Readings for July 7, 2013: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time To some, being Italian-American means overindulging in pasta and joking about tough guys. But being Italian means being heir to a rich tradition stretching back before the Caesars, including philosophers…
Restore and Reactivate
How can you fast during a feast?
I’ve always found today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 9:14-17) difficult to understand. It felt as though Jesus was light years ahead of John’s disciples, and even his own for that matter. Then some thoughtful soul explained that, no, you really can’t…
American Catholics, Take Action!
When I was a child, I loved to play with Play-Doh. My imagination would run wild with ideas of the different things I could create from the vibrant hues of dough. Often I would get the great idea to mix…
Offensive Evangelization
I’m still mulling over a treadmill “conference” I had with a dear friend at the gym. This particular person is very religious, but not Christian. My friend shared the recent experience of being invited to a “dedication” (Baptism type ceremony)…
Highlighting New Evangelizers: Pray More Novenas
I love novenas. They’re a focused way to pray and a way to pray that I always feels makes a difference. Instead of a vague, “Yeah, I’ll pray for you,” it gives me something tangible to do with a set…
Resurrection and Self-Awareness
“In the mystery of the Resurrection lies the summit and the highest intensity of our Christian self-awareness, and therefore that of my new awareness of myself of the way in which I look at all people and all things,” writes…
The Purpose of Suffering
One of the greatest challenges we face is explaining the purpose of suffering. How many times have you heard “why does God allow us to suffer?” It is a difficult question to answer, and one that deserves a legitimate response….
The Truth about the Flesh
Readings for June 30, 2013: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Spirituality is really about the soul and the things of the soul. The body and its needs do not matter. In fact, the body is the soul’s prison. Salvation is really…
10 Benefits of Attending a Catholic Homeschool Conference
In early June, I was able to attend our local Catholic homeschooling conference with my husband. I had a ball meeting other Catholic homeschool families, chatting with vendors about their products and listening to inspiring Catholic speakers. Are you considering…
Learning from the Experts: Read the Lives of Saints
This past week I gave a talk on teaching children the Beatitudes, and I mentioned a few of my favorite go-to sources for studying the lives of saints. The next day I discovered a new favorite, just where I least…