7. Make sure you leave a comment on my Catholic Speakers Month post about Sr. Helen Prejean, so you can be entered in the giveaway to win a copy of one of her books, either Dead Man Walking or Death of Innocents. 6. So I got new glasses this week. I had my first eye exam in two years, and my perscription changed so I needed new glasses. What do you think? I’m not sure yet. I loved, loved, loved... Read more
She’s short. Maybe 5’2. But her voice, her Louisiana to the core drawl fills up a room. She likes her beer cold, and to spin stories so long they would make anyone’s grandma proud. This is not a woman one easily imagines accompanying a convicted murder to death. She herself will be the first to tell you that she never could have imagined her life would look like this on that day in 1957 when she took her vows and... Read more
7. I am working on my posts about Catholic Social Teaching, but it is slow going. I managed to forget quite a bit in just 3 years…so I am having to do more re-reading than I thought I would. Slowly, but surely, they are getting done. 6. In the meantime I am excited to announce that I am profiling Sr. Helen Prejean for Catholic Speaker Month. I had the privilege to meet St. Helen (and even introduce her to the... Read more
Yesterday, at Ignitum Today, I published some thoughts from the women’s conference I attended over the weeked. It just so happened to be the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. How fitting. “To be certain, there have been times of tremendous joy. There always are. But they are, inevitably, just breaks. As Kimberly Hahn said in her talk at the conference, “If you aren’t in the midst of suffering, it’s a lull.” She was so right. I had forgotten, you... Read more
7. Oh my goodness! I am so stinking excited because tomorrow I’m going to the South Bend-Fort Wayne Diocese Women’s Conference and the featured speakers are Scott and Kimberly Hahn. I’ve never heard Kimberly speak, but I could listen to Dr. Hahn talk all day; he for sure has a radio voice. 6. Possibly even more exciting is that Leanne from Life Happens When is going to be coming up and meeting me in Indy; then we’ll drive to the... Read more
Human beings are essentially social in nature. The second theme of Catholic social teaching is the importance of social relationships and participation in society for human flourishing. Because of the importance of the family, community, and participation, I will break this principle into two parts: the family first, and community and participation second. The Family “May Nazareth remind us what the family is, what the communion of love is, its stark and simple beauty, its sacred and inviolable character; may... Read more
In my reading and research for some of the new topics, I have been reading some really challenging material. And what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t spread the challenging words around a little? I submit for your friday reading pleasure, some words that just might make you squirm. In a good way. 7. “The guarantee of one’s prayer is not in saying a lot of words. The guarantee of one’s petition is very easy to know:... Read more
I came across this in my reading and researching, and it was too good not to share. God has created me to do Him some definitive service; He has commited some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may not know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created... Read more
Any treatment of Catholic social teaching has to begin and end with the dignity of the human person. Here we start, one post on each principle of Catholic social teaching. The first principle and foundation of all social justice and Catholic social teaching is a recognition of the inherent dignity due to human beings by virtue of their being made in the image and likeness of God. As Pope John XXIII wrote in Pacem in Terris: Any well-regulated and productive... Read more
7. I am so jazzed about the new bloggy happenings. Also, about the conversations that are happening about American Catholicism and the rediculous boxes we have painted each other into. Did you see? Fr. Barron hit it out of the park (what else is new?) and Joanne McPortland had me fist-pumping by the end of her piece. Seriously. If you’re reading this blog and wondering what the heck is going on in American Catholicism, check out both of those pieces.... Read more
Fumbling Toward Grace
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