Life

“Witnesses of Life”: A Memorial Day Prayer

[ 1 ] May 25, 2013 AD |
“Witnesses of Life”: A Memorial Day Prayer

A long weekend! Thank you, Memorial Day! But wait, there is more to Memorial Day than the fact that it marks a three-day weekend on the calendar. Memorial Day is a time for reflection. And Memorial Day is a national holiday. We, as a nation, recognize the value of remembering those who have sacrificed their [...]

Book Review: Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious

[ 3 ] May 24, 2013 AD |
Book Review: <em>Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious</em>

I was pleasantly surprised last month when I was approached through Facebook to consider reviewing a new book for Catholic women by author Pat Gohn. I had heard of Ms. Gohn from her popular podcast Among Women, and thought it a very good sign that she was reaching out to ME to read and review [...]

Sex Ed and Men and the Marriage Bed

[ 10 ] May 24, 2013 AD |
Sex Ed and Men and the Marriage Bed

In all the discussions about abstinence-only sex ed lately there is much talk about spit and water, licked ice cream cones, and tape that is no longer sticky. Obviously, as many other writers have already pointed out,  that kind of abstinence-only sex ed leaves much to be desired, especially for the women who – for one [...]

Religion

World Youth Day: Time of your Eternal Life

[ 1 ] May 25, 2013 AD |
World Youth Day: Time of your Eternal Life

It is not long to go until World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And what a World Youth Day it will be. The first World Youth Day with a new pope, a South American pope, and in South America. Many younger generation Catholics have an experience of World Youth Day. The World [...]

The Value of Life is Found in the Cross of Christ

[ 2 ] May 22, 2013 AD |
The Value of Life is Found in the Cross of Christ

In the struggle for life, talking about God is indispensable. Only in this way does the value of the weak, the disabled, the nonproductive, the incurably ill become apparent; only in this way can we relearn and rediscover, too, the value of suffering: the greatest lesson on human dignity always remains the cross of Christ, [...]

The Gift of My Patron Saint

[ 8 ] May 21, 2013 AD |
The Gift of My Patron Saint

I didn’t choose my patron saint, she choose me. It was a breezy spring afternoon at wrap up week for National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries. Hanging out in Amery, WI at Camp Wapo was a chance to connect with friends and prepare ourselves to ‘face the real world’. As the crowd was gathering in the [...]

Relationships

Sex Ed and Men and the Marriage Bed

[ 10 ] May 24, 2013 AD |
Sex Ed and Men and the Marriage Bed

In all the discussions about abstinence-only sex ed lately there is much talk about spit and water, licked ice cream cones, and tape that is no longer sticky. Obviously, as many other writers have already pointed out,  that kind of abstinence-only sex ed leaves much to be desired, especially for the women who – for one [...]

The Value of Life is Found in the Cross of Christ

[ 2 ] May 22, 2013 AD |
The Value of Life is Found in the Cross of Christ

In the struggle for life, talking about God is indispensable. Only in this way does the value of the weak, the disabled, the nonproductive, the incurably ill become apparent; only in this way can we relearn and rediscover, too, the value of suffering: the greatest lesson on human dignity always remains the cross of Christ, [...]

The Ethics of Your Wedding Dress

[ 11 ] May 19, 2013 AD |
The Ethics of Your Wedding Dress

You’re probably expecting me to say something about strapless dresses and not showing too much skin, but I’m not. Okay, I can’t resist so here’s my opinion on the subject: Don’t be trashy, The Dress is about your wedding day, not your wedding night. With wedding season upon us, what I really want to talk [...]

Entertainment

Book Review: Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious

[ 3 ] May 24, 2013 AD |
Book Review: <em>Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious</em>

I was pleasantly surprised last month when I was approached through Facebook to consider reviewing a new book for Catholic women by author Pat Gohn. I had heard of Ms. Gohn from her popular podcast Among Women, and thought it a very good sign that she was reaching out to ME to read and review [...]

The New New Media

[ 1 ] May 24, 2013 AD |
The <em>New</em> New Media

I have a bit of a confession to make before I begin. This article is arguably entirely self serving, so take what I state with as much salt as necessary. I love video games. I have loved them since I was first introduced to them in the early ’80s. It is a passion that borders on [...]

The Religious Art of Daniel Mitsui

[ 3 ] May 22, 2013 AD |
The Religious Art of Daniel Mitsui

Intricate details and deep meaning characterize Daniel Mitsui’s religious art, which he renders by hand using ink on paper or vellum. Mitsui draws biblical subjects and saints according to the conventions of traditional iconography. More than being just representations of scenes and persons, Mitsui’s works are visual theological treatises. For example, his Pentecost shows not [...]

Other Recent Articles

Adventures

Adventures

[ 5 ] May 21, 2013 AD |

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it is very difficult to find anyone.” —J. R. R. Tolkien People are scared of having adventures. This is true, even for the people whose hearts want to explore. Something’s holding them back–the what if? questions, fear that we will return [...]

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Our Works, His Grace

Our Works, His Grace

[ 2 ] May 14, 2013 AD |

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four [...]

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Toward a Masculine Spirituality

Toward a Masculine Spirituality

[ 13 ] May 14, 2013 AD |

I had the blessing of growing up in an incredible parish. Holy Cross bore many of the hallmarks of what we as a Church are beginning to recognize as the program for rejuvenating parishes. A perpetual adoration chapel. Beautiful liturgies. Dynamic preaching. Discipleship programs and evangelization retreats. A Catholic grade school that begins each day [...]

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Worthy: See Yourself as God Does

Worthy: See Yourself as God Does

[ 2 ] May 14, 2013 AD |

The world is constantly telling women that we aren’t good enough.  We go unseen, unsought, unpursued, and this all leads us to believe that we are unworthy. Unworthy of what, you ask? Unworthy of happiness, joy, love, peace, and any good thing that life could offer us. These lies, straight from the mouth of Satan, [...]

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There I Am Home

There I Am Home

[ 1 ] May 13, 2013 AD |

Home has never been a place for me. I have been so many places in my life. I have a special nostalgia for the farming country of Upstate NY, especially in the Summer, and the Fall. And the Spring. And the Winter. That’s because I grew up there, and I guess in a certain sense [...]

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Introducing StrangeNotions.com – Reason, Faith, and Dialogue

Introducing StrangeNotions.com – Reason, Faith, and Dialogue

[ 1 ] May 13, 2013 AD |

For the last couple years I’ve been working behind-the-scenes on a huge new project, and last Monday it finally went live. The project is called Strange Notions, and it’s designed to be the central place of dialogue between Catholics and atheists. As a ‘digital Areopagus’, it features intelligent articles, compelling video, and rich discussion throughout [...]

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Our Lady’s Three Rosaries

Our Lady’s Three Rosaries

[ 4 ] May 13, 2013 AD |

Today the Church commemorates the beginning of Our Lady’s apparitions in Fatima, Portugal on May 13, 1917. In her apparitions to the shepherd children, Mary revealed herself as the Queen of the Holy Rosary and encouraged the daily recitation of the rosary. This devotion to the Mother of God has been recommended to the faithful [...]

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Reasons to be Open to Motherhood

Reasons to be Open to Motherhood

[ 2 ] May 12, 2013 AD |

In honour of Mother’s Day… A fellow writer recently asked somebody to write something positive about motherhood. She said “Some of us not-yet-moms are scared of motherhood because all we hear is that you’re miserable and debilitated for nine months, then have a day of the most excruciating pain ever, then you don’t sleep for [...]

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The Self-Sacrifice of Mary

The Self-Sacrifice of Mary

[ 1 ] May 12, 2013 AD |

Imagine for yourself: A 13-year-old middle-eastern girl sitting at home, minding her own business. Maybe she’s doing chores. Maybe she’s studying. It won’t matter in a few moments what she is doing, because her life is about to change forever. An angel comes to her. Now, she’s heard about angels from her parents and from [...]

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W.W.M.D?

W.W.M.D?

[ 0 ] May 12, 2013 AD |

Have you ever seen the letters “WWJD?” The phrase “What Would Jesus Do” appears on bumper stickers, wristbands, coffee mugs and various other tchotchkes from time to time. As a young mother, however, I often find myself asking, “What Would Mary Do?” To me, Mary, the Mother of God, is an amazing model of perfect motherhood. She was [...]

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