“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be watchful! Be alert!…’ ” Advent is a challenging time for Catholics. With the exception of Mass, it’s easy to let Advent be consumed and overshadowed in our daily lives, as society pushes Halloween into Christmas with a small glint of Thanksgiving thrown in. “….You do not know when the… [Read More]
Eucharist and Life Experience
“Only when we recognize the rich network of connections between the Eucharist and our life in the world can the Eucharist be “worldly” and our life “Eucharistic” – Henry J.M. Nouwen, With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life. This quote from Nouwen’s book is so very true. All things in our lives are connected…. [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]
Sunday Says Podcast – October 19, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday Says October 19, 2014 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A Lectionary: 145 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 This week’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah starts out with an unexpected note calling the pagan king God’s instrument. During the Babylonian, he planned to free the captives and… [Read More]
Slow Down, It’s a Priest!
Priests and police officers have a lot in common, and it isn’t just the spiffy uniform. Think about this: You’re cruising down I-35 or MoPac, when traffic isn’t bumper to bumper if that’s possible, and in your mirror you notice a police car behind you. The officer isn’t after you — no lights and siren… [Read More]
Confession, Interrupted
The Catholic sacrament of reconciliation evokes a wild ride of emotions. Waiting in a long line outside the confessional feels like a roller coaster slowly creeping up a steep incline. You’re nervous and perhaps a little scared about what’s about to happen. But suddenly when you’re absolved of your sins you get that exhilarating rush… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – September 14, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday September 14, 2014 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Lectionary: 638 (NAB readings)(Jerusalem Bible Readings) Normally, this feast falls within the week, but this year, we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in place of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This will make for another uncommon Sunday… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – July 27, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday July 27, 2014 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 109 (NAB Translation) ( Jerusalem Bible Translation) Reading 1 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 This first reading from the first book of Kings is a classic favorite, and it is hopefully familiar to you. Solomon was son of the great King David and had of high… [Read More]
Jesús, sabiendo lo que sus discípulos murmuraban, les dijo “¿Esto los escandaliza?” Juan 6:61
Las palabras de Cristo fueron escandalizantés. Estaba proclamando que tendríamos que comer de su carne y beber de su sangre para tener vida eterna. Que El era el pan que habia bajado del cielo. ¿Quién lo podría creer? “Si los ángeles pudieran estar celosos de los hombres, seria por solo una razón: La Sagrada Comunión.”… [Read More]
Sunday Says – June 1, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
The Ascension of the Lord – June 1, 2014 Lectionary: 58 Traditionally this would be the 7th Sunday of the season of Easter, but in our diocese, like in most of the country’s we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord on this Sunday so that more people can attend it than if it were… [Read More]
I’ll Bet You Caused a Scandal Today: A Response to “4 Things Catholics Do”
I used to work in marriage prep. You don’t actually have to be a priest, deacon, or married person to do some parts. Each time I met a new couple, I would ask for one person’s address, then ask if the other’s was the same, and finally ask if they lived together. Almost all of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – March 30, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday March 30, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection Sunday Says March 30, 2014 Fourth Sunday of Lent (NAB Readings)(Jerusalem Bible Translation) Lectionary: 31 This Sunday is a little different from the other Sundays in Lent. The liturgical color changes from purple to pink. It is a Laetare Sunday – a reason for some celebration. it’s… [Read More]
Lent: A Time for Conversion
WHAT DOES LENT MEAN? Today we begin a very special season in our liturgical year, Lent. Our English word “Lent” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “lencten” which is roughly translated to mean Spring. So, like the season of spring, we are called to be rejuvinated, to be given life once again and to spread… [Read More]
Why do we fast during Lent?
Lent is now upon us and it will soon be time for fasting and abstaining from meat. Why do we do these things and why is it necessary to fast in our spiritual life? A few days ago I was in line for confession and ended up staring at and thinking about the cross on… [Read More]
¿PORQUE AYUNAMOS EN CUARESMA?
La temporada de cuaresma está cerca y llega el tiempo de abstinencia y ayuno. ¿Porque hacemos estas cosas? ¿Porque hay necesidad para el ayuno en nuestra vida espiritual? Hace unos días estaba en la fila para confesión y me quede pensando en la cruz del altar. Recordé que yo estaba ahí esperando el sacramento de… [Read More]
Dime Con Quién Andas y Te Diré Quien Eres
No soy experta en teología ni una persona que lo sabe todo de nuestra fe católica. Pero hay algo que si se. Lo sé porque mi vida no ha sido la misma desde que lo entendí. Jesús está realmente presente en la eucaristía – Cuerpo, Sangre, Alma, y Divinidad. Sin entrar en detalles, mi di… [Read More]
El Rey Del Universo
Muchas veces nuestros hermanos cristianos que nos son Católicos nos preguntan qué porque Jesús no está al frente y centro de nuestra fe. Nos ven con La Virgen María, los Santos, y nuestros rosarios y nos preguntan porque no entienden. Frecuentemente piensan que ni leemos la Biblia, La Palabra de Dios. Tal vez es por… [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]
The Soul’s Movement at the Moment of Communion
Consider this article as a monologue or an interior thought, as if someone was thinking out loud and searching for an answer within themselves. At some points, I address the soul as “her,” instead of “it.” I do this partly because St. John of the Cross uses that kind of language in his writings. It… [Read More]
Signs of Contradiction
Three Persons, One God. 100% God, yet 100% man. To save your life, you must lose it. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Christianity is full of seeming contradictions. Life is full of contradictions. The Christian must be comfortable with these apparent contradictions. In fact, part of the mystery of… [Read More]
Taking Up the Name of God
Eastern religions make use of mantras. We do too. We may not realize that we Catholics have some mantras as well, and that we could put them to good use in our spiritual lives. This is one way to pray without ceasing, one way to occupy the mind properly during a difficult temptation, or slow… [Read More]
OASIS Retreat for Women: You’re Invited!
It is with excitement that we at Feminine Genius Inc. warmly invite you to the second-ever Oasis! There is, among young women, an ever-deepening desire for Christ, for an encounter with him in silence and mystery, and we are thrilled, through Oasis, to cooperate with God’s plan for offering every young woman fullness of life… [Read More]
Inquietud
Hay etapas en nuestras vidas cuando sentimos una persistente inquietud. En veces sentimos esa inquietud por años. En algunos casos ni reconocemos este sentimiento interno que nos lanza a correr tras las cosas que pensamos que nos van a llenar y que nos darán toda la felicidad que anhelamos. “Señor, tú nos has hecho… [Read More]
¿Qué Pasa Cuando Un Ángel de la Guarda va al Gimnasio?
En pláticas de ejercicio, una amiga me recomendó que me inscribiera en el gimnasio donde va ella. Tome un tiempo para pensarlo y por fin me animé. Al mirarme hoy, no me lo creerías, pero en años atrás pasé muchas horas en un gimnasio perdiendo kilos, sacando el estrés, y corriendo detrás la imagen física… [Read More]
The Best Me
Last week marked the premature end of an all-too-short era in the Williston house when, after a remarkable temper tantrum by my son, Lincoln, we decided to sell the Wii and Xbox on Craigslist. It all started, as most family crises do, with a father/son matchup in Mario Super Sluggers, a Mario Brothers-themed Baseball game… [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]
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]
Finding Solace in Silence
I’ve never been able to appreciate silence as much as I wished I could. Last week, I spent way too much of my time reading news, refreshing my twitter feed, listening to NPR and the talking heads on the news networks. I blame the overwhelming curiosity on journalism classes and my career choice. With those… [Read More]
The Audacity of Pope Francis
On Good Friday morning last week, I received this text message from a friend, “Your new Pope is all kinds of awesome.” You can probably derive from the message that my friend is not Catholic. He read in the news about Pope Francis’s Holy Thursday visit to wash the feet of prison inmates and, like… [Read More]
Jesus has Risen: Giver and Sender
Alleluia! “Ridding oneself of what is repugnant to God’s will should be understood not only of one’s acts but of one’s habits as well. Not only must actual voluntary imperfections cease, but habitual imperfections must be annihilated too.” -St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel On Sunday we celebrated the solemnity of the… [Read More]
The Promise
photo credit: St. Thomas Aquinas parish, College Station, Tx I tuck my arm into my husband’s as we kneel during the consecration at Mass. I watch the communion line through eyes blurred by tears and listen to his steady voice blending with the rich harmonies of Ave Verum Corpus, while beside him I shake like… [Read More]
Jueves Santo
Hoy deseo que encuentres un lugarcito en tu corazón y tu mente para que recuerdes los eventos de hace más de dos mil años. Un hombre llamado Jesús de Nazaret, se preparó para dejar a sus amigos, para entregarse a sus enemigos, para sufrir, y salvar a la humanidad en la cruz. Les dio dos… [Read More]
Quiet Thunder
Photo: AFP Quiet Thunder From a canopy of umbrellas open, eyes and hearts are lifted heavenward. Flags are waved, and prayers are uttered through misty rain. Hope rushes smoky white from an ancient chimney for what seems an eternity. A stirring on the balcony and silence falls. Quiet thunder is coming. Millions gather to… [Read More]
Lent: Walking in the wilderness
Unfortunately I didn’t take the time with God to work out the post I was planning this week. After Ash Wednesday, God and I became busy working on many other issues I needed to address. Finally last night God smacked me and said “hey dummy… since you are busy with your Lenten discipline why not… [Read More]
¿De Que Se Trata La Cuaresma?
En la temporada de Cuaresma entramos al desierto con Nuestro Señor y lo acompañamos por 40 días. “En el ciclo del año desarrolla todo el Misterio de Cristo…. Al conmemorar así los misterios de la redención, abre la riqueza de las virtudes y de los méritos de su Señor, de modo que se los hace… [Read More]
Catholic Time Travel 101
The call came in at 1:20p.m. on a Tuesday. My professional association had run a nice “member spotlight” on me in its magazine. It wasn’t much, just a few pictures of me and my family and a nice questionnaire about my career and personal interests. So, when a colleague called and mentioned it, I figured… [Read More]
What Love Is
Hey. Wanna try a little experiment? Search the Internet for the definition of “love” and see what you get. I tried this just recently and discovered something rather incredible. Specifically, I wanted to know what our society thinks love is. We as Catholics know that society’s understanding of love is pretty screwed-up, but I wanted… [Read More]
Lance Armstrong and the Art of Confession
When is a confession not “good enough?” The question itself challenges my Catholic sensibilities. I like to think that all confession is valid for the expiation of sin. However, after watching Lance Armstrong in the public confessional of Oprah Winfrey’s couch last week, I suddenly have my doubts. Please understand, I don’t believe that… [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]
A Real Baby
“No, he was a REAL baby!” my six year old daughter insists, eye brows lifted as she explains to her four year old sister. “It’s not a just story!” My four year old’s blue eyes are wide as she looks off out the window, pondering. Jesus was a real baby. Even as an adult, I… [Read More]
