Critical Mass

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Peaceful Sunday

The day started with me waking up snug and cozy in bed. I had the space heater running, so for once my bedroom was about 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house. Since Sundays are feast days, I celebrated by hitting the snooze button a few times (as opposed to those other days,…

Simple Saturday

I had a ten hour day at work, so I didn’t have any elaborate plans. After work, because a friend of mine doesn’t have an Adoration chapel anywhere close to her, and because I have at least 5 that I can think of on the drive home, I visited Jesus and prayed Evening Prayer. What…

Stay Strong and Live with Passion

I wish I could embed video on this blog. My Lenten challenge for today is to share an inspirational video. There was a challenge in finding a good inspirational video, but I think I have a winner: Stay Strong & Live With Passion from Di Fruscia Photography on Vimeo. It incorporates some of my favorite…

A Few Changes…

I created a little booklet for myself this Lent, containing my basic plan, the Lenten boot camp outline, various readings for the boot camp, and a section where I have a journal page for each day. For the past week or so, I had a couple sheets of paper shoved into my booklet: a schedule…

Michigan “Rape Insurance” Bill Passes Into Law

The Huffington Post published this article in December. Today, a friend posted the article, questioning why anyone would have voted for this, and stating that it would cause rape victims to have back-alley abortions or to leave babies in dumpsters. “Rape Insurance” is just inflammatory language. Basically, it says that abortions are not a covered…

Batter My Heart

This was the assigned reading for Sunday for my Lenten boot camp. One week in and I’m already falling behind. *sigh* But the point is continual progress. I’m going to fall a lot more, but if I can pick myself up and keep going, then I’m going to count it as a win. 🙂 Batter…

ABCs of Talking to God

Perhaps you will enjoy lots of little posts throughout the day, instead of one big post with a thousand different topics? 🙂 Anyways… I am trying to be more intentional and more thoughtful about my prayer life and the various spiritual reading that I do. My tendency is to skim through things just to get…

Lent: Day 2

Plan of the Day It’s already after 5 pm, and I still don’t have a coherent plan for the day. Since we don’t have Bible Study tonight, I think I’ll spend some time in Adoration after work. Song of the Day In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, one of the songs that was played…

The Prodigal Son

I was reading a children’s book on the Prodigal Son and one sentence stopped me in my tracks. “So the man divided all he had between his sons.” Wait. What? I had always thought that when the Prodigal asked for his portion, the father just gave his portion to the younger son. And the older…

O Radix Jesse!

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion and O Antiphon celebrates Jesus as the Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 But a shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse, A twig shall sprout from his stock. The spirit of the Lord shall slight upon him: A spirit of wisdom and insight, A spirit of counsel and valor,…

O Sapientia!

Today begins the O Antiphons! It’s when the prayers of the Church change to more intently prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ. O Sapientia is the antiphon for today and it celebrates Jesus as Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 In the assembly of the Most High she…

Bible Study – Session 15, Adventures in Matthew

This was a really productive Bible study for me this evening. I really enjoyed answering my questions and reflecting upon the Word of God. Here are three things which I came across this evening that were of particular significance to me: 1. “To deny oneself is to disown oneself as the center on one’s existence.”…

Book Meme

I got this from Jen’s site: Book Meme Rules: 1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages). 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Tag five people. Okay, my nearest book at the moment happens to be “Theology of the…

Gospel is Funny!

Whoo! Today’s Gospel made me laugh (although I managed to barely contain myself until after I had left the church…barely…)! Not the bushel basket part, we know that’s supposed to be funny. But the part where it goes, “the measure by which you measure will be measured out to you.” Okay, we hang up stockings…

The Meaning of Penance

Okay, last year before Lent: Fr. John’s talking to our RCIA class. He is giving us examples of things that we could give up (or take on) for Lent. I hear something like, “Some of you might give up their daily Starbucks or Caribou or whatever it is -” *and he’s looking in MY direction* …

Speaking of Bad Dreams….

Since Kasia brought up her bad dream, I figured that I might as well post about the one that I had last week, you know, to keep her company. 🙂 Here I was at church, and someone comes up to me and says: “Fr. J.J. has left.” “What do you mean he’s left?!?” “Well, you…

This Will Get Me Smacked….

I just had to add this to my blog. It is my response to someone’s post. Somehow, I can’t resist sticking my foot in my mouth at any given opportunity…. Just a couple of notes regarding: “for male homosexuals, there is the additional incentive of a rather closed men’s community where they need not prove themselves as…

Trial Run – Oh! What a Comedy of Errors!

Okay, now promise not to be scared…. Truly, I *do* know that pasta is to be drained before serving it. Really. But, I was busy talking (don’t say you are surprised there), and we had cooked so much pasta, that when I glanced over, I thought that I had already done that part, and went…

Lenten Project – Unexpected Developments: Day 13

I’m not quite sure how it happened, but apparently I have acquired a sous chef who will come over approximately 3 nights a week and help teach me and provide me with some recipes. Don’t worry – I will make sure it remains a penance. 🙂 And I do expect to be doing all of…

Behold! My Lenten Project!

This year, I have decided to take on probably one the things the I have most issues with, for a variety of reasons. I am going to make myself deal with food, cooking, and the grocery store. I just may need therapy later, but I think this is the time to try and do something…

Lent!

Whoo-hoo! I’m all excited about Lent! I have plans…. And, they may involve you…. 🙂 Now, here’s the million dollar question: is it okay to involve other people in your Lenten penance, as long as you the the one doing the penance, right? Next, I need a really good cause for my Lenten penance. Any…

Out of the Mouths of Babes

A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David’s comment. Gently, she tucked the stethoscope into his…

God’s Coffee

Okay, by now, many of you will know that I have a particular aversion to e-mail forwards. That said, occasionally I will pass one on because it is particularly cute or profound. This one, while a decent message, is being posted because, well, I love God, and I have a certain fondness for coffee (no, really, I…

Questions – Maccabean Revolt

A couple of questions arose in Bible study which were unable to be adequately answered in discussion: 1. Regarding 2 Mc 7, the 7 brothers and their mom had unwavering faith in God and were able to withstand their tormentors due to their hope (as in certainty in the goodness and fidelity of God, as…

First Anniversary

Okay, so yesterday I was late getting out the door, later still after clearing the snow off the car, and slightly delayed due to slower (although not horrible) traffic. End result? I was about 4 minutes late for Mass. This means that I came in as the Gospel was being proclaimed. What?!? I wasn’t that…

Poor Lelephants!

Okay, am I the only one to find this humorous? 1 Mc 6:34 – “They made the elephants drunk on grape and mulberry wine to provoke them to fight.”

I was called….

Okay, last year on this date, I decided that I was going to join the Catholic Church (before I ever stepped foot in the door). But, I was certain, and so I Googled “Catholic churches troy mi,” and found two: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Anastasia. Since SEAS was located closer to my old…

A New Favorite

This week in our Bible study, we are reading 1 Maccabees, with supplemental passages from 2 Maccabees, Sirach, and Wisdom. I just wanted to comment that Sirach, chapter 2 — I love it! For some reason, this passage really spoke to me when I was initially writing this blog entry (before I was taken down),…

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