When my children were little, their exploits could be shared because the stories themselves were universal in nature even if the details differed. Who hasn’t dealt with a squirmy toddler who makes getting dressed in the morning an Olympic sport? What parent doesn’t know the seemingly endless grief of trying to be patient with a child who simply will not go to bed. Potty training, lost shoes, getting buckled into or out of the car, schedules, check ups, the list... Read more
Taking down the recycling, walking the dog and braving the lower than forty degrees which makes it unpleasant for me, weather, my thoughts turned to what am I doing? Not why am I living in a temperate zone where the weather can think about snow but not snow, and there is a need for gloves and thick socks and puffy coats? But what should I be doing spiritually? How do I grow as a human being, challenge myself to be... Read more
All of November, we pray for the souls of those in Purgatory, which is everyone who isn’t already a saint, not dead, or didn’t accept God’s friendship in this lifetime at the moment of judgment. We participate in offering each soul God’s mercy by our prayers, by our acting as intercessors, practicing what the saints, both known and known only to God, do for us. Preparing for mass on November 1st, I thought of all those family members I’ve loved... Read more
That we remember that each person in this land, is our brother or sister in Christ. That we strive in our personal lives to see each person as equal in dignity, irrespective of any and all differences. That we remember the purpose of law, is to help a people be more just, more fair, more protective of the innocent, more supportive of the weak. That we work as a nation and to a person, to meet the needs of our... Read more
Going to adoration is the shortest route to coming to know Him better outside of the sacraments. What we fail to understand is God always longs for our attention, our presence. We grow bored with everything, even ourselves. However God does not weary of wanting us, or of our not understanding the infinite depth of His love. God gives us clues though, with the infinite nature of the sky, the diversity of life on this planet and the ever constant... Read more
My youngest is preparing for Confirmation. I remember deciding upon my patron saint and preparing for my service project. The Holy Spirit has always been a good friend to me even before I received this sacrament. Having watched this happen multiple times, I’m still surprised at how much I look forward to this moment for them, when they take their first step into adult faith life. The person in charge of the program asked, “What do we want for our children?” ... Read more
In August, my husband and I attended a concert as part of our anniversary celebration. The band played one of its hits, “Marry Me.” and all throughout the audience, couples stood, swaying and singing the lyrics. Behind us sat three twenty-something women who kept cooing about how sweet it was, to see the people singing as though there were no other people at the concert. “It’s very romantic.” one said to the other. Honestly, I looked around and wanted... Read more
This week, God keeps putting people in front of me who want or need prayers. This person lost their mother and though it has been a few years, the grief keeps rearing up, reminding her that it feels fresh. Another is going to care for her mother. The stories come at unexpected moments, but they remind me, October is the month of the Rosary, the month to call on our most Blessed Mother, Mary, adoptive mother of all of us.... Read more
Recently, there’s been a spate of deodorant commercials. I’m not sure when Americans got so stinky we needed an entire product line to cover our scent, but between the Mandalorian and the Luminescent, apparently we need about five different means of application to cover all our parts. It struck me as excessive but as a marketing plan, perfect. If a different product corrects odor for a different place, people who are concerned about such things will part with dollars to... Read more
Our God is Love. God promises us His love, every day and always. However, in our fallen state, we constantly construe His love to mean what we want. God does not promise us a life without trial. –See Moses, King David, Joseph and his brothers, all of Exodus, all of history. He does not guarantee that a faithful life will be uninterrupted by evil. Go read the story of Susanna, of Ruth, the Book of Tobit, or the Holy Family’s... Read more
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