Bella Voci: "Morning Has Broken"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Bella Voci presenting "Morning Has Broken":

Preservation Week

This week, the week of 28 April-4 May, is being observed as Preservation Week, an initiative designed to connect communities through events, activities, and resources that highlight what communities can do, individually and together, to preserve their personal and shared collections. This year's them is "Preserving Identities."

According to the American Library Association, Libraries alone hold 3 billion items in various collections (63 percent of the whole). Uncounted additional items are held by individuals, families, and communities. These collections include books, manuscripts, photographs, prints and drawings, and objects such as maps, textiles, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and furniture. They also include moving images and sound recordings that capture performing arts, oral history, and other records of creativity and history.

Background information:

American Library Association: Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures: Preservation Week

Facebook: Preservation Week

Heritage Health Index: A Public Trust at Risk:The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections (2005)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord for the blessing of trees leafing out in the spring.

Br. Roland Mary Wakefield, O.P., on the Flowers of the Field

"If you asked me, 'What do you see differently since becoming a religious brother,' you might be surprised to hear, 'Flowers.' It may seem odd to connect an appreciation of flowers with religious sentiment, but flowers proclaim in a unique way the greatness of God. Their effortless elegance and subtle intensity show how 'not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them' (Matt 6:29). Every year daffodils and tulips, lilies and roses, hydrangeas and periwinkles dazzle us with their color and splendor. And a truth is revealed in these flowers. It is the truth of God's creative love and freely given grace, through which he fashions a world for us - a beautiful and lovely world, full of streams, mountains, and all kinds of flowers: flowers which reveal the gift of God's creative love."

In a recent commentary, Brother Roland Mary Wakefield, O.P., reflected on the great gift of God's creation and on the gift of re-creation brought by Christ's resurrection.

To access Br. Roland's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: The Flowers of the Field (23 APR 24)

Birthday Blessings, Addy!!!

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!!!

Reflection Starter from St. Catherine of Siena

"Ponder the fact that God has made you a gardener, to root out vice and plant virtue." - Saint Catherine of Siena

Tuba Skinny: "Jubilee Stomp"

It's time for some jazz, a genre of music I enjoy. Here is a presentation of "Jubilee Stomp" by Tuba Skinny:

 

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!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord for the blessing prayer support for those who need it, whatever the reason.

Bishop Henning on the Response to Child Sexual Abuse

"Child sexual abuse poisons all segments of society - families, schools, churches, community organizations, and health and welfare institutions. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences some form of childhood sexual abuse or neglect. That number is heartbreaking and cries out for a response.

"The Catholic Church in the United States has experienced terrible revelations of sexual abuse by clergy and religious. The great majority of the allegations have been characterized as 'historical' in that they concern sins committed decades ago. The pain of these sins was magnified when some Church leaders failed to respond properly to victim survivors and their families"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Richard G. Henning, the bishop of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on some of the responses to victims of abuse within the Church and on the importance of spiritually accompanying these victims.

To access Bishop Henning's complete essay, please visit: 

The State of Hope: The Response to Child Sexual Abuse (25 APR 24)

Reflection Starter from Daniel Webster

"A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures." - Daniel Webster

"Alleluia, Alleluia, Let the Holy Anthem Rise"

As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of "Alleluia, Alleluia, Let the Holy Anthem Rise":

 

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 9:26-31, 1 John 3:18-24, and John 15:1-8. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Pull up for precise seeking 2:38 0:03 / 3:34 Responsorial Psalm / 5th Sunday of Easter / Year B / CBW#101/ Psalm 22

The Gospel reading for the procession with the palms (Mark 11:1-10) is as follows:

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Reflections related to these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 28, 2024)

Community in Mission: Fundamentals for Fruitful Discipleship - A Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter (27 APR 24)

Benedictine College: This Sunday, Jesus Is the Vine Leading From Genesis to Heaven, Through You (25 APR 24)

Word on Fire: It's Time for Some Pruning (Cycle B * Easter * 5th Week)

The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: On the vine (26 APR 24)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of the lessons offered to us through reading Holy Scripture.

Msgr. Pope on Lessosn from St. Paul's Stormy Night

"It is interesting that St. Luke devotes an entire chapter (27) of Acts to describing the storm at sea that St. Paul endured. The level of detail is high, signaling to us that such details are important. The Holy Spirit has something to teach us here about how we get into trouble and how we can get out of it. 

"Storms in life are often beyond our control. Perhaps they come from nature and the sudden vicissitudes of this world. Sometimes God permits storms in order to test and strengthen us. Sometimes, too, others drag us into storms and we suffer on account of their poor decisions. Some storms come from our own foolishness and poor choices."

In a recent commentary based on this reading, Msgr. Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on some of the things that can "happen to us as individuals and as an overall culture when we defiantly and proudly resist God's will and common sense."

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: "And no small tempest lay on us …" - The Story of a Storm That St. Paul Endured and What It Has to Teach Us About Sin (21 APR 24)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"Faith in Jesus, our connection with Him, opens us to receive the sap of God's love, which multiplies our joy. He cares for us and brings forth shoots even when the soil of our life becomes arid." - Pope Francis

The Crew-Cuts: "Baby Be Mine"

 As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of The Crew-Cuts presenting "Baby Be Mine":

 

Birthday Blessings, Laykin!!!

Birthday greetings to Myrna's great-grandson, Laykin, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

On RI High School Students Holding Sapling Sale to Offset Schools' Paper Use 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:

The Valley Breeze (Lincoln, RI): Bus driver dreams up celebration for hard-working special needs students in North Providence  (27 MAR 24)

Barrington (RI) Times: BHS students hold sapling sale to offset schools' paper use (5 APR 24)

The Hour (Norwalk, CT): Wilton's Middlebrook Middle School turns into Museum of the Americas (4 APR 24)

WPRI-TV: 'He is who he is': Toll Gate's safety coordinator helping students stay on track (19 APR 24)

Vermont Public Radio: Popular TV series inspires musician with Vt. roots to 'master the elements in a musical way'(23 FEB 24)

WCAI: Falmouth schools ramp up efforts to compost food waste (17 APR 24)

Hartford (CT) Courant: A CT woman used yoga to heal. Her studio helps others: clients (22 APR 24)

Only In Your State: Maine: 13 Old Photos Of Maine That Will Transport You Back In Time

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who care for those who minister to persons who are homebound.

Become a Model of Christlike Mercy

Several years ago, The Christophers published a News Note entitled "Become a Model of Christlike Mercy." Since this is the weekend of Divine Mercy Sunday, it seems appropriate to share some excerpts from that reflection.

Let's start with a story about Daryl Silva, who is known as "The Boston Dad" on Facebook and Youtube, where he relates funny stories about life and faith with a thick New England accent. In one video, he recalled a road rage incident that he feels was defused by the Holy Spirt giving him strength and mercy. As Silva was pulling out of a parking lot, a pickup truck taking up two lanes zoomed towards him, with the driver honking his horn and screaming obscenities. Instead of responding the same way, Silva says he felt the Holy Spirit inspire him to lean out his window and say to the angry driver, "Would you like me to buy you a coffee? It seems like you've had a bad day."

Though taken aback, the driver followed Silva into a nearby Dunkin' Donuts parking lot, still wondering if this offer was real. Silva bought him coffee and started praying with the man, who broke down in tears and started sharing all the troubles in his life. Silva said, "He started letting go of all that was going on in his life, crying, and I started getting teary-eyed. It was amazing. I told him to connect with me on Facebook." Silva concluded his video by saying, "If somebody is acting cruel to you, mean to you, they need that heart of yours. They need God more than anyone. So don't react to their anger. Answer with love."

That is a great example of mercy. But what exactly is the origin of the word. As our Christopher News Note stated, "In the original gospels, mercy (eleos in Greek) can also be translated as compassion or pity, but without the negative connotations we have in English for pity. It's a feeling of positive emotion: kindness or goodwill towards the afflicted, combined with a desire to help them."

"Mercy means to show care for the individual, and it indicates a dimension of forgiveness when referenced in terms of judgment. To give and receive mercy is to recognize that errors may have been done and wrongs committed, that one may stand rightfully condemned, but clemency and compassion override the pull towards harsh judgment, strict retribution, or worse, revenge. It is a central message in the Christian worldview and one from which we all benefit, as our Lord took on the weight of our sins out of merciful compassion. Mercy also encourages forgiveness, which can heal both the victim and the offender. We are called to mirror God's mercy in our lives."

Like many virtues we are called to embody, mercy is not easy. After all, when someone hurts us, hurting them in return feels like the most natural reaction in the world. It might even seem like justice. Yet, Jesus calls us to something higher. In the Sermon on the Mount, and the sermon on the plain, Christ teaches, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy,” and He implores His audience, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” So, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, let’s try to pray for the strength to be more merciful towards others. As St. Vincent de Paul once said, “Mercy, according to God’s desires, has no limits and in fact, if it is like God’s mercy, it embraces everyone."

Like many virtues we are called to embody, mercy is not easy. After all, when someone hurts us, hurting them in return feels like the most natural reaction in the world. It might even seem like justice. Yet, Jesus calls us to something higher. In the Sermon on the Mount, and the sermon on the plain, Christ teaches, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy," and He implores His audience, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." So, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, let's try to pray for the strength to be more merciful towards others. As St. Vincent de Paul once said, "Mercy, according to God's desires, has no limits and in fact, if it is like God's mercy, it embraces everyone."

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

Facebook: The Boston Dad