@thoughtfulcatholic.bsky.social
Scottish and Catholic, vegetarian and not young, theologically orthodox. Blogger @ https://thoughtfullycatholic.wordpress.com/
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The Jesus Prayer and the Gospel in Brief (Part II)
Gentle Reader, it is not necessary for you to first read The Jesus Prayer and the Gospel (Part I) before proceeding to read this post. But if you do your life will be spiritually enriched and you s…
thoughtfullycatholic.wordpress.com
The Jesus Prayer and the Gospel in Brief (Part II)
Why did I choose this title? Well..the 20 prayers I have given constitute something of an arc of the Jesus story, at least during His missionary years after He began to proclaim the Euangelion..
thoughtfullycatholic.wordpress.com/2025/02/15/t...
Why did I choose this title? Well..the 20 prayers I have given constitute something of an arc of the Jesus story, at least during His missionary years after He began to proclaim the Euangelion..
thoughtfullycatholic.wordpress.com/2025/02/15/t...
October 6, the Feast of St Bruno founder of the Carthusians, is nearly upon us. I expect most of you have already planned for the big day but if not my top tips are-
-stay off social media
-pray a lot
-read a lot
-go for a walk
-be still and silent.
-stay off social media
-pray a lot
-read a lot
-go for a walk
-be still and silent.
September 16, 2025 at 11:48 AM
October 6, the Feast of St Bruno founder of the Carthusians, is nearly upon us. I expect most of you have already planned for the big day but if not my top tips are-
-stay off social media
-pray a lot
-read a lot
-go for a walk
-be still and silent.
-stay off social media
-pray a lot
-read a lot
-go for a walk
-be still and silent.
If you answer the question 'are you one of the good guys?' by listing the things you believe then it would be quicker and more honest to say 'no'.
Because if you don't understand the difference between being right and being good then you are not, in fact, one of the good guys.
Because if you don't understand the difference between being right and being good then you are not, in fact, one of the good guys.
September 12, 2025 at 6:37 AM
If you answer the question 'are you one of the good guys?' by listing the things you believe then it would be quicker and more honest to say 'no'.
Because if you don't understand the difference between being right and being good then you are not, in fact, one of the good guys.
Because if you don't understand the difference between being right and being good then you are not, in fact, one of the good guys.
More than one thing can be true at the same time-
a) some people on Bluesky are celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk
b) those people are not representative of most Bluesky users
c) what is more representative are the posts that say "this is terrible but.."
a) some people on Bluesky are celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk
b) those people are not representative of most Bluesky users
c) what is more representative are the posts that say "this is terrible but.."
Justin Webb just referred on Today to "platforms like Bluesky, where you can see the celebration of the killing" of Charlie Kirk.
What I'm seeing on here is overwhelming condemnation; despair at the violence of US politics; alarm at where this might go; & calls for equal horror at other shootings.
What I'm seeing on here is overwhelming condemnation; despair at the violence of US politics; alarm at where this might go; & calls for equal horror at other shootings.
September 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
More than one thing can be true at the same time-
a) some people on Bluesky are celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk
b) those people are not representative of most Bluesky users
c) what is more representative are the posts that say "this is terrible but.."
a) some people on Bluesky are celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk
b) those people are not representative of most Bluesky users
c) what is more representative are the posts that say "this is terrible but.."
September 15, following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, will be the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. As a build-up to it perhaps I should link to all my blogposts about this devotion. If I imagine hard enough that you want me to do so then, God willing, I shall.
August 31, 2025 at 7:21 AM
September 15, following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, will be the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. As a build-up to it perhaps I should link to all my blogposts about this devotion. If I imagine hard enough that you want me to do so then, God willing, I shall.
Viewpoint diversity does not exist where people who agree on all the major first principles dispute with each other on secondary matters. What exists in such circumstances is an illusion of viewpoint diversity which enables those involved to think that they are more representative than they are.
June 11, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Viewpoint diversity does not exist where people who agree on all the major first principles dispute with each other on secondary matters. What exists in such circumstances is an illusion of viewpoint diversity which enables those involved to think that they are more representative than they are.
Engels the close colleague of Karl Marx said-
'A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part'
Both rioting and policing are authoritarian, the only question is which authority you support.
'A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part'
Both rioting and policing are authoritarian, the only question is which authority you support.
June 10, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Engels the close colleague of Karl Marx said-
'A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part'
Both rioting and policing are authoritarian, the only question is which authority you support.
'A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part'
Both rioting and policing are authoritarian, the only question is which authority you support.
Adésto, quǽsumus, Dómine, pópulo tuo: et, quem mystériis cœléstibus imbuísti, ab hóstium furóre defénde
Be present with Thy people we beseech Thee O lord and defend from the fury of foes those whom Thou hast imbued with the mysteries of heaven
#Whitmonday Postcommunion prayer (EF)
Be present with Thy people we beseech Thee O lord and defend from the fury of foes those whom Thou hast imbued with the mysteries of heaven
#Whitmonday Postcommunion prayer (EF)
June 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Adésto, quǽsumus, Dómine, pópulo tuo: et, quem mystériis cœléstibus imbuísti, ab hóstium furóre defénde
Be present with Thy people we beseech Thee O lord and defend from the fury of foes those whom Thou hast imbued with the mysteries of heaven
#Whitmonday Postcommunion prayer (EF)
Be present with Thy people we beseech Thee O lord and defend from the fury of foes those whom Thou hast imbued with the mysteries of heaven
#Whitmonday Postcommunion prayer (EF)
Do not bestow your love on the world, and what the world has to offer;
The lover of this world has no love of the Father in him.
What does the world offer?
Only gratification of corrupt nature,
Gratification of the eye,
The empty pomp of living.
(1 John 2:15-16)
#KnoxBible
The lover of this world has no love of the Father in him.
What does the world offer?
Only gratification of corrupt nature,
Gratification of the eye,
The empty pomp of living.
(1 John 2:15-16)
#KnoxBible
June 9, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Do not bestow your love on the world, and what the world has to offer;
The lover of this world has no love of the Father in him.
What does the world offer?
Only gratification of corrupt nature,
Gratification of the eye,
The empty pomp of living.
(1 John 2:15-16)
#KnoxBible
The lover of this world has no love of the Father in him.
What does the world offer?
Only gratification of corrupt nature,
Gratification of the eye,
The empty pomp of living.
(1 John 2:15-16)
#KnoxBible
"We have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
(Acts 2:11)
The Church is universal because it speaks to each in their own language, not just the languages of the Nations but the languages of the uneducated and the intellectuals within each Nation.
(Acts 2:11)
The Church is universal because it speaks to each in their own language, not just the languages of the Nations but the languages of the uneducated and the intellectuals within each Nation.
June 8, 2025 at 6:54 AM
"We have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
(Acts 2:11)
The Church is universal because it speaks to each in their own language, not just the languages of the Nations but the languages of the uneducated and the intellectuals within each Nation.
(Acts 2:11)
The Church is universal because it speaks to each in their own language, not just the languages of the Nations but the languages of the uneducated and the intellectuals within each Nation.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that the splendour of Thy brightness may shine upon us and that the light of Thy light may confirm by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit the hearts of those who have been born again by Thy grace.
Collect for the Vigil of Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)
Collect for the Vigil of Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)
June 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that the splendour of Thy brightness may shine upon us and that the light of Thy light may confirm by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit the hearts of those who have been born again by Thy grace.
Collect for the Vigil of Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)
Collect for the Vigil of Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)
May the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, purify our hearts, and by penetrating them with His dew render them fruitful.
Sancti Spíritus, Dómine, corda nostra mundet infúsio: et sui roris íntima aspersióne fecúndet.
Vigil of #Pentecost, Postcommunion (EF)
Sancti Spíritus, Dómine, corda nostra mundet infúsio: et sui roris íntima aspersióne fecúndet.
Vigil of #Pentecost, Postcommunion (EF)
June 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
May the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, purify our hearts, and by penetrating them with His dew render them fruitful.
Sancti Spíritus, Dómine, corda nostra mundet infúsio: et sui roris íntima aspersióne fecúndet.
Vigil of #Pentecost, Postcommunion (EF)
Sancti Spíritus, Dómine, corda nostra mundet infúsio: et sui roris íntima aspersióne fecúndet.
Vigil of #Pentecost, Postcommunion (EF)
‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’
(Deuteronomy 27:18)
At first reading the Mosaic Law seems full of strange and/or disturbing prohibitions, but if you spend time reflecting upon them you find deeper wisdom and wider scope than you might initially think.
(Deuteronomy 27:18)
At first reading the Mosaic Law seems full of strange and/or disturbing prohibitions, but if you spend time reflecting upon them you find deeper wisdom and wider scope than you might initially think.
June 7, 2025 at 7:38 AM
‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’
(Deuteronomy 27:18)
At first reading the Mosaic Law seems full of strange and/or disturbing prohibitions, but if you spend time reflecting upon them you find deeper wisdom and wider scope than you might initially think.
(Deuteronomy 27:18)
At first reading the Mosaic Law seems full of strange and/or disturbing prohibitions, but if you spend time reflecting upon them you find deeper wisdom and wider scope than you might initially think.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we who celebrate the coming down of the Holy Spirit, being inflamed by heavenly desires may thirst for the waters of the fountain of life.
#VigilofPentecost
#VigilofPentecost
June 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we who celebrate the coming down of the Holy Spirit, being inflamed by heavenly desires may thirst for the waters of the fountain of life.
#VigilofPentecost
#VigilofPentecost
On some days I recall that St Jerome wrote that-
"The friendship that can cease has never been real".
And that the recipient of this letter was his friend Rufinus with whom he then had a spectacular and bitter falling-out.
"The friendship that can cease has never been real".
And that the recipient of this letter was his friend Rufinus with whom he then had a spectacular and bitter falling-out.
June 6, 2025 at 10:41 AM
On some days I recall that St Jerome wrote that-
"The friendship that can cease has never been real".
And that the recipient of this letter was his friend Rufinus with whom he then had a spectacular and bitter falling-out.
"The friendship that can cease has never been real".
And that the recipient of this letter was his friend Rufinus with whom he then had a spectacular and bitter falling-out.
The thoughts of the wicked are abomination to the Lord
(Proverbs 15:26)
It is the combination of two things: a wicked thought with a wicked disposition, that is abominated. Virtuous people also have wicked thoughts but they do not then form wicked intentions.
(Proverbs 15:26)
It is the combination of two things: a wicked thought with a wicked disposition, that is abominated. Virtuous people also have wicked thoughts but they do not then form wicked intentions.
June 5, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The thoughts of the wicked are abomination to the Lord
(Proverbs 15:26)
It is the combination of two things: a wicked thought with a wicked disposition, that is abominated. Virtuous people also have wicked thoughts but they do not then form wicked intentions.
(Proverbs 15:26)
It is the combination of two things: a wicked thought with a wicked disposition, that is abominated. Virtuous people also have wicked thoughts but they do not then form wicked intentions.
The underlying principle should be that, wherever possible, we should prefer to inconvenience ourselves rather than inconvenience anyone else.
The further a society falls away from this principle the more unbearable it becomes to live in that society. Inconvenience is then maximised.
The further a society falls away from this principle the more unbearable it becomes to live in that society. Inconvenience is then maximised.
June 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The underlying principle should be that, wherever possible, we should prefer to inconvenience ourselves rather than inconvenience anyone else.
The further a society falls away from this principle the more unbearable it becomes to live in that society. Inconvenience is then maximised.
The further a society falls away from this principle the more unbearable it becomes to live in that society. Inconvenience is then maximised.
Humanists talk about 'Dignity in Dying' signalling that their greatest concern is not unmanageable pain but a loss of autonomy. Christians, by contrast, see nothing humiliating or degrading about relying on the love and care of others at the end of life as we did at its beginning.
June 3, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Humanists talk about 'Dignity in Dying' signalling that their greatest concern is not unmanageable pain but a loss of autonomy. Christians, by contrast, see nothing humiliating or degrading about relying on the love and care of others at the end of life as we did at its beginning.
It is possible for us to do or to intend to do things which are morally neutral. Some of those, however, will be sin-adjacent and some will be virtue-adjacent, so, if we are going to get into the regular habit of doing one of those choose wisely which one it is that you do.
June 2, 2025 at 6:41 AM
It is possible for us to do or to intend to do things which are morally neutral. Some of those, however, will be sin-adjacent and some will be virtue-adjacent, so, if we are going to get into the regular habit of doing one of those choose wisely which one it is that you do.
As we begin the month of June in this Year of the Lord 2025 remember that it is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
June 1, 2025 at 7:11 AM
As we begin the month of June in this Year of the Lord 2025 remember that it is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
“God asks us to mortify ourselves in small things rather than in big ones, because the big occasions are rare, whereas the small ones are continuous.”
Venerable Teresa Valsé Pantellini
Venerable Teresa Valsé Pantellini
May 30, 2025 at 11:22 AM
“God asks us to mortify ourselves in small things rather than in big ones, because the big occasions are rare, whereas the small ones are continuous.”
Venerable Teresa Valsé Pantellini
Venerable Teresa Valsé Pantellini
The Ascension of Christ is exaltation for us, and whither the glory of the Head of the Church is passed in, thither is the hope of the body of the Church called on to follow. Let us rejoice with exceeding great joy, and give God glad thanks.
Pope St Leo the Great
Pope St Leo the Great
May 29, 2025 at 7:03 AM
The Ascension of Christ is exaltation for us, and whither the glory of the Head of the Church is passed in, thither is the hope of the body of the Church called on to follow. Let us rejoice with exceeding great joy, and give God glad thanks.
Pope St Leo the Great
Pope St Leo the Great
When newly qualified doctors were overwhelmingly male they were content to be called 'junior'. Now that they are overwhelmingly female they insist on being re-designated as 'resident'.
What can we deduce from this?
What can we deduce from this?
Should doctors strike over pay?
Resident doctors - that's the new name for junior doctors - are already getting a just over 5% pay rise this year, which is more than nurses and teachers.
But they've said it's not enough, and are about to vote in a ballot to strike.
Do you back them?
Resident doctors - that's the new name for junior doctors - are already getting a just over 5% pay rise this year, which is more than nurses and teachers.
But they've said it's not enough, and are about to vote in a ballot to strike.
Do you back them?
May 29, 2025 at 6:33 AM
When newly qualified doctors were overwhelmingly male they were content to be called 'junior'. Now that they are overwhelmingly female they insist on being re-designated as 'resident'.
What can we deduce from this?
What can we deduce from this?
And now I am not in the world,
And these are in the world,
And I come to Thee.
Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom Thou hast given me;
That they may be one, as we also are.
(John 17:11)
Vigil of the Ascension of Our Lord
And these are in the world,
And I come to Thee.
Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom Thou hast given me;
That they may be one, as we also are.
(John 17:11)
Vigil of the Ascension of Our Lord
May 28, 2025 at 6:48 AM
And now I am not in the world,
And these are in the world,
And I come to Thee.
Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom Thou hast given me;
That they may be one, as we also are.
(John 17:11)
Vigil of the Ascension of Our Lord
And these are in the world,
And I come to Thee.
Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom Thou hast given me;
That they may be one, as we also are.
(John 17:11)
Vigil of the Ascension of Our Lord
An occasional reminder that no one who is rude to waiting staff or baristas should be considered virtuous, no matter how many good opinions they may have, and no matter how frequently and loudly they may repeat them.
May 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
An occasional reminder that no one who is rude to waiting staff or baristas should be considered virtuous, no matter how many good opinions they may have, and no matter how frequently and loudly they may repeat them.
Very early in their existence the historical Protestant denominations produced Confession's of Faith and Catechisms on the grounds that if literate people were just left alone with their Bibles they would be unlikely to spontaneously deduce the 'correct' doctrines.
May 26, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Very early in their existence the historical Protestant denominations produced Confession's of Faith and Catechisms on the grounds that if literate people were just left alone with their Bibles they would be unlikely to spontaneously deduce the 'correct' doctrines.