Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the graces You give us as we engage in the cosmic battle facing us.

Msgr. Pope on the Cosmic Battle Raging Around Us

"The Gospel for Thursday of the 29th Week of the Year speaks of a great cosmic battle taking place all around us. In it, Jesus speaks of His mission to engage our ancient foe and to gather God's elect back from the enslaving clutches of Satan, who was a murderer and a liar from the beginning (cf John 8:44).

Jesus is approaching Jerusalem for the final time and describes the battle that is about to unfold. It is a battle He wins at the cross and with His resurrection, but it is one whose parameters extend across time to our own era."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on some of the aspects of this cosmic battle, including our Lord's active participation in it via His passion and death on the cross and including our call to choose sides.

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

Community in Mission: The Lord Is Eager to Engage the Battle; Are You? (28 SEP 20)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"Prayer is the centre of life. If there is prayer, even a brother, a sister, becomes important. Those who adore God, love His children. Those who respect God, respect human beings." - Pope Francis

Cole Porter: "Anything Goes"

 As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Cole Porter presenting "Anything Goes":

On 3D Housing Designed for the Homeless and Needy Seniors and Other New England-related Items

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 Herald News (Fall River, MA): Around the corner: 3D housing designed for the homeless and needy seniors (12 MAR 20)

The Newport (RI) Daily News: Newport native, now an Episcopal reverend, produces Raimondo parody video that's gone viral (9 APR 20)

Valley News (West Lebanon, NH): Historical societies gather materials so future generations can understand pandemic (7 JUN 20)

New Britain (CT) Herald: 'It sent shivers up and down my spine because it was that awesome': New Britain High seniors put together video to thank school workers (8 MAY 20)

Thank You, Lord

 Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of sanitary sewers and those who construct and maintain them.

Mary Marrocco on Superstition and the Life of Faith

"A contemporary government official, in a high-profile speech, once enthused about the benefits and powers of science.

"She also spoke disparagingly about people who believe that 'personalities can be determined by looking at planets coming in front of invented constellations,' and people who are 'still questioning whether life was a divine intervention or whether it was coming out of a natural process, let alone, oh my goodness, a random process.'

"The unfortunate implication was that faith in God as the origin of being is comparable to astrology and superstition."

In a recent commentary, Catholic News Service columnist Mary Marrocco reflected on faith vis-à-vis superstition.

To access Ms. Marrocco's complete essay, please visit:

Boston Pilot: Echoes: Echoes: Superstition has no place in life of faith (23 OCT 20)

Reflection Starter from Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us." - Archbishop Fulton Sheen

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Tomorrow (Saturday, 24 October) the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is again coordinating a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies (including many agencies throughout New England) to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets. The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. These sites include (as of this writing) 46 in Connecticut, 144 in Maine, 183 in Massachusetts, 118 in New Hampshire, 35 in Rhode Island, and 55 in Vermont.

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, Mary!!!

Birthday greetings to daughter Mary-Elizabeth, 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!

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 9, as played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein:

 

Thank You, Lord

 Thank you, Lord, For the blessing of our "inner chapel."