Something that seems to be returning to me as I very slowly recover from the grief and trauma (it’s complicated) of these past few years is a sense of self determination. I had not realized it was gone in the first place. What I did know is that for a long time it was… [Read More]
Making the Root of Holy Wisdom Our Own
“…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]
Differences Between Gifts and Charisms
God is definitely somebody who is very unpredictable once a person first experiences the real world, because he made all of us with gifts of course, including with all the wonderful fruits of the Holy Spirit, but how can a person tell the difference between a gift and a charism? I can say that from… [Read More]
A Hat Tip to the Holy Ghost Writer
If you like this story, you can thank the Holy Spirit. As I’ve learned so many times since discovering my faith 11 years ago, there is no such thing as a coincidence. Whenever my monthly deadline to write for ATX Catholic approaches, I frequently turn to the Holy Spirit and the daily Mass readings for… [Read More]
Seven Minute Break With the Holy Spirit
Take a 7 minute break to join me in prayer with the Holy Spirit in this guided meditation. [powerpress] 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… [Read More]
Diversity in Ministry Part 1 – Gifts and Talents
We all have a tendency to surround ourselves with people that are similar to ourselves. There are plenty of reasons this facilitates relationships and can be beneficial. In fact, searching for things in common is often how many friendships begin. This is a normal part of the process of getting to know new people, but… [Read More]
Sunday Says – May 15, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflection
May 15, 2016 – Pentecost Sunday – Mass During The Day Pentecost Sunday (Mass during the Day) Lectionary: 63 (NAB Translation) This is a Sunday that provides choices for the readings that are not just shorter or longer versions from the same section. It is likely that your mass differs in at least… [Read More]
Pentecost, Inspiration, and Hope
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]
A Mother’s letter to her daughter for her Confirmation
“Mary treasured all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Dear Roise, Treasuring the life of her child is what a mother does. At this culminating moment in our lives, as you prepare for your Confirmation, this letter is a reflection, a letter of love, encouragement and appreciation, and it is a… [Read More]
Sunday Says – Jan 24, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflection
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 69 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Nehemiah 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10 This week’s first reading from the prophet Nehemiah focuses on the celebration of the Lord’s day. At this time, the Hebrews has recently returned to Jerusalem from the many years in exile and were in the process of rebuilding. They had… [Read More]
Sunday Says – May 24, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
Pentecost Sunday – May 24, 2015 Lectionary: 6 (NAB Translation) This is the great celebration of Pentecost, the joyful end to the season of Easter. Reading 1 ACTS 2:1-11 This week’s first reading is the central story of the Pentecost event in the book of Acts. We hear how the Holy Spirit was poured out… [Read More]
Novena to the Holy Spirit for Pentecost (or any time, really)
Special Novena to the Holy Spirit Day 1 Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and kindle in us the Fire of Love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and You Shall renew the face of the earth. O God who instructs us by the light of the Holy Spirit grant us… [Read More]
Called to Life
Today I really can’t write about anything other than the crazy huge party that happened all over the world this past weekend! The Schoenstatt Movement celebrated 100 years since it’s foundation, on October 18th, 1914, when a group of boys and Fr Joseph Kentenich sealed the original Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother. Rather than go into… [Read More]
Breaking Down Our Babel: A Response to “An Open Letter to the Catholic Blogosphere”
For a church that professes to be “one,” we sure do have a lot of divisions. A few months ago, I wrote about the claim of being one church versus the reality and the ability of that disconnect to scandalize non-Catholics. This weekend, I read Fr. Denis Lemieux’s “Open Letter to the Catholic Blogosphere, On… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 8, 2014 Pentecost Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday June 8, 2014 – Pentecost Sunday (NAB Readings) Mass during the Day Lectionary: 63 [powerpress] “Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine!” – From the Sequence of Pentecost Happy Pentecost! It gets it’s name from the 50 days of Easter. This is a great feast, the birthday of… [Read More]
Confession and Pentecost; Grace and Power
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6 This verse is not like Confession; this verse is Confession. Four things happen. I entrust myself to God through a spiritual father, a… [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]
Pentecost is Coming! How to Have a Better Relationship with the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is coming and though it’s a couple of weeks away, I’m already thinking about it, preparing for it and praying towards it. I began cultivating my relationship with the Holy Spirit in Middle School and I’ve been blessed because of it. But it hasn’t always been easy, because the Holy Spirit is intangible and… [Read More]
