Jesus just said to do it. Pray for your enemies. Sometimes we unnecessarily complicate this simple command. We may pray ineffectively, blocked by our own pride and the subtle forms of self deception and judgment that keep us from being open to the grace of God just when we (and our enemy) need it the most and… [Read More]
Mary is Our Homegirl: A Reflection on the Assumption of Our Humble and Barefoot Queen
She is so often portrayed as too pretty to touch, air brushed like a fluffy cloud or a pink puff of spun cotton candy. But she knew gut-wrenching grief. She cried real tears when she was widowed. Of course she did. Joseph’s death must have been a bottomless loss for her. She walked… [Read More]
NFP and the Holy Spirit
In October 1994 I was part of a nine day intensive training in Omaha, Nebraska given by the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, together with Creighton University. It was my “Phase I” to become an NFP Instructor. I was learning so much, even though my husband Blaze and I… [Read More]
Our Good Friend, St. Philomena
Once upon a time in Rome, during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (in the third century), a young girl gave her life in witness to Christ under harrowing circumstances hard to imagine. She did this in spite of frightened parents, repeated and successively more cruel tortures, threats and even persuasive words and temptations… [Read More]
Five Minute Mystic
The Church remembers Our Lady of Mt. Carmel today, Patroness and Exemplar of the life of the Carmelite Order, which began on Mt. Carmel in Israel 800 years ago and is still with us now. We have received a great treasury of Saints, of wisdom on prayer, and the map of the lived experience of… [Read More]
The Holiness of Housework
As soon as my friends and family stop laughing that I am writing anything about this subject, we can begin in earnest, Gentle Reader… Well, never mind then. We will just go on anyway. I deserve it, I know. If cleanliness is next to godliness then I had better meditate on Philippians 2:12,b EVERY DAY!… [Read More]
The Spiritual Dimension of Dementia
* I wrote this while my family was waiting for my mom’s definitive diagnosis. I have added an epilog at the end. I am listening to the beautiful sound of heavy rainfall. The windows in my room are open and the sound of muffled thunder rolls around the distant sky. My 11 year old… [Read More]
Dont Freak Out
Putting up with things that irritate us builds character. I think that is because when we are in a situation we can’t change, the only option is changing ourselves. “This is a good life skill,” I tell my kids. It is also a good skill for developing the spiritual life because it’s good training… [Read More]
A Meditation on the Immaculate Heart of Mary
In contemplating the Heart of Mary, we enter into her interior life, symbolized by the beautiful image of her heart. It is often depicted as pierced with a sword, in flames, wreathed with roses or with the crown of thorns of her Son. Mary’s pure and open heart is the reflection of our beautiful Christian… [Read More]
Mary’s “Lectio on Life”
In her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary says, “He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.” That line used to bother me. It sounds mean. I have often asked Our Lady what she meant by it exactly. I love the way she answered. Some years ago I had the blessing… [Read More]
Finding Your Inner Chapel Through Journaling
Long before I heard of my good friend St. Teresa of Avila, and threw myself into Carmelite spirituality, I met a really weird guy named Morton T. Kelsey in a book called The Other Side of Silence. If I hadn’t met Kelsey in his books I’m not sure I could have ever taken to the… [Read More]
