“…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]
We Are All Teachers of Virtue (A Response to Archbishop Cordileone’s “Knowledge, Virtue, and Holiness”)
You may remember the news headlines about Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. They focused on the bristling of some archdiocesan school teachers at the prospect of having to sign a statement affirming their support of the Catholic faith. As a former Catholic high school teacher myself, I thought it was much… [Read More]
The Fine Line Between Sin and Virtue
40 miles per hour is the speed limit on University Drive going towards Highway 6. When I drive through that zone, I try to go exactly 45 miles per hour. Why? Because I can get where I’m going faster than if I drive 40, and few police officers aren’t going to pull someone over for only going 5… [Read More]
Humility Alone Conceives the Truth – a poem
I hope you are all having a restful and blessed Christmas season! Pope Francis invites us to contemplate what God teaches us in coming as a child: “He makes himself small, he becomes a child, to attract us with love, to touch our hearts with his humble goodness,” and also”Pope Francis said the creche reminds us that… [Read More]
Catholics Drink Like Saints: A Response to Discussions of Catholicism and Alcohol
I was blessed to attend a college friend’s Baptist wedding reception (and the wedding) once, and I had a fantastic time. These many years later, two details stick out (three if you count the bride’s lovely, cap-sleeved gown). First, the reception ended very quickly and much earlier than I expected, and second, the desserts were… [Read More]
3 Annoying Traits of a Catholic Husband That Point You to Heaven
Last night something rare happened: My husband and I found ourselves at the MOVIES. Shocking, I know. I’ll pause to let you collect yourself. (Seriously, we don’t go to the movies. We usually watch Netflix with the volume so low that we only catch about half of the dialogue and have to ad-lib the rest… [Read More]
Late Have I Loved You
Yesterday I found myself bringing St Augustine’s Feast Day to a close by reciting passages from his writings with a small gathering of friends; we raised a glass to the Doctor and Saint, and celebrated this man who was so dearly human. The passage I recited had been had been reverberating in my mind since that… [Read More]
Pray on Sunday, Cuss on Monday?
Shut the front door because we need to get real about our speech. This isn’t a flippant or unnecessary discussion about language. We are living in a time of dangerous persecution and wars, so it seems like this topic may not be as important, but our words are always needed and used, so it remains… [Read More]
The IKEA Effect in Spiritual Growth
Have you ever bought a piece of furniture from IKEA? It takes hours to construct based off the cryptic, graphic-only instructions. After all the blood, sweat, and tears, you have bonded with your furniture and it starts to distort your perspective. Suddenly, you’re perfectly accept, proud in fact, of the piece of furniture that has… [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]
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]
Prescription Strength Grace
Over thanksgiving I came down with a pretty nasty cold. My family treated me in their characteristically sympathetic manner. They griped at me for not doing more cardio. Bedside manner aside, I know my family is correct. In the three years I’ve been Catholic I’ve lost about 100 pounds (cardio). This process has proven to… [Read More]
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES; or. . Happy Halloween; no just. . RUN FOR YOUR LIVES
Welcome class. My name is professor Taran Heindrich. I am founder of the Austin Institute for the study of the dark forces. This semester I will be teaching you my own patented techniques for aggressive spiritual combat. I would like to begin my classes by saying …RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Evil is coming for you!… [Read More]
