Beethoven: "Für Elise"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" as presented by Marnie Laird:

Birthday Blessings, Greg!!!

Birthday greetings to brother Gregory, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

National Electrical Safety Month

The month of May is being observed as National Electrical Safety Month, an observance designed to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of electrically-related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss. The this year’s focus is on lithium-ion battery safety, including educating the public on how to purchase, use, and recycle lithium-ion batteries safely.

For more information about the observance of National Electrical Safety Month, please visit:

Electrical Safety Foundation International: National Electrical Safety Month

Background information:

Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)

Daniel Gordon on Gratitude as a Matter of Justice and Joy

"Gratitude makes us happier and healthier.

"That said, I have some difficulty expressing gratitude, especially as a person who tends toward the melancholic and the critical. This trait can be useful when writing academic papers, but it is often less helpful in close relationships. And so, while scientific studies on gratitude often impress me, they do not always move me to practice gratitude more.

"Of course, none of those feelings changes the fact that researchers do think that practicing gratitude is associated with happier and healthier lives (adding the caveat that correlation does not prove causation). Gratitude can improve our emotional life, our relationships, and even our productivity at work."

In a recent post, writer Daniel Gordon reflected on gratitude as a part of justice, as an exercise in vulnerability, and as a practice that leads to joy.

To access Mr. Gordon's complete post, please visit:

Daniel Gordon: Gratitude: A Matter of Justice and Joy (13 MAY 24)

Armed Forces Medley

As we continue our observance of Armed Forces Day, I offer this version of the Armed Forces Medley:

 

 

Armed Forces Day, 2024

Today (Saturday, 18 May) is Armed Forces Day, 2024.

President Harry S Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

On 31 August 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department - the U.S. Department of Defense.

As we observe this day, we salute the members of our communities who are currently serving and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Presidential Proclamation on Armed Forces Day, 2024

United Service Organizations: When is Armed Forces Day?

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who serve in our Armed Forces.

A Saint's World-Changing Influence

As the month of April draws to a close, we celebrate the feast day of a truly amazing saint who remains a model for us all. April 29 [was] the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, whose writings have earned her a place among only 37 people ever named Doctor of the Catholic Church.

In her major treatise, The Dialogue of Divine Providence, written between 1377 and 1378, Catherine draws a simple yet profound analogy regarding the relationship between God and man, saying that God is like "a sea, in which we are the fish." This image helps us understand that God is not our adversary, but rather the infinite being that holds everything in existence and the source of all the good in our lives.

Saint Catherine's ability to arrive at such beautiful insights came through years of prioritizing her relationship with God above all things. Though her family could provide her comfort and she had opportunity to marry, she chose a life of poverty and chastity so that she could devote herself to serving God and others.

After a period in her young adult life in which she spent most of her time serving her family, Catherine had an experience that she later described as a mystical marriage to Christ. It left her with the certainty that she was called to enter public life in service to others. She began with an outreach to the poor and sick, visiting hospitals and the homes of those in need. She soon attracted others who wanted to join her mission, so she was able to grow this outreach and have a major impact on people's lives.

Catherine's mission in the world grew exponentially when she began to travel and felt called to evangelize, encouraging people to focus their lives completely on love for God and neighbor. She promoted reforms within the Church aimed at greater fidelity to the Gospel, and she became an advocate for the Pope, promoting loyalty to the Church among Italian city states during a time of political tumult.

Catherine was also instrumental in convincing Pope Gregory XI, who was the last Avignon Pope, to return to Rome, furthering her efforts to bring stability to the Church. Later, when the Western Schism broke out under Pope Urban VI, Catherine was summoned to Rome by Urban to help him convince nobles and cardinals not to go into schism. She worked tirelessly towards this end, meeting with influential figures at court and embarking on a letter-writing campaign on the Pope's behalf.

It is astounding to contemplate the immense impact Catherine of Siena had on her time period, and that impact began with a simple outreach to those in need. The trajectory of her life - from charity worker to world influencer - is not uncommon among the saints. Consider the life of Saint Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa, whose calls from God began as simple ones, then grew into something larger.

It's a lesson to us all as we set about to change the world for the better. Don't be afraid to start small and stay focused on the things of the heart that transform ourselves and those around us. It is from this type of humble starting point that God tends to grow our efforts beyond what we ever imagined. May Saint Catherine of Siena intercede for us as we set about to change the world so that we place God first and attend to the lifegiving things of the heart and soul.

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from John Ruskin

"No individual rain drop ever considers itself responsible for the flood." - John Ruskin

György Ligeti: "Musica ricercata"

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of György Ligeti's Musica ricercata, as played by Leona Crasi on piano:

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of good graphic designers.

Marlon De La Torre on a Personal Pentecost

"As he walked the earth after his resurrection for forty days, Jesus provided the gift of his presence to everyone who encountered him. This selfless Act of faith was part of Jesus' post-resurrection mission to reassure His Apostles and disciples that they would not be alone after his ascension to heaven. He walked, spoke, ate, taught, reassured, and prepared his disciples for the journey ahead. His conversation with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and ultimately the celebration of the Eucharistic feast healed the spiritual blindness of the Apostles due to their lack of faith. This was all part of Jesus's plan to prepare the Apostles for his final catechetical instruction to go forth and go into the world and preach the Gospel.

"The time Jesus spent with his Apostles and disciples was needed to spiritually open their hearts and remove any doubt about what had just occurred to the Messiah was not in vain. This is why the Pentecost event was so instrumental in the mission of the Apostles and the Church. All spiritual impediments needed to be removed to receive the Holy Spirit. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Marlon De La Torre, Senior Director for the Department of Evangelization for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, reflected on the importance of a personal Pentecost and its prayerful preparation.

To access Dr. De La Torre's complete post, please visit:

Knowing Is Doing: A Personal Pentecost (16 MAY 24