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The Road to Rivendell by Joe Gilronan

As the sun sets low over the misty mountains, the companions make camp. Frodo wounded, sits crouched by the fire; Merry, Pippin and Strider watch on with concern, while Sam busies himself attending Bill the pony. Unnoticed on the distant bridge, a black rider observes the scene with malice, eager to report back to his fellow pursuers.

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When you got caught 😻

More like this

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Arwen Undomiels white dress in 4k

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“You'll meet people that value pride over apologizing for how they harmed you, who would rather lose you than take accountability to salvage your connection, who are so far gone in protecting their ego that they'll let you slip through their fingers—and none of that is about you.”

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Thinking of the larger context of LOTR and like, the fellowship swapping old war stories and shit and Sam just says “Yeah I killed a huge spider…Shelob, I think?”

And Gandalf just blinks and is like, “You what now?”

“Yeah, killed it. Had to save Frodo”

Gandalf elects not to tell Sam that he killed the spawn of a primordial demon.

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St. Peregrine Laziosi

1260-1345

Feast day: May 1

Patronage: Cancer and AIDS victims

The youthful Italian St. Peregrine was so politically opposed to the papacy, that he struck St. Philip Benizi, who was trying to preach reconciliation. Being forgiven by the saint, he dramatically converted. Saint Peregrine eventually joined the Servants of Mary (The Servites) and became a priest. He dedicated his life to the sick, poor and the fringes of society. He was healed of a cancerous leg infection after contemplating Christ crucified, the evening before his leg was to be amputated. 

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

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Socks on the floor

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”

That’s how today’s Gospel starts. Jesus is telling us that there’s the world’s version of peace. And then there’s God’s version.

The world’s version of peace is the kind you and I get when there’s a break in the action. Two things about that kind of peace.

One – it doesn’t last. You and I know this. Sometimes we even call it “a moment’s peace.”

Two – whether we worked hard for it, or it just happened, it’s fragile. It will be wiped away by the next thing that happens.

Because the world’s version of peace is the peace of the finished task. The peace of the sleeping child. The peace of the cancelled meeting.

It’s not a question of whether that peace will end. It’s just a matter of how and when.

It’s a peace that cannot last. Because it’s just a break in the action.

And because it is just a break in the action, it’s never there when you and I need it most – when we’re right in the middle of things.

Especially things like death, divorce, addiction, illness, job loss. The hard things.

So, what’s God’s version of peace?

God’s version of peace – is peace in right in the middle of things. Even the hard things.

The difference between God’s peace and the world’s is the source.

God’s peace doesn’t come from a break in the action. God’s peace comes from making a place for God in our lives.

God freely pours out His peace for all of us. But you and I have to be smart enough to take it.

To do that, we have to build habits of peace.

That is, we have to intentionally build places within our lives, within our routine, and within ourselves to be with God.

We can have set times for Bible reading and prayer.

We can have landmarks (places, images, things we do, etc.) that we us to call us to God.

We can have moments and feelings (good, bad, or indifferent) that we turn into calls to prayer.

It can be as formal or informal as we like.

Whatever we do, we have to actually do it. And it has to lead us to a spiritual place.

But we can’t treat that place like grandma’s house. A place we only go to for Christmas or when someone dies.

We can’t treat that place like a storm shelter. A place we only run to when we hear the tornado sirens.

That place has to be our home. The place we live in, every day.

And you and I have to really live in that place of God’s peace.

Until there are dishes in the sink and socks on the floor.  

Until you and I are talking with God – taking things to God in prayer, telling God all about all of it, seeking God’s will for the big things and the small stuff – talking with God like our dearest friend.

Not just while we’re reading the Bible or saying our prayers, but in the middle of everything.

Even while we’re dropping our socks on the floor.

Today’s Readings

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 Pope Saint Pius V

1504-1572

Feast Day: April 30 (New), May 5 (Trad)

Patronage: Bosco Marengo, Italy

Pope from 1566-1572

Saint Pope Pius V, a Dominican, was a leader of the Catholic Reformation, especially by implementing the Council of Trent reforms. He established a Catechism, a missal, a seminary system, used a Tridentine approach to learning and preaching, had a residency requirement for Bishops and reformed women’s religious life. This formed the foundation of the Catholic Church for the next 500 years. In 1571, St. Pius V was instrumental in gathering a coalition of nations and petitioning prayers of Our Blessed Mother to save Europe from the Islamic Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto. He declared Mary as Our Lady of Victory because of this decisive battle. He died of natural causes.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

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Please be wary of imposing things that have worked as good spiritual habits for you onto the lives of other people as law.

I'm afraid even the best teachers and pastors have done this but it's precisely because these habits were born out of sincere desire that it worked for them, and it's admirable to have strong self discipline and dedication and wish to share such habits as ideas with other people but please don't let anyone tell you that you are sinning if you don't:

Read the bible at a specific time of day

Read through the whole bible every year

Never miss church ever (even if you're sick)

Schedule your travel so that you never miss church

Avoid being in a room alone with someone of the opposite sex

Have a bible that's literally physically in bad repair

Many, many other things I've heard people speak as if they were law

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Deliver me, Jesus. I trust in you.

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Love how often kids start with "Did you know....?" since they are learning EVERYTHING for the first time. Girl I did NOT know PLEASE tell me. Impart your knowledge.