Articles For Heart Mind Soul

  Weblink: Article by George Weigel in First Things https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2023/12/praying-for-our-country-with-john-carroll We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.  We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.  We pray, O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of

 

  Personal reflection: God bless Father Ian VanHeusen. ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

  Golden Chick, Golden Calf Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The commercialization and consumerism of Biblical virtues for advertising and marketing purposes takes what is beautiful, good, and true and perverts it to sell their commodities, goods, products, merchandise, and wares. Biblical virtues are beautiful, good, and true and all humanity is attracted to them and wants to attach itself to them. Our soul basks in what is beautiful, gravitates toward what is good, and is transformed by what is true. Even the atheists and pagans recognize the attractiveness of the virtuous life and utilize it in their advertisements. Golden Chick sells their chicken pieces and their chicken tenders and they want us to love them. Peace, love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness! Live the truly victorious and virtuous life only in Christ Our Lord! Marian Casillas, Ed.D.

  Behold the Truth! by Cami little handmaid     On Saturday, the day before Christmas Eve, when I first woke up, before I even sat up, the word TRUTH came to my mind repeatedly. I knew it was a call from the Holy Spirit to listen to what He wants to say about Truth. I let that word sit in my mind as I made my tea, and sipping it, I opened up my email to see what messages I had received. I opened Spiritual Direction’s email publication and was drawn to read the first article, “Behold the Lamb of God” by Fr. James Brent, O.P. It is a beautifully written article about the Real Presence of the Lamb of God in the elevated Sacred Host at Holy Mass and in the monstrance at Adoration.   His article begins with his description of the mystical vision that 20 or more persons beheld on a wall of St. John the Baptist Church in Knock, Ireland on August 21, 1879. They witnessed figures of light: St. Joseph, Our Lady, St. John the Evangelist, and the focal point was a bright, white Lamb standing erect

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/@BishopStricklandOfficial God bless Bishop Strickland!

  Merry Navidad!  ¡Feliz Christmas!  Wishing you and yours Tex-Mex Greetings From Bordertown USA - Del Río, Texas 

Some music from the Latin Mass of the Angels, the Missa de Angelis (Christmas Mass). - Kyrie Eleison at 0:01 - Gloria in Excelsis Deo at 2:07 - Memorial Acclamation (Not Missa de Angelis) at 4:32 - Sanctus and Amen at 5:10 - Agnus Dei at 7:06 - Ite Missa Est at 8:29

  Reinvigorated to reject and refuse to allow the evil surrounding our Church and our country to steal my joy. The God of glorious jubilation brings love and laughter into my life by bringing His reindeer to my back door. Rudy and Ruby, ready to pull my sleigh  🛷  tonight! Thank you Baby Jesus!

  A Riverville Christmas Trilogy: Part 3 – Maquiladora Christmas Party by Marian Casillas, Ed.D.   Feliciana Navidad’s cell phone plays “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano. She doesn’t recognize the number and she usually will let the call go to voice mail, but she answers it. She hears, “This is Kris St. Nicholas, we met at Plazita Park. I hope you remember me.” Feliciana thinks to herself: Of course I remember you. You made quite an impression and I haven’t stopped thinking about you. But all she can muster to say is, “Yes.” Then he apologetically continues, “I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty to inquire about you. If I am bothering you, please let me know and I will hang up and not bother you any further.” “No, it’s no bother.” “Remember I told you about our company Christmas party?” “Yes.” “Well I was hoping you wouldn’t mind going with me.” “Sure, I’d love too,” she wondered was saying “love” too strong a word, too soon. “The company Christmas pa

  A Riverville Christmas Trilogy: Part 2 – Mr. St. Nicholas and Mrs. Navidad by Marian Casillas, Ed.D.   “Mr. St. Nicholas, what may I ask are you doing at Plazita Park,’ curiously inquires Feliciana Navidad. “My business-partner and I, Mr. Elfino Bernard are scouting areas to have our company Christmas party. We own a maquiladora and we wanted to treat our employees. They have been working hard and deserve to enjoy some recreational time away from work. Builds team spirit, you know.” “Plazita Park is a place where you and your employees can have a nice time,” states Feliciana as she starts to get up from her lounge chair. Gentlemanly-like Kris offers his hand to assist her. She doesn’t require his assistance, but she doesn’t want to appear rude toward his generous gesture, so she takes his muscular arm that lifts her up in one fell swoop. Kris notices that she is elegantly attired in green capris pants and a green colored Mexican top delicately embroidered with red stitchery. She is w

  A Riverville Christmas Trilogy: Part 1 – Sun Burnt Santa by Marian Casillas, Ed.D.   “What do you mean you saw Santa with a sunburn?” inquires Feliciana Navidad, grandmother of her daughter’s set of twins; Ello and Ella, whom she is kid-sitting at Plazita Park while their mother attends a workshop at the Culture House. “He was wearing red shorts, a white T-shirt, red tennis shoes, white socks and a red baseball cap,” explains Ello. “He was real big; white hair and a white beard,” elaborates Ella. “He was laughing a lot, you know, like he was a jolly ole’ fellow,” adds Ello. “Why would Santa be at a park in Riverville, Texas?” Grandmother Feliciana continues questioning. “Because he’s on vacation?” ventures Ello. “Or maybe he just wanted a change of climate, somewhere hot and sunny, to get away from the cold and snowy weather up at the North Pole?” offers Ella. “You know, he could be checking up on all the children to see who’s being naughty or nice?” Ello adds, to keep the story goin

  The grumbling “go green” Grinch by Marian Casillas, Ed.D.         Radical environmentalists want holiday traditions banned because holidays are a time to throw away traditions in the name of “going green.”   Don’t Eat Meat Radical environmentalists are terrified of all the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by cooking meats, like Thanksgiving turkey and holiday ham. Raising beef generates the most CO2, but farm-raised fowl are also high-impact.   Don’t Take Long Drives to Visit Family They want us to use mass transportation to avoid spewing out excessive CO2. Green groups  have spent years trying to convince Americans to drive less, with extremely limited results.   Don’t Chit-Chat around the Dinner Table They suggest substantive discussions that are more environmentally-friendly, like convincing a “climate-change denier” over the holiday dinner table. They recommend reading articles that provide excellent talking points about “climate change”.  

Climate change clanging, clattering choir by Marian Casillas, Ed.D.   With thanks to the song: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer   You know Al Gore and Robert Redford and Prince Harry and Meghan, Jane Fonda and Whoopi Goldberg and Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. But did you know? Now there’s the most famous climate change activist of all. Her name is Greta Thunberg And she’s the teenage-star from Sweden, Who has a very shiny star, And if you ever saw it You would see how bright it glows. All of the other climate change activists Are nothing in comparison to her. There is adulation galore for her alone. Everyone wants to be close to her And have her join in their climate change games. Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Because fog is caused by climate change, Don’t you know that’s true, you fool; All the children throughout the world Pleaded with her and demanded: “Greta, with your star so bright Won't you guide this world tonight, And have the foggy night dissipate; So Santa ca