This week, I spent a great deal of time inside a casino. Don’t get me wrong — I wasn’t gambling! Being there and seeing some of the folks I encountered during a “people watching” stroll made my heart hurt. The pain, the loneliness, and even in one case the obvious homelessness of the people was a bit heartbreaking. As I saw them, I had Pope Francis’ tweet of January 7th (shared below) tucked away in my heart. One of the... Read more
Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who... Read more
From Salt & Light’s daily “Perspective” news blast: Today on Perspectives, Canada had a new bishop, Pope Francis’ daily homily, changes coming for Monsignors and CNS talks to the president of the USCCB about the relationship between the Church and the United States government. Read more
q Don’t you love the “back to business” feel that is in the air today?! If you’ve been in “unplugged mode” as I have, you’ll find this week’s Sweet Tweets especially helpful as a recap of the big news for the past seven days. For his part, Pope Francis has been very busy and there’s also been plenty of news on the home front this week for Catholics! Thank you to John Clem for making this weekly feature possible! ... Read more
Today feels almost like a regular Thursday. Granted, I did miss out on my usual pre-dawn chat with the illustrious radio producer Matt Swaim, but aside from that it’s sort of “business as usual” around here. I woke up this morning for my Women’s Christians in Commerce meeting, folks seem to be back at their desks, and my husband is back to work. I still have both boys home from college for a few more days, but that seems to... Read more
Tissue warning! What I’m about to share with you will definitely be better than any major motion picture you’ve watched lately. It will fill your heart with joy at the sheer potential of love — real, chaste, beautiful, unbridled love. It will remind those of us who were married what it felt like to anticipate our lives together, and it will set a very high bar for those of you who haven’t yet met that special someone to share the... Read more
I know many of you hate making New Year’s resolutions, but the optimist in me always loves the freshness of a new year, a new calendar, and an opportunity to “do better” in the year ahead. This year, instead of resolutions I’ve decided to give myself fourteen goals for the New Year. I’ve tried to choose things that are quantifiable, that I can track and actually “check off” as I accomplish them. I’m actually working on an Evernote file to... Read more
Around us, we see all the trappings of Christmas, and yet we bask in the glow of that rose-colored Advent calendar. “Not yet,” I tell myself… “I’m not ready.” But I worry a bit how much of that “not ready” sense of mine is related to what society thinks is important during Christmas — the gifts, the parties, the baking — when in reality the truth is that my soul is not ready to truly welcome Christ’s coming at Christmas.... Read more
This week has felt a lot like whiplash. Hole myself up in the office by day, typing word after word of somewhat deep, tell-all prose for my next book manuscript. Turn down the lights. Enjoy the flicker of a candle and the silence. And then shut down in the evening and go to what seems an endless cycle of holiday parties. Put on a sparkly sweater and boots that look ok but can withstand being on your feet for five... Read more
How many times have you been stumped by a question on the faith posed to you by a loved one? How often have you pondered a precept of Catholicism and wished you could chat with a theologian on that topic? Now we’re in luck! Out today from Word on Fire is a great announcement: Lots of people have questions for Fr. Barron, but between running Mundelein Seminary and spearheading Word on Fire, he just doesn’t have enough time to answer... Read more
Lisa Hendey
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