tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556105979749489052024-03-12T21:21:12.599-05:00Espoused to HimI am espoused to Him whom the angels serve.
Sun and moon stand in wonder at His beauty.
~from the Rite of Consecration to a Life of VirginityAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.comBlogger1989125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-87856330976095769892017-04-18T04:19:00.000-05:002017-04-18T04:19:25.453-05:00Seized with Easter Joy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." ~John 15:11</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Through Christ's passion, His burial in the tomb and
His glorious resurrection, we come to realize the enormity of the Lord's
sacrifice for us. We may feel unworthy of His love who paid so high a price for
our salvation. Let us not be afraid. Let's allow ourselves to be taken – even
seized – with Easter joy. As we proclaim on Easter Sunday, 'Christ indeed from
death is risen, our new life obtaining.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"In the Gospel of John, chapter 10, Jesus says the shepherd
calls his own sheep by name, 'I am the Good Shepherd and I know mine.' In
chapter 20, how much fear and doubt must have gripped Mary of Magdala as she
stood by the tomb? There, it was Jesus who rescued Mary from her fears and
darkness by calling her name. Listen carefully.
Mary thought she had discovered the Risen Lord, but it was the Risen
Lord who discovered her. Jesus calls out to each of us by name today as He did
the very first Easter Sunday. His promise fulfilled. His word brings life, 'I
am the Good Shepherd and I know mine.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Jesus waits for you and me, embracing us in our moments of
greatest need and desire. Welcome the love of God into your life. Share it
those around you, especially the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers.
In this way, we proclaim with Mary, 'I have seen the Lord.' Sing joyfully, 'the
Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.'
Happy Easter!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Message for
Easter Sunday, 2017 (see video of this message <a href="https://www.facebook.com/usccb/videos/10154506949682285/"><span style="color: red;"><b>here</b></span></a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>~Psalm 104:33</i></b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-59370257173398469752017-04-17T15:45:00.000-05:002017-04-17T15:46:27.089-05:00Living the Easter Message<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." ~Mark 16:15</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is through his Risen Life in us that Christ sends his love to the ends of the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~Caryll Houselander in <i>The Risen Christ</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Risen Shepherd goes in search of all those lost in the labyrinths of loneliness and marginalization. He comes to meet them through our brothers and sisters who treat them with respect and kindness, and help them to hear his voice, an unforgettable voice, a voice calling them back to friendship with God. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/papa-francesco_20170416_urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html"><b>~Urbi et Orbi Message of Pope Francis, Easter 2017</b></a></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-63139883712167714702017-04-16T00:00:00.000-05:002017-04-16T00:00:24.516-05:00Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!</span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~from An Easter Sermon by St.
John Chrysostom</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>For with thee is the fountain of life;</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>and in thy light we shall see light.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>~Psalm 36:9</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-64179915842326579022017-04-15T03:58:00.000-05:002017-04-15T03:58:23.792-05:00Holy Saturday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In the evening weeping shall have place,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>and in the morning gladness.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>~Psalm 30:5</b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In God I trust; I shall not fear.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Psalm 55:5</span></i></b></div>
<br />AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-32835764893524871922017-04-14T07:32:00.000-05:002017-04-14T07:46:21.077-05:00Good Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into light.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~Lamentations 3:2</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">INTRODUCTION FROM THE WAY OF THE CROSS BY</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANNE-MARIE PELLETIER</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
hour has now come. Jesus’ journey along the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea,
an endless encounter with afflicted bodies and hearts, a journey driven by his
urgent need to proclaim the Kingdom, ends here, today. On Golgotha. Today the
cross bars the way. Jesus will go no further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He
can go no further!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here
the love of God reveals its full measure, measure beyond measure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today
the love of the Father, who wills that all be saved in his Son, goes to the
extreme, where words fail, where we find ourselves bewildered, our piety
overwhelmed by the superabundance of God’s thoughts and plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On
Golgotha, contrary to all appearances, what is at stake is life, and grace and
peace. Here what counts is not the kingdom of evil, which we know all too well,
but the triumph of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beneath
the cross, too, what is at stake is our world with all its failings and
sufferings, its pleas and protests, all those cries that in our day rise up to
God from lands of dire poverty and war, from boats teeming with migrants…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How
many are the tears, how great is the misery in the chalice that the Son drinks
for our sake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How
many are the tears, how great is the misery, yet none of this will be lost in
the sea of time. Instead it will be taken up by him, to be transfigured in the
mystery of a love which vanquishes all evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Golgotha
speaks to us of God’s unshakeable fidelity to our humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A
birth takes place there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We
need the courage to say that all this is about the joy of the Gospel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unless
we recognize this truth, we remain trapped in the toils of suffering and death.
And we fail to let Christ’s passion bear fruit in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">PRAYER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lord,
our vision is dimmed. How can we walk this far with you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Mercy”
is your name. But this name is madness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May
the old wineskins of our hearts burst asunder!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Brighten
our vision with the good news of the Gospel, in the hour when we stand beneath
the cross of your Son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then we will be able to celebrate “the breadth and length and height and
depth” (Eph 3:18) of the love of Christ, with hearts comforted and flooded with
light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Pope Francis asked Anne-Marie Pelletier to write the Stations of the Cross to be led by him this Good Friday evening at the Colosseum in Rome. Her Stations are available <a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2017/documents/ns_lit_doc_20170414_via-crucis-meditazioni_en.html"><span style="color: purple;"><b>here</b></span></a>, plus an article about her is available <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2017/via-crucis-french-womans-meditations-highlight-victory-of-love.cfm"><span style="color: purple;"><b>here</b></span></a>.</i></span>AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-43448973079043450342017-04-13T14:00:00.001-05:002017-04-13T14:00:34.503-05:00These Holy Days<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgSIrINr_bU/WO_KT7G7cSI/AAAAAAAAGME/5nxyGyXPlDc7qlEzbetXOmYV0PUp3nY5wCLcB/s1600/Our%2BLord%2Bon%2Bthe%2BCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgSIrINr_bU/WO_KT7G7cSI/AAAAAAAAGME/5nxyGyXPlDc7qlEzbetXOmYV0PUp3nY5wCLcB/s1600/Our%2BLord%2Bon%2Bthe%2BCross.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The love of God has no bounds. As Saint Augustine often
repeated, it is a love that goes “to the end without end.” God truly offers all
of himself for each of us and holds nothing back. The Mystery which we adore in
this Holy Week is a great history of love which knows no obstacles. The Passion
of Jesus lasts until the end of the world, because it is a story of sharing in
the suffering of all humanity and a permanent presence in the events of the
private life of each of us. Indeed, the Easter Triduum is the commemoration of
a drama of love which gives us the certainty that we will never be abandoned in
life’s trials.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pope Francis, March 23, 2016</span><o:p></o:p></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-42021528886752601452017-03-26T05:08:00.000-05:002017-03-26T05:08:07.404-05:00Fourth Sunday of Lent<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At Mass today we hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus healing
the blind man (John 9:1-41). Reflecting
upon this familiar Scripture passage, Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB notes: "We sometimes describe our blindness as
an inability to see the forest for the trees, but that is a rather simplistic
analysis. More worrisome is the inherited blindness which so often assumes that
there are no lessons left to learn. Arrogance is very often the root of our
blindness. We need the miracle of restored sight each day." <b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=55000&language=en">(read more here)</a></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How seriously do I take my blindness? How willing am I to let Jesus heal me so that I may see Him who is the Truth and follow Him who is the Light?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Until now I wandered in the hope of finding God, but
since you enlighten me, O Lord, I find God through you and I receive the Father
from you, I become your coheir, since you did not shrink from having me for
your brother. Let us put away, then, let
us put away all blindness to the truth, all ignorance: and removing the darkness that obscures our
vision like fog before the eyes, let us contemplate the true God…since a light
from heaven shone down upon us who were buried in darkness and imprisoned in
the shadow of death, purer than the sun, sweeter than life on this earth. Amen."
~Saint Clement of Alexandria</span></blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-14299973993349934582017-03-25T18:13:00.000-05:002017-03-25T18:13:23.982-05:00The Annunciation of the Lord<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1mMoypd7DU/WNb5LPYwoqI/AAAAAAAAGLk/MLfTyjRwLN0TtLUj0lCCZLZ2z6874-48QCLcB/s1600/Annunciation%252C%2BMatthias%2BStom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1mMoypd7DU/WNb5LPYwoqI/AAAAAAAAGLk/MLfTyjRwLN0TtLUj0lCCZLZ2z6874-48QCLcB/s640/Annunciation%252C%2BMatthias%2BStom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator....</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Arise in faith, hasten in devotion,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>open in praise and thanksgiving."</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>from a homily In Praise of the Virgin Mother</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>by Saint Bernard, abbot</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-40112527969471087192017-03-20T04:37:00.000-05:002017-03-20T04:37:10.785-05:00First Day of Spring!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is Spring?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Growth in every thing...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Gerard Manley Hopkins</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RRPgFOd9oc/WM-hwd_SmlI/AAAAAAAAGLU/oQgiMlGs7WEphAOtg1RpcyJMrvvWmihHACLcB/s1600/Spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RRPgFOd9oc/WM-hwd_SmlI/AAAAAAAAGLU/oQgiMlGs7WEphAOtg1RpcyJMrvvWmihHACLcB/s1600/Spring.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everything growing on earth, bless the Lord;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">praise and exalt him above all forever.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Daniel 3:76</span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-74636425299463066862017-03-17T04:26:00.000-05:002017-03-17T09:14:47.977-05:00Your ways, O Lord, make known to me!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>and my soul had compassion on the poor.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>~Job 30:25</b></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QmFimAclR8/WMun2DPAzOI/AAAAAAAAGK8/w-xNE6ma2RcNPx_m7hRmqHJPAWVmGPTBgCLcB/s1600/Homeless%2Bman%2Bin%2BManhattan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QmFimAclR8/WMun2DPAzOI/AAAAAAAAGK8/w-xNE6ma2RcNPx_m7hRmqHJPAWVmGPTBgCLcB/s640/Homeless%2Bman%2Bin%2BManhattan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>A homeless man bundled up in blankets in a doorway in Manhattan during winter storm Stella</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there are poor, I am poor;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there are prisons, I am a prisoner;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there are sick, I am weak;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there is ignorance, I must learn the truth;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there is hate, I must love;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So long as there is hunger, I am famished.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>~Ven. Fulton J. Sheen</i></b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-76401111756148750072017-03-16T09:41:00.000-05:002017-03-16T09:41:30.645-05:00"can spring be far behind?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbc58V5nVuQ/WMqjf48uiDI/AAAAAAAAGKs/j_bzsNnPYS8ZIC8dJiAS58uKzEPuBgdYgCLcB/s1600/Daffodils%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsnow%252C%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="431" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbc58V5nVuQ/WMqjf48uiDI/AAAAAAAAGKs/j_bzsNnPYS8ZIC8dJiAS58uKzEPuBgdYgCLcB/s640/Daffodils%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsnow%252C%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You make me jubilant, Lord, by your deeds;</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>at the works of your hands I shout for joy.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Psalm 92:5</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-63376917371406859742017-03-03T04:28:00.002-06:002017-03-03T04:28:59.345-06:00"You have freedom only to give your heart away."<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkOVfDQV4V4/WLlE_tVv_EI/AAAAAAAAGKc/ZDQG1e9AgX4_celAcQYAKK73Pi8qoRAdgCLcB/s1600/child%2Bgiving%2Bheart%2Bto%2BGod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkOVfDQV4V4/WLlE_tVv_EI/AAAAAAAAGKc/ZDQG1e9AgX4_celAcQYAKK73Pi8qoRAdgCLcB/s1600/child%2Bgiving%2Bheart%2Bto%2BGod.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My son, give me your heart... </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Proverbs 23:26</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"God will love you, of course, even though you do not love him, but remember if you give him only half your heart, he can make you only fifty percent happy. You have freedom only to give your heart away. To whom do you give yours? You give it either to the moods of the hour, to your egotism, to creatures, or to God." </span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> ~Ven. Fulton J. Sheen</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh dear Lord, deliver me from half-heartedness! You who have given me Your entire being down to the last drop of Your Precious Blood, let me at least try to give You my whole heart -- not only for the sake of my happiness but most importantly for the praise of Your glory. Amen!</span></i>AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-48907804404871740442017-03-01T04:49:00.001-06:002017-03-01T04:49:24.067-06:00Ash Wednesday<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtz1aUvEp8o/WLamxdlQxSI/AAAAAAAAGKM/tqpQvb9652Urtj7wI6FQKwa3EHEUGv-CwCLcB/s1600/Jesus%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bcross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtz1aUvEp8o/WLamxdlQxSI/AAAAAAAAGKM/tqpQvb9652Urtj7wI6FQKwa3EHEUGv-CwCLcB/s1600/Jesus%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bcross.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>May the Lord direct our hearts,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>in the charity of God,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>and the patience of Christ.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2 Thess 3:5</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-62729427740850415952017-01-08T07:49:00.000-06:002017-01-08T07:49:03.418-06:00"They opened their treasures..."<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>They were overjoyed at seeing the star, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>and on entering the house</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>they saw the child with Mary his mother.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>They prostrated themselves and did him homage.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Then they opened their treasures </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>~Matthew 2:10-11</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvVBc9tHCBw/WHJCHFenLrI/AAAAAAAAGJw/GrfWL9yfdIgsGeRhQuY97bdzgbwVtxxhgCLcB/s1600/Modern%2BNativity%252C%2B2017%252C%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvVBc9tHCBw/WHJCHFenLrI/AAAAAAAAGJw/GrfWL9yfdIgsGeRhQuY97bdzgbwVtxxhgCLcB/s1600/Modern%2BNativity%252C%2B2017%252C%2B6.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stars cross the sky, wise men journey from pagan lands, earth receives its savior in a cave. Let there be no one without a gift to offer, no one without gratitude as we celebrate the salvation of the world, the birthday of the human race. ~St. Basil the Great</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Christina Rossetti</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-69719172839863414302017-01-07T04:42:00.000-06:002017-01-07T04:42:29.838-06:00God With Us!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>"And the Word became flesh</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>and dwelt among us,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>full of grace and truth;</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>we have beheld his glory,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>glory as of the only Son from the Father."</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>~John 1:14</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifr-BBewsFA/WHDDzrDHPxI/AAAAAAAAGJg/uMuJOU9d-HQTc17S5SHbFGVDfB-GRVO0gCLcB/s1600/Modern%2BNativity%252C%2B2017%252C%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifr-BBewsFA/WHDDzrDHPxI/AAAAAAAAGJg/uMuJOU9d-HQTc17S5SHbFGVDfB-GRVO0gCLcB/s640/Modern%2BNativity%252C%2B2017%252C%2B3.jpg" width="501" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Remembering the Sacred Presence of the One Who Dwells Among Us<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>~by <a href="http://www.joycerupp.com/"><span style="color: red;">Joyce Rupp</span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we look for your
goodness in people who seem least likely to carry your love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we behold your
radiance in the ones we quickly pass by at home or work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we discover your
love in our deeper self when we feel unloving and irritable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we embrace you in
the persons whose faithfulness we take for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we see your empathy
in those serving the wounded of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we recognize your
courage in the valiant people who speak for justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we notice your
non-judgmental acceptance in those who keep an open mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we search for
your gentleness when it is covered with harshness in another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we observe your
generosity in every gift we receive, no matter how small it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we reveal your
mercy when we pardon someone for having turned against us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we welcome your
joy in the delightful voices and happy play of children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we convey your
compassion when we visit those with illness and poor health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we detect your
patience in those who put up with our impatience and hurry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May we unite with
your peace hidden beneath the layers of the world’s disharmony.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">O Divine One, you
came into our world in the form of a newly emerged child, fresh and fragile as
all of us are at our birthing. You came
as a beloved one filled with the radiance of eternal Light. As you grew in humanness, your life and
teachings revealed the vast goodness of your inner being. We now carry your loving Spirit of radiance
within us. We can easily miss this gift
in the press of our activities and our clouded, inner vision. Skim away the inattentiveness of our minds
and the crusts of unloving on our hearts.
As we prepare to celebrate the wonder of your birth, help us discern
your concealed presence in each part of our life. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-48404922601910088722017-01-06T15:51:00.001-06:002017-01-06T15:51:37.840-06:00The Epiphany of Our Lord<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Why do so few ever see the star?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only because so few are looking for it...."</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lSbAvD9jg0/WHAOmENd1qI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/dsQYgUTqAMA_PMqGrVE0S6FbcHJVMwhUgCLcB/s1600/Wise%2Bmen%252C%2B2017%252C%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lSbAvD9jg0/WHAOmENd1qI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/dsQYgUTqAMA_PMqGrVE0S6FbcHJVMwhUgCLcB/s640/Wise%2Bmen%252C%2B2017%252C%2B7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Dear Jesus,</b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>my Light and my Salvation,</b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>in Your kindness and mercy,</b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>make me tenacious in seeking the star</b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>and courageous in proclaiming it.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Amen.</b></i></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-16836671287575292492016-12-28T04:58:00.001-06:002016-12-28T04:58:27.279-06:00Praying Before the Stable<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJxD6ksL0Wo/WGOaWl71aXI/AAAAAAAAGJA/-3pC0nj5ANYAZnmTn42J_MROhnbEjtCwwCLcB/s1600/adoration-of-the-child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJxD6ksL0Wo/WGOaWl71aXI/AAAAAAAAGJA/-3pC0nj5ANYAZnmTn42J_MROhnbEjtCwwCLcB/s1600/adoration-of-the-child.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blessing Before a Christmas Stable </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">by Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lord Jesus, as I kneel before your manger in adoration, let
my first Christmas word be: <i>thank you</i>.
Thank you, Gift of the Father, for coming to save me from my sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without You I do not know even how to be human. The
characteristics of Your human body express the Divine Person of God's Son. And
in that wondrous expression, Lord, You reveal me to myself. Thank you for that
saving revelation in Your sacred humanity. As the Christmas liturgy proclaims,
in Christ we experience "the holy exchange that restores our life." Thank
you for coming as one like myself to save me from myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You come as a baby because babies are irresistible and
adorable. You come as a baby because You want our first impression of God
Incarnate to be that of one who does not judge. How I long to be united with
You in every way. May I never be attracted to the allurements and charms of the
world. May I love You always, at every moment, with all my heart, soul, mind
and strength. May the tenderness, the dependency, and the mercy that You reveal
in Your infancy become the hallmarks of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Newborn Savior, the very silence of Your Incarnation
proclaims that the answer to the misery, the strife, and the meaningless we
often experience in life cannot be found within us. You alone are the Answer.
As I kneel before You, Eternal King, I surrender to You all my selfishness,
self-absorption, self-indulgence, self-righteousness, self-assertion, and
self-exaltation. Even as I adore You on this night of Your birth, rid me of the
nagging desire to be adored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Word became flesh, You make Your dwelling among us. And You
do not live Your life for Yourself, but for us. And You enable us to live in
You all that You Yourself lived. Help me to embrace this truth with all my mind
and heart. Come and live Your life in me. Empty me of my willfulness, my
petulance, my hardness, my cynicism, my contemptuousness. Fill me with Your
truth, Your strength, Your fortitude, Your purity, Your gentleness, Your
generosity, Your wisdom, Your heart, and Your grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">O Emmanuel, may the assurance of Your unfailing Presence be
for me, the source of unending peace. May I never fear my weakness, my
inadequacy, or my imperfection. Rather, as I gaze with faith, hope, and love
upon Your incarnate littleness, may I love my own littleness, for God is with
us. Endow my life with a holy wonder that leads me ever more deeply into the
Mystery of Redemption and the meaning of my vocation and destiny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Longed-for Messiah, Your servant St. Leo the Great well
wrote that in the very act of reverencing the birth of our Savior, we are also
celebrating our own new birth. From this night on, may my life be a dedicated
life of faith marked by holy reliance, receptivity, and resoluteness. May I
make my life a total gift of self. May my humble worship of Your Nativity
manifest how much I seek the Father's kingship and His way of holiness. The
beauty of Your holy face bears the promise that Your Father will provide for us
in all things. This Christmas I renew my trust in God's goodness, compassion
and providence. I long for the day when You will teach us to pray "Our
Father."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May Your presence, Prince of Peace, bless the world with
peace, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and
confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom
and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief. Loving Jesus, You are
the only real joy of every human heart. I place all my trust in You. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, Divine Fruit of Mary's womb, may I love You in union
with the holy Mother of God. May my life be filled with the obedience of St.
Joseph and the missionary fervor of the shepherds so that the witness of my
life may shine like the star that leads the Magi to Your manger. I ask all this
with great confidence in Your Holy Name. Amen. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Venite adoremus!</i></b></span> </div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-66095373141079911962016-12-27T19:19:00.000-06:002016-12-27T19:19:17.206-06:00Divine Intrusion<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"...live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>~Colossians 1:10</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-962sJTAWaS0/WGMPVG3jr-I/AAAAAAAAGIw/FZHk8JZChqYpdWvnZCCsAkTLwVHzVEKbwCLcB/s1600/sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-962sJTAWaS0/WGMPVG3jr-I/AAAAAAAAGIw/FZHk8JZChqYpdWvnZCCsAkTLwVHzVEKbwCLcB/s640/sunflowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well-known gifted author Sister Melannie Svoboda, who blogs at <a href="http://www.melanniesvobodasnd.org/"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Sunflower Seeds</span></b></a>, has posted a soul-searching sort of poem that she wrote for Christmas. It's called <a href="http://www.melanniesvobodasnd.org/a-christmas-prayer-for-divine-intrusion/"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"A Christmas Prayer for Divine Intrusion,"</b></span></a> but, as she points out, it can be prayed any time throughout the year. It's my kind of prayer: no-nonsense and no-frills, straightforward and unafraid. I am reluctant to post this little gem in its entirety without Sister's permission, so look for it <a href="http://www.melanniesvobodasnd.org/a-christmas-prayer-for-divine-intrusion/"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>here</b></span></a>. I hope it stretches your heart and your mind as much it did mine. Meanwhile, I find myself repeating these few lines:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Free me from my tendency to wrap around myself."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Enlarge my world. Direct my attention to all that really matters."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Accept me as I am, but keep nudging me to be a better version of who I already am."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Help me to live less cautiously."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Keep telling me to grow up. Keep telling me to be more childlike."</span></blockquote>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Welcome, Son of Mary! Come and be my Divine Intruder! Amen, amen!</i></b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-77919026391375840632016-12-26T05:33:00.000-06:002016-12-26T05:36:31.987-06:00"to each and everyone He comes"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>"For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us." ~Isaiah 9:6</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63eRgIDWsrM/WGD5FSsXpkI/AAAAAAAAGIU/-H1s7rWyblUZMZ5GfXTptrEkYmUW7fohgCLcB/s1600/van-gogh-nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63eRgIDWsrM/WGD5FSsXpkI/AAAAAAAAGIU/-H1s7rWyblUZMZ5GfXTptrEkYmUW7fohgCLcB/s640/van-gogh-nativity.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“A Child is born. To some He comes on this Christmas Day, even in the remorse that follows ‘there is no room’; to some He comes when their hearts are saddened by a life that has </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">been taken away, and can be gladdened only by a Life that is given; to some He comes when their hearts like conscious mangers cry out ‘Lord, I am not worthy’; to others He comes as </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">their study of science reminds them that the only star worth studying is the Star that leads to the Maker of the Stars; to others He comes when their hearts are broken, that He might </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">enter in to heal with wings wider than the world; to others He comes in joy amidst the Venite Adoremus of the angels; to others He comes because they are so young they can never </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">remember another Christmas -- but to each and everyone He comes as if He had never come before in His own sweet way, He the Child who is born, He, Jesus the Savior, He </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Emmanuel, He, Christ at Christ’s Mass on Christmas –- Merry Christmas!!” ~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in <i>The Fullness of Christ</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Venite adoremus!</b></i></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-92135573769978486232016-12-25T04:27:00.000-06:002016-12-25T04:27:50.120-06:00Christmas Joy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Joy, joy, for Christ is born,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Babe, the Son of Mary.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yflifr15QGU/WF8a6L2lRUI/AAAAAAAAGH0/dE-KD5P9EDADhd2Nlh5x8hVS3yJqNIVBwCLcB/s1600/Christ%2BChild%2Bby%2BPetershams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yflifr15QGU/WF8a6L2lRUI/AAAAAAAAGH0/dE-KD5P9EDADhd2Nlh5x8hVS3yJqNIVBwCLcB/s640/Christ%2BChild%2Bby%2BPetershams.jpg" width="527" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Venite adoremus!</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-33952413294346150412016-12-24T19:52:00.003-06:002016-12-24T19:52:44.493-06:00Christmas Eve<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How silently, how silently</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The wondrous gift is given!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Fv1DYpTM8/WF8mC3z8dWI/AAAAAAAAGIE/4lclt3TjDx8qFktm0dVhz2MX7lCB7IlZQCLcB/s1600/Mother%2Band%2Bchild%252C%2Bso%2Blovely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Fv1DYpTM8/WF8mC3z8dWI/AAAAAAAAGIE/4lclt3TjDx8qFktm0dVhz2MX7lCB7IlZQCLcB/s1600/Mother%2Band%2Bchild%252C%2Bso%2Blovely.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Venite adoremus!</b></span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-71472468822400247542016-12-24T12:02:00.000-06:002016-12-24T12:02:05.430-06:00Christmas Eve Day<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This day you shall know that the Lord is coming,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and tomorrow you shall see His glory.</span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~from the Divine Office for December 24</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">O Come, Divine Messiah!</span></b></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-64039893529930297782016-12-10T18:59:00.000-06:002016-12-10T19:20:48.761-06:00Eve of Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Rejoice, Jerusalem, with great joy,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>for your Savior will come to you, alleluia.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Antiphon for Lauds </b></i></span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b>from the Divine Office</b></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b>for the Third Sunday of Advent</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everyone should open their heart very wide to joy, should welcome it and let it be buried very deeply in them; and they should wait the flowering with patience. Of course, the first ecstasy will pass, but because in real joy Christ grows in us, the time will come when joy will put forth shoots and the richness and sweetness of the person who rejoiced will be Christ's flowering. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~Caryll Houselander in <i>The Reed of God</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O Jesus living in Mary,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">come and open our hearts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to the joy that is You!</span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-6905220177488074732016-11-30T04:50:00.000-06:002016-11-30T04:50:23.898-06:00Come!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Behold, I come quickly. ~Revelation 22:7</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgCviirf93I/WD6uJzSvbiI/AAAAAAAAGG8/z44l46aXVMEFTwpucJYx6vMcDgNPq7hlQCLcB/s1600/Point%2BLookout%2BSunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgCviirf93I/WD6uJzSvbiI/AAAAAAAAGG8/z44l46aXVMEFTwpucJYx6vMcDgNPq7hlQCLcB/s640/Point%2BLookout%2BSunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Photography by Ann L. Krumrein</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every year we celebrate the holy season of Advent, O God. Every year we pray those beautiful prayers of longing and waiting, and sing those lovely songs of hope and promise. Every year we roll up all our needs and yearnings and faithful expectation into one word: “Come!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yet, what a strange prayer this is! After all, you have already come and pitched your tent among us. You have already shared our life with its little joys, its long days of tedious routine, its bitter end. Could we invite you to anything more than this with our “Come”? Could you approach any nearer to us than you did when you became the “Son of Man”? In spite of all this we still pray: “Come.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~Karl Rahner</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">O Jesus,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">living in Mary,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">come!</span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355610597974948905.post-40111858221690633592016-09-18T05:54:00.000-05:002016-09-18T05:56:47.759-05:00Unutterable and exalted joy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>These things I have spoken to you,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>~John 15:11</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The concrete sign that we have truly encountered Jesus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is the joy that we show in communicating it to others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~Pope Francis, 9/17/16 Tweet</span></div>
AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15297617811746447192noreply@blogger.com0