Some web browsing..........

Something to give you a pick-me-up, and I dare you not to laugh out loud at it! A  three year old conducting the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony





How would you descibe Christianity in one word? Eric Sammons tries and suggests communion. 


For those who feel that there is no hope, over at the catholic portal Summa This Summa That, Pat Gohn has a piece which she describes as one that you should "file this in the if-you-are-going-through-hell-keep-on-going file. Hope is often lurking just beneath the surface of our fears or challenges".
While Kathy Coffey reminds us of the Spiritulaity of Work  and Tim Muldoon looks at people who are adrift from the church.
Continuing on the articles about the wearing of the religious habit, Patheos.com continues a new series The Habit of Witness with two short articles here and here from women religious about their experences of wearing the habit,

Imagine the scene: a little café full of people, either bustling about or chatting at tables while warming their frozen hands around steaming cups of java. Two nuns walk through the door and it seems like all eyes turn their way. One patron calls out, “Sisters, you have made a lot of people happy today!”

We smiled our biggest smiles, the words warming our frozen cheeks. But what does one say to that?

I felt so small, so human, and so humbled that I just wanted to drop down on the floor and say, “I’ll try harder, I promise!”

Most nuns and sisters could tell numerous stories about people’s reactions to the habit — all good; all humbling; all manifesting how the habit speaks a universal language and points to the reality of God. People notice the wedding ring and wonder why I wear one, while children respond to the habit most perceptively, asking, “Are you God’s wife?” There are the smiles as people walk by, the waves from across the street.

But the habit is primarily a witness to the person wearing it.

It’s breast cancer awareness month, and the Anchoress has reprinted a piece written a couple of years ago by Pat Gohn, about her own breast cancer, and the a deep and faith-filled friendship that came like a balm and gift to counter the medical chaos:

Sometimes friendships blossom where we least expect them — like in foxholes. That echoes my relationship with Judi. I was in a battle, but lacked experience. As a cancer veteran, Judi helped me adjust my armor while pointing out weapons to fight my fear. She spoke about her own suffering and struggles with faith, what it means to deal with utter darkness and then choose to reach for the light. Walking me through that minefield, Judi was a one-woman support group and mentor rolled into one.

Months went by. My treatment and recovery period yielded an excellent prognosis. Conversations with Judi changed from cancer to other subjects. We had Christ and cancer in common, but slowly found more.

You’ll want to read it all, and if you know someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer, why not forward it to them? Especially if they’re feeling distanced from faith, because of it!

A couple of more reflections following on from the rescue of the Chilean (and one Bolivean) miners last week. Writing in the Huffington Post, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer notes how Chilean Miner Rescue, Celebration Gives New Meaning to Old Prayers and Edward Murray writes on how A Moment For Sacred Metaphors: How the Chilean Miners Helped To Rescue Us


In the world of ecclesial international politics this week, the Holy Father has announced his intention to create new members of the College of Cardinals, check out Rocco for the details and analysis of what it all means.

Given the context of Christian-Islam relations, an interesting reminder of some of the sacrifices made by Christians in the name of peace for people both Muslim and Christian.

And it seems that in the Eternal City, a Catholic pub opens in an historic Roman crypt.

Some web browsing for you...........

One of the great photos of the uplifting event of the week! And following on from last Sunday's gospel about the need to remember to give thanks to God the whole world seemed to give thanks for the rescue of the 32 Chilean and 1 Bolivian miner. Interesting views and stories on the story during the week were how it was surely praying at their "makeshift shrine" that kept the Chilean miners sane. and how the first thing asked for by the miners when contact was made with them was a crucifix so that they could set up a small shrine down in the mine with many other makeshift shrines near the mine shaft.

David Quinn gives his opinion about the impact of faith during the crisis in his column in the Irish Independent - Why there were no athetists in the mine. And Nuala O Loan reminds us that despite what some people think, Religion is not a Problem.


And one of the great quotes of the week had to be:

"There are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here."

 - 19-year-old Chilean miner Jimmy Sanchez, in a letter sent up from the mine Tuesday. You can read more about Jimmy here.

At the same time, it also reminded us in Ireland that the element of folk religion, where it is part of the everyday fabric of our lives is something we need to rediscover with the example of the miners as they remembered to invoke their patron saint - St Lawrence (see pic)

And the Anchoress gives a quick reflection on the example of Mario Sepúlveda Espinace who returned from the depths bearing gifts....for others.

"[He]crested the top of a hole from which he thought he might never escape, and his first instinct was to give. That’s a thing worth writing about, and thinking about and praying about. I wish I had a picture of that moment! How huge and resilient is the human spirit?"

Back to the Synod about the Church in the Middle East, John Allen gives some interesting coverage and insight into the issues being raised by the Patriarchs and Bishops at the NCR blog with discussions about the role of the Eastern Churches in the universal church, the need to allow them to ordain their serving priests in Europe and North America as is their tradition and right, and interesting perspectives from Muslims and Jews about the relationship between the three Abrahamic faiths.


If you want to read more about the different Eastern Catholic Churches, CNEWA has a special magazine out this month with various articles about our Christian brethren in the Middle East.


The issue of tolerance and the role of Christianity in a secular society was sort of summed up during the week by Madeline L'Engle

"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."

In her regular Tuesday column, Elizabeth Scalia (aka The Anchoress) discusses how although we live in a tolerant society, for many of the social "lepers" around us, there is still a vast amount of intolerance.

Bishop Paul D Etienne reminds us on his weekly blog how we need to rediscover a centre or a Core of Life to our everyday existence.

Of course, Sunday 17th is the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop and in case you missed me, Sacred Space 102fm has had a series of bits and pieces about Mary during the week which you can find here. And make sure you tune in on Sunday morning for our interview with Sr Margaret O Sullivan about this great Australian Saint.

During the week we nearly forgot the memorial of Blessed John XXIII - Good Pope John and you can catch up on some reflections and favourite speeches of this beloved Pope here. with a quick biography of him here and one his most famous impromptu speeches.

"When you head home, find your children. Hug and kiss your children and tell them: 'This is the hug and kiss of the Pope.' And when you find them with tears to dry, give them a good word. Give anyone who suffers a word of comfort. Tell them 'The Pope is with us especially in our times of sadness and bitterness.' And then, all together, may we always come alive -- whether to sing, to breathe, or to cry, but always full of trust in Christ, who helps us and hears us, let us continue along our path.”

In a challenge to the world, former Czech president and Nobel prize winner Vaclav Havel gave a speech in which he challenge the prevailing culture and predicted that the "First ‘atheistic civilisation’ is heading for catastrophe".

Holding onto faith can be difficult at times, but sometimes people of faith should be thankful for doubt. And Pope Benedict XVI speaking in Rome during the week noted that "It is the faith of the simple that knocks down false gods"

An unusual journalistic endeavour this week on the Pat Kenny radio show, a journalists take on a pilgrimage to Knock.

Given our spiralling unemployment rate, the Anchoress gives us some inspiration in the form of a Rosary for Jobseekers.

And through out it all, perhaps we need to remember that we need to live in the now, struggle to live in the present moment and that sometimes it is important not to do anything,