Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

It's that time of year where nasty flu's, colds and viruses are in the air! But here is one virus that it would do some people good to get! Advent Virus: Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus: A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. A loss of interest in judging other people. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. A loss of interest in conflict. A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom!) Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature....

The work is entitled: "Jose y Maria" Artist is a comic artist named Everett Patterson. Imagine the Christmas story Happening in our day: Mary and Joseph travelling on a bus on an Irish motorway. Instead of a bright and guiding star Only headlights from car, after car. The night: foggy, wet and cold. The bus they are in: rickety and old. Joseph: an anxious man, with fears since Mary, his beloved’s time is near. He spoke to the driver – a kindly man “Not to worry” he said “I’ll do what I can” He took the next exit and set them down At the local hospital in a busy town. The lady at the desk just shook her head “Due to HSE cuts, we just don’t have a bed. Perhaps you could go private at the local Nursing Home?” So then it was that Joseph and Mary begin to roam. Searching for shelter they went door to door Until it came that they could walk no more They stopped at a corner, welcomed by a homeless group Who smiled at them, offered some bread and shared from...

"The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”  —Matthew 9:11-13 God, who is merciful, desires our mercy. Here are 54 ways to keep to mercy during the Jubilee Year. Try randomly selecting one each week and putting it into practice. (We gave you two extra; mix them up!) 1) Resist sarcasm; it is the antithesis of mercy: “Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3). 2) Pare down possessions: share your things with the needy. 3) Call someone who you know is lonely, even if you understand why they’re lonely. Especially if you do. 4) Write a letter of forgiveness to someone. If you cannot send it, sprinkle it with holy water, ask Christ Jesus to have mercy on you bo...

I am just a grain of wheat, what can I do on my own? I can only worry if the bread that we are called to give to humanity will satisfy their hunger, after all I am only one grain. Yet together we form many grains that can nourish because we are willing to die, to lose the husk of pride, of envy, of egocentric living, of hatred. ‘If the grain of wheat does not fall into the ground and die, it cannot produce fruit’   This is a real Eucharistic life, to become broken for others, it is a paradox, in our brokenness we generate life. Can 'fruit' come forth from the various tragedies which have occurred in our world this week? During this week   I thought often of the disciples as they travelled on their way to Emmaus, searching for the Risen Lord, wanting to hear that voice that allowed Mary to cry out with joy ‘Master’ on that first Easter morning. Searching, searching on a road that leads anywhere once it leads away from Jerusalem, the horrible reminder of the scene of de...

We need saints without veils or cassock.  We need saints who wear jeans and sneakers.  We need saints who go to the movies, listen to music and hang out with friends.  We need saints who put God in first place, but who let go of their power.  We need saints who have time everyday to pray and who know how to date in purity and chastity, or who consecrate their chastity.  We need modern saints, Saints of the 21st century with a spirituality that is part of our time.  We need saints committed to the poor and the necessary social changes.  We need saints who live in the world and who are sanctified in the world, who are not afraid to live in the world.  We need saints who drink Coke and eat hot dogs, who wear jeans, who are Internet-savvy, who listen to CDs.  We need saints who passionately love the Eucharist and who are not ashamed to drink a soda or eat pizza on weekends with friends.  We need saints who like movies, the theater, music, ...

Communion of Saints by Elizabeth Wang A cross post from the Aggie Catholic blog She wrote this in 2013 so some of the saints have changed title since! "The top 50 Saints’ quotes, in an arbitrary ranking. -“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” St. Jerome “Since Christ Himself has said, “This is My Body” who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?” -St. Cyril of Jerusalem “Teach us to give and not count the cost.” -St. Ignatius de Loyola “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” -St. Augustine “Don’t you long to shout to those youths who are bustling around you: Fools! Leave those worldly things that shackle the heart – and very often degrade it – leave all that and come with us in search of Love!” -St. Josemaria Escriva “For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” -St. Therese of Lisieux “To convert somebody g...

Praying the Divine Office- An Introduction “The purpose of the Divine Office is to sanctify the day and all human activity.” – Apostolic Constitution, Canticum Laudis. The Liturgy of the Hours is the richest single prayer resource of the Christian Church, with prayers, psalms and readings for each of the Hours, changing each day and through the seasons. Have you ever wondered what the Divine Office is? Who can pray it? How do we pray it? Fr. Damian McNeice, Master of Ceremonies of the Archdiocese of Dublin, will walk us through and explain the Divine Office, of which Morning/Evening Prayer are part, showing us the great treasures which we have in praying together the Liturgy of the Hours.  When: 4th of November 2015 Time: 7.30 -9.30 pm Venue: Divine Master Convent, Newtownpark Avenue, White's Cross, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. For more information: pddmdublin@eircom.net or 01 2114949. All are welcome.