Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

[What follows is a powerful and passionate response to Ireland's recent betrayal of its Catholic heritage, written by my friend, Jim Dooher, a cradle Catholic . He spent 20 years as a psychiatric social worker and provided individual, marriage and family counseling services. His letters to the editor have been published in local and national newspapers, secular and religious. Jim is a staunch defender of the right to life and currently serves as Secretary for the Syracuse Right to Life Association. He has been a Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for over 30 years.  Jim is a fearless and outspoken defender of the Catholic Faith and a warrior in the fight to save souls.] (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) My eyes are red, my soul cries out, my mind is confused, my heart is broken. Ireland! My beautiful Ireland! the resting place of my Catholic heritage, the legacy left to me by my ancestors. I held out hope for you twice in 3 years. Oh, how you dis...

Although I have not yet had the privilege to physically meet the gifted writer whose work I am about to share with you, we are not strangers. Barbara Schoeneberger, M.A. has challenged and stirred my soul (and countless other souls) through her words and inspiring example. She has struggled for more than a decade with, among other crosses, physical limitations, surgeries and chronic pain. Once she understood "the purpose of her suffering", her life changed. Through sharing her life's experiences and spiritual journey, Barbara hopes her writings will " help others to make the most of the challenges God has sent them."     You would serve the welfare of your soul well if you made a point of visiting her frequently at  Suffering With Joy . Barbara has graciously consented to my sharing one of her most recent and timely posts - one that should be widely read and disseminated : A Prophetic Warning! by Barbara Schoeneberger Cleaning out a file ca...

It is my privilege to introduce my friend and writers' group sidekick, Bernie Conklin. He is one of the most authentic Christian men I know. He and is wife Mary reside in upstate New York where, among many other things, they are very active in helping those in need. Bernie loves to stir up passion for the Lord he loves and serves through his catchy, witty, insightful and challenging poetry. He also loves this great nation of ours and is ever ready to come to its defense and offer his opinion of what really ails it..  The recent remembrance of 9/11 attack on our country prompted him to share a poem he had written some time ago. If you like it, you'll enjoy his book, A Potpourri of Poetry: Simple Poems by A Simple Guy , available on Amazon.com (Image source: Wikimedia Commons ) GOD BLESS AMERICA? God bless America, you ask of me? Why should I pour forth my grace upon thee? Your hypocrisy is a crying shame, calling on me, then restrictions procl...

[I am honored to welcome Rev. Mr. Adolph Uryniak as my guest blogger today. Ordained to the permanent Diaconate in 2006, the good Deacon resides in New York State with his wife, Sue, their three sons and six precious grandchildren. He fuels and sustains his passion to evangelize by spending much time each week before the Eucharistic Lord he loves and serves so well.] Be Disruptive! By Deacon Adolph Uryniak (Source of Image: Wikimedia Commons ) “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” With these words Christ poses a disruptive challenge. Disruptive in that it exchanges following Mosaic Law, for following the two great Commandments of “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” In reality, following the two Great Commandments encompasses all of Mosaic law; it’s a matter of how you go about it. The disruption comes in how one changes f...

It is my privilege to welcome Marge Hendry as my guest blogger today. Marge is an artist, pro-life warrior and parish catechist. She resides in New York state. The Contraception Tree (Image © Marge Hendrey) In the 1960's the creation and acceptance of new contracepting devices, i.e. the pill, I.U.D., etc., helped promote the sexual revolution. Since then, as the Contraceptive Tree demonstrates, social norms previously understood as for the good have come to mean less and less. Generally, it seems safe to say the family before the 1960's was protected by its own borders of wisdom and chastity. Sex was understood to belong in married life because that is where its fruits could be the best protected -not only the fruit of children but also the fruit of sanctity of "mother" and "father”. Since most people lived by that standard, that is the sanctity of married life for the protection of family, the problems that arose from the lack of...