Amid the violent chaos of the impending crucifixion of Jesus were at least a few children. The eighth station shows they were in the crowd with their mothers, maybe the same ones who once asked the indignant Apostles whether Jesus could bless them. Jesus, who once said the meek were blessed, has also said the… [Read More]
About Norine Shaivitz
A Church On Our Knees
I was praying the decade of the rosary I try to say everyday for clergy and I had to stop. I was internally yelling and externally crying, and that emotion had to find another outlet. So, I’m writing. I’m glad to have the Eucharistic company of Jesus, consecrated by one of the priests at the… [Read More]
Swimming Under Mary’s Mantle
The swimming instructor called for us to do the positions we had learned. She asked us to lay on our backs in the water. I was very happy on my back. I kicked hard and happily thought about how fast I was going – maybe faster than the others. It turns out I was definitely… [Read More]
We Went Away Sad
“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, and sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come, follow me.’ At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions (Mark… [Read More]
Following the Shepherd’s Voice
“My sheep know my voice and they follow me (John 10:27).” I read that line a long time ago, proclaimed in the week after we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. But it has stayed with me for weeks. I know His voice and I’m supposed to follow it. So, why do I so often follow my… [Read More]
The Older Sibling Comes Back
I recently went on a retreat that gave me a great deal of joy and then a great deal of pain. I was on the mountain. And then I fell off. Among other things, Father Charlie Garza’s day retreat focused on the seven deadly sins – how to recognize the false gods within them and… [Read More]
Properly Clothed for Holy Week
The man came to the turbulent mob scene of Jesus’ arrest wearing only a linen cloth. It was right after the 12 had fled. What a time to show up. And then he also fled, somehow losing the little bit of clothing he had. I find that passage curious each year when we follow the… [Read More]
She Pondered the Greeting
“Hail, full of grace,” said the angel to the young woman. And Mary was perplexed. She pondered the greeting. I’ve spent a lot of time pondering this greeting too. It comes up every Monday and Saturday as the assigned meditation of the rosary. And I also heard it four times between Advent, Christmas and a… [Read More]
I Will Go
Nine months after I had lost the ability to stand, walk, drive and care for myself or my family because illness damaged my left vestibular nerve, I have graduated from neurological physical therapy. I am blessed that I had a very good therapist. She has a doctorate in the field. She would encourage me… [Read More]
Let Me Bless You
My five-year old has taken up a renewed interest in the Barbie movies she got when she was three. My house is filled with the sound of Barbie with her puppies or Barbie as a mermaid or Barbie in fairy wings. My little one sings along as Barbie plays a different character who is always… [Read More]
A Sword Pierced Her Heart
Our Lady was sobbing. The sword had pierced her through. She wept for her son, who was going to die. We are soon to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. But since September, I have been contemplating Holy Mother under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows. As I… [Read More]
Do You Want To Be Well?
I have gotten a lot better at walking in my six months since the onset of vestibular neuritis. I’m out of the wheelchair, I’m caring for myself and my family again and I can drive to run all the errands I did before. Sometimes I forget I have a problem at all. But I find… [Read More]
This Child is Destined
Jesus was approaching the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, snuggled in the arms of either His mother Mary or His step-father Joseph, and the Holy Spirit was waiting, filling Simeon who had also come to the Temple that day. A not quite two-month old Jesus was presented as the law commanded (Leviticus 12:2-4), and the joy… [Read More]
Holy Things Are Veiled
Saint Paul speaks of shame when it comes to women covering their heads before the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:5-6), but I was brought to do so for a reason that came about earlier than the entrance of shame in the Garden. A priest on Relevant Radio said God had a very specific order when He… [Read More]
I Am, not I Do
My kids had been watching the Veggie Tales DVD “Mo and the Big Exit,” and my four-year old asked a question. I turned to the book of Exodus and began to read aloud: “Doesn’t that sound familiar?” I asked, linking the bible verses to the show. But very quickly, she lost interest and I found… [Read More]
Who Would Choose This?
I lay in bed, but the room continued to spin. I shut my eyes and stayed as still as I could. I was a prisoner of my illness, unable to leave the bed, the room or the house unless someone else came to help me. I thought of Jesus, laying in a ciborium, locked in… [Read More]
What Would Padre Pio Say?
Have you ever been to confession with Padre Pio? I think I have. Someone asked me to pray a novena to Padre Pio for an intention. I love novenas. Not everyone does. But I love them. As long as I had him on the phone for that intention, I asked him about a few other… [Read More]
I Imagined You
I understood that I was before the Throne of God, at the knee of my Heavenly Father. Just a couple of hours before (and a couple of years before this posting), I had been prayed over to receive the Holy Spirit by my parish youth minister, who assigned me as youth group intercessor, or as… [Read More]
Would You Walk Away?
The woman serving as extraordinary minister reached into the ciborium and grabbed a host. At that moment, something white seemed to fly out. We both saw it. It flew off, falling to my left, her right. We looked at each other. “Body of Christ,” she said. “Amen,” I said, and I received on my tongue… [Read More]
Okay Jesus, are you a Democrat or a Republican?
I have spent a lot of time in my life following politics. I was a rare 12-year old when I started reading newspapers, watching TV newscasts and listening to radio news. After getting a degree in broadcast journalism, I became a news reporter. And working at a radio station in Austin, Texas the late 1990s… [Read More]
Be Like Jesus: Ask for Help
School is very helpful. Kids learn stuff. They make friends. And their moms are suddenly free to do things without them. I was dreading the end of school last spring and eager for the start of school this fall because I was going to have a lot of meetings that I couldn’t bring the kids… [Read More]
