miniZibaldone

San Pietro Penitente (Guido Reni) Pieta  (Michelangelo)  

But we too remember that each of us knows the extent to which we too are often blind, lacking the radiant light of faith, not because we do not have the Gospel close at hand, but because of an excess of complicated theology. We feel that our soul thirsts for spirituality, not for a lack of Living Water which we only sip from, but because of an excessive “bubbly” spirituality, a “light” spirituality. We feel ourselves also trapped, not so much by insurmountable stone walls or steel enclosures that affect many peoples, but rather by a digital, virtual worldliness that is opened and closed by a simple click . From the Chrism Mass homily The first area where we see God showing excess in his ever-increasing mercy is that of encounter . He gives himself completely and in such a way that every encounter leads to rejoicing. [...]  It would be good for us to ask ourselves: after going to confession, do I rejoice? Or do I move on immediately to the next thing, as we would after going...

Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini   The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini  Richard Raynal, Solitary; The Island of the Angels by Hugh Benson, et al The Alphonse Courrier Affair by Marta Morazzoni  Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres by Henry Adams The Good Earth by Pearl Buck  The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan  The Awakening by Kate Chopin  Heart of Darkness, The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad Chance by Joseph Conrad Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder  Pictures from an Institution by Randall Jarrell 

The Easter Triduum is the memorial of a drama of love that gives us the certainty that we will never be abandoned in life’s trials. From the general audience Our reflection on God’s mercy introduces us today to the Easter Triduum . We will live Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday as intense moments, which enable us to enter increasingly in the great mystery of our faith: the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything in these three days speaks of mercy, because it renders visible the point that God’s love can reach. [...]  On Holy Thursday Jesus institutes the Eucharist , anticipating in the paschal banquet His sacrifice on Golgotha. [...]  Holy Friday is the culminating moment of love. ...A love that intends to embrace all , no one excluded. [...]  And, finally, Holy Saturday is the day of God’s silence. It must be a day of silence . We must do everything possible so that it is a day of silence, as that Day, which was the day of God’s silence. Jesus pla...

Reference text: L. Giussani , “The Three Constituent Factors,” in   Why the Church? , McGillQueen’s, 2001, pp. 87–95. Notes from School of Community with Julián Carrón

Philippine Star  "Water and jobs" Think about it: if people in underdeveloped communities do not have to trek for several hours just to get water for their households, they could instead spend those hours learning livelihood skills or, for children, in getting formal education.  The United Nations estimates that about 1.5 billion people work in sectors where water plays an important role, including fisheries, farming, manufacturing and energy generation. Their work, earnings and quality of life could be improved with the efficient delivery of clean water.  As World Water Day is marked on March 22, the UN is focusing on the links between water and jobs, and consequently to poverty alleviation. Adequate supply of clean water is also indispensable in public health and sanitation. This is important in developing countries such as the Philippines where millions of households still lack piped water and modern toilets.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  "Crucial swing vot...

By Reason Alone by Bacz Jakez   The Puritan Smile by Robert Neville This Mortal Flesh by Brent Waters The ABC of Relativity by Bertrand Russell  Catholicism, Protestantism, and Capitalism by Amintore Fanfani Can Ethics Be Christian? by James Gustafson    The Girard Reader Anthropology as an Aid to Moral Science by Antonio Rosmini