As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Lena Horne presenting "I'm Glad There Is You":
30 April 2022
On an Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, RI, and Other New England-related Topics
A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of New England-related subjects worth considering.
To access some of these, please visit:
Bourne (MA) Courier: 9/11 memorials: World Trade Center steel in New England
WPRI-TV: Street Stories: Boxer, PC students team up to take stand against gun violence (29 APR 22)
Newport (RI) Daily News: Today Is Tomorrow, formed in Newport, reunites decades later (25 APR 22)
The Valley Breeze (Smithfield, RI): Scout changes the game with StoryWalk at Monastery
Birthday Blessings, Adalynn!!!
Birthday greetings to granddaughter Adalynn, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with an outpouring of the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
V. M. Traverso on Catholic Monasteries and the Invention of Iconic Cheeses
"Picture this. It's a sleepy October afternoon sometime in the 10th century in a monastery not too far from Paris, France. Two monks are testing out different ways to ferment the cow's milk from the monastery's cattle. After trial and error, they discover that adding salt to fermented cow's milk would draw away enough moisture to make it a gooey yet firm substance. That salted mound of cheese would later be sprayed with a fungi (Penicillium) to create a thick crust, and put in a cellar for six weeks. The result? The iconic white-crusted Brie cheese that is now loved all around the world.
"But Brie is
not the only beloved dairy product that we owe to the inventiveness of
monks. From Parmesan to Laguiole, many of the world's most famous
cheeses were invented in European monasteries from the Middle Ages
onward."
In a recent re-post of her commentary, writer V. M. Traverso reflected on some of the monasteries "where iconic cheeses were developed."
To access her complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: V. M. Traverso: The Catholic monasteries that invented our favorite cheeses (6 APR 22)
Reflection Starter from André Maurois
"Smile, for everyone lacks self-confidence and more than any other one thing a smile reassures them." - André Maurois
29 April 2022
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, (30 April). The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. As of this writing, there are 618 collection sites planned in New England, including 82 in Connecticut, 135 in Maine, 180 in Massachusetts, 128 in New Hampshire, 41 in Rhode Island, and 54 in Vermont.
Public health, law enforcement, and other government and community representatives will be working at these sites to collect expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs that are potentially dangerous if left in the family’s medicine cabinet.
This National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.
This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.
To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following:
US DEA: National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search
Birthday Blessings, Lori!!!
Birthday greetings to niece Lori Dymek Kirch, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Belated Birthday Blessings, Alison!!!
Belated birthday greetings to sister-in-law Alison (Jan's wife), whose recently celebrated her birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Saint Catherine of Siena
Today the Church celebrates the
memory of Saint Catherine of Siena, a Third Order Dominican and a
Doctor of the Church. In response to a vision she received in 1370, she
left her secluded life and became engaged in public life in the world.
She wrote letters to many major public figures and carried on a long
correspondence with Pope Gregory XI, in which she urged him to reform
the clergy and the administration of the Papal States. As an ambassador,
she was an instrument in bringing peace and harmony between cities. She
also fought hard to defend the liberty and rights of the Popes and did
much for the renewal of religious life. While doing all of this, she
dictated books that have been lauded as full of sound doctrine and
spiritual inspiration. She died on 29 April 1380.
For more information about Saint Catherine of Siena, visit:
Quotes attributed to Saint Catherine of Siena:
"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."
"To a brave man, good and bad luck are like his left and right hand. He uses both."
"No one should judge that he has greater perfection because he performs great penances and gives himself in excess to the staying of the body than he who does less, inasmuch as neither virtue nor merit consists therein; for otherwise he would be an evil case, who for some legitimate reason was unable to do actual penance. Merit consists in the virtue of love alone, flavored with the light of true discretion without which the soul is worth nothing."
Saint Francis de Sales also referred to St. Catherine: "So long as we tackle all our troubles ourselves, we shall be always worried and tired, and Our Lord will leave us to our own devices; but when we leave everything to Him, He will look after all our troubles Himself. The interest that God will have for us will be in proportion to the degree that we abandon ourselves to Him. I am not just speaking of temporal things, but also of spiritual ones. The Lord Himself taught this same truth to His beloved Saint Catherine of Siena: 'Always think about me, my daughter, and I will think about you.' Oh, how happy are those loving souls who know how to observe this rule, thinking only about the Lord, faithfully keeping themselves in His presence, listening to what He has to say to their hearts, obeying His divine inspiration and attractions, and not living or aspiring for anything but to please Him."
Johann Baptist Vanhal: Symphony in E minor
It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Johann Baptist Vanhal's Symphony in E minor, as presented by Toronto Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Kevin Mallon:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the grace You offer us to forgive, from our hearts, those who have hurt us.
Emulating Christ's Forgiveness
Luke's account of Christ’s Passion culminates in what might be the most astounding and transformative statement ever made. After enduring rejection by His own people, suffering ridicule and abuse by Roman soldiers, and being nailed to the cross to face a slow and agonizing death, Christ cried out to God, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." It was a most unexpected statement of divine mercy, delivered at the most unexpected time. It changed the world forever and continues to do so. There are two main takeaways from this moment that must invariably move us to action, the first being a realization of the nature of God's mercy and what this means for our own salvation.
Consider who Christ was asking God to forgive. He was asking forgiveness for those who rejected Him. He was asking forgiveness for those who had beaten Him, for those who had driven nails into His hands and feet to murder Him. He was asking forgiveness for those involved in the power structure that put Him to death: the Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate, and the rulers of the Roman Empire. If God can forgive all those people for all those things, we must know in our hearts that we can be redeemed, regardless of the mistakes we've made.
And why, we might ask, would God send this message? Is it because He's not offended by sin and wants us to know it doesn't matter? We know that's not the case from countless other statements by Christ, the Apostles, and all the prophets. No, He sends this message because He knows that forgiveness is the only thing that frees us to change.
Transformation is what Christ wants for us. It's what He won for us. He freed us to be able to change by saying He would not let our guilt and the negative mindset of self-hatred produced by guilt hold us back, and He did this because He wants us to walk in His footsteps in a bond of friendship that is more satisfying than anything the world could ever offer.
To act on this forgiveness, we must continually accept it. When we do that, we are walking in friendship with Christ and giving thanks in a profound way for His sacrifice on the cross. But Christ's forgiveness prompts a second takeaway: in walking with Christ, we are called to emulate Him and extend this same transformative forgiveness to others. Christ said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." These words reveal the challenge that lies at the heart of God's forgiveness, because the ultimate gratitude we can show to God is to extend forgiveness to others. If we are to truly walk in Christ's footsteps, we will raise our enemies up to God in prayer in the same way Christ raised His enemies up in prayer from the cross.
Consider the most challenging people you face in your day-to-day life and consider the people we hear about doing bad deeds in the world. We must always ask ourselves: are we raising these people up to God in prayer? Are we praying for our enemies? Christ said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," and He not only said it but showed us what it looks like under the most challenging circumstances. It was a moment that changed the world, and we share that transformative experience with others each time we summon the courage to forgive.
This essay is this week's "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 St. Thomas Aquinas
"Saying the truth does not bully anyone into accepting it. Rather, anyone is free either to accept or not to accept, as he wills." - Saint Thomas Aquinas
28 April 2022
National Playground Safety Week
This week, the week of 25-29 April, is being observed as National Playground Safety Week, an observance designed to assess playground safety and express gratitude to those who are making playgrounds safe.
Safe at Play: National Playground Safety Week
Background information:
Pope Francis on the Book of Ruth
"Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to rediscover a book of the Bible that offers 'valuable teaching on the alliance of the generations.'
"In his general audience address on April 27, the pope praised the Book of Ruth's positive depiction of relations between a woman and her mother-in-law.
"'I invite you to rediscover the Book of Ruth. Especially in the meditation on love and in catechesis on the family,' he said."
A recent Catholic News Agency article reported on Poe Francis' message on the Book of Ruth and its message related to the importance of family relationships and their impact.To access the complete Catholic News Agency report, please visit:
Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis wants Catholics to rediscover this book of the Bible (27 APR 22)
Reflection Starter from St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort
"God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray." - Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort ( in The Secret of the Rosary), whose memory the Church celebrates today (28 April)
27 April 2022
Administrative Professionals Day
Today (28 April) is observed as Administrative Professionals Day. It is a time to offer our appreciation for and our gratitude to the to the hard working executive assistants and other office workers who make such a great difference to the administration of government functions in our communities.
Midtown: "You're Falling in Love"
It's time for some more barbershop harmony. Here is a presentation of the ""You're Falling in Love" by Midtown:
David Mills on the Faith of Pittsburgh Steelers Fans and related Lessons for the Catholic Church
"Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is finally gone, a couple years after he should have retired. It's the offseason, but with the draft coming up this week and the team pursuing free agents - and getting a new quarterback, who may or may not be good enough - Steelers fans have started talking about the team again.
"They
expect the team to win big, because it used to win big. They still win,
but not so big. As a childhood Giants fan, I'd be very happy if the
Giants did as well as the Steelers, but the fans here expect success.
The team disappointed them the last few seasons, but they still hope.
There's a lesson for the Church here, in the way the Steelers' fans
respond to their team. . . .
In a recent commentary, writer David Mills reflected on a number of lessons Catholics can learn from the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the importance of being a living force in the world.
To access Mr. Mill's complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from George Halas
"Don't do anything in practice that you wouldn't do in the game." - George Halas
26 April 2022
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is observed as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time designed to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and to create strong communities to support children and families. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness and provide education and support to families through resources and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect.
For more information about National Child Abuse Prevention Month and for some related resources, please visit:
Presidential proclamation:
Presidential Proclamation – National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2022
Resource:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: 2021/2022 Prevention Resource Guide
Prestonwood Choir and Orchestra: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
As we continue our to live this week, I offer this version of the Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra (Prosper, TX) presenting "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today":
Br. Linus Martz, O.P., on the Joy of Spiritual Fishing
"For your average first-century Galilean apostle, fishing was the thing to do. Fish fill the stomach and pay the bills. And so, in the last chapter of John's gospel, it's perfectly natural for some apostles to be out on the water again, practicing their old trade (Matt 4:18–22). They need fish, or at least the profits from a good catch, to make a living.
"God doesn't need to make a living, and he certainly doesn't need fish. God is Life Itself. By the divine command, he created the great sea monsters and all kinds of crawling living creatures with which the water teems (Gen 1:21). By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has revealed to the world that he, though a man, is the Creator. He is God in the flesh. Therefore, the Eternal Word, through whom all things were made, who is eternally one with the Father, surely doesn't need fish.
"And yet our risen Lord interrupts the apostolic fishing trip. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Brother Linus Martz, O.P., reflected on the joy of spiritual fishing.
To access Br. Linus' complete reflection, please visit:
Dominicana: God Wants Your Fish (22 APR 22)
Reflection Starter from Ernest Kurtz
"[A] journey becomes a pilgrimage as we discover, day by day, that the distance traveled is less important than the experience gained." - Ernest Kurtz
25 April 2022
National Youth Violence Prevention Week
This week, the week of 25-29 April, is being observed as National Youth Violence Prevention Week, an initiative designed to raise awareness and to educate students, teachers, school administrators, counselors, school resource officers, school staff, parents, and the public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence.
Background information:
Sandy Hook Promise: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
Freddie Hubbard and the McCoy Tyner Trio: "Embraceable You"
It's time for some jazz, a genre of music I enjoy. Here is a presentation of "Embraceable You" by Freddie Hubbard and the McCoy Tyner Trio:
Bishop Tobin on the Elusive Gift of Peace
"When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the Resurrection, he greeted them with the simple words, 'Peace be with you.' This follows upon what Jesus said to them at the Last Supper: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace is my gift to you . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.' (Jn 14: 27)
"We might ask why Jesus was so insistent on speaking of peace to his followers. . . . And it leads to another question: If Jesus really wants us to live in peace, where is that peace? Why can’t we find it?
"The lack of peace is very evident in our world. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence
(RI), reflected on some of the reasons why the gift of peace may be so elusive.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
The Imitation of Christ: The Elusive Gift of Peace (21 APR 22)
Reflection Starter from the Gospel according to Mark
"One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?'
"Jesus replied, 'The first is this: "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". There is no other commandment greater than these.'" - Mark 12:28-31
24 April 2022
O Happy Day, Lincoln!!!
This is a special day for grandson, Lincoln, who received Holy Communion - our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist - for the first time. May this day be filled with an outpouring of the Lord's choicest blessings, and may you always stay close to Him, Lincoln!
Mark Mallett: "Faustina's Song"
As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Mark Mallett presenting "Faustina's Song":
Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Today the Church celebrates the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy). The assigned readings are Acts 5:12-16; Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19;
and John 20:19-31. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 118 (Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Psalm 22: My God, My God (Haugen setting)
The Gospel reading for the procession with the palms (Luke 19:28-40) is as follows:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Second Sunday of Easter April 24, 2022
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Second Sunday of Easter April 24, 2022
Community in Mission: God's Perfect Mercy - A Meditation for Divine Mercy Sunday (22 APR 22)
Crossroads Initiative: Oh Ye of Little Faith - Doubting Thomas
The Quiet Corner: A lively faith is evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit (21 APR 22)
St. Paul Center: Breath of New Life: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Easter
Ex Corde at Benedictine College: This Sunday, Jesus Turns Horror Into Hope (21 APR 22)
Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: Second Sunday of Easter / Sunday of Divine Mercy
Word on Fire: The Unveiling of a New World (Cycle C * Divine Mercy Sunday * 2nd Week of Easter)
Spirituality of the Readings: Belief? (Second Sunday of Easter - Year C)
In Exile: Living Beyond Doubt (Second Sunday of Easter - Year C)
Glancing Thoughts: Trust after Heartbreak (Second Sunday of Easter - Year C)
The Perspective of Justice: Believing (Second Sunday of Easter -Year C)
The Word Encountered: Forgiveness (Second Sunday of Easter -Year C)
Let the Scriptures Speak: Being Saved (Second Sunday of Easter -Year C)
Historical Cultural Context: Believing Without Seeing (Second Sunday of Easter -Year C)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine of Hippo (Second Sunday of Easter -Year C)
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