Some of you know I teach high school English. Others now know. I have eighty students and fifty-seven essays I need to finish grading before Friday. Add to that Halloween with nine of ten children even if most are adults, and there just has been no writing time or spare moments in the past two weeks. Also, I’m an Astros fan so I’m watching and hoping they can beat the Phillies in the World Series…and so far, that’s been a... Read more
The Blessed Mother longs to talk with us and listen. She doesn’t mess around. I wrote this column and immediately afterwards, was invited to be part of a 54 day Novena of Rosaries…think she means business. The Everyday Wonder of the Rosary is published over at the Catholic Standard. Read more
We are always on the road that goes ever ever on, and it is always both the narrow gate and the wide and easy part of our journey. The sufferings of yesterday, we can bear and ponder, for the lessons we extract from their being completed. However the pains of today, still puzzle. We are forever being meeked, forever being given the opportunity to cling to the cross rather than merely observe it being offered. This is the hard grace... Read more
Yesterday I sat at a meeting discussing donuts and flyers. The sharing of labors and stories and sufferings led as it often does, to friendship. My sister called to talk about the stresses of moving and homeschooling. When I got home, a friend texted me requesting songs for planning a funeral. Google could have given answers but she didn’t want lists. She wanted someone to look over the words and find the right ones that might comfort when all... Read more
(Charity) Shutterstock Poor Uneducated Addicted Illegal Mentally ill Handicapped Unborn Homeless Convicted LGBQ+ The list could go on, until we would find one where we reflexively drew back because we’ve somehow decided, “No Lord, not them.” My latest over at the National Catholic Register is a reminder to me, and to all, “There are no invisible people to God,” and we are called not merely to tolerate, but to love. Read more
This is not ten truths and a lie…this is the last two weeks going backwards…and mind you, I’m forgetting stuff. Sunday 9/25 –went to the O’s Astro’s game. Left with the score 1-0 in the 6th after lightning and a downpour that felt like it would end the game. It didn’t but we didn’t know that in advance. Saturday 9/24 –Cross Country for Paul and Anna at 8 am. Evening at Nat’s park in Washington, DC to enjoy the Farewell... Read more
Today I’m over at the National Catholic Register with a book review of Fr. Livio Franzaga’s “Wrath of God.” Trying to get back on the writing horse of submitting every week and writing every day. This morning, an online friend reached out, broken by circumstances long endured. It felt hard to offer comfort when the friend does not allow for the reality of anything beyond now. How do witness the meaning of suffering in a suffering world without God, articulated... Read more
These days, I spend some time with the Blessed Sacrament every school day. Yesterday, the room was packed, and I had to think with each person coming in, how much my own faith felt fed and strengthened –all these witnesses I could see, coupled with all I could not, made it hard not to feel joyful. When there are many people, I’m moved by the witness of so many, eager to spend time with our Lord. When there are few,... Read more
Having multiple members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the household, I’ve learned that toddler fights are nothing compared to teen wars. These people in high school and just beyond, engage in cellular warfare designed to leave lasting emotional scars. “Hey P, just finished practicing parking. Sorry I scratched your car.” It doesn’t matter how many times he’s checked, he can’t shrug it off. He has to go look and she opens the window from her bedroom so he... Read more
Last year, when school started, it felt as though I had classes of pet rocks. Image from the Craft train. They did not talk, laugh or respond easily. The trauma of Covid, of everything, loomed over everything, and made ordinary non urgent conversation almost non existent. This weekend, I overheard two men working in the grocery store, one at the deli, and the other with the milks. They chatted back and forth about the upcoming football season. The clerks at check... Read more
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