Yeah, and I feel for them. I don't know their story obviously, but at the same time it's like you gotta keep going forward in life. Giving them money isn't necessarily helping them. The church grounds have a zero begging rule, so there is no begging there. I am positive it is there for good reason.
This is something I want to work on in myself. But it is so hard because it's like you're making yourself vulnerable.
We all like certainty and are consequently tempted to wrest control. But, we have no certainty. We must trust in Christ. If we had certainty, trust (and Faith) would be redundant. Likewise, if we had not been given freedom, sanctity would be redundant. Nor would we be made in the image of God.
Beautifully said! I think what I sometimes forget is that Christianity is ultimately about freedom, not simply following rules. God loves me enough to give me the freedom to choose. He guides me and gives me enough of His grace each day. He never abandons me but He does not force me to love. As I’ve been discovering, understanding that truth is one thing but actually living it, especially when a suffering comes along is quite another. I think its why in suffering and chaos I have opportunity to choose to surrender my will and its where faith really grows. Peace.
We are told that the Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. I’m the first to fall foul of forgetting that word beginning and I’m still stuck at the ‘fear’ part. It’s wise to try and do good through fear, but I envy those who have achieved the further wisdom to do it joyfully and voluntarily.
I’m reading the Project Gutenberg (good quality) version, right now. It’s very easy to read and it’s revelatory of what’s going on in the world right now and how it’s co-ordinated. And I’m only at page 77, yet (but flying through it). I highly recommend it.
Just read this ... 70% of US Catholics don't recognize the Eucharist as truly the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ https://zenit.org/2026/11/10/only-2...ns-about-eucharistic-renewal/#google_vignette
Yes! And I think this is hardest to remember when the person is in a position of great power or much is expected of him... Like Trump or Pope Leo XIV. They too are persons beloved by God, deserving of the benefit of the doubt. And no matter how flawed or manipulated they are, God can and will still work through them, to achieve His Will.
I believe that's all people who even just call themselves Catholics, whether they actually practice their Faith or not. Among Mass-attending Catholics, those who believe in the real Presence are much higher in number.
Correct! Per the article in this study anyhow: "Among Catholics who attend Mass every week, approximately 60% affirm the Real Presence; among the most regular churchgoers, the proportion approaches 70%. It rises to 88% among those who attend weekly, regard faith as the most important part of their lives and had attended Mass the previous weekend. " Only 29% of American Catholics Believe in the Real Presence: Questions About Eucharistic Renewal | ZENIT - English
Truth is stranger than fiction. Intrigue, espionage, conspiracy, secret societies, grudges all come together in this book. Its wild how bitter people want to destroy and control at the same time. As well as the lengths they will go to do it.
A slight correction - Paddy and Bobby (a brother but not an original member of the group) Clancy were both still alive at that time and played at that concert as well with Liam and Tommy Makem. Bobby actually struck up an unlikely friendship with Keith Richards that night! But yes, Dylan was very fond of Liam. At another party after one of his concerts in Dublin, he brushed past Bono to make a beeline for Liam. That was in 1989 when U2 were at the height of their popularity. He just wanted to reminisce about the old days. He's never been one to stand on ceremony.
Thanks, I was relying on my memories of the night. Hadn’t realised the two boys were still alive at that point. There was a strong rumour that he came over for Paddy’s funeral, perhaps you can confirm?
So it's still very few of us who believe 100%. How sad. But we who know are at least some consolation for Our Lord
