Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. - G.K. Chesterton, via Eric of "The Daily Eudemon"

Fr. John O'Holohan S.J. reminded us yesterday morning that we are on a pilgrimage. Pilgrims know their destination, prepare for the journey, and embark-and then they can and do enjoy the journey (telling stories and singing songs with their traveling companions). In the same way, we (as Catholics) should know our destination and should be prepared-have our bags packed as it were (even if we know not the day or the hour); then we can enjoy the journey with our companions.... - Bethune Catholic

I think that by nature and learning women focus on process and men on outcome/accomplishment - and that is one of the many reasons why God gave us humanity in these two complementary flavors. - Alicia of Fructus Ventris

I confess that I really have no idea what might be the best and most moral strategy to confront homelessness, or crime, or militant Islam, or any other of a dozen major current issues....I confess that I will probably still argue passionately with anyone who advances strong opinions on one of those subjects.- Patrick of Orthonormal

The dream of blending divinity with humanity, of breaking out of the limitations of a creature - this dream, which persists through all the history of mankind and in hidden ways, in profane versions, is dreamed anew even within the atheistic ideologies of our time, just as it is in the drunken excess of a world without God,--this dream is here fulfilled [in the Eucharist]. Man's Promethean attempts to break out of his limitations himself, to build with his own capacities the tower by which he may mount up to divinity, always necessarily end in collapse and disappointment - indeed, in despair. This blending, this union, has become possible because God came down in Christ, took upon himself the limitations of human existence, suffering them to the end, and in the infinite love of the Crucified One opened up the door to infinity. The real end of creation, its underlying purpose - and conversely that of human existence as willed by the Creator - is this very union, "that God may be all in all." - Pope Benedict on reception of the Eucharist

But I have this dreadful feeling that it is not enough. There will be more to come. This suffering is so mild and my sin so great. My heart is so hardened, I know this will not be enough to change me. I look forward to the pain and feel repulsed by it at the same time. I feel God is far too merciful. I feel like I need chastisement, but I fear it. I am relieved by the lack of trials, but feel unloved because of them all at the same time, like the undisciplined child who feels unloved because his parents let him do whatever he wants. - from a Massachusetts blogger...St. Therese, pray for her and us

YOU HAD ME AT "BOOKS" - ironically titled "Happy Catholic" post which quoted Catholic Ragemonkey calling books superior to their film equivalents

I really love his writing in the way that I love Bill Luse's - honest and not always pretty. - Alicia of "Fructus Ventris"

"Deferred Success" - That's on something called the Global Language Monitor's top ten list of politically correct phrases. It's pc-speak for "failure". They don't list my very favourite. During the latest outbreak of looting which made the news a couple of months ago, a certain forum for pipers took to referring to the folks engaging in such unauthorized commerce as "undocumented shoppers". Wonderful. - John of "The Inn at the End of the World"

I, for one, have never really understood the angst of "oh, no, I'm blogging too much" OR of "oh, no, I'm blogging too little." Seems to me the answer is to post when you have something to say (even if it's silly, like most of what I have to say), don't post when you don't....I don't get the big old distinction between blogging and real life (a la Mr. Culbreath). It's simply a part of my real life. You are not less real to me simply because I cannot see you. All that hearkening back to "the good old days"--well, what about people who carried on correspondences (never seeing each other) for YEARS and years back in them olden days? Seems to me we've focused too much on the form of technology we're using to do that. - MamaT of Summa Mamas

I don't think Jeff draws a distinction between blogging and real life. My impression is that he thinks that most of the time (not all of it) spent on the computer is time better spent chopping wood, hugging his kids, or kissing the back of wife's neck. You're no less real to me either because I can't see you, but there is a sense of completion to be found in the flesh (don't take that the wrong way). And I would like to see you. Every married woman is a creature some man gave everything up for. - Bill of Apologia, responding to MamaT

...A sea so deep that the light of a raging sun will freeze in the offing and wash up here as this frostdire were-light, shuddering, not really illuminating anything. It made me want to bless the dim scarf of light overhead that now seemed like a mother's arm, holding us back from a still greater darkness. And then again, there is nothing fearful in the stars with their eyebeams of Chartres-blue cathedral light, when you remember that the whole universe lies like a little hazelnut in Christ's hand. - Meredith of "Basia Me, Catholica Sum"