I messaged a friend the other day, “How ARE we going to keep calm on election day?” She wrote back: “I’m going to be drinking! You don’t drink, so you shall have to pray, I suppose. :P” I do plan to pray a lot, in whatever way I can, but most of all, I plan to pray in ways… [Read More]
Are You At Peace?
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]
The Divine Mercy Image: A Heavenly Sign
Throughout history, Christians have always had a heavenly sign to lead them. Seventeen hundred years ago, the Emperor Constantine’s insignia was the Sign of the Cross from a heavenly sign in the sky, which put a stop to the persecution and martyrdom of Christians. Five hundred years ago the heavenly sign was the image of… [Read More]
When Everything Falls Apart: A Reflection on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sometimes things just fall apart. No matter how much you prepare yourself, how much planning you do, how much you know or how much you try, everything just falls to pieces before you. Then you are left standing in the rubble, mouth agape, and brain spinning with so many thoughts that none of them come… [Read More]
Need a Break? Top 3 Sites for Relaxation
Are you overwhelmed by work? Exhausted from life’s demands? Maybe you feel frenzied by your list of to-do’s, or super-anxious about an upcoming event. Maybe you’ve just watched/read the news and now you’re in a funk. Sometimes (a lot of times) you need a break. I’d venture to guess that you need more breaks than… [Read More]
I want you to be MORE than happy
I find myself thinking and saying to the people I love that “I just want you to be happy.” Don’t we all want that for the people we care about, and for ourselves? Happiness is a good thing to want for one another. On the surface, I believe it is good… [Read More]
Does Forgiving Always Mean Forgetting?
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult admonitions that Christ has given to us. Its importance is highlighted by the specific reference to forgiving others in the Lord’s Prayer. The notion of forgiveness has evolved to an idea summarized in the common cliche “forgive and forget”, which in turn tends to bring Christianity within the… [Read More]
Seeds of Peace and Justice
John 15: 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. During a recent monologue on the changing situation in Iraq, comedian Jon Stewart lampooned conservative pundits for their use of the phrase “seeds of democracy” to justify the 2003 invasion. I know not everyone will… [Read More]
Finding Peace As a Mom of 5
I’m not sure Hail Mary’s are supposed to be yelled. Perhaps it’s a new way of praying them? For the last several months (years), I’ve struggled with finding peace in multiple areas of my life, at the same time. Maybe that’s my problem. I try to find too much peace, too many places and it’s… [Read More]
#prayforpeace and #fast4syria
“Let the cry for peace ring out in all the world!#prayforpeace” –@Pontifex, Pope Francis, Twitter, September 4, 2013 This past Sunday, September 1, during his Angelus Address, Pope Francis called upon Catholics around the world to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria on Saturday, September 7. As Pope Francis made… [Read More]
Creating Peace in the Home for the After School Frenzy
“All works of love are works of peace.” Mother Teresa Two weeks into the school year, our adjustment has been pretty smooth, save for a few afternoon meltdowns and the obligatory back to school germs. Nevertheless, there’s a natural groove, the kids have been quite happy and we’re feeling abundantly blessed! But… [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]
An Invitation
Hey you. Stop. Just stop, and pray. And especially listen. If you didn’t read the rest of this article, got off the computer, and went and just prayed, even for thirty seconds, I would praise God with great thanksgiving. But, nevertheless, I’ll keep writing, just in case you need more convincing. You see, I’ve… [Read More]
My Journey with “Financial Peace” from a Catholic Perspective
How it started: Back in the first week of April ’11, a company-wide email was sent out at my workplace advertising a new course that was being offered. The program was Dave Ramsey‘s “Financial Peace University,” a 13-week video based personal finance class that would be moderated by a fellow employee on-campus during lunch. Everyone… [Read More]
