"Thou Art Worthy"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of "Thou Art Worthy":

 

Birthday Blessings, Charlotte!!!

Birthday greetings to niece Charlotte, 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, Christopher!!!

Belated birthday greetings to (great) nephew Christopher Kirch, who recently celebrated his birthday!!! May each day of the coming year be richly blessed!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who encourage others during their vocation discernment process.

Philip Kosloski on St. Paul of the Cross

"While some saints knew they were going to be a priest at an early age, St. Paul of the Cross didn't immediately pursue the priesthood when the opportunity presented itself. In fact, for most of his early life he pursued a variety of potential futures. Initially he felt called to give his life as a crusader, willing to shed his blood for the sake of the Church.

"While he did join an army, he ended up returning home, hearing in prayer before the tabernacle that God had other plans for him. Next St. Paul's uncle wanted to arrange for him to marry a woman who had a sizable dowry. He agreed to meet her, but he did not feel that God was calling him to marriage, and so did not go forward with plan."

In a recent commentary, writer Philip Kosloski reflected on St. Paul of the Croass and his journey toward priesthood.

To access Mr. Kosloski's complete post, please visit:

Aleteia; Philip Kosloski: Here's what St. Paul of the Cross did with a large inheritance (19 OCT 26)

Reflection Starter from St. Paul of the Cross

"Be very careful to retain peace of heart, because Satan casts his lines in troubled waters." - Saint Paul of the Cross, whose memory the Church celebrates today (20 October) 

Tony Bennett: "Because of You"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Tony Bennett presenting "Because of You":

 

Belated Birthday Blessings, Amy!!!

Belated birthday greetings to niece Amylynne Moore (brother Richard's daughter), who recently celebrated her birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of crisp autumn days.

Daniel Esparza on Reclaiming Your Attention

"There is a word embedded in Leo XIV's theme for World Communications Day 2027 that rewards unpacking. Attention, he notes, comes from the Latin ad-tendere - to stretch toward. Not to consume, not to scroll, but to reach deliberately toward something outside yourself, something worth the effort of sustained regard.

"The platforms that now mediate most of human communication are engineered around the opposite movement. They stretch toward you. They learn your triggers, sharpen your compulsions, and serve you content calibrated to hold your eyes for another few seconds. The business model is not communication. It is the harvesting of attention as a raw material, sold to advertisers, through the engineering of psychological states - outrage, anxiety, craving - that make the harvest most efficient.

"Leo named this a spiritual crisis. He is right. But the tradition he represents has been running a counter-practice for a very long time."

In a recent commentary, writer/scholar Daniel Esparza reflected on how the Rule of Benedict is structured almost entirely around the discipline of attention.

To access Mr. Esparza's complete post, please visit: 

Aleteia: Daniel Esparza: How to reclaim your attention before it's gone (15 OCT 26)

Reflection Starter from Albert Schweitzer

"Seek always to do some good somewhere. You must give some time to other persons. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own." - Dr. Albert Schweitzer

"Worthy Is the Lamb"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of "Worthy Is the Lamb":