DISCUSSIONS, QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

I reserve the right not to publish email that is offensive to the faith and dignity
of people of any creed, race or culture. Long letters may be edited.
Email Contact: murdyk@netscape.net

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APRIL 2008

MEANING OF WORD "BIBLE"
Ms. Murdy, Can you find the word Bible anywhere in the Bible??? I don't think so and I don't ever recall ever reading the word Bible in the Bible. Blessed Beyond Measure, With warm regards, Chari

Dear Chari, You won't find the word "bible" in the Bible, any more than you would necessarily find the word "book" in a book. That is what the word "bible" means -- books. The word "Bible comes from the Egyptian word for parchment, byblos. The Greek word biblios means books or scrolls. Later, it was translated into Latin, biblia, meaning "book." The Bible is more than a single book. It is a library--ta biblia, which means "the books." In this Bible library, as in any library, you will find a variety of books--prose, poetry, songs, prayers, history, folklore, sagas, wisdom, letters, parables, proverbs, prophecy, etc. Thank you for your question. For more information check out my web page on the Introduction to the Bible: http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/intro_bible.htm Keep reading the good "book." Kay

90 DAYS: REFLECTIONS FOR LENT AND EASTER
Hello, Kay, I have been using your 90 Days book during these beautiful seasons of Lent – Easter – Pentecost. I have never used such a pertinent, speak – to – the – heart book on the daily liturgy and scripture readings. I just spoke with Resource Publications in CA and they told me “No”, you only did these little books for this season and the Christmas seasons. I personally would like to encourage you, if your would ever think about, that a series for Ordinary Time Daily Scripture readings would be wonderful and very appreciated as well! Thanks and take care! Peace and All Good, Sister Martha

CATHOLIC PRAYERS
Thank you very much for this great site. I went through the list twice and didn’t see what has always been one of my favorite prayers: MEMORARE -- Remember O most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency hear and answer me. Amen
Note: Some versions use the word “mercy” instead of “clemency.” Terry

Dear Terry, If you scroll down the Catholic Prayers page, on the right side, under the prayers of the Rosary (below the picture of the annunciation, the Ave Maria and the Salve Regina, there is the Memorare prayer attributed to St. Bernard. Thank you for your request. Kay

MARCH 2008

REQUEST FOR DAILY COMMENTARIES
Dear Kay Murdy, I am Deacon Eugene. I am presently working in Cambodia and I have been reading your messages on the http://www.daily-word-of-life.com and I really like the idea and the reflection you make on daily readings. I will be going to India in some rural area for three months, where there is no access to internet and other connection. So I would like to ask you to send me, (if you can) the daily reflections and commentaries of April, May and June. I would be very happy if you can do send me which will help me to preach and to bring good news of Jesus to many more young people. Yours in Jesus, Deacon Eugene

Dear Deacon Eugene, thank you for writing. I wish I could be of help to you but I only write my daily commentaries two or three weeks in advance. As you can see on my website, I only have through the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 13. I do have the complete gospel of Luke on my Home Bible Study page, and I am in the process of adding the gospel of Matthew. There is also something about the Book of Revelation. Contact Fr. Fio Mascarenhas in Mumbai (Bombay). Fr. Fio has a bible school there and he may have materials you can use. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you with power to proclaim God's Word to the young people you teach. Blessings and Peace in the Risen Christ, Kay

WEBSITE
Blessed Kay Murdy, Thanks for your word. I want to ask this from you, I need God favor in my life, so I need you to give me where I will go to bible for it, and again, the website you gave me, it is every day by day that you gave new prayer points in the website? I wait for your response, Demian

Dear Demian, thank you for your inquiry. My website has day-by-day commentaries on the gospels for weekdays and Sundays. Here are some scriptures regarding the Lord's favor. May you be blessed in this Easter Season. Kay

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved" [Psalm 30:4-6].

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands-- O prosper the work of our hands! [Psalm 90:17] .

I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise [Psalm 119:58].

DO CATHOLICS WORSHIP MARY?
Why do Catholics worship Mary? Or do they? I don't know but can you tell me if they do and why? Thank you.

Dear Friend in Christ, Catholics do not worship the blessed Virgin Mary or the other saints. Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches. The Communion of Saints is the belief that all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ as a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family. Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased mother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Andrew, or your deceased mother living in heaven to pray for you. Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship. Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm Thank you for writing. With love and peace in the Risen Christ. Kay

BIBLE TRANSLATION QUESTION
My name is Bill and my son married a Catholic girl. I want to buy a life application NIV bible for her to use. My son was brought up in a Methodist/Baptist home. Would this be offensive? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely. Bill

Dear Bill, How considerate you are to think of your new daughter-in-law's feelings, but a Bible as a gift is never offensive. I might suggest that you buy a NRSV version of the Bible, which she and your son would be comfortable with, or if it is just for her use, the New American Bible is one she would be familiar with if she goes to church. It is the version we use in our Sunday worship. I wish you and your family the blessings of the Risen Christ, Kay

SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY CHAPLET
Hello Kay, haven't been in touch for a few years. My husband got very sick and weak and thank God I managed to keep him home till he went to be with Jesus the last day of March in 2006. My nephew is very sick with cancer in both lungs and the liver. The doctors have just told him they can do nothing more for him. My sister is heart broken. I told her I would try and get the prayers of a rosary of the sorrows of Our Lady of sorrows. Can't find it anywhere. would you be able to find them? Bob is very ill and what's more distressing that while he is a real nice good person he left the church and hasn't set foot in church in more than20 years. God bless and keep up the good work. Anita ( from Vancouver Island)

Dear Anita, I am so sorry to hear abut your nephew's illness. You can find the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary on many sites. Here is one you can try. www.marysprayersrosaries.com/sevensorrows.asp Blessings, Kay

FEBRUARY 2008

KAY'S BOOKS
Kay, I just want to let you know that I really love to read your two books From Pharaoh to the Father and What Every Catholic Needs to Know. Yes, every Catholic needs these books. Everything that I want to know about the Bible is there. Before it's really my dream to read and understand what's in the bible to relate it in my life, now I thank God for giving me that knowledge and understanding in my own simple way. Thank you so much Kay for writing such wonderful books. May God Bless You and Bob always. Rose, Catholic Daughters of America

PERMISSION TO REPRINT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ARTICLE
Hello Kay, My name is John Porteous from Auckland, New Zealand. I am coordinator of an annual Eucharistic-Convention in our country. I am making contact to seek permission from you to copy your article on Our Lady of Guadalupe because it is the best have seen giving a complete overview of the history of the Tilma etc. I would like to place a copy of your article on a Hubpages promotion I am about to do for our convention which will tie in with a description of our own Missionary Image of the Tilma etc. Here is the link to the story I am writing about. http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/ol_guadalupe.htm  I look forward to your reply. You may view our event at www.eucharistic-convention.com  Regards, John Porteous

Dear John, I would be most happy to have you reprint my article on Our Lady of Guadalupe for your Eucharistic Convention. I would consider it an honor. I only ask that you give credit to: Kay Murdy, http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/ol_guadalupe.htm  Kay

QUESTION ON BCE DESIGNATION
Dear Kay, my mother and I enjoy reading the Gospel each day and going over your commentary.... thank you so much. I was wondering about the symbol you use sometimes in your writing that is BCE which I believe stands for before the common era instead of BC meaning before Christ. A Jewish-Christian has told me that this term BCE is used by orthodox Jews because they do not recognize Christ as the son of God. I was just wondering why you use this term. Thank you. Yours in Christ, Janette from down under

Dear Janette, The BCE designation is used by most Bible scholars today as it is sensitive to Jews as well as other non-Christians. CE stands for "Common Era." It is experiencing increased usage by Biblical scholars. AD is an abbreviation for "Anno Domini" in Latin or "the year of the Lord" in English. It refers to the approximate birth year of Jesus Christ. The word "common" simply means that it is based on the most frequently used calendar system: the Gregorian Calendar. BCE stands for "Before the common era." It is expected to eventually replace BC, which means "Before Christ." The Common Era notation has been adopted in several non-Christian cultures, by many scholars in religious studies and other academic fields, and by others wishing to be sensitive to non-Christians. Of course, one can always interpret the letter "C" in CE and BCE as referring to "Christian" or "Christ's." The Abbreviations Dictionary does exactly this. Thank you for writing. Kay

JANUARY 2008

PERMISSION TO REPRINT DAILY COMMENTARIES
Hi Mrs. Murdy, I would like to ask your permission to print your commentaries on the daily scriptures to aide for my Bible classes. I am a registered student of the Catholic Bible Institute this year 2008. Thank you very much, Evalour

Yes you may use my daily commentaries on the web. I only ask that you list the source: Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com. May God bless your ministry and give you peace in the New Year. Kay

BIBLE QUESTION
Please explain regarding Jesus being being presented in the Temple within 8 days of birth in Jerusalem when they were advised by an angel to flee into Egypt to escape danger from Herod. Thank you, Nella

Dear Nella, unfortunately we are not given a time line for the days Joseph and Mary spent in Bethlehem with the child Jesus. If you read the birth narratives in Luke and Matthew they are very different. In Luke, shepherds come to adore the infant in the manger. In Matthew, the Holy Family are living in a "house" when the three wise men come to worship him (Matt 2:11). So as much as a year may have passed before they reported to Herod in Jerusalem and then followed the star to Bethlehem. Therefore it is likely that Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day after his birth according to Jewish Law (Lev 12:3). Hope this answers your question. Thank you for being a reader of my Daily Word Commentaries on the gospel. Blessings, Kay

PERMISSION TO REPRINT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ARTICLE
Dear Kay Murdy: In God's Holy Will! My primary purpose in writing is to request permission to include your fine article on Our Lady of Guadalupe on the web site that is dedicated to her: www.HolyArtWorks.com. My observation is simply this, Our Blessed Mother is building a team toward spreading her image, along with the Divne Mercy image, across America. None of this has occurred due to any other reason than it is part of God's plan through Mary. Nor is my contacting you any thing less than His plan. God Bless, James R. Alsop, Charlotte, N C.

Yes of course you may use my materials on the web. I only ask that you list the source: Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com. May God bless your ministry and give you peace in the New Year. Kay

DECEMBER 2007

PRAYER PAGE
Kay - Love your prayer page. I was wondering if you could add one of my favorite prayers, "AUGUST QUEEN OF HEAVEN to your webpage. Also, I love the purgatory prayer of St. Gertrude. If you could also add that, it would make your great page even better !! The poor souls in purgatory, the Church suffering, will thank you immensely!! Thanks, Ray

Thank you Ray, I will post these prayers on my Catholic Prayers page. Kay

DAILY GOSPEL PAGE
I am one of those who go to your website daily to do my Gospel Readings. Thank you for creating this website for people to access the daily good news of the Lord. I am not really a "devout" Catholic but I try to be close to the Lord by reading His goodness and teachings through the gospels. I know the Lord is happy with your work of spreading His Word and will bless you for always. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Delia from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Thank you Delia, I hope you will continue to be a reader and that you will grow daily in God's Word. Kay

CHRISTMAS TRADITION PAGE
This page about Christmas traditions is fabulous. Thank you!! Dana, Morgan Hill, CA

Thank you Dana, I hope you will continue to be a reader. Kay

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS FOR SHOULDER INJURY
My sister-in-law was told of a prayer written by one of the apostles regarding and injured shoulder. She has searched for this prayer, but has been unable to locate it. Do you know any such prayer? She has an injured shoulder. By the way, I saw that you graduated from Mount St. Mary’s college. I did too. Thanks, Jennifer

Dear Jennifer, here is a Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Jesus credited to St. Bernard of Clairvaux who asked our Lord which was his greatest suffering and our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others and which is not recorded by men. Honor this Wound with thy devotion and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through Its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins and will no longer remember their mortal sins."

THE PRAYER
O Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy Flesh and laid bare Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other Wound of Thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen.

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS TO ST. LUCY
Good Morning to you, I love this page of prayers; I will love to see one of the many prayers of Saint Lucy (Patron of sight). And the “I confess in God and you my bothers and sisters... I don't know all the words by heart. Thanking you in advance. Aurelio

Dear Aurelio, thank you for your kind words. Here is a prayer to St. Lucy. It is interesting that you asked for it as my husband just had eye surgery for a detached retina. It was a good reminder to ask for her intercession for complete healing and restored eyesight:
"Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercession of your servant, Saint Lucy, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that we may serve for your greater honor and glory. And we pray for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in heaven. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and answer our petitions. Amen."

The prayer of confession that you asked for is used in the Mass. I would have to include all the Mass prayers if I added this one. But here is an Act of Contrition: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen."

Thank you for being a reader. I pray that you will continue to be blessed by my website. Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com

NOVEMBER 2007

TRANSLATION OF PRAYER
Will you please include the prayer of The Sacred Banquet in English and Spanish. "O Sagrado Banquete en la cual se recibe a Cristo...." I don't know it completely but would like to learn it and keep it in my heart. Thank you for your beautiful website. John

Dear John, since my Spanish is rudimentary, I am not certain that this is the correct translation of the Sacred Banquet Prayer:

"¡Oh sagrado banquete, en el cual Cristo se nos da co-mo alimento, se hace un recuerdo de su pasión, el alma se llena de gracia y se nos da una prenda de la vida eterna!".

O sacred banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the memory of his passion is recalled, the mind is
filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

Let me know if this is an accurate translation. Blessings in the coming Advent Season. Kay

REQUEST TO REPRINT
Dear Ms. Murdy, Thank you so much, for your insightful writings! I have found them to be most helpful. I request permission to copy some to be presented at a small Bible Study. Thank you and God's richest blessings on you, yours and your work for His Kingdom! Sincerely, Roberta

Dear Roberta, thank you for your kind words. Yes, you may use the material on my website provided that you give credit: my name and website http://www.daily-word-of-life.com. Blessings to you and the people you serve. Thank you. Kay Murdy

PERMISSION TO REPRINT
Kay, I am doing a very similar type of ministry in my parish that you are doing on the internet. I am no scholar on Scripture and for that reason I read a lot of the current Scriptural commentaries such as yours including the commentaries by the Early Church Fathers and I do this for the adults that come to my Monday evening Catholic Update sessions. Do you mind if I were from time to time use some of your material to shore up my work to bring good interpretation for both knowing and living the Scriptures in the daily lives of those that attend our parish Catholic Update? Please let me know that I have your permission. Kay, when I say use some of your material I am only interested in the style you use in explaining your commentaries on the daily scriptures - To Know, To Love, To Serve - and Identifying the Key verse. I think this format is very good for focusing ones life on the meaning and applicability of the scriptures in our daily lives. Let me know if this is alright with you. Gratefully, Deacon John, St. Pius X Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas

Dear Deacon John, I am very pleased to hear of your work. It is important to help our Catholic people become biblically literate. You don't have to be a scholar to do this work, but you do have to do your part in sharing the truth with accuracy. It sounds as though you are doing that. Yes of course you may use my materials on the web. I only ask that you list the source: Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com. May God bless your ministry and give you peace on Thanksgiving. Kay

TERESA OF AVILA PRAYER
Kay, You beautifully cite St. Teresa: "Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now." Would you happen to know the book and page from where you used that citation. Thank you in advance.
Randall Heskett, Ph.D.

Dear Randall, Scholars at the Institute of Carmelite Studies, ICS Publications, in Washington DC. have said that the prayer does not come from St. Teresa of Avila, either in her writings or in oral tradition. Though the prayer is attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, no one has ever been able to find the original occurrence of that quote. Thank you for asking. Kay

OCTOBER, 2007

DAILY REFLECTIONS
Good day Kay. I was emailing you if you were aware of a Daily word to contemplate every day. Something sent in a form of a email. Virginia "Gina"

Hi Gina, I'm not aware of anything sent by email. Lots of people use Sacred Space, daily reflections from a community in Ireland. Their web site is: http://www.sacredspace.ie/ And of course my website has daily reflections as well: Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com

BISHOP SHEEN'S PRAYER TO SPARE UNBORN CHILDREN
Hello, I'm searching for a prayer by Bishop Sheen for the spiritual adoption and asking God that all aborted children and those in danger of abortion share in our very own Baptism. Please let me know if you can find this prayer for me and please email it to me as soon as possible as we are in great need of this prayer as we are praying for someone contemplating abortion. In Christ, Celeste

Dear Celeste, here is the prayer you asked for. Blessings and Peace, Kay

Spiritual Adoption Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
To help stop the anti-life push in the World the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen encouraged the spiritual adoption of an unborn child. This is done by praying that one particular or unknown child's life be spared abortion and be allowed to continue to live.

~~~To help accomplish this, it was recommended, an individual say the following daily prayer for a period of one year.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. During your earthly life this spiritually adopted child of yours will be known only to God but in the world to come it is hoped that you will
meet the child whose life was spared by your prayers and spend eternal happiness with them.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was born in 1895 and baptized Peter John Sheen in El Paso, IL, in the United States. He was known as Fulton because that was his mother's maiden name. He was ordained as a priest in 1919 and continued his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. Bishop Sheen authored sixty books on Catholic doctrine and life. On October 2, 1979, two months before Sheen's death, Pope John Paul II visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and embraced Sheen, saying, "You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church." In 2002, a Cause for Canonization was opened for Sheen, and now he is referred to as a Servant of God, the first step in a four-step process towards sainthood.

SEPTEMBER 2007

REQUEST FOR REPRINTING
Hi I love the site, can I take pieces to help the catechists, I will not publish or sell any of the information, peace. Terry Ann DRE/CYM
St Roch Church, Oxford, MA

Dear Terry, thank you for your kind words. Yes, you may use the material on my website provided that you give credit: my name and website URL. Blessings to you and the people you serve. Thank you. Kay Murdy http://www.daily-word-of-life.com

PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank you Kay. When you e-mail me it's like God is talking to me. Many answer from e-mails but your e-mail actually gets me comforted. I have forwarded to my daughter. God bless you and may God continue to bless you in your Christian work. May you be a blessing to others just like you have been a blessing to my family. Lil

You can access my prayer request page on the main directory or at the bottom of this page. Kay

AUGUST 2007

PERMISSION TO REPRINT LITURGY PAGE
Kay, I was fortunate to attend your Catholic Bible Institute courses back in 2002. I am now a Religion Coordinator. Completing my Teacher's Credential has kept me away, but I'm back. I LOVE your website. I would like to make a copy of your 'Liturgy" page and pass it to the new teachers who need a concise and visual resource to guide them when doing student Mass. May I make a document of your information and pass it to the teachers? Thank you again for all you do and your super organizational skills. Someday I hope to have a website with links such as yours for support and guidance. Many Blessings, Yolanda

You are most welcome to reprint my liturgy page as long as you give credit to my website. Thank you. Kay http://www.daily-word-of-life.com
 

QUESTIONS FROM PROTESTANTS ON CATHOLIC FAITH
Hi Kay, My name is Joy and I wanted your feedback on the following:
1. Protestants say that Catholics violate the commandment of the Lords because they worship graven images?
2. They do not believe in the Virgin Mary hence we do not need a mediator but instead pray and confess our sins direct to God.
Please enlighten me. Joy

Dear Joy, those are typical questions that Catholics get from Protestants. The answer to both is very simple. Catholics do not worship graven images by having pictures and statues of Mary and the Saints. Everyone has pictures of their loved ones in their homes, especially those that were an inspiration to them because of their holy lives. We don't pray to them, but we ask for their prayers just as we do when we ask Mary and the Saints to intercede on our behalf. Since they are close to the Lord, who better to turn to in times of trouble? Didn't Jesus act on Mary's plea, "They have no wine"? We can translate that to mean, "They are sick, they need help" etc. I believe that our church is so much the richer because of these great heroes of faith. Blessings and Peace, Kay

PERMISSION TO REPRINT WRITINGS
Kay, We enjoy your commentary on the lectionary readings. We have been using the Sunday reading in the Sunday Bulletin at the Veterans Affairs Chapel in Long Beach for months and giving you the credit. However, I just read your memo and realized that we haven’t received permission to use these insights. Would you grant us permission to use these in good conscience in the future? Thank you. Rev. George B. Vogel, D.Min., BCC, Manager, Pastoral Care, VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA.

JULY 2007

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BIBLE INSTITUTE
Kay, Thank you for your gentle and inspiring talks on the Book of Revelation. Although I didn't get to hear all of your talks, the ones I did hear changed many of my perceptions of what the book was all about. Again many thanks for coming to Brisbane and being so generous with your time to make this year's Bible Institute so successful. God bless, Shane Robbie, Evangelisation Down Under

LITURGY QUESTION
Is it appropriate to applaud after a homily or communion song? Al

Dear Al, thank you for your question. I refer you to an article in Ministry and Liturgy Magazine (the magazine I write for). There is an excellent article by a liturgist on the subject of clapping. The web site is http://www.rpinet.com/ml/2605hajd.html
Thank you for asking. Blessings, Kay

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
Dear Kay, I was delighted to see your article about St. Therese's way of confidence and love. Please do me the favor of visiting my new Web site designed to educate persons about her at http://thereseoflisieux.org. If you find it useful, please feel free to link to it and to share it with the friends of Therese. Sincerely in St. Therese, Maureen

JUNE 2007

A Rosary of Liberation
Greetings. I am of the Catholic Faith; and stumbled on your website, via a search engine. I reside in Nigeria.
Please, I'll like to know if you have the words to the 'Rosary of Liberation" prayers. I was made to understand that :
1. It is a prayer that is "based on God's Word and should be prayed with faith for the glory of the powerful name of Jesus Christ Our Lord, asking him for healing, salvation and liberation."
2. That one can "pray this rosary for those God has put in our hearts and for ourselves, with only one intention at a time: conversion, marriage, family, health, work, relatives, friends, etc"
Grateful if you can send the words of the rosary prayers to me by email, or advise me on where I can get the words. Secondly, do you know if the rosary beads are different from the regular beads? Thanks for you anticipated assistance, and God bless. Regards, Osayawe.

Dear Osayawe, here are the words to the Rosary of Liberation. You can pray this prayer for your intentions on any rosary. May you be blessed by these powerful words. Kay

A Rosary of Liberation composed by Barry Norris

The Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation
Mary conceives the God-child by the power of the Holy Spirit: thus begins the age when the Spirit is poured on all humankind. We pray for a Church in which all people are treated as equals because all are temples of the Spirit; a Church in which every person’s gifts are respected and used, and where all decisions are shared.

The Visitation
Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, to talk about their two pregnancies. The unborn John the Baptist greets the unborn Jesus. The dialogue between the two women reminds us that dialogue among the whole people of God is a necessity for a healthy Church. John grows up to be a thorn in the side of corrupt religious leaders. We pray that we may have the courage to speak out like him.

The Nativity
Mary gives birth to Jesus in a borrowed room. Like all the poor, she and Joseph have to make do. We pray for the eradication of homelessness and poverty. We pray that the Church will always be found on the side of the poor rather than the rich and powerful. Mary’s nurturing love is very necessary in today’s world. May the Church use the gifts which women bring so that it becomes inclusive and accepting, and so more authentically faithful to the Gospel.

The Presentation
As Jesus is presented in the Temple, Mary is told that a sword of sorrow will pierce her heart. We pray for all parents who grieve at the unjust treatment of family and friends; for all whose loved ones have been victims of imprisonment and torture and for all who have watched their children die of starvation. We remember the parents of priests and religious who have seen their children’s lives blighted by the repressive regime of the Church.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Mary and Joseph could not understand what Jesus was doing, talking to the learned men of the Law. They were overawed by their own religious leaders. We pray that lay people may awaken to their own unique gifts of the Spirit no more as little children, but as adults to adults in an adult Church.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony in the Garden
Jesus fought with his conscience in the garden. At this stage he could have run away and escaped his fate. He chose to stay and thus brought about the salvation of the world. We pray for a Church which affirms the primacy of the individual person’s conscience in the making of moral decisions. We also pray for all those who feel conscience-bound to fight for human rights in the Church.

The Scourging
Jesus is given an unfair trial and is sentenced to be flogged and crucified. A cowardly governor is hoodwinked by a corrupt priesthood. We pray that the hierarchy of the Church will always act with integrity and truth and never be unduly influenced and compromised by the secular powers. We remember all those who have suffered because of unfair trials, especially for theologians and others who are persecuted.

The Crowning with Thorns
The body of Jesus is tortured by the soldiers, obsessed with cruelty. In degrading Jesus they degrade themselves and their own bodies. We pray that all will honour the body and the God-given gift of sexuality. We pray for all who suffer physical, sexual or mental abuse of any kind, especially for those who have suffered at the hands of anyone in authority.

The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus carries the sins of the world to the cross. He also carries the pain of all who are treated in a negative way because they are homosexual or lesbian, divorced, or have left the active priesthood or religious life. We pray for a Church which affirms everyone.

The Crucifixion
Jesus dies on the Cross, his open arms enfolding all people of all ages. May your Church, O God, reach out in love to all people, assisting all to live without guilt and fear, and support, encourage and work for reconciliation and justice. The women stand and weep, watch and pray. Be with all women who can only do the same in the midst of extreme violence and brutality. Give us all courage and hope to persevere in our dedication to the same divine-human cause, even when the forces against it seem insurmountable.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection
We praise God for the glorious Resurrection of His Son. Mary Magdalene was the first to see the Risen Lord and to worship Him. A patriarchal Church has long denied Mary Magdalene her proper position. We pray for a Church with a new attitude to women, so that they have access to leadership and sacramental ministries, including the ministerial priesthood and the episcopate.

The Ascension
At the Ascension we celebrate Jesus as our Prophet, our Priest and our King. He is our one and only priest. We pray for a Church with a re-evaluated priesthood, so that the priesthood of all the baptized is acclaimed, and that there are clear codes of conduct for those in authority.

Pentecost
We rejoice with Mary, the Apostles and all the Church in Jerusalem as they receive the Holy Spirit. We pray for the renewal of the Church, which can only come through the operation of the Spirit, as of a second Pentecost. We remember that God gives his gifts to all the baptized and so all are qualified to share in decisions in the parish, diocese and universal Church.

The Mother of Christ and her Assumption into Heaven
Mary, you surrendered yourself to God’s will as you did at the Angel’s message. Help us all to accept God’s will for ourselves, so that we may be God-bearers to our generation. Help us by your prayers to follow your path of gentle love and witness; that the way of the Church may be one of gentleness and love.

The Coronation of the Mother of Christ
In this mystery we remember that we are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses" - the saints in heaven. As we work for a more open and affirming Church; a Church of love; a Church with a new attitude to women; a Church with a re-evaluated priesthood and a Church which is mature, we ask Our Lady and the saints to assist us in this work by their prayers for us.

GUIDANCE
I came across with your web site today when I was surfing the net to find a Charismatic renewal group to join. I am Catholic and I feel like my faith is dead. I need some help. Serge

Dear Serge, you didn't mention where you live, but you can contact Southern California Renewal Communities at spirit@scrc.org and they may be able to help you locate a group. We are having our annual Catholic Charismatic Renewal Convention August 3 - September 2 at the Anaheim Convention Center near Disneyland, California. Francis MacNutt and his wife Judith will be giving a special track on healing. There will be many other workshops offered including my own, "Growing in Age and Wisdom." You can check out more information at www.scrc.org The weekend will be a wonderful opportunity to revive your faith. Wishing you well. Blessings, Kay

WEB SITE
Dear Ms. Murdy, Today I came across your web “Daily Word of Life”, which I think is an extremely commendable effort on your side. Spreading into as many homes as possible Jesus’ Message is also the purpose of our service and consequently, very similar to yours. With the exception, perhaps, that the main coordinator of our Editorial Staff, Fr. Tony Carol, is a priest and so are the 180 collaborators we have at present. Our service is totally financed by private contributors. Our website can be accessed at: http://www.evangeli.net/gospel/gospel.html
God bless, Claude Rey, Barcelona – Spain

MAY 2007

PRAYERS FOR MY TRIP TO AUSTRALIA
Dearest Kay, I definitely will ask God almighty to fill you with the power of His Presence when you go to Brisbane, Australia giving you His protection, goodness and Godly wisdom in everything from your preparation to the people who need His teachings and thirsting for Him who can benefit from what you will share with them. His peace, love and goodness is always with us. Love and prayers in Jesus name. Evelyn

THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Dear Kay: This month there are many readings on Revelations - where can we find information on the meaning of these writings, and also, who wrote this book? Some bibles say John of the gospels wrote them, others say John of Patmos wrote them, others say it is not known who wrote them. ??? Bonnie

Dear Bonnie, Yes, we are reading the Book of Revelation during the Easter Season as it has to do with the Risen Christ who appeared to John of Patmos who was being persecuted along with many Christians for their faith in Christ. John wrote the Book of Revelation. He describes himself as a "fellow servant" and a prophet in the community (Rev 22:9). It was written at a later date than the gospel of John. One of the early Christian scholars, St. Irenaeus, asserts that the Book of Revelation was written toward the end of the first century during the final days of the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 CE). You can read more about the book on my website. From the main menu click on Home Bible Study and from there you can find the Book of Revelation. Hope it is helpful. I am going to Brisbane, Australia May 23-June 12 to teach the Book of Revelation for their Bible Institute there. It is one of my favorites. Blessings, Kay

APRIL 2007

LARGE TYPE BIBLE
Hello, Good Morning People of God, My name is Sebastian. I live in Jamaica. Your bible ministry has been a great blessing in my life and I am very grateful for your website. It always has a great word to encourage you and I love the words of God. The reason I am writing you is because I am in need of a bible preferably a giant print because I have an eye problem. I am the praise and worship leader of my church and the lead singer of the choir there. I have introduced your web site to many persons. Thanks and blessings always.

Dear Friend in Christ, thank you for your kind words of encouragement regarding my web site. I wish I could help you out with your bible needs but I have no means to send you one. You can order a Large Type New American Bible from a Catholic Book store or online.

Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible
* Large Easy-to-Read Typeface
* All Footnotes and Cross-References
* Over 30 Self-Explaining Maps in Context
* Historical Survey of the Lands of the Bible
* How to Read the Bible
* Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation
* Handy Bible Dictionary
* Doctrinal Bible Index
* Liturgical Index of Sunday Readings
You can order on line from http://www.catholicstore.com/browseproducts/Large-Type-New-American-Bible.html

Hope you find what your are looking for. Blessings, Kay


PERMISSION TO COPY FROM WEB SITE
Dear Kay, I am a priest from the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. I am pastor of a small parish (about 500 members) located near New Brunswick. I came across your Home Bible Study course as I was looking for resources for a brief Bible Study program that I will be conducting next month. I am writing to request your permission to use some parts of of your program for this course. I found your synopsis of fundamentalism quite on target and would like to copy it and give it to my class. Your general outline is also very helpful to me in planning my course. Anyway, I would like to know if I have your permission to use your materials. Thank you very much for your ministry and for any consideration you might be able to give me. "All will be well." Charlie

Dear Fr. Charlie, thank you for your kind words about my writings. I am happy to give you permission to copy whatever you wish from my Home Bible Study. Please note my name and website if you would be so kind. You might be interested in my book "What Every Catholic Needs to Know about the Bible" published by Resource publication. It is in laymen's language based on Dei Verbum, the Document on Divine Revelation from Vatican II. You can order it from Resource Pub. which you can find on my web site under Kay's Writings, or from Amazon.com Blessings to you and your ministry of God's Word. Kay

BIBLE QUESTION
Hi Kay, I read two bibles. If one has a different explanation, I'll then go to the Catechism and try to understand the passage. Sometimes it works. The two bibles are The New Scofield Study Bible, by Oxford University Press and The New American Bible, Catholic Addition by Nelson. I would like to study the bible. I am a Catholic, and I think I would like to follow your advise. Thank you for your help, Gil

Dear Gil, the New Scofield Study Bible is a Protestant bible as you probably know. I would suggest the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) as an alternative. Also, you can check out my Home Bible Study by accessing it from the menu on my web page. I also have commentaries on the Daily Gospel Readings for the Liturgy posted. My book, "What Every Catholic Needs to Know About the Bible" may be of help. You can order that from Resource Pub., Inc., which you can find under Kay's Writings. You are wise to check the Catechism for information you need. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct your efforts. Blessings, Kay

BIBLE QUESTION
Dear Kay, I have a question: Does Jesus refer to Ephraim in the gospel and what is the reference when speaking of Ephraim in bible and the Psalms and elsewhere? Thank you and have a blessed Easter. Nella

Dear Nella, Thank you for your question. The only reference to Ephraim in the gospels is from John 11:54: "Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples." The verse preceding it follows Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead: "So from that day on they [the Pharisees] planned to put him to death" (v 53).

Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph (son of Jacob), and Asenath, daughter of Potiphera (priest of the sun god Re of Heliopolis). Ephraim is the ancestor of the Tribe of Ephraim. Before his death, Jacob adopted his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh to be equal with his own sons (Gen 48:5). When Jacob blessed Joseph's two sons he placed his right hand on the head of the younger boy, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older boy, Manasseh. Joseph was upset when his father laid his right hand on the younger grandson, rather than the older grandson. But Jacob said that although Manasseh would become the ancestor of a great nation, his younger brother would be the ancestor of an even greater nation (v 19).

In the chronicles of the tribes, Ephraim takes precedence over Manasseh in all matters, such as the order of marching, the consecration gifts for the Tabernacle, and the order of the allocation of territory. The northern portion of Israel is often referred to by the name of Ephraim. The name Ephraim means "fruitful." Blessings, Kay

MARCH 2007

WEB SITE
Just wanted to thank you for your wonderful daily reflections on the gospels. I have been enjoying your efforts for the last 6 months and wanted to take a minute and thank you. God Bless. Jeff

FEBRUARY 2007

CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE
Hello, I'm interested in a new bible and checked your website for a recommendation. I've not been able to find one with the title as stated above. The one I keep coming across is The Catholic Study Bible: The New American Bible. Is this the same one you mentioned on your site? Can you please direct me to a source for your recommendation. Thanks for your help. Arlette

Dear Arlette. Thank you for your question. I recommend the New American Bible because it is the translation we use in the liturgy, and the one you are familiar hearing. Oxford University Press is the publisher. It is called a study bible because it has excellent footnotes and cross references, as well as study guides for each book of the bible by outstanding Catholic Biblical Scholars. You can purchase a hardback or paperback version from http://www.oup.com or http://amazon.com Hope this is a help to you, Kay

WEB SITE
Dear Mrs. Murdy: I love your web site, "Daily Word of Life." I just recently found it and will come back to it from time to time. Sincerely yours, Deacon John

QUESTION
Hi Kay, Thanks for all your help in the past. I am planning on doing a series this summer on the Book of Sirach using Daniel Harrington's book as a guide. Here's the question: Is there a website or whatever where I can go to get information on the selections of Sirach that are used in the Sunday lectionary? Number of citations? What those citations are? Years A B C? Must be some way to research this for each book of the bible, right? I appreciate any help you can give us! Thanks again, Kate

Dear Kate, A good website on the Lectionary in the Catholic Mass is Fr. Felix Just, SJ http://catholic-resources.org/
Also, I looked in the back of my St. Joseph's Sunday Missal and found these listings:
Holy Family: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 (C)
22 Sunday Ord. Time: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 (C)
6th Sunday Ord. Time: Sirach 15:15-20 (A)
2nd Sunday after Xmas: Sirach 24:1-4, 8-12 (ABC)
8th Sunday Ord. Time: Sirach 27:4-7 (C)
24th Sunday Ord. Time: Sirach 27:30 -- 28:7 (A)
30th Sunday Ord. Time: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

You can find other listings in the Weekday Missal, as well as an Index of other Scripture Readings in the Lectionary. Keep up the good work! Kay

HOME BIBLE STUDY
Hi, Ms. Kay, I am very happy that I found your website (albeit, accidentally). I am about to embark on an "exciting experience" that is - studying the bible at home - this time with guidance thru your website. I have already read the Bible from cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation). I am attempting to read it a second time because I feel that something is missing. I hope I find what has been "missing" in my Bible reading with your guidance.

But first, I have some questions, which have been bothering me ever since I could remember, like:

1- Why are the Christians "divided" - meaning - why are there Catholics and why are there Protestants?
2- What caused the separation between the two - is it some of the books were preferred by Catholics and the Protestants did not "prefer" these books to be included in the Bible (Apocryphal)?
3 - Why are there different Protestant groups? What are they?
4- What does the letters "cf" mean (in the footnotes)? (For example: cf Jgs 14, 12). What should I do when I come across these letters?

In my country (Philippines), the Catholics are greater in number, but what exasperates me very much is that I observed that the Protestants here are more knowledgeable when it comes to the Sacred Scriptures. I hope I am on the right path to try to do something about it. I hope you find time to reply to this email of mine. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Rene

Dear Rene, I am so happy you found my website, even if accidentally. I believe there are no "accidents" with God. I am glad you are re-reading the bible. With each reading you will grow in deeper and deeper understanding of God's word. You will find some answers on my page on Fundamentalism http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/fundamentalism.htm

You can also go to the main menu of my Home Bible Study to find my page on why Catholics and Protestants have different Bibles. You will find information there on the Reformation and division between Catholics and Protestants. Our Protestant brothers and sister may appear to be more knowledgeable about the scriptures, but often it is very fundamentalistic -- that is they see things in simple black and white terms with no depth of understanding.

The abbreviation cf simply means "carried forward." It is meant to show that you can continue reading on the particular verse cited in the footnotes. Hope this is helpful. You can also read my gospel commentaries on the daily liturgy readings. Access this from the main menu. May God's word continue to inspire you. Blessings, Kay

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Hello, I read the article on Our Lady of Guadalupe on you web site. It is very good. There is a question about the flowers on her tunic. You called them four petaled Mexican Jasmine, the Flute player flower. I would like to know more about this flower. Could you tell me where to look? Thank you, Rosemary

Dear Rosemary, thank you for your kind words about my article on Our Lady of Guadalupe. "Flor y Canto" means "flower and Song," which the "flute-player" flower with its trumpet embodies. For more information on the symbols contained on Our Lady's tunic, contact Janet Barber, IHM. Janetbarb@aol.com She is an expert on the topic and has been a great help to me. She is more than happy to answer your questions. You can buy my tape of this talk or any other workshop tape by contacting: spirit@scrc.org
Blessing, Kay

JANUARY 2007

KAY'S TALK BASIS OF SERMON IN OREGON
Hi Kay, Just a short message from one of your fans in Oregon. I thought you might be interested to know that I used your talk on “Finding Joy in Suffering” from the SCRC Convention two years ago in my sermon this past week. We record the readings and sermons and put them on the internet and pod-casting). At the other Masses I mentioned your name --- not sure if I did at this one – but you were the inspiration for the whole sermon. You can find it as www.sainteds.com Click on “listen to the sermon” Click on sermon for January 28. Peace, Fr Gary Zerr, Pastor, Saint Edward in Keizer, Oregon

KAY'S BOOK
Kay, I just wanted to let you know that I received your book "From Pharaoh to the Father" today. It's been a busy day but I have felt drawn to it and have finally found a few minutes to begin reading it. Those few minutes quickly turned into an hour as I couldn't put the book down. I love your use of Hebrew and find the book fascinating! I look forward to finishing it, even at the expense of getting behind in laundry. God has blessed you with a beautiful writing style and great knowledge to share. Whatever happens with your new fiction book, please keep me informed! Cheryl

DAILY WORD OF LIFE IN PHILIPPINES
Dear Kay, Just surfing through the net, I came across a reference to you in a website of MY school system, the Christian Brothers in the Philippines. Here's the URL: http://dailybulletin.zobel.dlsu.edu.ph/archives/archive-062006.htm Apparently they use your daily reflections.
Manny

CONGRATULATIONS
Wow Kay! I am really excited for you - Australia to teach - GREAT they are in for a treat. You have touched our hearts so many times. Starting with the SCRC Bible studies on Shopper's Lane and the last SCRC convention. You truly are a Blessing to so many and such a lovely servant to our Lord. Thank You! Love & Prayers, Judith

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Happy Birthday Ms. Murdy, I read your daily readings (gospel) along with other daily scriptures. Thank you very much for your writings. Your birthday and my sister Sherine's birthday are both on January 17th! We are going to celebrate with her this evening. I wish you a blessed and very happy day! Nadine

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Happy Birthday! Thanks for your ministry. A reader

NEW YEARS BLESSINGS
My Dearest Friend, I have just finished a mass and want to remind you that I prayed for you. May this year be for you a year of divine accomplishment. May the lord open to you the door of His Heavenly blessings. Do extend my best wishes to your family and friends. GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY. Fr. Richmond.

DECEMBER 2006

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Dear Kay, I just found your website by accident and really liked it. I especially liked the bible study however am interested in study on the four gospels of the New Testament. Can you tell me if that will be something you might do in the future. I will still continue to go to your site because I really like the way you write. I read all the e-mails people send you and I understand you had an article on Our Lady of Guadalupe I wonder if you could e-mail me a copy. Thank you and have a Happy New Year. God bless you, Mercy.

Dear Mercy, thank you for your kind remarks about my web site. Thank you also for your suggestion about adding pages on the Four Gospels. That is certainly something I can begin to do in the New Year. You can find my article on Our Lady of Guadalupe by going to Kay's Writings and clicking on the article. You will also find an article on St. Therese of Lisieux. I have a booklet on Our Lady of Guadalupe if you are interested. It is $4.00 plus postage. Thank you, Kay

Seasons Greetings
I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. Again your prayer hotline helps more people in a year then you know. Enjoy your holidays. Sharon

Seasons Greetings
My Dearest Friend, I just want to say thank you for all your love and steadfastness. Thank you so much. I also want to say a very merry Christmas to you and yours. I have sincerely been praying for you. May the peace of Christ, that peace the world could not give be all yours in this wonderful season. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS !!!! Fr. Richmond

AUDIO DAILY MASS READINGS NOW ON-LINE
Hello, my name is Jennifer, and I was wondering if you know where I could find, The Liturgy of the Word, the New American Bible version, on audio cd. If you could please e-mail me back I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Forever in Christ, Jennifer

Dear Jennifer, you are in luck! I just received this notice from the US Bishops Office:

AUDIO DAILY MASS READINGS NOW ON-LINE
The daily Mass readings are now downloadable from the Web site of the United States Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign: http://www.usccb.org/nab/ The program was prepared in association with the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine using audio recordings of the readings from the New American Bible.

PRAYER WARRIORS
May the Peace of Our Lord be with you and loved ones. Thank you for prayers. When I get an acknowledgement to my petitions I become overjoyed because I know there are still prayer warriors out there. You see and hear about evil lurking on every corner and then you wonder how many people are in prayer. I know that God has all the power but when you look around it seems the evil one is winning this battle. God bless you and loved one. I will keep you in my prayers. Lil

"What Every Catholic Should Know About the Bible"
Hello Kay, I am one of your students at LMU’s Catholic Bible Institute. During our last meeting wherein you were our instructor, I bought a book written by you. The title is “What Every Catholic Should Know About the Bible” (for the parish). I showed the book to some people I know at our parish and they like it. I have nine people who want to order a book each. When I see you at the next class, please bring the books. Thank you very much and God bless you and the CBI team for the terrific job that all of you are doing for God’s people. Enrique

NOVEMBER

Home Bible Study
Dear Ms. Murdy, I was looking for a Catholic church nearby who would offer bible studies. Then, I came across your website. I realized that I could do my bible study on my own daily by using your website. In 2003 I got married and 9 months ago I gave birth to twins. Since I gave birth, my life has changed completely and I am having a hard time adapting to my new life. I feel I have neglected my spirit and God. I have not been to church for a long time and that is hurting me. However, I feel I cannot pull myself from my current state of mind. I was reading one of the scriptures in your website when I came across this question. Do I have a healthy self love? I think I currently do not love myself. I do not take care of myself. Please pray for the healing of my spirit. Warmest Regards and Thanks, Nora

Check out my Home Bible Study and my Daily Gospel Commentaries

OCTOBER

Invitation to Speak in Australia
Dear Kay, Jan has passed on your email to me to liaise with you in respect to our forthcoming Bible Institute. Let me start by saying how delighted we are that you have agreed to be our key speaker. When we started our Bible Institute last year, we listed a number of people we hoped to attract to Australia to speak to our people and your name was on that short list. I already know that your presence and scholarship will affirm our people and open their hearts to the power of the Word of God working in their lives. Our venue is right on the Brisbane River and overlooks the city. If that is not enough to “tickle your fancy,” Australians are renowned for their hospitality and humor. To confirm the dates: June 1st, 2nd 3rd 2007. Topic: Book of Revelations Are you open to do some other workshops while you are here? Would you like some time prior to the institute perhaps at the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast? All is possible!!!!!! I will commend you, your family and your work to the Lord in prayer and look forward to the blessings your visit will bestow on our Australian church. Hope to hear from you soon,
God Bless, John Brady, Director, Evangelization Resources Down Under

Invitation to Join San Gabriel Valley Regional Council
Dear Kay: I am delighted that you will join us on the San Gabriel Valley Regional Council. The purpose is to implement significant areas of pastoral concern targeted through the Synod process: Evangelization and the “New Evangelization”; Ongoing Education and formation; Ministry and Leadership; Eucharist and Sacramental Living; Social Justice. God bless. Bishop Gabino Zavala

SEPTEMBER

Our Lady of La Salette
Dear Kay, our parish is Our Lady of La Salette in Brooklyn, CT. I was wondering if you're familiar with this name for the Blessed Virgin. Her feast day is September 19. There is information on our web site http://www.Lasalette-Lourdes.org. I noticed there wasn't any mention of her on your Daily Gospel site that I visit frequently. Thank you for all the information and spirituality there. Sincerely, Pat

Thank you Pat for your kind words and notice regarding Our Lady of La Salette. I have added something about her to my Daily Gospel readings. Blessings of God's Word, Kay Murdy

WEB SITE ON LITURGY OF WORD AND EUCHARIST
Dear Kay, I enjoy your web page "The Liturgy of The Word". I feel my parishioners would benefit from it. May we use it in our next use Newsletter which will be October/November. We would only use part of it in this newsletter and the rest in future newsletter. I also looked at your "The Liturgy of the Eucharist" and we may want to use some of it in our future newsletters. The newsletter will be sent to 1070 families. We also put the newsletter in our web page stjosephmanteno.com. Thank you for your consideration. God Bless, Fr. Ed, St. Joseph Church, Manteno, IL

Greetings from Seminarian
Greetings to my family at St. John Vianney. I am doing well. We started class this week and I am getting back into the swing of things. It is a major adjustment back to life at the seminary, but I can feel the prayers of those who love me lifting me up, giving me the strength to endure these next two years. Cardinal Mahony recently gave my class the day of our priesthood ordination May 31, 2008. It is exciting to know that it is approaching and within reach. I am very excited about priesthood and look forward to being a priest, God willing. I pray for the SJV community daily, but on Fridays I specifically pray for all of you in the lectionary group. May God Bless you all and please keep me in your prayers. I hope to visit SJV soon. Ricky, St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, CA

SCRC WORKSHOP
Dear Kay, Thank you, dear woman, for your wonderful talk at the SCRC on "The Healing Power of the Sacraments." You gave me much spiritual food. The Eucharist I received today was even dearer than before. This was my first SCRC and I believe my experience was unique. My son is traveling with John Michael Talbot as an assistant production manager, so I helped them set up before the show and stayed until midnight helping them break everything down. The concert was pure and uplifting. I enjoyed the entire SCRC day and will do it again. Lisa

PRAYERS FROM AUSTRALIA
Hi Kay, I spoke to the preschoolers today about the special lady who lives across the sea, who with her special friends prayed to Jesus for Thomas to be cured. So today we prayed for you, our dear friend across the sea. May the most holy Lord continue to hold you close in the palm of his hand Kay. All our love Dianne and the St Francis Preschoolers, Australia

AUGUST

Kay, be assured of my prayers on your behalf. May your talk on the "Healing Power of the Sacraments" be healing as you are healed! Fr Ray Roh Monastery of the Risen Christ

You are probably aware of this, but Kay Murdy, one of our Mount Graduates really keeps LA aware of what is going on in the Catholic Community. You might let our IHM resources know about it. Alexis Navarro, Ph.D., IHM Community
http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/

JULY

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Radiating God's Love
Dear Kay, I recently read your writing titled "Our Lady of Guadalupe: Radiating God's Love" because I am searching for a poster that came to our parish when the traveling relic of the Tilma visited. The poster is titled Codice Guadalupano and gave the meanings to the symbols of Our Lady's stance, eyes, dress, etc. and was written in Spanish. I would like to find a copy of that poster. Would you possibly know where I might purchase or find that poster. La Guadalupana is very dear to me. Thank you. Vicki

Dear Vicki, I didn't find the poster you are looking for, but here are some web sites that may be promising. http://www.sancta.org/morenita.html http://www.proyectoguadalupe.com/ I too have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I am glad that you enjoy my writing. Did you read the article on my web site or do you have a copy of my booklet? If you would like, I can send you one for $4.00 plus postage. It is written in English. I have a friend who is a Guadalupano scholar. Her name is Janet Barber, IHM. You can send a note to her and ask if she has information on the poster you are looking for. Thank your for your inquiry. I hope you visit my web site often and share it with your friends. Blessings, Kay Murdy

Website
Kia ora and greetings from Aotearoa New Zealand, I wish to inform you of a web site, Cybermonk's CatholicNET, which has recently gone online. The website has the prayerful support and encouragement of my bishop, Patrick Dunn, of the diocese of Auckland, New Zealand, and of the Carmelite Sisters in New Zealand and Samoa. You will also see that a link to your web site Daily Word of Life was selected as one of "the very best on the Catholic World Wide Web." (See: XVI Prayer: We Speak to God; 3. Expressions of Prayer; iii. Scriptural Prayer.) Kind regards, Brian Cronin (aka Cybermonk ). www.cybermonk.org.nz

JUNE

Happy Anniversary
Congratulations and best wishes and many blessings to you and Bob on your Happy 47th anniversary. Many thanks for your site. Gratefully, Nella

Kay's Book
Kay: Please accept my belated thanks for your book "What Every Catholic Needs to Know About the Bible" , which I read cover-to-cover immediately upon receiving and have "dipped into" it since, savoring smaller bits at a time -- much like one would read the Bible, which I find a more fascinating study the more I read it. Your web site continues to be a wonderful resource for those who happen upon it and return often. Thanks for your good work, and thank you again for your book. I will continue to keep your mission in my prayers. Warm regards, Barbara

Rosary of Liberation
Kay, I was given a 3x5 booklet for the rosary of liberation and it has been a miracle for me. I would love to be able to print out this rosary for my friends. If possible in Spanish and English. Also I would like to be able to order the books in Spanish and English, but the booklet has no ordering address or website on it. PLEASE HELP!!!! Martina

Dear Martina, the booklet you are looking for is Rosary of Liberation. You can order from www.queenship.org , Product Code: 7506 ISBN: 85-85592-94-X  Price: $4.49. The Rosary of Liberation is based on the Word of God and should be prayed with faith for the glory of the powerful name of Jesus Christ and to seek healing, salvation and liberation. Contains many powerful testimonies which can be attributed to praying this Rosary. Ask for reprint permission and give proper credit to the author and publisher. Hope this is of help, Kay

MAY

Website
Kay, I have just revisited your website, and it is splendid beyond words. May God bless with good health and a long life and a functioning computer! Love and gratitude, Janet Barber, IHM

Son's CD
Dear Kay, I wanted you to know that we have a CD of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary that your son Dave plays the guitar on. It rests me so much and I have gotten so much out of it. I wanted you to know. I know you must be pleased about Dave. We pray for you and Bob. God Bless Peggy

Buy the CD, The Rosary, at www.Amazon.com

Question on Purgatory
Dear Kay, Question? Has the Catholic church changed its teaching regarding purgatory within the last 30 years? Just curious. Love, Arliss

Hi Arliss, here is a reply from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as the achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is different from the punishment of the damned. ... This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" (2 Macc 12:46). From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in sufferage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. (#1030-1032). Hope this helps. Love, Kay

Charismatic Renewal

Would you be kind enough to e-mail when the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference is going to be. There are no longer any charismatic prayer groups in my area at all. I live in Oakland, NJ and have searched the web and asked around. Thanks. Noreen

The SCRC Catholic Renewal Convention will be held in Anaheim, California September 1-3, 2006 at the Anaheim Convention Center across the street from Disneyland. The Theme is Strength for the Journey. Come and encounter the power of the Holy Spirit for your life. Check out SCRC's website: www.scrc.org

APRIL

Invitation from Australia
How exciting - your coming back to down-under, and for my birthday!!!!!! I will pass the news on to the local CCR. I am not in active pastoral role now as you know, But I would love to host you in Sydney in any case for rest and recreation. I have a nice flat at North Ryde which is all yours!!!!!!! Can't wait to tell Sr. Helen. I am so pleased and more later!!! Happy Easter to all Fr. Kevin O'Grady, Australia

Kay's Book
Dear Kay: I wanted to let you know that I've read and reread your book, "What Every Catholic Needs to Know About the Bible." Thanks so much! It's the perfect combination of intellectual stimulation and "soul" that is so refreshing about the Catholic church. I feel so lucky to be a product of the more "modern" R.C. church that is accepting of open questioning that eventually leads to further acceptance of faith. You have a real gift for teaching. Thank you for sharing it with the world as your personal reflection of God's gift to us. Thinking of you and praying for your mission -- Barbara

Website
Dear Kay, Thank you for your website! Really invaluable connections and ideas! I am in my 3rd year of CBI. We are planning to explore the Book of Revelation for our practicum. I found your day on Revelation that you gave us at the Catholic Bible Institute last year inspiring. It is why I wanted to do it as the practicum because I learned so much and realized how much I must continue learning. Thanks again for all you do and have done for us. Kate, St. Bernardine Church

MARCH

Hi Kay this is Ricky the seminarian from St. John Vianney. I was just on your website and I think it is wonderful. Very helpful and informative. May God Bless you and all of those that you love. See you at Church, Ricky.

Kay: Having once again looked over your web site, I have a book that I'm not going to read again and wondered if you would like it as a gift if you don't have a copy. It's a scholarly tome called How we got the Bible, by Neil R. Lightfoot. I am very interested in Biblical history but this is just a bit too much. I can learn a lot more at this point working through the material on your web site. Take care and God bless you.
Sincerely, Lucy

Check out my Home Bible Study Kay

Month of St. Joseph -- Argentina
Dear Kay, St. Theresa of Avila said: "even if you are devoted to many saints, be especially devoted to St. Joseph because God bestows many graces through him." In this month of St. Joseph, special prayers should be said to this patron saint of our Catholic Church. This year his feast day falls on March 20, because his usual feast day falls on a Sunday. Fr. Lucía of the United States started a worldwide campaign to have the blessed sacrament put on the altar for worshippers to pray to him. Please ask your readership for people to come and pray to him. This is necessary for the new evangelization. Just think of all the help that is needed for all the woes afflicting the world. Love in the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. Freddy

FEBRUARY

From Russia with Love
Dear Kay! Many best wishes and heavenly love of Our blessed Mother to you and your neighbors! Here is father Kirill (Maxim), from Russia. We heard you last time four years ago. We are very happy to have opportunity to meet you again! Please, let us know about your successes and plans. With hope and respect, Father Kirill, St. Petersburg, Russia

Bible Study Materials
Dear Kay: Greetings in the Lord! I am Bro. Marwil, a Catholic lay evangelist, catechist and apologist here in the Philippines. As a servant leader of the Church, I serve in various capacities in different Church ministries and apostolate in my country. I am a commissioned lay preacher in the Diocese of Novaliches. As a lay preacher, it is my duty to preach the Good News of our salvation contained in the Word of God. Of course, one cannot give one does not have. It is therefore expected of me to know by heart God's Word. I came across your website of Catholic Home Bible Study. I believe that to study the Word of God through home study is very ideal for me. In this regard, please provide me some information on how I can formally enroll in the Catholic Home Study Program and earn a certificate in the process. As a witness to the goodness of God and a preacher of His Truth, this Bible home study will always make me ready to explain the hope that is in me (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15) to all those who would like me to share my faith with them. I hope that you can help me with my query. Thank you very much! God bless you!
Servant of my King, Bro. Marwil, Philippines

Dear Bro. Marwil, thank you for your kind words. In regard to my Home Bible Study, it is designed for those unable to participate in a formal study program. There are no materials other than those I have posted on my website. You can access the menu at:
http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/bible_study.htm

Recently I came across a Virtual Learning Community on the Internet that offers a certificate through the University of Dayton. They offer courses in Scripture, Sacraments, Catholic Beliefs, Church History, etc. You can reach them at www.udayton.edu/~vic
I don't know if they offer this program outside the U.S. but they can tell you if they do. I wish you God's blessings in your endeavor to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May you continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Blessings, Kay Murdy

JANUARY 2006

Birthday Greetings

Dear Loving Kay Murdy,
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (Phil 1:3). Kay Murdy you are a special blessing in every life you touch. And there are angels walking on this earth disguised as friends. It is my pleasure to wish a Happy Birthday to one of them! This Birthday of you is an occasion of Joy and it is a holy time, because God blessed you with a wonderful life. Remembering this gift of life and great person, I thank God and celebrate you. Today nothing is more precious than your great life and no words more precious than words that celebrate you and your life. And so, we celebrate you. Every time as I visit your website I think of you and thank God, and pray for you with prayers of joy. For God began a wonderful work in you, and will complete that work in the years to come. My prayer for you today is this: that your love grow richer in knowledge and insight of every kind, that you learn by experience what really matters. May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord shed his light upon you, May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace, joy and good health for many and many more years. May the Good Lord bless all your ministry, your family and friends. This morning with special thoughts and prayers you were remembered as I celebrated Holy Eucharist. Once again wish you a Happy Birthday. With love and Prayers, Fr. Antony, CMI, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Beaumont, TX.

Hello Kay, I having been reading your daily word and find it very helpful and I enjoy reading and learning from the readings. It has also help build me spiritually. May God continue to bless such a beautiful women who pronounces the good news to the ends of the earth. With much Love and Gratitude. Juanita

Happy Birthday, Kay! I didn’t realize this was going to be number 70; thank you for sharing your beautiful reflections. Thank you, too, for the years of friendship you have shared with me over the past 25+ years. I count you as one of the most influential people in my life. Your personal faith, integrity, and life of example have always inspired me. And your sense of humor continues to help me keep things in perspective! Thank you for sharing your self, and your gifts, with all of us. May this day and the years ahead be filled with many blessings and joyful surprises! With love, Ron, St. Brendan's Parish, Washington

Bible Study Materials
Please send me more information on ordering your Daily Readings for my Bible Study Groups. Thank You. Connie

Dear Connie, I am not certain what Daily Readings you are referring to. The Daily Readings for the weekday and Sunday Liturgy are on my website and you can use them for free if you give me credit. There is also a home Bible Study. You can access both of these from the home page of my website: http://www.daily-word-of-life.com

I also have two books on the daily readings for Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. They are $9 each plus tax and shipping. You can order them from Resource Publication http://www.rpinet.com/products/fpf.html

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if I can help you further. Blessings, Kay Murdy

Send Comments, News and Prayer Requests to Kay

Please note new Email Address!! MurdyK@netscape.net