Patience in the Desert
For forty days Christ suffered in the desert, fasting and depriving Himself of comfort, choosing to undergo hardship and temptation for the sake of teaching us the importance of fortitude, penance, and trust in God alone. Christ made Himself uncomfortable to show us the importance of doing the same, of not being afraid to do […]
Minimalism
Minimalism takes work and effort. It is an exercise of saying no to many things in order to focus on saying yes to the important ones. It is well worth it since minimalism also brings many benefits to both body and soul. Lent is a season for minimalism, both inside and out. We are invited […]
Entering into the Silence for Spiritual Boot Camp
Throughout Lent, we often focus on the things we are giving up or the extra things we are doing. Maybe we are fasting from chocolate, praying a weekly holy hour, or volunteering more at the soup kitchen. Often our Lent becomes filled with things to do instead of drawing us closer to God. To have a […]
Works of Mercy Part I: Acts of Love and Service
One of the pillars of Lent is almsgiving (and by extension, almsdeeds). On the surface, almsgiving and almsdeeds mean only to give away money or goods to those in need. However, almsdeeds go beyond this: they are the works of mercy. I will be posting about the works of mercy each week during Lent, pairing […]
From Worry to Prayer
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Luke 12:25-26 Life is filled with troubles. Our temporary sojourn on earth reveals to us the imperfection of this life. Each season of life comes with its […]
The Witness of Our Lives
The image of the ISIS’ beheading of Egyptian Coptic Christians has provoked various reactions: sympathy, outrage, exhortations to prayer, demands for action, and symbolic displays of solidarity. I think the most important reaction it is self-examination. Pope Francis said of the slain Egyptian Coptic Christians that they were killed for being Christians, and that their […]
Beyond My Comfort (Food) Zone
It is very appropriate, I think, that I received my diagnosis of wheat and milk allergies during Lent, three years ago. After all, I was already in a mode of Lenten sacrifice, and it felt good and natural to cut out these foods from my life and stick to a very basic diet. Also, I […]
The Whisper of the Salve
The whisper of the Salve Regina echoes in my heart, a distant memory of chant at the Benedictine Monastery. …the January night sky glittered above with the sparkling of lighted stars. The long endless country road that dips and winds to the brothers’ abode. The moonlight shining on the silent fields creating snow crystals waiting […]
A Clean Heart
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Psalm 51 The heart is one of the most essential organs in the human body because it pumps blood to every extremity. When it does not function properly and effectively, negative side effects occur. If we do not eat a […]
My Husband Isn’t Trained
My husband isn’t trained to pause his video game and come downstairs to greet me when I get home after a long day. My husband isn’t trained to take out the trash. My husband isn’t trained to put his dishes in the dishwasher and set it to run. My husband isn’t trained to pray with […]
Why Do We Pray, Fast, and Give Alms During Lent?
This is a lesson for which I will be forever in debt to Dr. Brant Pitre. He taught it to me, and I’m passing it on. But I have to say up front that if you enjoy this post, check out his presentation on it here. It is amazing stuff! Lent is a fantastic spiritual […]
The Ultimate Planner
I’m a planner. While I cannot remember when I first developed this identity, my affinity for planning, having a plan, and keeping a plan has grown significantly over the past few years. I love lists, knowing what’s happening ahead of time, and looking forward to planned events. Surely, spontaneity is great. And I’m not opposed […]
When Waiting is Really Hard
In reaction to the increasing physical immorality spreading through society today, and in an attempt to counter the message constantly being sold through advertising, movies, music, and even best-selling books that says sexual intimacy is not only okay, but expected, outside of marriage, the Catholic online world has been buzzing with all sorts of articles […]
Jesus Expelled
[An exegesis and reflection on Mark 1:40-45] In the readings this week we may consider the primary themes that of ‘expulsion’ and ‘re-entry.’ A man, in Leviticus, when he was declared unclean by the priest or by the community was expelled for the safety of the whole. He had to cry out “Unclean!” to warn […]
Read More Books Now
Brandon Vogt, social media guru and self-proclaimed bibliophile extraordinaire is at it again. His latest project, Read More Books Now, a multi-media package that helps busy people like you and me read more books, is now available. Brandon reads anywhere from 75-100 books in a year, so I counted myself lucky to receive advance entrance into […]
Poor Media Coverage of March For Life
I am astonished, but not surprised, that the mainstream media still does not report on the March for Life. How can you ignore hundreds of thousands of people?
Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth
As a young mother of a young baby, the opportunity to do something purely for my own entertainment comes around very rarely. On one of those rare opportunities, my husband and I rented a few movies from RedBox and snuggled down on the couch with cups of cocoa and some blessed quiet time. One of […]
Death of Beauraing Visionary Renews Message of Apparition
The last living visionary from Beauraing, Belgium died on February 10, 2015. I was not surprised Gilberte Degeimbre’s death elicited no coverage in the United States by Catholic writers or Marian enthusiasts. The thirty-three apparitions of Our Lady to five children in Beauraing are virtually unknown to Catholics in the United States. More common to […]
Glory, Glory, Glory
I have been going about this all wrong. I have been making myself the victim to this tyranny I have projected onto God when, in fact, I have become the tyrant trying to dictate to God how His Will should play out in my life. I make the rules, I throw a tantrum when thing […]
Some Wisdom from John of the Cross
Today at Holy Hour I read this passage in “The Living Flame of Love,” by St. John of the Cross: He [The Holy Spirit] touches the soul not with His shadow only, for He unites Him self to it, feeling and tasting with it the form and attributes of God in the shadow of God: […]
Emotional Discipline (My Recovery From Addiction)
I’ve never been in a violent or abusive relationship – not physically, emotionally, psychologically, or sexually – and for that I am truly and eternally grateful. But I have been without self-esteem or confidence, I have been desperate, I have been violent towards myself, and, most tragically, I have been an addict. It has been […]
Why English is the Best Language to Talk About “Love”
I’m sure you’ve heard it. Your Spanish or French or German speaking friends have mentioned that English is just lacking when it comes to “love.” Maybe you heard in a homily or a talk at a retreat all about the top three Greek words for love (philia, agape, eros), or the seemingly endless list of Latin terms […]
99 Ways to Teach Like the Master- Jesus
Are you a parent? Do you teach in a classroom or do you homeschool? Know someone who has been called to the vocation of educating others as a catechist, coach, trainer or through any other instructional means? I’ve got you covered. I am thrilled to announce my first published book, 99 Ways to Teach Like the […]
Love Calls Us to Empathy
There is a stereotype, probably justified, of the angst-ridden teenager who cries, “No one understands me.” No matter are age, we all feel this adolescent attitude from time to time. But if we let that feeling fester, it can turn from self-pity into the sin of self-absorption. Like all sin, it not only separates us […]
A Catholic Valentine’s Day: How to reclaim and retain your sanity
If you are a warm-blooded, sentient, and rational American who desires to love and be loved, then you have probably experienced at some point in your life a profusion of emotions in the days leading up to and on Valentine’s Day. How could you not? From the time of our youth and continuing all the way through adulthood, there is […]
When Repentance Looks Like A Shower
“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” -Mark 1:35-37 Any parent who has planned to get up “before the kids” in order to have some […]
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