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Monthly Archives: May 2018
The Visit
One of the more intriguing depictions of today’s feast is here by the American-born artist Brigid Marlin. Most parishes will probably stop at the first reading from Zechariah and not consider the option from Saint Paul, which reads in … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, Scripture, spirituality
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GeE 60: The Summation of the Law
Three paragraphs explore the basic commandment, and the one like it. The title you expect: The summation of the Law. The orientation of the disciple: faith, hope, and love. Especially … well, you can read it: 60. To avoid this, we … Continue reading
Aparecida 441bc: Actions On Behalf Of Children
The Aparecida bishops look to age-appropriate initiatives. Logical: b) Establish, where they do not already exist, the department or section of childhood, to carry out localized and comprehensive actions on behalf of children. c) Promote processes to recognize childhood as … Continue reading
GeE 59: Moderation in Church Precepts
Pope Francis draws very widely from the testimony of the saints in his documents. In this paragraph, continuing commentary on the unintentional cluttering of the preaching of the Gospel. 59. Once we believe that everything depends on human effort as … Continue reading
Aparecida 441a: Pastoral Suggestions For Ministry To Children: Prayer
441. In this regard we propose some pastoral guidelines: Let’s read the first of nine Aparecida bishops’ suggestions for ministry to children: a) Draw inspiration from the attitude of Jesus toward children, that of respect and welcome as the favorites … Continue reading
GeE 58: Life Contrary To The Spirit
58. Not infrequently, contrary to the promptings of the Spirit, the life of the Church can become a museum piece or the possession of a select few. There isn’t any doubt that Christians lose the sense of the Spirit and … Continue reading
Aparecida 437n: Pastoral Proposals For Widows
The last of the Aparecida bishops’ fourteen proposals for ministries to the family: n) Bear in mind that the Word of God in both Old and New Testaments, asks us to show special care to widows. Strive to find out … Continue reading
GeE 57: New Pelagians
This paragraph and the two that follow describe “new pelagians.” 57. Still, some Christians insist on taking another path, that of justification by their own efforts, the worship of the human will and their own abilities. The result is a … Continue reading
Aparecida 437m: Pastoral Proposals For Pregnant Teens And Others
The Aparecida bishops give their people fourteen proposals for ministries to the family. Here is the second-last of these: m) Organize houses of welcome and specific accompaniment in order to approach with compassion and solidarity pregnant girls and adolescents, single … Continue reading
Aparecida 438-440: On Children
Three paragraphs on children in today’s post, covering all of section 9.2, and starting with the gospel witness: 438. Childhood must today be the object of high-priority action on the part of the Church, the family, and government institutions, both … Continue reading
6 Plots
Interesting BBC Culture article here on the premise forwarded from the University of Vermont that every human story falls into one of six story types. The premise, in brief: The researchers used sentiment analysis to get the data – a … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture
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GeE 56: Merit And Justification
Scripture explores the believer’s response to God’s grace. 56. Only on the basis of God’s gift, freely accepted and humbly received, can we cooperate by our own efforts in our progressive transformation.* * This is, in a word, the Catholic … Continue reading
Aparecida 437l: Pastoral Proposals For Orphaned And Abandoned Children
A favorite topic of mine: l) Help create responsibility so that through Christian charity orphaned and abandoned girls and boys may be welcomed and adopted, and may enjoy family life. An important point: adoption is less a cure for childlessness … Continue reading
GeE 55: Justification, A Great Conviction
55. This is one of the great convictions that the Church has come firmly to hold. It is so clearly expressed in the word of God that there can be no question of it. And yet, people do still push … Continue reading
Aparecida 437k: Pastoral Proposals For Marriage Annulments
Years before Pope Francis called for reform on how the institutional Church handled broken marriages, the Aparecida bishops advocated for an initial step: diocesan tribunals that worked faithfully and with some dispatch: k) With regard to requests for annulment of … Continue reading
Catholic Sensibility 