Today as I mark the 20th Anniversary of 911 I offer prayers for our nation and for all who suffered that day. The passengers who were unknowing victims of a terrorist attack, men and women going to work at the Pentagon or the Twin Towers for another Tuesday, visitors to NYC to see the visit the iconic landmark, First Responders heroically entering the Towers to save as many people as possible and finally men & women of courage who prevented a fourth attack by risking their own lives to undermine another attack. Prayer for our Nation, and prayers for our world.
Our parish will be remembering the day in prayer and music at a concert this evening. I will post a link later in the day for those who might want to watch it on YouTube. Thank you Supporters & Members - my visits here are a real blessing and joy in my life, there are still so many good souls among us as reasons for hope as we look towards the future. Thank you for taking part of your on-line time to drop by and visit this community of digital neighbors.
Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
Good morning, Digital Neighbors! Happy Sabbath and Saturday to all you fine souls milling about on Locals and Substack. A morning meditation from Anthony de Mello. Not all of his writings are my cup of tea, but Wellsprings is a book I have returned to often for reflection and meditation. I take all these morning musings as something like a 12-Step program session: take what you like and leave the rest. Some have put me on block or mute at various sites, which I am thankful for as a modern feature. They can enjoy the community without my content interfering or distracting. I have done the same to a few myself. It is one of the best features of more recent social media. I wish they would have had that back in the days of AOL chat rooms. The first rule of the internet: jerks are emboldened by a screen between them and reactive reality. Anywho, off to the morning reflection. It is a tad longer than most morning posts. Have a great Saturday, Digital Neighbors!
THE EXPOSURE
I think of the times I come alive
and the times when I am dead.
I ponder on the ...
