Fear, anger, frustration, failure, longing, wishing, helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, rage, indignation, and embarrassment: in my spiritual walk, I have genuinely experienced each of these emotions more than a time or two. Sometimes God and I are not on speaking terms….
How Sad are You?
Find and Tell
Evangelization is simple, yet mysterious. Today’s Gospel (John 1:45-51) for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew (aka Nathanael) captures this dynamic in a nutshell. Often we can overthink evangelization. Don’t understand the word. Worry about “doing it wrong” or perceptions about…
Faithfulness
Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 23 Belief in God is rather widespread, at least in America. Various surveys show that over 90% of Americans “believe in God.” But belief and faith are not quite the same…
Cottage Life and the Spiritual Life
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your…
Faith Can Move Mountains
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NAB) Faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain. This seems a little hard to wrap my mind around….
Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
About a month ago a friend emailed me with an invitation to join a book club at our usual coffee spot with a group of women. I said yes before I even knew the book! I can’t help it, it…
Life is a Feast
Readings for Aug 16, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B From time to time I run across sophisticated people who don’t, of course, believe in God, at least not in the way he’s represented by organized religion. But they…
Solemnity of the Assumption
Readings for August 15th: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary I once asked a college theology class if anyone could explain the doctrine of the Assumption. A student replied, “yeah, that’s the teaching whereby the Catholic Church ‘assumes’ that Mary is…
This is the prayer of the saints…
Prayer is like a good meal to me. It fills a need, gives me strength for the day, and satisfies my hunger. One type of nourishment, food, fuels the body, while another type, prayer, fuels the soul. Our body uses…
Pulling the Weeds of Sin
St. Maximilian Kolbe wrote: The more light of God’s grace within a soul, the better we will see the weeds and imperfections at every step. The Sacred Scriptures say that a just man falls seven times daily. So as long…