The name of this Catholic blog is taken from the story of the women in the Gospel who brought expensive perfumed oil to Christ in an alabaster jar that she "broke" open to anoint his feet and head. In order to offer God all that we have, and in fact to encounter him fully, we have to be broken and emptied out - like that jar. The scriptures give us other images to ponder this mystery. Think of the wheat that is thrashed, the seed that must fall to the ground and die, and Jesus' example of self-giving love on the cross -broken and poured out for all, "This is my body, broken for you..."
For a deeper reflection, read "Broken Alabaster," by Br. Jordan Herboth, LC
Visits With Our Mother
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Raphael's: The Visitation
Ten years have gone by since the day I made the decision to accept Our
Lord's invitation to return to Him. It happened on today'...
The blood, sweat, and tears of divine love. . .
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8th Week OT (W)
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
St. Dominic Church, NOLA
Brothers and sisters, this is the Word that has been proclaimed to you:
“All flesh is l...
E-Books for Africa
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I missed the kick-off for this project and I hear tell they've already
raised a lot of money. But that's no reason not to join in. We're all about
reading ...
Sacraments: Christ's Gift of the Spirit
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One of the ways we can think about sacraments is as God reaching down
through history to apply the power of the cross to the present moment.
Since Christ h...
My (very late) word for the year
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I didn’t choose a “word of the year” this year. The New Year happened to
coincide a particularly low point in the book process, even by doomed
project stan...
Dalai Lama at Mass on Pentecost
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The Dalai Lama attended Mass on Pentecost Now I just have to wonder if
there will be radical traditionalist Tibetan Buddhists who will be
complaining about...
Bruce Jenner
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Inspiring story about Bruce Jenner, the real star of his family:
What those people who hate this family from afar can't see is the very
particular love th...
Dear papst
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A fantasy [that people have, of possessing] property takes no account of
the fact that, for the great majority of mankind, life is a struggle.
On those gr...
St. Bernard on the Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit
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We noted that the second reading of the Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost allows the homilist to address either the "gifts" of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:3-13) o...
WINNERS!
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*Jennifer here, guest posting for Susan who is currently just hours away
from meeting Alex!*
*WINNERS! WINNERS! WINNERS!*
On behalf of Susan and Ve...
First Communions
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Dear friends, it is usually during Eastertide that the Church administers First Communion to children. Therefore, I exhort the parish priests, parents and ca...
Coming and Going!
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Thanks be to God the heavy rain of last night has stopped!
Today we are welcoming Sr. Maria Guadalupe of the Monastery of the Infant
Jesus, Lufkin, TX an...
The best observation of the campaign season.
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And it comes from the ever-wise, always-witty pen of Mark Steyn, commenting on the weirdness of Rick Santorum:
Well, okay, say the Santorum detractors, but ...
Five Minute Friday
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I have been reading a wonderful blog called The Gypsy Mama. Every Friday she does a really cool thing--she gives you a writing prompt and tells you to go at ...
Excerpt of Poem by Maxine Kumin
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ON VISITING FLANNERY
O'CONNOR'S GRAVE
Milledgeville, Ga., 1988
--MAXINE KUMIN
...but first, an historic detour just this side
of what the local intelligent...
Tell God We Love Him??!!!
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*"What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He Caresses us, and
to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Those
who lo...
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The Assumption of MaryThe proclamation of this Marian dogma, like the event of Christ, came as a surprise. A surprise is not a casual event. It is an unexpec...
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+IHS+
Marian Saturday: The "Faithful Daughter of Our Lady" Speaks
"Darling, I know you were raised Catholic, and I know you don't see the
harm in it, but ...
Regnum Christi, Familia and Hope
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By Marjorie Campbell I've been offline from Deal's blog for a while - working, as many of you know, on my canon law thesis. What a bear - thank you for your ...
Important Catholic Spiritual Direction Update
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Dear Catholic Spiritual Direction subscribers, readers, and followers:
Well, this blog started out as an experiment this winter and wow - there
are thousan...
A Summary Defense of John Paul II
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… and why he should be canonized a saint. It is practically a foregone
conclusion that John Paul II will be canonized a saint in the coming years.
This mak...
Is There a Prayer for the President?
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In a scene from the movie Fiddler on the Roof, the rabbi is asked an important question: "Is there a prayer for the Tsar?" After some reflective thought, the...