I know I said I was taking a break, but... the first reading at mass this morning included some of my favorite words from scripture, "Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God..."  And I recalled a prayer I began writing in 2008 and which has expanded over 16 years to this present version... Comfort my soul, Lord:    comfort my heart, my mind         and my imagination... Comfort me in my dreams,     in my fears and my worries,        in my memories         ..read more

I'm going to be busy and on the go for the next several days so my posting on my blog and on FaceBook will be less frequent than usual.   When things have settled down, I'll be right back at it and walking with you through Advent to Christmas!   Tweet    SUBSCRIBE HERE!    ..read more

  On the church calendar, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception but when the 8th falls on a Sunday in Advent, it is transferred to the following day, December 9. Image: Michael McGrath This "family portrait" shows us Anna and Joachim, parents of Mary (at the top of the image); and pictured in their embrace is Joseph with Mary and her son, Jesus; a dove nearby reminds us that Mary conceived Jesus of the Holy Spirit. Mary is venerated as the Immaculate Conception, she who was conceived immaculately, preserved from original sin, in the womb of her mother, Anna. T ..read more

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza Good morning, good God! Not too many shopping days left ‘til your birthday, Lord… Gotta start thinking about what to get "for the God who has everything." So, what can I give you? What could you possibly want from me? I know, I know! What you want from me are those things I hang on to, cling to, the things I don’t, I won't let go of:     the things, people and situations      that get in the way      between you and me...   So, for your birthday, Lord,  I want to offer you &n ..read more

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass.  Tonight we reflect on a verse found in today's gospel:      "A voice of one crying out in the desert,           'Prepare the way of the Lord,               make straight his paths.'"   Your one voice calls me, Lord:     you speak to my heart     in all its dry and barren places,     in the wilderness my life can sometimes be...   You call m ..read more

Teach me to watch, Lord:     to stay awake,     to keep vigil,     to wait for you     as the night waits for dawn... Teach me to watch     for your approach,     your drawing near,     your coming up alongside me     - especially when I least expect you... Teach me, Lord, to watch     for your advent,     your arrival,     your appearing... Teach me to watch     for signs of your grace in my life,    ..read more

 If a video doesn't appear above, click here!   Tweet    SUBSCRIBE HERE!    ..read more

   At sundown today we begin to celebrate the second Sunday of Advent, a season to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas and to prepare our hearts for the day when Christ will come again at the end of our lives and in the fullness of time.  Each Saturday night in this season, Night Prayer will focus on lighting one or more candles on the Advent wreath...    Last week we prayed for peace, this week we pray for faith...   If you have an Advent Wreath at home,      pray for faith this week        as you ligh ..read more

  Yup that's me, Lord! I'm the human version of tangled Christmas lights:       angled, snarled, knotted, disorganized          - and generally in disarray!   I need your help, Lord!   I need your patience      to untangle my problems...   I need your keen vision      to unsnarl what I can't discern... I need your fine motor skills      to untie my knots... I need your wisdom      to unravel what I've failed to tend to... And I need your ..read more

Tonight's prayer comes to us from Trappist monk and spiritual writer, Thomas Merton. This is his poem, Advent, entwining the season with the natural elements of the universe.  Tonight's music is a soft instrumental piece, Winter Solitude by Ekaterina.  My suggestion is that you listen to Winter Solitude while you're reading Merton's Advent.  Approach the poem as you would a painting: take in the words, phrases and images like colors, shadings and textures...  Let the beauty of the whole be the artist's gift to you...       Image source   &nb ..read more