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]
It Is Finished! (Jn. 19:30)
The fight went the distance! Fifteen rounds of pure guts, grit, and blood! It was a courageous nail-biting fight of perseverance and determination that left the onlookers spellbound. Those on the sidelines witnessed a tenacious battle against our oldest and unseen enemy – death. My mom, Gloria Rodriguez age 89, passed away on May… [Read More]
“Do you want to live?”
I had had a big fight with my mom and brother. I was walking super fast across town. It was cold and I had forgotten a jacket. A car full of girls from school drove by, rolling their windows down to jeer and shout insults. I picked up a few rocks and bottles to throw… [Read More]
Spiritual Lessons from a Lake Travis Tragedy
[This is a guest post from Norine Shaivitz.] Ten years ago today, I opened the newspaper and saw the story I had very briefly covered the day before took a turn I wasn’t expecting. Back then, I was a news anchor at a radio station and the day before had been busy. The few reporters… [Read More]
Opening My Mind to Cardinal Avery Dulles’s “Catholicism and Capital Punishment”
I like to read, and I don’t like the death penalty. Thus, I like to read things that are about abolishing the death penalty. (I’m so unpredictable.) As I mentioned in my review of the remarkable book Change of Heart, by Jeanne Bishop, I acknowledge that Catholics are allowed to support capital punishment without considering… [Read More]
A Commentary on Romans: Introduction
This is the introduction to a five-part commentary on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. I hope that the reader is inspired to pray with the passages from this letter. My intention is not to explain everything. Rather, I hope to point to and give light to different verses that have affected my… [Read More]
Coping with Grief on All Souls Day
One week from today, on November 2, 2015, we, the Church, will celebrate All Souls Day. All Souls Day is a time to remember those who have gone before us, a time to pray for them, and to ask them to pray for us. In doing so, we recognize that we are still connected, that… [Read More]
Miscarriage Loss, Revisted
June is a beautiful month. Sure, it’s ridiculously hot, tornadoes and hurricanes abound, and you get so many mosquito bites it looks like you have chicken-pox, but it is still beautiful. People seem more carefree and plan vacations, the sunshine is lovely to behold (from inside an air-conditioned facility), and snow cones! Good stuff. Yet, June… [Read More]
No One is Rich with Time
There are some mornings that I find it incredibly difficult to get out a bed. In the fogginess of one early morning, lyrics from Bono singing Beautiful Day on the alarm clock unexpectedly struck my heart. “It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away.” – U2 I instantly thought of the countless moments I… [Read More]
From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday: The Lord’s descent into the underworld
Our Catholic faith is incredibly rich. So instead of writing a new reflection, I’m sharing one of my favorite things to read during the Triduum. This is a from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday, date and homilist unknown. It is the Second Reading in the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday Liturgy of the Hours…. [Read More]
A Centenarian’s Lesson: Don’t Wait for Tomorrow
Raise your hand if you are a procrastinator. (If you raise your hand later, I’ll understand.) Of all the things we sometimes put off during the course of our lives, there is one thing far more important than anything else that we should never wait to do: follow Christ. Never was this point made more… [Read More]
When Holidays Are Sad
Even though Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” and the world seems awash with cheerfulness, color and lights, the holidays can be sad for some. It’s sad for some because of the death of a loved one or because it can be a reminder of the broken family someone comes from or… [Read More]
Sunday Says – November 2, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Lectionary: 668 (NAB Translation) This Sunday we celebrate the commemoration of All Souls insteadof All Souls Day.Today is one of those celebrations that is very distinctly Catholic, and you will see that from the theme of praying for those that have died and also in the… [Read More]
All Saints Day
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” This call of St. Paul to the Corinthians is high. Notice he does not encourage the community (in this passage) to seek the straight and narrow pathway of the Christian life alone, nor does he give a list of vague… [Read More]
The Catholic Roots of Halloween
Every year the questions about the acceptability of celebrating Halloween arise in Catholic and Christian circles: Can my family to celebrate Halloween? Is it okay for my child to dress up and trick-or-treat? Is Halloween a pagan, satanic or secular holiday? These, and a myriad of other questions about Halloween haunt the consciousness of Catholics… [Read More]
Misconceptions About Death, Angels, and Dia de Los Muertos
I’ve been intrigued by how much interest there is about angels in the world today, especially from the secular world. In fact a 2011 poll found that 77% of Americans believe in Angels. Which is somewhat surprising considering that there is a growing number of people that don’t believe in God today. Sadly enough, angels are… [Read More]
When the Time Comes: Accepting Death Together
The room smelled like essential oils– the ones Peter brought to help Bob breath and to help with pain and anxiety: Eucalyptus, frankincense, myrrh, Inspiration (a blend), myrtle, peppermint. Every nurse who walked in commented on how good it smelled. I had continued the routine of rubbing them on Bob’s chest every 20 minutes or… [Read More]
One Love: the Diamond Gift of Chastity
A good book I am reading* begins by saying that the legend of the origin of the Indian Koohinoor diamond is that Krishna gave it to one of his disciples in response to his meditations. I tried to imagine Jesus giving me a diamond. “Have you ever given me a diamond, Jesus?” “If so, what… [Read More]
The Church and Mental Illness
A little over three weeks have passed since the tragic death of Robin Williams. Although most of us did not know Mr. Williams personally, many of us have felt moved by his work. As an actor and comedian, he made us laugh, made us feel; sometimes he made us think. In passing, his decision to… [Read More]
Facing Death Together: A reflection on my husband’s death
Over all these put on love, the perfect bond. I checked his blood oxygen level. I brought him medicine, kissing him when I gave it to him, as I always had. He responded feebly with almost imperceptible nods. He had become too weak to even raise a trembling hand anymore. I held him, caressed him,… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – April 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday April 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection Fifth Sunday of Lent Lectionary: 34 This is Fifth Sunday of Lent, the last purple Sunday of this liturgical year. We are now only a week away from Holy Week, and the anticipation is growing. Reading 1 Ezekiel 37:12-14 This week’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel… [Read More]
Answering Your Questions: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory & Limbo
Last week we received a message from a group of students working on a class project at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin. They asked some great questions and while we can’t address all of their questions in one blog post, we wanted to be sure to respond to their main question and provide them… [Read More]
What C.S. Lewis Taught Me About Grief
“Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.” ― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed Grief seems to me a confusing, unpredictable thing. You cry over someone’s death, then laugh about the memories you shared. You have moments of soaring hope, and longer moments of bone-weary depression. You… [Read More]
Grieving with God (Review: “A Grief Observed”)
As we near the end of November, the month in which we remember the dead, it seems appropriate to think about how death affects those left behind. As believers in particular, we carry the hope of the resurrection, but we were never promised we wouldn’t feel pain, loneliness, and loss. Theology can only console a… [Read More]
Much Better than Zombies (Review: “The Returned”)
Please accept my apologies for my unplanned hiatus. My life outside of Austin CNM got the best of me, but I’m back in action now, and I have recently finished one of the most inventive and lyrical novels I’ve read in a long time. Death scares us. It’s not quite as terrifying as public speaking,… [Read More]
When to Receive the Anointing of the Sick
One of the seven sacraments that is the least talked about is the Anointing of the sick. The Anointing of the sick is especially intended for those who are baptized Catholic and are ill physically and/or emotionally. “It is especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by an illness.” (CCC 1511) The Priest… [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]
Growth in Sober Consideration
“As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts are above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) There often seems to be a subliminal attitude, which originates in Protestant circles but pervades many Catholic parishes. Because Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have already brought us full assurance… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast Ep 24 – How Could God Die?
Ep 24 – How Could God Die? Questions How can our God allow himself to be killed? 1 Cor 1:23: but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of… [Read More]
Does Your Heart Break?
There is a strange irony that every day of the year, including Christmas, we celebrate mass in front of an image of Christ crucified on the cross except for the very day it happened. On Good Friday there is no consecration as we continue the Triduum and consume pre-consecrated Eucharist that we adored after the… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 21 How Can God Allow People To Go To Hell?
Ep 21 – How Can God Allow People To Go To Hell? Questions 1. What is hell like? Absence of Good (except existence) CCC 1035 The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God 2. How can a loving God allow people to go to Hell? CCC 1030 This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion… [Read More]
Zombie Survival Guide: Phase 2 Fighting Back!
If you haven’t heard the news today, our world is on the verge of becoming a desolate wasteland. We have been steadily losing faith in our ideals, our institutions, and even our loving creator. Our hope for the future has been shaken by too many missteps and false positives. Division and misunderstanding has eroded the… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 20 Is Purgatory Real?
Ep 20 – Is Purgatory Real? Questions 1. Is Purgatory Real? (What is Purgatory?) 2 Macc 12:40-45 2. Who goes to purgatory? 1 Cor 3:11-15 Mt 12: 32 3. Is purgatory painful? 1 Pet 1:6-7 Catechetical Moment CCC 1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of… [Read More]
Holy Innocents, Then and Now
The past few years a feast day in the Catholic Church I had paid little attention to began to stand out to me: The Feast of the Holy Innocents. I don’t know why this Feast Day began to stand out to me a few years ago. Perhaps it is the reminder of innocent lives lost,… [Read More]
Death & Your Marriage
This may be a little unusual for someone to admit, but, I’m not afraid to die. And I even look forward to death one day (not in a “I want to die today” type of way but in a “I look forward to being in God’s presence for eternity and in communion with the saints”… [Read More]
The Great Party in the Sky
Bear with me – there is a point to all this. In one of my favorite cartoons, Yosemite Sam finally catches Bugs Bunny after the usual chase and associated gags. After tossing some logs and a match into his oven, Sam orders Bugs in at gunpoint. Soon Bugs comes back out of the oven and… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 3 Is Heaven real and how to I get there?
Ep 3 Is Heaven real and how do I get there? Questions Is heaven a real place? Who is there? Does everyone go to heaven? Catechetical Moment CCC #1821 Living the Truth How can I know for sure that heaven is real? Hosted by Casey Truelove and Cristobal Almanza Feedback Line Number: (512) 200-ACNM (2266) feedback@austincnm.com… [Read More]
Bring Joy to Others
Last week, Fr. Bob Scott, CSP passed away at the age of 90. A Paulist Father, Fr. Bob served in priestly ministry over 60 years. Most recently, he was active at both St. Austin’s and the University Catholic Center at The University of Texas until about a year ago. He recently served a little over… [Read More]
Thoughts are not enough in Tragedy – Pray
Life is full of many what ifs. Tragedy is something that we never want to experience and never wish it upon anyone. On the evening of July 19, 2012, many people across the country set out to watch the midnight premier of The Dark Knight Rises. Many of us have been excited for this release… [Read More]
My Armor Is Made of Brown Wool
The time when we could comfortably practice our faith may have passed for our generation in this country. We will continue to stand in defense of our religious freedom, but even if it is protected, the world won’t stop attacking us. We as the Church militant have a fight before us that may not require swords or… [Read More]
