Solutions For The Marriage Prep Crisis, Part 1

December 2, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

Since the close of the Synod on the Family in October, there has been much discussion on reconstructing Catholic marriage preparation programs. As wonderful as it is for our parish leaders and Church hierarchy to start rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on this critical aspect of helping married couples stay together, we cannot let the entire burden rest solely upon their shoulders. That would be unfair, because honestly, it’s not all their responsibility. Parents bear the brunt... Read more

Encouragement For When You Feel Invisible To Others

November 30, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

It was 11:30pm on New Year’s Eve, 1996 and I was at a huge party at some hotel with a bunch of co-workers. We had been having a good time, but as the clock neared midnight, I was getting more and more agitated. I looked around at the crowd, everyone dressed to the nines, most of them drunk, all of them preparing to count down to the New Year and thought, “I can’t do this.” This was my third holiday... Read more

3 Tips For Handling An Antagonistic Ex-Spouse

November 25, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

It’s hard to be charitable to someone who has devastated your life. In my own divorce experience, there were times when my bitterness won out and my angry behavior just made things worse. It made me feel absolutely horrible about what I had done or said. No one should live that way, it’s a miserable existence. No wonder we have such high crime, road rage, and broken families. People get hurt and their response is to attack like a spitting,... Read more

Having Difficulty Finding Reasons To Be Thankful?

November 23, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

You know what’s hard? Trying to find something to be thankful for when you are suffering. Just as when you’re sick with a bad cold or flu and you find it difficult to read or concentrate on anything in particular, trying to focus on blessings in the midst of a painful experience like divorce can be just as difficult. You know it’s probably the right thing to do, and you know you should give it a try, but the pain... Read more

Advice for When You’re No Longer Attracted to Your Spouse

November 20, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

Society has successfully brainwashed an entire generation of people into believing that marriages are disposable. Read more

Year Of Mercy: Aid For The Age Of The Broken Heart

November 18, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

Back in 1998, I was on a pilgrimage in Rome and although I was with a large group, I felt very much alone. I didn’t know many people and kept to myself because I was divorced and didn’t want to scandalize anyone. For some reason, when people found out I was divorced, they never seemed to take an interest in me. One day our group was enjoying a leisurely lunch and much to my awkwardness, a priest sat across from... Read more

This Advice From St. Therese of Lisieux Might Shock You

November 16, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and for anyone who has been divorced, this can be a very tough day, even years later and especially if you are a parent. Will you be exchanging children? Will your ex-spouse be present at the family gathering? There can be many uncomfortable circumstances that turn what is supposed to be a day of gratitude and family warmth into a day of wrestling demons. In the years that followed my divorce, I always... Read more

Does Divorce Make You Feel Unworthy? Remember This…

November 13, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

One of the most difficult aspects of rebuilding your life after divorce is battling the pervasive feeling of being less valuable as a human being. Now, this doesn’t happen to everyone who gets divorced, but in all my years of helping people pick up the pieces of their broken relationships, it is a common thread among them. The feelings of loss and rejection occur on so many levels, and it’s natural that one might question one’s own value as a... Read more

You’ll Never Guess What’s Keeping Some Catholics Out Of The Church

November 10, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

You might be familiar with my brother Patrick Madrid’s daily radio show on Immaculate Heart Radio and if you are, you know his primary goal in getting behind the microphone is to bring souls to Christ. I listen frequently and love hearing the discussions that take place with callers from all faith backgrounds; Catholics, former Catholics, protestants, Mormons, atheists, etc. It’s always educational to hear those conversations and the perspective of those who aren’t Catholics. One day as I was... Read more

I Was On My Way To Becoming A Bitter Alcoholic, But…

November 7, 2015 By Lisa Duffy

I’ll never forget how rapidly my spiritual life declined during that first year after my husband walked out and filed for divorce. Sure, I did a lot of tear-filled pleading and begging with God in those first few days and no doubt, that was one form of praying, but as the shock began to wear off and anger set in, my ability and desire to pray went right out the window. My sorrow was too deep and I just couldn’t... Read more