Just Citrus Juice

Just Citrus Juice

Great taste I have been doing this one most days for a few weeks now. It provides so much energy and is a great pick me up. I have done this in both the juicer or just hand juiced. There is also a great variety in flavour based on individual fruit, some times more tart and others more sweet.

Ingredients:
1 Lemon
1 Lime
1 Orange
1 Grapefruit

Directions:
Either hand juice or peal and run through a juicer. You can run it through the juicer without pealing the fruit but some people have problems with the oils in the skin, and with the skin it is even more tart.

I will continue to post new recipes from time to time as I get back into experimenting with Smoothie and Juice recipes. And I collect mine and favourites from around the web you can find them shared here in a OneNote notebook, there are subsections for Juices, Smoothies, Gluten Free Options and Other. 

Note: Formerly I used EverNote, but am not updating it anymore.

Smoothies

Juices

Gluten Free Foods

Notre Dame Chapel - St. Jerome's University Waterloo Ontario

Notre Dame Chapel 

St. Jerome's University Waterloo Ontario

 

These are some photo's I took back in 2001. Unfortunatly this chapel has now been converted to a class/meeting room. The Catholic community is now rasing funds to renovate the old Sweeney Hall into a larger permenant sanctuary. When I was on campus I loved stopping in for non hour mass or just to pray. It was a great little oasis on a very large campus at UWaterloo.

Quetzalcoatl's Zahir - Manuel Alfonseca - The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Book 1

Quetzalcoatl's Zahir 
The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Book 1
Manuel Alfonseca
Schedas
ISBN 9781542686594
ASIN B01MR9C22P




This is the first book by Manuel Alfonseca that I have read. This book was specifically recommended to me, and I am very grateful. It Is a wonderful read. A number of years ago I went through a phase where I read a lot by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jose Saramago, and this book reminds me very much of those authors. But the story also reminds me of some of Paolo Coelho’s earlier works. This is a very well written story, and though written for the young adult audience I believe it could find a large following among adult readers as well.

This story begins with a partial misplaced letter. The letter is found by Gonzalo in a copy of Don Quixote from the library. When the contents of the letter grab his attention and interest he approaches Vicki the young librarian to find out who had the book before him so he can try and return the letter. The letter itself is a mystery, but what it alludes to is an even greater mystery. And we have Gonzolo trying to solve the problem, the growing friendship between him and Vicky and also Gonzolo’s older brother Leon who is in the military. The story writing during the last days of the Franco regime is set in a different time.

There are a number of references to classic science fiction books, references to a few movies, and some references to literary classics. The book has a number of hat tips to those who have gone before. And yet none of them seem overdone or forced. The main characters are wonderful, and the extended cast are also well written. And it is very interesting to watch Gonzalo and Vicky piece together he clues from the letters and research to work towards solving the mystery.

This book is available in English and is translated by the author himself. The other three books in this series are unfortunately not available yet in English, but hopefully soon. I loved this story and the characters. Before I even finished this book I had picked up a few more from Manuel to add it to my ‘to be read pile’. I highly recommend this little adventure mystery and look forward to reading more my Alfonseca soon. If you are a fan of Coelho, Marquez or Saramago you owe it to yourself to give this novel a try! Or if you just love a great mystery or adventure to read. Again I highly recommend this book.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life

Albatros

A face in Time: 1789-2089

Hidden Hand

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

The History of the Earth-9 Colony

The Earth-9 Colony Revisited

…

Solar System Series:

Under an Orange Sky

Descent into the Hell of Venus

Operation Quatuor

Operation Viginti

...

The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Series:
Quetzalcoatl's Zahir
The Mystery of the Haunted House
The Mystery of the Sapphire Bracelet
The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Mystery of the Egyptian Vulture Country House
...

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless
The Mystery of the Black Lake
The Silver Swan
The Secret of the Ice Field

The Lost Continent

…

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

The Seal of Aeolus

The Emerald Tablet

The Tartessian Crown

…

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future

The Fifth Level of Evolution

...

Seeking Christ in Reading - Rev. Eugene Boylan

Seeking Christ in Reading
Rev. Eugene Boylan
Scepter Press
ISBN 9781594172953 

I have read this booklet three times now, first in 2007, then in 2010 and now in 2017 the new eBook version. This booklet has been completely redone and is an excellent little read. Originally there was just over 200 booklets in the series from Scepter, I believe, that were available in English and it is great that they are being made available again. I also believe that this is the only booklet by Eugene Boylan in the series. And this booklet is an excerpt from This Tremendous Lover. And at just under 40 pages it packs a lot of punch. The chapters in this booklet are:

Gripping The Imagination 
The Barrier Of Boredom 
Essential For Progress 
Love, Not Sentiment 
The Educated Catholic 
A Disease Of The Mind 
Religious And Laity 
Reading As Food 
A Daily Exercise 
Unfortunate Biographies 
Ask For Help 
As Essential As Eating 
Reading And Meditation 
Indefinite Boundaries 
About The Author  

The introduction states: "Now if there is one thing for which modern conditions have produced a special necessity, it is the regular practice of spiritual reading. It is, of course, only a question of degree; for reading, or some other form of instruction, was always necessary" It has been a Christian practice since nearly the beginning. But today it is one that often slides by the side over taken by the urgent or that which easily distracts us. The purpose of this booklet is to remind us of the need for spiritual reading, but also to be cautious in all that we read. This booklet written well before the internet age raises some great questions about that with which we occupy our minds. And in today's technology age the distractions, which Rev Boylan speaks about are even more evident. Boylan goes on to state: "What has been said of periodicals is no less true of books taken generally; and there is another effect common to all such reading: it produces a distaste, not merely for the things that really matter, but also for the style and manner in which those things are presented in spiritual books. The result is that when one does by an effort force oneself to open a spiritual book, it requires a still greater effort to keep it open, and not to close it with a yawn. And, truth to tell, it is not always the reader who is to blame." And as an avid reader I can say that it is so true. It is easier to pick up a Clancy, Baldacci, Ludlum, or Robert B. Parker then to tackle an Aquinas, de' Liguori, Pope Benedict, or a Taylor Marshall. But this book reminds us of the importance of the effort and the greater reward from engaging in spiritual reading.   

Boylan declares: "Even if a man's reading of Catholic theology were only enough to teach him to know how much he does not know about it, a lot would be gained. But there is no reason why any educated Catholic should not go further, and bring his knowledge of Catholic theology up to the standards of the other branches of his knowledge - in principle if not in detail." And it is a worthy challenge. 

This is an excellent little read. And I am sure it will cause you to look at what you read, and how you read in a different light. This is one of the original Scepter booklets; in fact it was booklet 130. I was able to track down only print copies of about 60 of the original booklets, and am so excited that they are now becoming available in eBook formats.


It is now available for free in a wonderful eBook edition, along with many other booklets from the series. Scepter is in the process of updating all of the old booklets and making them available in a new format and presentation. I have read a number of the booklets and look forward to them all being available again. This book and the whole series are amazing resources to help you grow in your faith. And you really cannot beat the price! So why not give it a try.

PDF for free from Scepter.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of other books and booklets from Scepter click here. 

Scepter Booklets:

5 Steps to a Financially Healthy Marriage - Joseph D. Salem

A New Beginning - Walter Macken

A Plan of Life - Josemaria Escriva

A Profile of St Thomas More - M. Alvarez

A Treasury of Prayers - James W Albrecht

Bright and Cheerful Homes - James Urteaga

Catholic Teachings on Sex - Daryl Glick

Celibacy, Personality and the Gift of Self - John B Torello

Censorship - Cormac Burke

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - Declaration on Certain Questions of Sexual Ethics

Devotion to St. Joseph - F Delclaux

Diary of a City Priest - George William Rutler

Dispositions for Faith - John Henry Newman

Divine Ways on Earth - Cardinal Sergio Pignedoli

Francis Luna - How to Pray

Freedom From What For What - Cormac Burke

Frequent Confession - S Feirgle

How to Pray – Rev. Francis Luna

In Gods House - Paul Nitta

Increase and Multiply - J. A. Garcia-Prieto and J. L. Pastor

Is Purity Possible - JL Soria

Legacy A Story of Generosity - James B Stenson

Life of Faith - Josemaria Escriva

Living in God’s Presence - Francis Luna

Making the Most of Confession - Francis Luna

Marriage in Crisis - Cormac Burke

Montserrat Grases - Mercedes Eguibar

Norms of Piety - JM Muntadas

Novena to St. Josemaria Escriva for Work

Novena to the Immaculate Conception - St Josemaria Escriva

On the Encyclical “The Splendor of the Truth” - Russell Shaw

Order - Joseph L Soria

Parents, Children and The Rules of Life - Cormac Burke

Popular Devotions and Theology - JJ Espinosa

Priests for the New Millennium - John C McCloskey

Reinventing Dad - Denis Helming

Sanctifying Ordinary Work - Andrew Byrne

Scepter Christmas Carols

Seeking Christ in Reading - Rev Eugene Boylan

Sir Thomas More The Making of a Saint - Thomas J. McGovern

Sowing Abundant Doctrine - Joseph A. Vidal

The Angels - Cardinal John Wright

The Apostle Who Couldn't Believe - George Chevrot

The Ark and the Dove - Joseph W. McPherson

The Christian in the World - Russell Shaw

The Donkey at the Waterwheel - Malcolm Kennedy

The Galileo Affair - George Sim Johnston

The Gospel Truth - Michael Giesler

The Laity’s Role in Today’s Church - John Paul II's Christifideles Laici 

The Limits of Dissent - John Myers

The Priest and His Image - Alvaro del Portillo

The Reasonableness of Christianity - Peter Kreeft

To Make a Good Retreat - David Chandler

When God Calls - Rev. Federico Suarez

Why Suffer - Mary Ann Budnik

Winning Converts  - John  McCloskey

With All Your Mind - Rev. Federico Suarez

Women’s Liberation and Feminism - Jutta Burggraf

Work as Fufillment in the thought of John Paul II - John F Cloverdale

…

The Original List of Scepter Booklets:

001 Loyalty to the Church 

002 Sowing Abundant Doctrine 

003 Time is a Treasure 

004 "Increase and Multiply" 

006 Human Virtues

007 Bright and Cheerful Homes 

008 Freedom From What? For What ? 

009 Christ's Presence in Christians 

010 Mother of God, Our Mother 

011 Supernatural Aim of the Church 

012 That All may be Saved

014 The Angels 016 A Priest Forever 

017 Marriage, Christian Vocation 

018 With All Your Mind

019 Dispositions for Faith 

020/021 A New Beginning 

022 Sanctifying Ordinary Work 

024 Is Purity Possible 

025 Life of Prayer

026 Ascension of Our Lord 

027 The Religion of the Pharisee 

028 To Jesus Through Mary 

029 The New Barbarism

030 Passionately Loving the World 

032 Montserrat Grases

033 The Great Unknown

034 Love of God and Love of Neighbor 

035 Popular Devotions and Theology 

036 Towards Holiness

037 "Things New and Old"

038 Christ Triumphs Through Humility 

039 Judge Among Men

040 Frequent Confession  

041 Divine Ways on Earth: 

042 interior Struggle

044 The Eucharist: Mystery of Faith and Love 

048 Living in God's Presence

049 Marriage in Crisis 

050 The Priest and His Image 

051 Freedom and the Church 

052 Freedom A Gift of God

053 Censorship 

054 Christ the King 

055 Humanae Vitae 

056 With the Strength of Love 

057 Devotion to St. Joseph 

058 The Christian Vocation 

060 Woman Today

061 Norms of Piety Part 1

062 Norms of Piety Part 2

063 The Way of the Cross

064 Surrender to God 

066 Conscience and Truth 

069 Will You Also Go Away?

070 Twenty Questions to Msgr. Escriva

071 Have You Received the Spirit?

072 The Christian's Hope

073 Marxism and Christianity

074 The Apostle Who Couldn't Believe

075 God's Work 

076 Heaven 

080 Conversion of the Children of God

081 Full of Grace

082 St. Thomas More: A Profile 

083 Justice Alone is Not Enough 

085 "Your Sins Are Forgiven You" 

087 Here and Now

088 In the Footsteps of Christ

089 Before and After Holy Mass

090 The Greatness of Ordinary Life 

091 The Communion of Saints 092 The Blessed Trinity

093/094 Ideals in Youth

095 How to Understand the Bible

096 How the Bible Has Come to Us 

098 What is the Church For?

099 Msgr. Escriva De Belaguer: His Love for the Church

100 Parents Children and the Rules of Life 

101 Before God and Men

103 On the Feast of Corpus Christi 

104 Fatima and Its Pilgrims

105 Authority Faith, and The Individual 

106 Letter to Priests

107 Growing in Parenthood 

109 Detachment

111 Population and Development

112 Reaching and Teaching Your Children 

113 Strangers and Exiles

114 Woman Today: Her Role in the Family 

115 Christ's Death Is The Christian's Life 

116 The Need for Penance

117 Our lady's Place in Your Life 

118 Commentaries on the Holy Mass 

119/120 Letter on the Holy Eucharist 

121 Why Suffer

123 Man Essential Part 1 

124 Man Essential Part 2 

125 Sir Thomas More: The Making Of A Saint 

126 The Ventures of Faith

127 The Mystical Number Three 

128 The Ark and the Dove 

129 Come Holy Spirit

131/132 Family, Become What You Are 

133 Friendship Of Christ

134 Freedom to Love 

136 Conscience and Authority 

137 Seeking God in the World 

138 Priesthood of Today and Tomorrow 

139 A Year of Jubilee

140 Evolution

141 The Black Madonna 

142 Christ in his Church 

143 Meeting the Press 

144 Will Being Good Make Me Happy? 

145/146 Letters to a College Student 

147 A Game Plan For The Christian

148 Catholic Understanding of Marital Intimacy 

150 Process Theology and Secularization

151 Opus Dei & Its Critics 

152 Reading: Learning to Choose 

153 Liberation Theology 

154 Joys & Sorrows St. Joseph 

155 Alive to God

156 Keeping God in the Closet 

157 Freedom and Obedience 

158 With Respect to Sex 

159 The Individuality of the Soul 

160 Work and the Spiritual Life 

161 Women at Work

162 20 Questions to Mgr. Alvaro del Portillo 

163 Go For It!

164 Speaking from the Heart 

165 Donkey at the Waterwheel 

166 Talking About God

167 The Intelligence in the Service of Christ the King 

168 Penance

169 Law and Morality 

170 Sex & Education 

171 The Romance of Orthodoxy 

172 Marriage And The Priesthood 

173 In Her Will I Dwell

178 The Gospel Truth 

179 To Make a Good Retreat 

180 Contraception

181/182 Sucessful Fathers

183 The Laity's Role in today's Church 

184 Spiritual Direction

187 Reasonableness of Christianity 

190 The Christian in the World 

191 Seven Words From The Cross 

192 The Beatification of Msgr. Escriva 

194 Mass: The Hidden Treasure 

197 Evangelization in the U.S. 

199/200 Order

201 The Galileo Affair

…

204 Reinventing Dad

…

Easter Sunday 2017 - Photo's from the Cathedral in Cologne Germany

Easter Sunday 2017 

Photo's from the Cathedral in Cologne Germany taken in the fall of 2015.

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil - St. Agnes Waterloo

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 

The Light entering the world again.

St. Agnes Waterloo