On the Brown Scapular around my neck it reads, “Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” What a promise Our Lady of Mount Carmel made to St. Simon Stock in 1251! On July 16, 2015, the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, more than 50 people at St. Elizabeth of… [Read More]
Mary, Sister of the Carmelite Soul
We are holding hands as we walk together along a rocky path on a hot July evening. We are talking about this and that. She asks me questions, listens thoughtfully as I talk about my life. She has a lot going on too, these days, and she unburdens her heart to me about her work,… [Read More]
The Radio-Man, New Media & The New Man (Vatican II & Social Communication, Part II)
Social media & technology have been coming up recently in several conversations with friends of mine. The other night at a group of us were talking about youth and smart phones. I mentioned I’d been doing some substitute teaching lately, and experienced a little culture shock in seeing how nearly every high school student and… [Read More]
5 Reasons to do Marian Consecration
In the fall of 2006, a friend introduced me to a book called True Devotion to Mary by St Louis de Montfort, and I can confidently say that there has never been a book that had a greater impact in my spiritual life. I was blessed to be raised a cradle Catholic, but it wasn’t… [Read More]
The World’s Greatest Love
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary approaches on March 19th let us contemplate the betrothal and love of Joseph and Mary, and how it can help couples and also single people in their search for a spouse. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us on July 5, 2010 that the “The… [Read More]
The Presence of Mary
Mary has a presence all her own. I didn’t always know that – I didn’t always know her. I remember distinctly the first time I really felt her near. I was on a silent retreat, the first I’d ever attended. It was a 3-day experience of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. During the Exercises, you spend… [Read More]
Elijah and the Widow of Bryan
When I answer the door, a wild- looking old hippie guy standing on my porch asks me for some water and a sandwich. I don’t actually have much food in the house right now, as it’s a few days until Pay Day. I’m trying to think what to give him, remembering I am down to… [Read More]
Pickin’ up the Crumbs
I wasn’t going to write a post this week. But I came across a quote on my friend Maria Scaperlanda’s facebook that made me pause – and since there are no coincidences, here is the post. That’s my take away for the week – from this very long, wearying, pushing-the-limits week: There are no coincidences. Starting Sunday… [Read More]
Mary, Undoer of Knots
Today I began the novena for a wonderful and unique Marian devotion to our Mother Mary through the Marian titled of Mary, the Undoer (or Untier) of Knots for a specific Marian Devotion in May. I only learned of Mary, Undoer of Knots a couple of years ago, and I love the idea (and images)… [Read More]
Mother’s Day, Mary & Meg
In honor of Mother’s Day and because it’s Mary’s month of May, I just can’t resist posting a plug for one my all time favorite books about women and mothers and Mary, by an amazing woman (but it isn’t only for women!). In 1934, Gertrude von le Fort published The Eternal Woman: The Timeless Meaning… [Read More]
Holy Saturday
What’s so holy about it? It’s after Good Friday and before Easter Vigil. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary day that the Church forgot about and just stuck “Holy” in front of to make it seem legitimate. Nice try, but wrong. We pray today. Do you remember the ear of Elijah that listened… [Read More]
Groundbreaking of the First Marian Shrine in Austin
Making Austin History: Last Sunday, atop a small hill in Bee Caves, beneath grey skies and cold winds, history was made. It was the ground breaking of the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin. Approximately 300 people from across the Diocese and across Texas participated in the mass and groundbreaking ceremony. During the… [Read More]
Praying the News With the Heart of Mary
I was a conscientious objector to the world as soon as I was old enough to notice how it was going, and how apathetic everyone else seemed to be about it all. “What’s the matter with you people,” I used to think. Engaging in the news just made me feel overwhelmed by the suffering of… [Read More]
A Story, to Start the New Year
Once upon a New Year’s Eve, a young woman named Rachel was taking care of her friend’s little baby boy. This particular day was pretty much the same as many of the other days that she spent with the little boy – precious. The little boy was one of the sweetest little boys Rachel knew,… [Read More]
Empty Waiting
Wait. Just wait. It is this word that characterizes the Advent season – waiting. We wait for, we anticipate, we long for the coming of the Christ Child. That’s what ” advent” means: the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. So during advent, we’re celebrating waiting for the arrival of Christ. The season of Advent has been… [Read More]
A Little Story About the Rosary, Love Stronger Than Death, and the Communion of Saints
It was almost my wedding anniversary and my husband, Bob, had just died a couple of weeks before, of Brain Cancer. I dreaded that “birthday of our marriage” even more because I remember how terrible it felt last time that first wedding anniversary after the death of my first husband, Blaze. I knew that it… [Read More]
Mary of Nazareth Movie in Austin and Ticket Giveaway
One of my favorites subjects is the relationship of art and the faith. I’m absolutely convinced that the Church is in need of improving the quantity and quality of art it produces, and film is one of the areas where we are lacking the most. There is a new film about our Blessed Mother Mary,… [Read More]
Msgr Mike Sis to speak at Gala to benefit first Marian Shrine in Diocese
Do you want to be a part of building the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin? Monsignor Mike Sis will be speaking in two weeks at the second annual Seeds of Grace Gala. The Gala is hosted by the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin, which is the local branch of the International Schoenstatt Movement,… [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]
Mother of Pentecost
Last Sunday, the glorious Easter Season came to it’s pinnacle in the celebration of Pentecost. Just in case you didn’t get a big enough dose of the Holy Spirit then, I’d like to draw your attention back to that moment– to the Mother of that moment – Mary. If you’ve ever seen a painting or… [Read More]
Meditations on Mama Mary (Review: “The World’s First Love”)
Oh, May: the month of flowers, of the fullness of spring, of mothers, and especially of the Blessed Mother, Mary, the Mother of God. I must confess that I didn’t quite realize the convergence of these annual symbols when I selected my next book for this column; the Holy Spirit surprises me like that sometimes…. [Read More]
Irreverent Mary (Review: “Looking for Mary, Or, The Blessed Mother and Me”)
People come to the Catholic faith through many avenues. As Dr. Robert Koons put it during his recent apologetics series at the University Catholic Center, where I work, there are “many roads to Rome.” Some roads are bumpy and long, and some are clear forks. Some roads, however, are more like the roundabout in National… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 16 – Are supernatural events real?
[powerpress] Ep 16 – Are supernatural events real? Questions 1. Why did some saint encounter strange supernatural things like levitation? 2. Does the Catholic Church believe that apparitions are real? 3. How do we know when these things are real? Catechetical Moment CCC #584 Living the Truth How can we defend Catholicism… [Read More]
Who is she to you? Mary as Educator of the Masculine & Feminine Soul
Who is she to you? Who is Mary to you? How do you relate to her? Perhaps the first relationship that popped into your head was Mother. But have you ever considered her a Teacher? What about as someone who can teach us about gender? About growing up as a teenage boy or girl? About… [Read More]
Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) and the Brown Scapular
Last year I wrote an article about the history of the Brown Scapular in honor of the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that was approaching. This year, I’d like to focus on the role the Brown Scapular plays as our spiritual armor. ARMOR IN COMMON Pope Benedict XV, the Pope of World… [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]
Jesus, The Visitation and Justin Bieber
On Wednesday May 30th, frantic officials in Oslo Norway called in the red cross to curtail growing hysteria which left 19 hospitalized and 49 injured. This was not an earthquake or a terrorist attack. Norway had been ravaged by the kind of mindless hoards whom could have only resulted from the dreaded free Justin Bieber… [Read More]
Book Review: Our Lady of the Lost and Found
I’d like to offer this book review in honor of our Blessed Mother, as it is currently her month – May! I came across “Our Lady of the Lost and Found” lying around my parents’ house – which is the way I stumble upon many of good books. My mom was just finishing it. She… [Read More]
A Musical Reflection on Lent by The Brilliance [EP Review]
A few weeks ago I went to the most unique Christian music concert I have ever attended. As an artist, I always enjoy supporting the arts that help to promote the faith in visual art and performance art, but I don’t think I saw this coming. On March 1st, I went to the Gungor concert… [Read More]
Our Lady of Guadalupe “Patroness of the Unborn”
In 1531, the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe brought an end to human sacrifice all over the Americas. Before she appeared to St. Juan Diego, cruel human sacrificing rituals were performed on a scale never approached, even remotely, by other peoples of the era. Many methods were used. In one of their religious ceremonies,… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast: December 4, 2011 Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] December 4, 2011 – Second Sunday of Advent Skip to 4:25 minute mark to go to reflection. First Reading Isiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14 Second Reading 2 Peter 3:8-14 Gospel Mark 1:1-8 Reflection done by Cristobal Almanza – @SoulPainter Theme song – Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc Feedback Line Number: (512) 200-ACNM (2266) feedback@austincnm.com http://www.austincnm.com
Mary, my (Grand)mother
May: Mary’s month. It wasn’t too long ago that this didn’t have any real meaning to me. When I was new to the church, despite how many times people tried to tell me about how Mary is my mother and loves me, I could never quite get my arms around it. I’d look at statues… [Read More]
