Mary has a presence all her own. I didn’t always know that – I didn’t always know her. I remember distinctly the first time I really felt her near. I was on a silent retreat, the first I’d ever attended. It was a 3-day experience of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. During the Exercises, you spend… [Read More]
Receptivity and Love in the Parable of the Sower
Over the last two Sundays and a daily mass in between in between, we have been hearing the parables where Christ describes the Kingdom through the imagery of the sower and the seeds, and we also heard Psalm with the same imagery. Here is the version read two Sundays ago “A sower went out to sow. And as… [Read More]
God of My Fathers
Today, in honor of Independence Day, I’ll like to share a song with you. To me, this song is a beautiful reflection on the promise of what we can be, especially when we honor where we came from, wherever that means to you. You’ll notice the reference to Abraham, the Father of our faith- counting stars… [Read More]
Transparency, Not Hypocrisy
Sometimes the Scripture is approached as if Jesus was an authoritarian parent, giving us demanding lists of do’s and don’ts. As I was listening to the readings at daily Mass on Wednesday, and to the priest’s beautiful homily that followed, I could see how someone might only hear the do’s and don’ts. Don’t blow trumpets when you… [Read More]
Pickin’ up the Crumbs
I wasn’t going to write a post this week. But I came across a quote on my friend Maria Scaperlanda’s facebook that made me pause – and since there are no coincidences, here is the post. That’s my take away for the week – from this very long, wearying, pushing-the-limits week: There are no coincidences. Starting Sunday… [Read More]
Mother’s Day, Mary & Meg
In honor of Mother’s Day and because it’s Mary’s month of May, I just can’t resist posting a plug for one my all time favorite books about women and mothers and Mary, by an amazing woman (but it isn’t only for women!). In 1934, Gertrude von le Fort published The Eternal Woman: The Timeless Meaning… [Read More]
Jewish-Christian Relations & the Resurrection: Reaction to Kansas City Shooting
When I heard about the news about the Kansas City shooting at the JCC, I felt heartsick, and began to pray immediately. I thought of some dear Jewish friends of mine, and I ached with them at the thought of them hearing the news. Like many Christians, the day it happened, I was preparing to… [Read More]
Compaña & Resurrection On the Via Crucis
Today is the last Friday before Palm Sunday and Holy Week. If you’re like a lot of Catholics, you might pray the Stations of the Cross this evening. And if you’re like me, you might get stuck along the way. During Lent we don’t only attempt to pray the Stations, but ideally we attempt to… [Read More]
What Do We Do With Weakness?
I heard an answer long ago to this question that really stuck with me. It has helped me deal with my own weaknesses and short comings on my spiritual journey (I’ll tell it as best as I remember, I seem to have lent out the book* it came from). What do we do with weakness?… [Read More]
Groundbreaking of the First Marian Shrine in Austin
Making Austin History: Last Sunday, atop a small hill in Bee Caves, beneath grey skies and cold winds, history was made. It was the ground breaking of the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin. Approximately 300 people from across the Diocese and across Texas participated in the mass and groundbreaking ceremony. During the… [Read More]
Being Open to the Bride
Last weekend I was blessed to witness the marriage of two very dear friends. The wedding was absolutely joyful, full of celebration that flowed spontaneously from the deep love and commitment of my two friends. On the drive home, with a heart full of the echoes of the celebration and the presence of my friends… [Read More]
In All Its Inexhaustible Richness: Neuroscience and the Heart
A good friend of mine tagged me this week in an article on Facebook, about epigenetics and the 9 components of mental health, by Dr. Gregory Popcak. Dr. Popcak does a fantastic job of showing the organic relationship between neuroscience and the heart, our brain and theology, between spiritual knowledge of man’s heart and scientific… [Read More]
The Organic Saint!
Here is something that I find heartening, and very telling, about the whole organic food movement. It seems to me that the organic food movement is a secular, concrete and very natural manifestation for our modern society’s hunger for harmony. We’re waking up to the damage we’ve done to our bodies and our social fabric… [Read More]
A Story, to Start the New Year
Once upon a New Year’s Eve, a young woman named Rachel was taking care of her friend’s little baby boy. This particular day was pretty much the same as many of the other days that she spent with the little boy – precious. The little boy was one of the sweetest little boys Rachel knew,… [Read More]
Advent Stop Signs
To be surprised by unexpected graces. That is the spirit of the Advent season! I went on an Advent mini-retreat last weekend with the Schoenstatt Women Young Professionals, a group of young adult women from all over the Diocese who gather regularly to deepen their spiritual life and find community (if you’re interested, click here!)…. [Read More]
Empty Waiting
Wait. Just wait. It is this word that characterizes the Advent season – waiting. We wait for, we anticipate, we long for the coming of the Christ Child. That’s what ” advent” means: the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. So during advent, we’re celebrating waiting for the arrival of Christ. The season of Advent has been… [Read More]
Let’s dialogue: Prayer at Town Hall Meeting, Greece v. Galloway
Driving home Wednesday I heard this piece on NPR about the Supreme Court hearing arguments for Town of Greece v. Galloway, a case involving prayer and town hall meetings in Greece, NY. I decided to look into what other sources were saying about the case (NY Times, Deseret News, Fox News, Townhall.com, Christiannews.net, Progressivevoices.com are some of the… [Read More]
The Theology of Womanhood, Eternal
The Glass Ceiling Last Sunday I attended mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Downtown Houston. I was in town for a wedding, and the 11am mass at the Co-Cathedral just happened to work for my day. It turns out that day they were having a beautiful special ceremony to honor the city’s… [Read More]
Beyond Duty Towards a Generous Heart
“Freedom comes in letting go. Open up the window to your heart. You are loved.” – JJ Heller Last Sunday we heard a parable about a servant during the Gospel reading. It’s a parable that has often confused me. What does Jesus mean by saying that when your servant comes in tired and hungry after… [Read More]
Have you read Lumen Fidei yet? Part III: Faith in Relation to Love and Truth
I’m still working on reading it myself! As we follow our Pope in all his tweets and homilies, and that beautiful and authentic interview released last week, and how the media responds, etc, let’s take a break from the sound-byte surfing and dive back in to the deep end – to continue our slow process… [Read More]
Msgr Mike Sis to speak at Gala to benefit first Marian Shrine in Diocese
Do you want to be a part of building the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin? Monsignor Mike Sis will be speaking in two weeks at the second annual Seeds of Grace Gala. The Gala is hosted by the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin, which is the local branch of the International Schoenstatt Movement,… [Read More]
God, My Father: Love & Discipline
It’s been one of those weeks where the Lord hits me over the head with my blog post, more or less. You know, one of those occasions where I understand something from the Lord, and then He confirms it not once, but twice. It doesn’t always happen, but it makes me glad I’m listening when… [Read More]
Lumen Fidei: Part II, We Have Believed in Love
(This is the second reflection over Lumen Fidei in a series. This installment covers Chapter One: We Have Believed in Love. For the introduction, please see Lumen Fidei: Part I, Illusion and Illumination). Introduction We received a perfect inspiration to return to studying Pope Francis’ encyclical, Lumen Fidei, The Light of Faith, during last Sunday’s mass…. [Read More]
Lumen Fidei: Part I, Illusion and Illumination
With all of the excitement from World Youth Day in Rio, we’ve been receiving fresh doses of inspiration from our dear Pope each day. Pope Francis has been building a deep and coherent message for all of us these past few weeks, starting with the publication of Lumen Fidei, his first encyclical. Even as he… [Read More]
This I Believe* – I Believe in Community
The human reality of community has been on my mind and heart a lot lately. How we experience community is so foundational to how we experience Church. Pope Francis recently put forth a challenge to each of us: “What do I do to make the Church a community in which everyone feels welcomed and understood, [in which]… [Read More]
Slave of Two Masters, A Book Pre-view
With the arrival of summer, I have been stressing out about money. Vacations, weddings, extra weekly outings with friends in town, switching apartments…etc. I know I’m not alone in this – every summer there is a HUGE push in sales, advertising, etc around vacations, summer activities, entertainment, fashion, food – all that. I’d like to… [Read More]
Mother of Pentecost
Last Sunday, the glorious Easter Season came to it’s pinnacle in the celebration of Pentecost. Just in case you didn’t get a big enough dose of the Holy Spirit then, I’d like to draw your attention back to that moment– to the Mother of that moment – Mary. If you’ve ever seen a painting or… [Read More]
The Ascension and Authority, Relationship and Revelation
Yesterday was Ascension Thursday, the traditional day when the Feast of the Ascension is celebrated. However, most parishes in the US will celebrate the Ascension this coming Sunday (see this article for an explanation of why the date was moved!). In these Easter weeks leading up to the Ascension, and then Pentecost, we’ve been hearing… [Read More]
Ora et labora, aka Work and/as/in Prayer
Driving home from class last night, as I offered a decade of the rosary to help calm my mind, what was the first thing the Spirit brought to my calm mind but a friendly reminder – don’t forget your blog post tomorrow! Oops! I had forgotten! This week has been crazy, and though I’ve been… [Read More]
Consider the lilies: The relationship between natural and supernatural life
Easter Season is such a rich season for symbols, for imagery. It is the season where I appreciate most the Church’s rich liturgical tradition – she really has a way of understanding the relationship between the natural and the supernatural world, which gives birth to such rich spiritual life. Last Sunday I was blessed with the… [Read More]
Agony & Chalice, Freedom & Love
Christ’s words in Gethsemane have been echoing in my heart for months now. And today, this most solemn Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday, is the day when we are called to be with Christ in His Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. We have begun the Triduum; we walk towards the Resurrection. These are the… [Read More]
St Francis 101 – Our New Pope’s Patron!
We have all received a significant and beautiful first message and gift from our new Pope through the patron/namesake he took on when he accepted the call to serve us as our Shepherd: St Francis. What stirs in your heart when you hear that name? How does your soul respond when you pray for our new… [Read More]
The Church Must Be a Ship: Papal Resignation, The Year of Faith & Lumen Gentium
I’m sure by now you’ve heard that TODAY is the LAST DAY of the pontificate of our dear Pope Benedict XVI. That can make us feel, at the very least, a little unsettled. Like a ship on an unsteady sea, I feel a bit like I’ve lost my anchor – like I don’t know… [Read More]
Pope Benedict XVI – Words you might’ve missed
Last weekend as I planned my post, I was thinking of sharing some words from Pope Benedict that didn’t get much social media/blog attention, words that most people weren’t talking about – his homily on February 2nd at mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and the 17th year of celebrating the… [Read More]
Vatican II & Social Communication
So I’ve been studying Vatican II lately (the Second Vatican Council) – not formally or anything, just reading up on it for fun (yes, for fun!). It IS the 50th anniversary of the opening Vat II after all – which is, of course, a fundamental part of the spirit/reason behind the Year of Faith. And… [Read More]
Beginning the Year with Thomas Merton (Book Reviews and Shameless Plug!)
I’d like to take this post to do a total shameless plug for Thomas Merton – a holy man who has taught me so much that I consider him to be a spiritual father. At the end of the old year and to help me start the new year, I picked up his book Thoughts in… [Read More]
Making Room
Yesterday at mass we heard one of the infancy narratives, the one from Matthew (at Tuesday daily mass – right now it’s Wednesday night!). We’re getting closer and closer to end of the Advent season and the start of Christmas, so we’re starting to hear more about Christ’s birth. On Christmas (well, at the Midnight Mass),… [Read More]
He humbled Himself
As soon as Thanksgiving ends and the consumer world starts promoting and selling Christmas in earnest, I feel like I immediately start to hear from the Catholic media sphere the repeated mantra warning us against the spirit of materialism: Focus on the reason for the season, don’t get stressed out over Christmas shopping and buying stuff, don’t… [Read More]
In All Circumstances Give Thanks
That’s all for today, friends. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Being Connected
I tend to face life’s challenges and situations looking for the correct answer – Lord, what is the right thing to do? Lord, show me the right way to go! I was doing that yesterday in mass, seeking how to follow God’s will “correctly” – job stuff, grad school, the elections, friends and relationships were all on… [Read More]
