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How am I to approach the problem? Am I to take each problem one by one, to take fear, look at it, and then study love? How am I to capture the whole thing? I can’t capture the whole thing … Continue reading
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We are a family of 13 and we are Catholic. I happen to be the tenth in line and drop in the bucket in Catholic community. As a younger sister, the rule is to listen to your elders. be respectful and … Continue reading
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My feet carry me in different parts of the world to understand the divinity of Mother Earth. I am grateful what Mother Earth provides beneath our feet. Along the way, we encounter a bridge and calm water that create a perfect … Continue reading
Israel has so many places that is steep in history. One of them is this Church on the hill. I believe it’s Baha’i. We stopped by to take pictures and to admire the beauty of this place.
I went up the hill to visit the old man who lives there.
“It’s been a long time,” he said, “Since I’ve seen you.”
“Yes,” I said, “I know. But I’d not forgot you.”
Then, in welcome, he sang to me.
But what I had remembered as a youthful voice
full of vigor and fit for forever was turned now into a croak,
a rasp, a sad affair of the heart.
When he dies, I thought, a little of me will die with him.
“These bones go deep,” he said with an effort
as he stood there proud yet, “How can you forgive yourself?”
I thought about that as I kissed him goodnight
and laid him down to rest, up there on that hill.
“In nomine Patris,” I said gently, “In nomine Patris.”
The poem is written by Book of Pain by John Etheridge. John wrote a synopsis of this poem and it’s quite touching. Thank you, John.
When you feel as if you are in a deep darkness because of doubt, fear, illness, or depression, rather than try to desperately climb out perhaps it would be better to “walk in the dark.” Often when we try too hard we only get more discouraged and if we go with the flow while we try, we slowly feel better.
We can be attached to our pursuit of happiness and health to the point of forgetting we are human. We can expect ourselves, our doctors, therapists, spiritual directors, and priests to completely heal us, as if they were god. Pursuing health and happiness are good but need to be kept in balance. If we pine for them too much, we ignore the fact that only God can fully heal us and bring us lasting happiness.
When you feel overwhelmed by life’s difficulties St. John of the Cross advises:
“If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark.”
“In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.”
“The soul that is attached to anything however much good there may be in it will not arrive at the liberty of divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken the bird cannot fly.”
Links:Thousands of Catholic families from around the world gathered at the Vatican over the weekend to celebrate the Year of Faith with Pope Francis.A small group of children was invited to sit on the pope’s platform to listen to speakers from across the world speak about their faith and families.
Pope Francis was visibly amused when one child stayed on the stage instead of returning to his seat on the steps.
Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16
See more photos here. Source: NCR Staff
The spring rains did not come and the summer heat was worse than it had ever been. All the fields in the area were parched, dusty, and brown. Our livelihood, our way of life, was wilting away. Most mornings we would search the sky for any sign of relief, for a hint of rain on the horizon. Days turned into arid weeks and soon became months. Everywhere faithful people prayed.
The ministers, priest and rabbi of our local churches announced that there would be a special service to pray for rain on the following Saturday. They asked that everyone bring an object of their faith. So come Saturday morning we all gathered in the town square. People came with anxious faces and hopeful hearts. Looking around you could see the Bibles, Book of Prayers, crosses, crucifixes, pictures of Jesus – and you could tell the Catholic because of their rosaries.
And so we prayed. We prayed a mighty prayer of praises for God, praises for His divine protection, and petitions for rain. We sang, prayed some more, and heard the minister proclaim our faith in Jesus. And then we prayed some more. Just as the hour of prayer was concluding, and as if by some divine cue, a soft rain began to fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects high in gratitude and praise. The Pentecostals were shouting out their Hallelujahs with arms raised in ecstasy. The Catholics even got excited and were waving their rosaries, whipping them around in a frenzy.
But one symbol of faith seemed to overshadow all the others; one person had brought an umbrella.
Special birthday pilgrimage to receive blessings on my 50th birthday in Vatican, Rome, Italy.
Source: Friarmusings
Whenever I start to feel down and out, I think of all these people who became instrumental in shaping the history of Christianity.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Source: Catholic and Depression
Awareness by Anthony de Mello
This year will be extra special in celebrating Easter. Not only that we are celebrating the real sense of Jesus’ resurrection; we, my family that is, will be celebrating our Mother’s 13th year of her death anniversary. And it falls on Easter!
Being a Catholic, we are Easter People. We celebrate death filled with hope that we will be resurrected and finally be where we are supposed to be; with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; and with all the Saints and choirs of Angels.
Sister #5 asked me to write something about Mother. As much as I want to, Sister #2 mentioned that she wants to write about her journey and Mother. With that thought in mind, I declined because I don’t want to steal my sister’s thunder.
Instead, I compiled some pictures and memorabilia that I can find for the family to look at. This is a good place for safekeeping for now because my notes are all over the place and I tend to throw or give away pictures. Maybe, just maybe, I will gradually write something about this.
My readers, I wish you ALL a Blessed Easter and here are some of the ways of the Easter People. If you are not a Catholic, replace the last item according to your belief system.
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Temptation was all over me. I don’t understand at all. Meatless Wednesday and Friday should have gone like a cinch. But I was craving for bacon. What an interesting two days of observing abstinence. I hardly eat meat but somehow … Continue reading
