My latest contribution to the Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship is up right now! An excerpt We’ve all had those times that we either had a song stuck in our head for what felt like weeks or loved a song so much, we would put that song on repeat for hours, or even days on end. Either way, it would take a long time for that song to get out of our heads. Today’s verses all sound similar, but they echo a wonderful... Read more
You think adulthood starts when you turn 18 Or when you move out or graduate college You look for work, you primp and preen But finishing education didn’t give you much knowledge About how to file taxes or pay the bills on time Or finding the right significant other Being happy seems like a steep hill to climb Nights are haunted by the naysays of your mother Eventually, however, things start balancing out Life becomes the school you never really... Read more
I don’t claim to have good taste in music. I actually like “Here I Am, Lord” and “Ashes.” I grew up in the 90s and went through what some music critics call the worst era of music in the early 2000s. However, I really hope my taste has improved since then. What I want to talk about here is those times when you hear a song that completely changes your mood, whether it’s for the better or for the worse.... Read more
So ever heard of the Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship? If you hadn’t, they’re a group of women who create free online Catholic Bible studies for women. Their topics range from Genesis to the Virtues to seasonal topics like Advent and Lent. Their current study centers on Mercy. Oh yeah. I happen to be contributing to this particular study. Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote today: There’s a tendency in a lot of Christians to see two different versions... Read more
I first heard Matt Maher’s music during a retreat. We sang a few of his songs as part of praise and worship ceremonies. And when I looked more into his music, I was surprised that he was a Catholic because his music could be heard on the Protestant Christian radio station. When I heard about Matt Maher’s latest album, I got excited, even more so when I saw the title: Saints and Sinners. After all, it was Oscar Wilde who... Read more
I posted on here before about the words I’ve been gathering during this Lenten season. Well, it turns out that I’m adding “faith” to the list. Lent wasn’t an easy time for me. I dealt with a lot of loneliness, feeling invisible, and the general twenty-something issue of “What the hell am I going to do with my life?” Because on the surface, I don’t have a lot going for me. I can’t drive, I’m still living at home, I... Read more
40 days have come and gone I went into the desert and came back again There were days that I had to press on Days when my spirit and faith were drained And then there were days when my heart soared Days that I learned many valuable things Days when the right song would strike a chord And all I wanted to do was sing Now these days are coming to an end Spring has arrived with flowers in bloomed... Read more
INT. THE UPPER ROOM, JERUSALEM — NIGHT PETER is standing alone, crying. He is burdened with guilt and regret. He keeps repeating something to himself Peter I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. A knock on the door. Peter gets up to answer the door. MARK enters. He is a young boy whose parents are disciples of Christ. MARK Hello. PETER Hello, Mark. MARK I’m sorry for disturbing you, but your friend Magdalene was asking me to look for you. PETER Let... Read more
I sadly don’t have any awesome stories about how Pope John Paul II impacted my life. I took him for granted growing up and when he passed away, I just thought it was a natural thing. It wasn’t until after Pope John Paul II died that I started learning about how awesome he was. Thankfully, my friend Emily Allen has her own story to tell: On the 10th anniversary of his death, I have been asked my the lovely Monique Ocampo... Read more
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross Something I remembered from The Passion of the Christ was that after Christ died, they broke the legs of the other two men who were crucified. But instead of breaking Jesus’s legs, the soldier decided to pierce His side with a lance. They say that when Jesus died, the sky darkened and that there was an earthquake. The darkness that covered the sky was, in my headcanon, more than likely a thunderstorm.... Read more
Monique Ocampo Writes
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