Happy feast day of Saint Joseph

On March 20, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, Saints and Blesseds, Spiritual LifeLeave a comment

St Joseph with the Child Jesus, by Murillo

+JMJ+ A blessed feast day of Saint Joseph to you! And happy first day of Spring. Here we in the fourth week of Lent. Hasn’t this Lent flown by? My sister sent me a gift card for Christmas and I’m just now using it. What did I get? One book, so far: The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art, by my favorite art historian and one of my all-time favorite speakers, period, Dr. Elizabeth Lev. I only bought the book today and I haven’t begun to read it yet, so how can I recommend it to you? Well, first, did I mention it’s by Liz Lev? And I’ve watched some interesting interviews about it (see below), so I am looking forward to digging into it. In keeping with the art of Saint Joseph theme I’m going to include a few of my favorite paintings of him.

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We are not our own best advisers

On March 13, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, Seasonal, Spiritual Life2 Comments

+JMJ+ I’ve mentioned before that my favorite daily meditations, after the Mass readings and the breviary, come from the series In Conversations with God by Francis Fernandez Carvajal. I was reading in it tonight and this passage jumped out at me.

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For the suffering

On March 6, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, Suffering1 Comment

+JMJ+ Greetings! Here we are at the second week of Lent already. I’ve made an extra effort to remember what I’m doing this time, fasting and abstinence. And I’ve managed to mostly keep to it. Mostly. Old habits are hard to break. And I’ve spent the past couple of days dealing with illness. But then I stumbled upon some videos about babies whose mothers are addicted to some serious drugs and their babies go through some awful withdrawal after they’re born. Looking at my suffering after that? No comparison. (These poor little ones really grabbed my attention and my heart this weekend. Be forewarned. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. So here’s tonight’s post.)

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Announcing the winner of the Giveaway Lent 2023

On March 3, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Giveaways, Lent, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ And the winner is… Marcia Geraghty! I’ll send out an announcement via email and social media posts, too. Just email me your shipping address, Marcia, and I’ll get your copy of In Conversation with God, Volume 2, sent to you ASAP!

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What will I give up for Lent

On February 22, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, Seasonal2 Comments

+JMJ+ During His forty days in the desert Jesus undid the temptations of the fall: pleasures, possessions and pride* and He did so by resisting the temptation to eat, to rule all the kingdoms of the world (I did giggle when the Devil offered that to Christ the King of the Universe), and to exalt Himself (as if He could exalt Himself anymore than He already was exalted, what with being God and all). Lent gives us a chance to join Him in overcoming our ancient enemy and his tactics, his temptations, and overcoming our weakness. And do we ever come face to face with our own weakness during Lent!

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Ash Wednesday is almost here

On February 21, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ Yesterday I shared a couple of things about Ash Wednesday and Lent in the Church against the charge that they have pagan roots. Today I want to add more to that, some videos that I think are interesting and helpful. First, a video from Dr. Brant Pitre, then two by Fr. Mike Schmitz, and one by Fr. Chris Alar, three of my favorite Catholic teachers and speakers.

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Ack! Ash Wednesday is, well, Wednesday!

On February 20, 2023February 21, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ How is it possible? I say I’m going to prepare early for Lent every year and every year Lent begins with me scrambling around at the last minute. We’ve still got a couple of days. Here are some things I’ve found tonight. First up, something that will come in handy for most of us who have non-Catholic friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors: “No, Ash Wednesday/Lent is not pagan,” a post and an audio file. Then some helpful things to help us make this Lent a blessed and spiritual occasion. (Note: I added sort of a part two of this post containing four videos I found helpful.)

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Lent is coming, rambling thoughts on mortification

On February 6, 2023 By Lee (@disciple96)In Lent, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ With Lent fast approaching I ask a question: Is mortification still a thing for Catholics? I know it’s still a practice recommended by the Church, and I don’t see how anyone can make any spiritual progress without it, but do people include mortification in their spiritual practice anymore? Do they even have a spiritual practice? I’m asking because whenever I see mortification mentioned, it’s always in a negative sense, as in, “I want to focus on the positive this Lent, not focus on the negative.” I don’t even know what that gobbledygook means, but I do know that it can have serious consequences for a spiritual life.

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Merry Christmas, y’all!

On December 25, 2022December 26, 2022 By Lee (@disciple96)In Christmas, Seasonal4 Comments

Nativity, Jean-Baptiste-Marie Pierre, Wikimedia, public domain

The Birth of Jesus

AND it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
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A Time of Hope

On December 19, 2022December 22, 2022 By Lee (@disciple96)In Advent, In Conversation with God, In Conversation with God, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ It’s here! The week leading up to Christmas! Whew! We’ve had some cold weather here and we’re expecting a few days of lows around 16-18 degrees for Christmas Eve and Christmas night. But it’s not so brutal right now and pretty comfy in the den where I’m writing this. Let’s get a fresh cup of tea, then we can take a quick look at a book in my favorite devotional series, In Conversation with God, Daily Meditations, Volume One, Advent and Christmastide, and the reading for yesterday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

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A is for Advent and Apparition, Too

On December 12, 2022 By Lee (@disciple96)In Advent, Apparitions, Mary, SeasonalLeave a comment

+JMJ+ Greetings, y’all! I have some things to share with you!

First, something from the reading for today, the Third Monday in Advent, from In Conversation with God, Vol 1, by Fr. Francis Fernandez Carvajal. (The longer I use this series of reflections, the more I treasure it.)
Second, a video about Advent.
Third, a video about the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe since her feast day is today.
Fourth, something about Our Lady of Guadalupe and the tilma.

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And the winner is…

On December 9, 2022 By Lee (@disciple96)In Advent, Giveaways, Seasonal2 Comments

+JMJ+ Greetings, y’all! The Advent Giveaway 2022 is now closed and the winner is (drumroll, please!): Ahem! Mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-what? Oh, no, no, not me. Gail Cohee, it’s you, nobody but you, so come on down! I’ll send out your email in a few minutes and as soon as you reply with your address, I’ll get your book ordered. You should be able to get it sometime this next week. Now an announmcement will go go out in email to subscribers, and on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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