Freedom that Makes the Church Grow

“They prefer a life caged in their precepts, in their compromises, in their revolutionary plans or in their [disembodied] spirituality.” So said Pope Francis in his remarks following the readings last Friday, he focused on the day’s Gospel, drawn from that according to St Matthew (11:16-19). There, Jesus compares the generation of his time to … Read more

JFK and the Fourth Estate

The corporate media inundates us with poll results concerning the approval ratings of the first three Estates of the Realm. But what if a completely independent poll were conducted concerning the performance of the Fourth Estate, our illustrious press. I suspect that, if it were even possible to conduct such an “independent poll,” our press … Read more

The Unfaithful Stewards

As Sir Edmond Burke once observed, this country’s founders were always ready to “snuff out the approach of tyranny with every tainted brief.” And yet, it seems we are now resigned to live subject to the vast, multi-layered, and robust surveillance infrastructure that is the envy of every totalitarian regime? We can no longer trust … Read more

Attracting Hummingbirds

These hummingbird favorites are easy to plant and they will animate your garden in the most delightful way. Agastache: Quickly becoming a summer favorite, this perennial has fragrant foliage and spiky flowers of pink, purple, blue, red and orange. Hollyhock: Plant these and you’ll have sensational spires of flowers. A classic cottage garden plant that’s very easy … Read more

Positive Qualities – Plainspoken & Pacifistic

Dear Folks, What we dwell upon we help bring into manifestation. — Steps Toward Inner Peace, Peace  Pilgrim (1908-1981) Pacifist A Plainspoken person always has to listen with the ears of the other person or people. It is possible for you to be Pacifistic even though the majority of humankind still believes aggression is not … Read more

Positive Qualities – Placid & Wholehearted

Dear Folks, Regard your neighbor’s gain as your won gain, and your neighbors loss as your won loss. — Taoism, T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien It is known: A Wholehearted dedication to the things that really matter does give a person a transcendently Placid temperament. We are all still battered with the vicissitudes of life, … Read more