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Sister Lynn’s “Lectio on Life

Published June 26, 2019 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

  I had been talking to Sister Lynn D’Souza, OSB about the way people interpret dreams and often feel God is speaking to them in the stories and symbolic situations of their dreams. I had thought that one could also interpret life and its events as messages from God. In some situations, I tend to… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published June 26, 2019

Sin? Not a problem.

Published June 11, 2018 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult

Sin? No problem. This Sunday we heard the Gospel reading on the Fall, of the moment sin entered creation and divided all that was meant to be united. Since then the human person has been faced with the conditions of inner division and brokenness as a personal reality and as a reality in creation. Yet,… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published June 11, 2018

The Modest Ornaments of the Day: simple routines that re-center

Published May 28, 2018 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

I have a cup of coffee, and I am listening to jazz (Alice Coltrane today,) because it is 2 o’clock. That’s what I always do this time of day; jazz and coffee. Somehow this makes me feel more present in the day. The loose, open-ended routine of stopping the day, at least a little bit,… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published May 28, 2018

Angels & Dragons X: St. Faustina’s Battles

Published March 28, 2018 • Written by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez Filed Under: Prayer

For 40 days we have watched Jesus prepare for His final battle on Calvary. All His life He has trained for this day. He was born for this! And so are we. The life of a Christian is a constant battle. Against ourselves, the world, and the powers of darkness. As Gaudium et Spes states,… [Read More]

Written by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez • Published March 28, 2018

Dear Austin, let us pray…

Published March 21, 2018 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Resources, Social Justice, World and News

It is a morning to pray. We woke up to the news today that the suspect behind the recent package bombs had been caught, and indeed had taken his own life in the process. Let us pray this morning together for peace in our city, for peace in our families, for peace in our own… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published March 21, 2018

Juan the stranger

Published December 5, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

As my son-in-law swept up the toddler for her evening nap, I stepped silently out the front door for an evening walk, rosary in hand. It was dusk, and the sky was alight with rose colored clouds. Everything looked pink. As I walked, the beads slipping quietly between my fingers, I alternately poured out my… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published December 5, 2017

Making the Root of Holy Wisdom Our Own

Published November 13, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Resources, World and News, Young Adult

“…and he shall find her sitting by his gate.” You know those moments when you’ve been thinking about or reading about something, and then it happens to come up at Sunday mass? When the readings or the homily are about exactly what’s been on your mind/heart? I love when that happens! That happened to me… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published November 13, 2017

Thoughts on the “thoughts and prayers”

Published November 8, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Social Justice, World and News

Some people are upset about the “thoughts and prayers” response to mass shootings. I understand. I am tired of hearing that myself. It seems such a fill in the blank response; even glib and inappropriate when we all feel sickened by this cycle of seemingly endless gun violence followed by the same responses and counter… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published November 8, 2017

Note to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

Published October 24, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

  I run to the place we always meet, all the way crying angry tears. In the candle light, I kneel. I cross myself.  I breathe. Breathe.  In this quiet room is my refuge, the nearness of the One I love. I know I have come close to Jesus.  I know the Eucharist is truly a beating… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published October 24, 2017

I Already Love You (The False Self Part II)

Published October 16, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Young Adult

Since the last post seemed have struck a chord with y’all (I received quite a response!) I wanted to pick up where we left off, and give you my two best “signposts” for how to move forward in this whole allow-your-false-self-to-be-chiseled-away thing. Signpost #1: Keep your eyes fixed on our merciful, loving Father There is… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published October 16, 2017

Carmelized Fatima Clips

Published October 10, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

During the final apparition of Fatima Mary appeared briefly in the brown habit of Carmel, or as “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,” a silent witness to Carmelite spirituality and the order’s special and unique relationship with her. Carmel is a Marian order. Our devotion to Mary is intimate and deep. We have long considered ourselves… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published October 10, 2017

Litany of the False Self

Published October 2, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Prayer, Young Adult, Youth

You know those moments at work which you wish you could take back? Where you make a mistake in front of a whole group of your coworkers and your cheeks flush and you shrink a size or two? I had a few of those moments this week. And in God’s fantastic sense of humor, on… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published October 2, 2017

St. Therese Day Family Traditions

Published September 26, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Youth

Here is how my daughters and I celebrated St. Therese day, (October 1) when they were growing up, and we still do!   After dinner on the evening of St. Therese day, we read the book God’s Little Flower, the story of St. Therese. Even after the girls were “too old” for this book, we… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published September 26, 2017

The Crowd Mentality of Today (Conviction & Stress Part II)

Published September 4, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Resources, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

When I was young I had an odd, somewhat unconscious anxious habit. Someone would say, “It’s like in that movie _______, ya know?” and I would say, “Yeah,” and they’d continue with their story. The conversation kept flowing, the other thought I was in tune with them, and all was well. Except that I had… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published September 4, 2017

Speaking ill of the dead and why we should

Published August 1, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer

As we walked out of my mom’s funeral, my brother said, “Let’s talk about how Mom used to cheat at scrabble.” We chuckled. “Really,” he said. There’s a tendency to make people perfect after they die. But if we talk about their faults it keeps them human and real to us.” “Well,” I said, “She… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published August 1, 2017

A visit to St.Mary Magdalene

Published July 18, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

I have come to the top of the mountain to a place we now call, St. Baume (Holy Balm) * to visit my patroness, St.Mary Magdalene. I am not in as good a shape as I used to be. Getting myself up this mountain was not that much fun for me, plus I’m very banged… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published July 18, 2017

Summer for your Soul

Published June 26, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Young Adult

  In the Sunday homily yesterday, the priest preached about the relationship between the body and the soul, taking this line of scripture from the Gospel reading as a starting place: “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published June 26, 2017

Pray with me: the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

Published June 19, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

  Opening Prayers for the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Come, Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thy well beloved spouse, and Queen of the Holy Rosary. Help us to… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published June 19, 2017

Freedom & our relationship to God: Are we galley slaves or free children?

Published June 12, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Young Adult

In the echoes of Trinity Sunday, I found myself thinking about how we are called to relate to this mystery that is the Triune God, and how we are made in the image of God.  The priest reflected on this during his Sunday homily, about how it’s pretty much impossible for our minds to capture how… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published June 12, 2017

Living Lent like a Little One

Published March 20, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult, Youth

Lent is a season of conversion, a call to repentance, a time of turning back to God. To me, these are Christ’s most striking words on conversion: Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 18:3) Unless you turn and become! We shall not enter… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published March 20, 2017

The Importance of Consecration to Mary’s Immaculate Heart

Published February 21, 2017 • Written by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez Filed Under: Faith, Prayer

Here is a homily from Sunday, February 19, 2017 at St Mary’s Cathedral in downtown Austin, TX, promoting Marian consecration to the Immaculate Heart. You can find resources for doing the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary at MyConsecration.org.   Here is a homily from Fr. Kevin Rai on the Total Consecration to the Immaculate… [Read More]

Written by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez • Published February 21, 2017

Meditation and Emotions (Part II)

Published February 20, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult

This is a follow up to my last post, Meditation and Decisive Times, where I attempted to sketch the basics of what it means to meditate on life, as a way to grow in love and closeness to God, and a way to help foster a deep and integrated inner life.  Out of this deep inner… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published February 20, 2017

Meditation and Decisive Times

Published February 6, 2017 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Events, Faith, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult

   We live in decisive times. And while perhaps that’s always true in some way, I think we can say that in a particle way about our times today. I don’t have to describe it for you too much, because you live it as well. Tensions are high. The pace of available information is frenetic. And… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published February 6, 2017

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Published January 3, 2017 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

It is said that one night, St. Teresa of Avila met the Child Jesus on the stairs of her convent. The little One asked her name. She said, “I am Teresa of Jesus.” He said, “Then I am Jesus of Teresa.” What would Jesus say to you? Is your name attached to His? Of course… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published January 3, 2017

Tis Humility

Published December 26, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Prayer, Young Adult

A remark during the homily at midnight mass really struck me. The priest reflected how each Christmas is different, not because the Gospel story changes -indeed the story is everlasting – but because we come to Christmas each year a little bit different. Each year we bring with us the lived experiences of the whole past year…. [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published December 26, 2016

Of Mary, Never Enough

Published December 22, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Prayer

“De Maria, nunquam satis!,” St Bernard of Clairvaux once said. Of Mary, never enough!  In these last few days before the great feast of Christmas, perhaps you’re feeling harried or haven’t had time to prayerfully prepare, or just aren’t quite into the Christmas. Or perhaps you’re drowning in carols all day, but not feeling very contemplative or… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published December 22, 2016

Objectivity & Healthy Self-love: An Advent reflection on “Catholic Guilt”

Published November 28, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Young Adult

“Catholic guilt” came up recently in a conversation about psychology and religion. It also came up sometimes back in my grad school counseling classes. In these conversations, I often hear the question, “Isn’t “Catholic guilt” psychologically unhealthy?” I think it’s a great question. Can there be something unhealthy about guilt? I think so. How can we clarify… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published November 28, 2016

Five Minute Guided Meditation with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Published October 26, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Prayer

  Join me and my daughter, Roise, in this five minute, guided prayer break with the newly canonized St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, feast day November 8. (see below)   “May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But what… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published October 26, 2016

Your Weapons Are Scripture and Tradition (Review: “Dual Wielding”)

Published October 11, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Resources, Reviews

I’ve discovered a new kind of Catholic nerdery! I like books and learning and grammar and trivia, so I’ve long considered myself a nerd with personality. When I came back to the Church just over a decade ago, I found it only natural to become a Catholic nerd, too. There are, however, limits to my… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published October 11, 2016

Therese of Lisieux & The Marian Jubilee of Mercy

Published October 3, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Marriage and Love, Prayer, Young Adult

It’s possible that St Therese of Lisieux is one of those saints of whom we hear so often that we think, well, we already know that story – next! Yet I think we often only capture her “slogan” of childlikeness, and in skipping over it, we miss the profound and prophetic truth manifested in her life…. [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published October 3, 2016

“My heart will triumph! And yours will, too.”

Published September 6, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

This is Our Lady’s birthday week. (September 8, is the Nativity of Mary.) I have been thinking about her  a lot, and wondering what I could give her for her birthday. While I have been thinking about her, it seems she has been thinking about me, and giving me gifts for her birthday. One who… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published September 6, 2016

A Labor of Love

Published September 5, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Faith, Family, Prayer, Young Adult, Youth

We often get distracted from the best thing because we pursue many good things. This thought is the key with which Fr Patricio Rodriguez, ISP, opened up this passage from the Gospel of Luke in a recent homily: At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published September 5, 2016

Embrace the world: How to love in troubled times

Published August 9, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, World and News

Today is the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, or Edith Stein. She was born into a Jewish family, but became a decided atheist in her youth. She grew into a brilliant intellectual, writer, and  philosopher. Her search for truth lead her into the Catholic Church, and into religious life as a… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published August 9, 2016

Seven Minute Break With the Holy Spirit

Published July 28, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Prayer

  Take a 7 minute break to join me in prayer with the Holy Spirit in this guided meditation. Finding a still, quiet place for your prayer time is recommended. It seems that with all the tumult in the world, and all the urgent prayer requests I have been receiving lately, we could all use… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published July 28, 2016

God is here.

Published July 16, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Social Justice, World and News

God is here. In the middle of the traumatic events of the last several days, in the midst of the anger and grief we are experiencing as a country right now, the Spirit of God moves among us in blossoming uprisings of love, unity, and understanding that surprise and open hearts. You may not have heard… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published July 16, 2016

America: On the Forces that Shape Us

Published July 11, 2016 • Written by Rachel Filed Under: Blog, Events, Faith, Prayer, Social Justice

It’s always difficult to put into words the transformation that happens within a human heart as it works to grasp the reality of tragic news unfolding. I hopped into my car Friday morning totally ignorant of what happened in Dallas Thursday night. When I switched on NPR like usual, my mind tripped over itself trying to comprehend. It was… [Read More]

Written by Rachel • Published July 11, 2016

Carmelite Spirituality for the Analytical Mind (Review: “The Dark Night of the Soul” by Gerald May)

Published July 5, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer, Reviews

I have a relatively new interest in the intersection of psychology and spirituality. I have some good friends who are Catholics and counselors, and while I treasure the opportunities I’ve had to walk alongside people on their spiritual journeys, I’ve never wanted to pursue that path myself. I don’t even have much interest in spiritual… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published July 5, 2016

Are You At Peace?

Published July 4, 2016 • Written by Robert Lindberg Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Prayer

Are you at peace in the sight of Christ? Am I at peace in the sight of Christ? I remember one time; we had adoration as part of our parish mission. At one point the deacon walked all around the church with the Blessed Sacrament. As Jesus approached me I was filled with an incredible… [Read More]

Written by Robert Lindberg • Published July 4, 2016

Five minute mystic part II: deeper prayer as a couple

Published June 28, 2016 • Written by Shawn Rain Chapman Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Marriage and Love, Prayer

First try  I set the timer for an non-intimidating five minutes. We decided to begin with the Our Father, and at the end of the five minutes of silence, to pray the Glory Be. He said he was a little nervous. I agreed that it felt funny. Inner prayer, or “mental prayer,” as St. Teresa… [Read More]

Written by Shawn Rain Chapman • Published June 28, 2016

Pentecost, Inspiration, and Hope

Published May 10, 2016 • Written by Lindsay Wilcox Filed Under: Faith, Prayer, Reviews

It’s almost Pentecost! I developed a great relationship with the Holy Spirit when I was in undergrad, so Pentecost is one of my favorite feasts. For some reason, it pulls other people who like to dress liturgically out of the woodwork: we all wear red. Join me on all the other Sundays! It’s awesome! In… [Read More]

Written by Lindsay Wilcox • Published May 10, 2016

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