained all the things a child with Down Syndrome would be able to do, including work, travel, and independent living, adding, "Sometimes it will be difficult. Very difficult...But isn't it like that for all mothers?"
Tears flowed at the U.N. as mothers joined their children on screen, one at a time in each different location, mother and child hugging each other as the final words of the message were delivered: "Dear future mom, your child can be happy. Just like I am. And you'll be happy too. Right, mom?" Each in turn, they looked to their mothers, whose smiles and warmth answered the question, "Right, mom?"
This short video message so beautifully captures the impact people with disabilities have on the world around them. The mothers in that video looked happy because of the bonds they had created with their children. It is important to remember that those bonds of love within a family or community are often strengthened through unique challenges faced together. The entire group may cultivate teamwork, learn empathy, and discover that everyone has amazing talents, if only given the circumstances to thrive.
On a day devoted to persons with disabilities during the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2016, Pope Francis said, "The world does not become better because only apparently 'perfect' - not to mention fake - people live there, but when human solidarity, mutual acceptance and respect increase…. Each of us, sooner or later, is called to face - at times painfully - frailty and illness, both our own and those of others."
Sadly, in some parts of the world, disability-based abortion threatens to eliminate certain populations of the disabled, which the Holy See called, "the greatest hate-crime of this generation." Francis correctly highlights that it is an illusion to think we can eradicate the obstacles of life. All we are doing by weeding out people with disabilities is creating a society that is less compassionate and less oriented towards problem solving.
But this is not the way that Christ has taught us to live. We are called to care for one another and in so doing we discover the joy of becoming more like Christ. This is why the mothers and their children featured in the U.N. video radiated such joy. They had discovered Christ in their relation to one another. What greater gift could a person bring into your life? So have the courage to embrace those with disabilities in your family and community, and you will awaken Christ within each other and help to build a compassionate society that values all people as children of God.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Anatole France
"If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France
07 June 2018
Mexican Nuns Collaborate to Save Endangered Salamander
"Conservationists from Chester Zoo have formed an unlikely partnership
with an order of nuns - in a project that could save a critically
endangered amphibian from extinction.
"The axolotl - a salamander that is unique to Mexico - has almost been wiped out of its freshwater habitat by pollution and over-fishing.
"Now, scientists say that the nuns hold the key to bringing it back from the brink."
A recent BBC article reported on this collaboration.
To access the complete BBC report, please visit:
BBC News: The nuns helping save a sacred species (7 JUN 18)
"The axolotl - a salamander that is unique to Mexico - has almost been wiped out of its freshwater habitat by pollution and over-fishing.
"Now, scientists say that the nuns hold the key to bringing it back from the brink."
A recent BBC article reported on this collaboration.
To access the complete BBC report, please visit:
BBC News: The nuns helping save a sacred species (7 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Robert Frost
"I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering." - Robert Frost
06 June 2018
"Lord of All Hopefulness"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of "Lord of All Hopefulness":
"Amazing Flyover of New York City"
A recent Twister Sifter post presented an interesting aerial view of New York City.
To access the complete post, please visit:
TwistedSifter: An Amazing Flyover of New York in a Resolution Higher Than Your Monitor Can Handle (29 MAY 18)
To access the complete post, please visit:
TwistedSifter: An Amazing Flyover of New York in a Resolution Higher Than Your Monitor Can Handle (29 MAY 18)
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the call to holiness You have extended to us and for the graces You give us to respond to this call.
Pamela Mandela on Our Call to Holiness
"Trying to conform to the world's
definition of living can cause great pressure to a Christian who wants
to live the call to holiness. Many Catholic Christians are not even
aware that this call is for all baptized persons. Some wrongly think it
is meant only for people in the religious vocation. Whenever I take time
out to attend a renewal conference or retreat, I find myself convicted
to try again living the call to holiness. I feel my conscience drawing
me to live this holy life in light of the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and after the holy character of the Lord God, who calls us every day
to salvation. There are many lessons in Holy Scripture and also from
the lives of the Saints on how we can do this. One such lesson comes
from the first letter of St. Peter, where he suggests that all you need
to do to live a holy life is be obedient (cf. 1 Peter 1:13-16)."
In a recent commentary, writer Pamela Mandela reflected on the call to holiness extended to each Christian.
To access Ms. Mandela's complete post, please visit:
Catholic Stand: Christians Commit to Living the Call to Holiness (4 JUN 18)
In a recent commentary, writer Pamela Mandela reflected on the call to holiness extended to each Christian.
To access Ms. Mandela's complete post, please visit:
Catholic Stand: Christians Commit to Living the Call to Holiness (4 JUN 18)
Reflection Starter from Charlotte Bronte
"Men judge us by the success of our efforts. God looks at the efforts themselves." - Charlotte Bronte
05 June 2018
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, that we can trust in You and for the graces You give us when we do so.
Joseph Pronechen on Putting Trust in Jesus into Practice
"Last August, Hurricane Harvey forced the Rojas family's evacuation
from Robstown, Texas. Reaching shelter after a three-hour drive, Jesse
and Jennifer and their children watched helplessly as someone on
Facebook livestreamed the Rojas home as it, along with Jesse's mother’s
and sister’s houses, was burning.
"'All three burned down completely during the night of the hurricane,' Jesse said. 'We prayed right away. My wife's favorite prayer is the Divine Mercy Chaplet. We said a Divine Mercy Chaplet on our way being evacuated, and we were praying the Rosary, too. They were signs to us that we weren't alone.'
"Despite losing everything, the family's faith remains unshaken in the midst of their suffering because of their continuing prayer, 'Jesus, I trust in you' - what Jesus told St. Faustina was his 'signature' when he gave her the image of Divine Mercy (St. Faustina's diary, 327). The Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of Easter. The Rojas family attest that they are indeed blessed: None of the family was lost.
"Jesse Rojas said that before the hurricane nobody knew the Divine Mercy Chaplet was his wife's favorite prayer, yet, surprisingly, a family called them from out of state wanting to make a donation. 'They were calling from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.'"
In a recent commentary, National Catholic Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen reflected on how the Rojas family strove to put the 'Jesus, I trust in You' prayer into practice and on the importance of trust in Jesus..
To access Mr. Pronechen's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Joseph Pronechen: Putting 'Jesus, I Trust in You' Into Practice (8 APR 18)
"'All three burned down completely during the night of the hurricane,' Jesse said. 'We prayed right away. My wife's favorite prayer is the Divine Mercy Chaplet. We said a Divine Mercy Chaplet on our way being evacuated, and we were praying the Rosary, too. They were signs to us that we weren't alone.'
"Despite losing everything, the family's faith remains unshaken in the midst of their suffering because of their continuing prayer, 'Jesus, I trust in you' - what Jesus told St. Faustina was his 'signature' when he gave her the image of Divine Mercy (St. Faustina's diary, 327). The Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of Easter. The Rojas family attest that they are indeed blessed: None of the family was lost.
"Jesse Rojas said that before the hurricane nobody knew the Divine Mercy Chaplet was his wife's favorite prayer, yet, surprisingly, a family called them from out of state wanting to make a donation. 'They were calling from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.'"
In a recent commentary, National Catholic Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen reflected on how the Rojas family strove to put the 'Jesus, I trust in You' prayer into practice and on the importance of trust in Jesus..
To access Mr. Pronechen's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Joseph Pronechen: Putting 'Jesus, I Trust in You' Into Practice (8 APR 18)
Reflection Starter from Suze Orman
"When you lose something in your life, stop thinking it's a loss for you... it is a gift you have been given so you can get on the right path to where you are meant to go, not to where you think you should have gone." - Suze Orman
04 June 2018
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for Your presence when we face difficulties (even if w are not aware of it).
Nicholas LaBanca on God's Presence When Facing Tragedies
"There is no way of escaping it in our culture's 24-hour news cycle.
There's no way to escape witnessing the evils that are carried out in
this world when we're all glued to our smart devices, TVs, and phones in
our daily lives. One of the latest examples of such evil came from yet
another fatal school shooting in the United States. Innocent people were
killed, and usually the first thing that many people ask is, 'Where was
God?' or 'How could a good and loving God let this happen?'
"Admittedly, the problem of evil is probably the hardest thing for us as Catholic Christians to understand. These are often honest questions, and one can't be faulted for asking them. But we do have trust to believe that God has good reasons for permitting these things to happen. We must always remember that God never wills such evil things to happen; we have ample evidence of this from Scripture and Tradition.
"But this doesn't stop our brothers and sisters from asking that question of 'why'. While there's no way I can completely tackle the entire subject in this space, I'd at least like to address the issue in some small way as we try to make sense of the things we see and experience around us."
In a recent commentary, writer Nicholas LaBanca reflected on how we might show that a loving God is in our midst, even though all the tragedies we face in our lives.
Catholic Stand: Asking the Question, "Where Was God?" (29 MAY 18)
"Admittedly, the problem of evil is probably the hardest thing for us as Catholic Christians to understand. These are often honest questions, and one can't be faulted for asking them. But we do have trust to believe that God has good reasons for permitting these things to happen. We must always remember that God never wills such evil things to happen; we have ample evidence of this from Scripture and Tradition.
"But this doesn't stop our brothers and sisters from asking that question of 'why'. While there's no way I can completely tackle the entire subject in this space, I'd at least like to address the issue in some small way as we try to make sense of the things we see and experience around us."
In a recent commentary, writer Nicholas LaBanca reflected on how we might show that a loving God is in our midst, even though all the tragedies we face in our lives.
Catholic Stand: Asking the Question, "Where Was God?" (29 MAY 18)
Reflection Starter from Swami Sivananda
"Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success." - Swami Sivananda
Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.
Swami Sivananda
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/j_paul_getty_100065
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/j_paul_getty_100065
03 June 2018
"I Am the Bread of Life"
As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Ca Đoàn Thánh Tâm (Milpitas, CA) presenting "I Am the Bread of Life":
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The assigned readings are Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; and Mark 14:2-16, 22-26.
The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 116 (Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Psalm 116: I Will Take the Cup of Salvation (Mark Haas)
The Gospel reading is as follows:
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Body and Blood of Christ (June 3, 2018)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Body and Blood Of Jesus Christ (June 3, 2018)
Community in Mission: Unless - A Homily for Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Deacon's Bench: In smallness there is greatness: Homily for June 3, 2018, Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Scandal of Divine Intimacy: The Readings for Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Corpus Christi (The Mass Readings Explained) (28 MAY 18)
St. Paul Center: Blood of the Covenant: Scott Hahn Reflects on Corpus Christi
Father George William Rutler Homilies: 2018-06-03 - Corpus Christi
Word on Fire: The Ultimate Blood Sacrifice (Solemnities * Corpus Christi)
Spirituality of the Readings: Indelicate Question (The Body and Blood of Christ)
In Exile: Christ Still Has Human Flesh (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Let the Scriptures Speak: The Blood of the Covenant (The Body and Blood of Christ)
The Word Encountered: An Embodied God (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Historical Cultural Context: The Meaning of a Meal (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by John Chrysostom (The Body and Blood of Christ)
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Psalm 116: I Will Take the Cup of Salvation (Mark Haas)
The Gospel reading is as follows:
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Body and Blood of Christ (June 3, 2018)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Body and Blood Of Jesus Christ (June 3, 2018)
Community in Mission: Unless - A Homily for Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Deacon's Bench: In smallness there is greatness: Homily for June 3, 2018, Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Scandal of Divine Intimacy: The Readings for Corpus Christi (2 JUN 18)
The Sacred Page: Corpus Christi (The Mass Readings Explained) (28 MAY 18)
St. Paul Center: Blood of the Covenant: Scott Hahn Reflects on Corpus Christi
Father George William Rutler Homilies: 2018-06-03 - Corpus Christi
Word on Fire: The Ultimate Blood Sacrifice (Solemnities * Corpus Christi)
Spirituality of the Readings: Indelicate Question (The Body and Blood of Christ)
In Exile: Christ Still Has Human Flesh (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Let the Scriptures Speak: The Blood of the Covenant (The Body and Blood of Christ)
The Word Encountered: An Embodied God (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Historical Cultural Context: The Meaning of a Meal (The Body and Blood of Christ)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by John Chrysostom (The Body and Blood of Christ)
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