The transformation in my gardens in the past two years has been one of lightening the workload. I’ve grown a bit more accustomed to the spaciousness of a small yard without voluptuous flower beds. In the smallness of it all beauty is more precise, less grand. My photography skills are minimal, but I try to see with different eyes what the Lord has left to make me glad. So I’m sharing here the little bits. The other grace in downsizing... Read more
In the light of the disturbing and often exaggerated and false reporting news about Tuam, Ireland’s deceased children, that caused a firestorm of confusion and grief, let us pray for our Sisters and Nuns who are caring for the unwanted children in our world. Our Lady of Guadalupe, we pray that you give strength and perseverance to our Sisters and Nuns as they continue their work for the dignity of life. We pray that your compassion infuses their hearts as they... Read more
Erin McCole Cupp has a delightful fun summer read, the mystery, Don’t You Forget About Me, from Full Quiver Publishing. (And free on Kindle, now through Thursday 6/12!) Here is a brief synopsis: Mary Catherine Whelihan made it out of Walkerville alive once before. Can she pull it off this time? Bullies, sexual harassment, finding a corpse in the local creek…. Cate’s childhood in 1980s Walkerville was murder! So what could possibly tempt her to return? A cryptic email from Eugene Marcasian, MD, her grade school crush,... Read more
What, then. When walks are not relieving, More a long distance pace Up and back. When anti-anything meds do not work, When rosaries, and prayer requests, And offering-ups are not enough, What then? When the ache to feel The love of Our Lord, Embrace of Mary’s arms, Lifted by the Holy Spirit, Or wrapped In my Guardian’s wings Is left without sense, What then? When the scars of the heart Are healed and still tight, When the soul... Read more
Celery is part of nearly every day in my kitchen. It gets chopped in most cooking, filled with Gorgonzola dolce or peanut butter, dipped in cheesy horseradish spread, or just snacked on with a little salt. I’ve grown celery from plants bought from a local greenhouse and never been satisfied with the results. The other day visiting my neighbor Karen, who has rebuilt since their fire, excitedly brought me round the back of the house to show off a container... Read more
Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests. You have given them to us for our needs. We pray for them in their needs. We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of Your own priesthood. You have consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood. Yet we... Read more
The Catholic Photo Challenge this week is about darkness and light. Most living things experience a passage from darkness to light. Whether it is in the womb of the body or the womb of the earth, germination takes place in the absence of light. A seed is planted in the dark soil, and with minimal effort on our part, it grows. It is awe-inspiring when we realize that God chose the things of the earth to express Himself to us. From... Read more
Summer is the time that many of us travel, leaving home for vacation. When I traveled, my eagerness was at its peak when I started out, but by the end of my trip I was just as eager to return home—and to my own bed. A few decades ago I would spend summers backpacking the Rockies or Tetons, or portaging with a canoe through Canada’s Massasauga and other Provincial Parks. As I aged, backwoods excursions gave way to less strenuous... Read more
We pray to you Our Lord for all missionary Sisters and Nuns as they work to build communities of faith in many lands, especially in the African nations, that they may share the courage of the Ugandan martyrs–St. Charles Lwanga and companions. Give strength and courage to our Sisters and Nuns to preach the Gospel in steadfast fidelity to the commitment they had made in their vows. Protect them from harm and preserve their souls. We ask this in Jesus’ name.... Read more
Water is a necessity for all life. Birds need water for drinking and preening; it helps keep a bird’s body cool from the inside and out. Water baths remove dust, loose feathers, parasites and other debris from their plumage. Adding a water feature to your garden is an important element, and one of the quickest ways to attract birds. Offering water will draw more birds than just food sources, since birds that would not visit your feeders can be enticed... Read more
Morning Rose Prayer Gardens
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In