Have you ever felt burdened by the weight of your mistakes, shortcomings, failures, and faults? If so, you’re not alone. I know I could sit and write a list of all the ways in which I am limited, struggle, fail, and fall. I could list all the things I wish I had done differently—from my childhood to my youth and throughout adulthood—right up to this very moment. If only… Right? Well, maybe we don’t need to be weighed down by... Read more
I always loved math, but I was never interested in pursuing it. Why? Because I couldn’t find meaning or purpose in it. I was fascinated by people, social justice, and the unique differences amongst the human population. I wanted to alleviate suffering in the world, and I couldn’t see how solving equations could do that. My parents encouraged me to pursue math, but I was determined: I wasn’t going to spend my life crunching numbers when there was meaning to... Read more
When I lived in Philadelphia, a friend of mine–an artist and musician—spent hours collecting broken glass from city streets. Why? She was determined to transform these unused, sharp and uneven broken bits into beautiful mosaics. Even with occasional scrapes and scratches from the shards she had collected, she was eager to add the remnants of car windows, storefronts, and robberies to her latest mosaic. In fact, here is an article published about her studio in CatholicPhiilly.com. God’s mercy This artwork... Read more
Today, the entire world mourns the loss of the inspiring, gentle, and wise Pope Francis, who guided the world with love and truth. Pope Francis embraced the poor and suffering, even choosing to take public transportation alongside everyday citizens in Rome. He fostered global care and concern for the earth, immigrants, the marginalized, and the afflicted. After Easter, before Earth Day Pope Francis died the day after Easter, on April 21st, 2025; the day after he met with United States... Read more
In a previous blog post, The Incarnation: Read to Find Out Why It’s Beautiful, I pointed out that the birth of Jesus is beautiful, because Jesus is the Love of God made flesh. Likewise, according to the Catholic tradition, Jesus is the source and summit of beauty (read more in this incredible document entitled Via Pulchritudinis, Latin for Way of Beauty). So we definitely see beauty in Jesus—incarnate Love. Did Jesus see beauty in His crucifiers? But does Jesus see... Read more
Most of us can relate to belting out the words of America the Beautiful in school assemblies, sports events, or national holidays. We might not have thought much about the lyrics at the time, but we knew it was a patriotic song and thus, an important one. In particular, we may not have realized the deep significance of recognizing America’s beauty—something that we need to appreciate and protect now more than ever as deportations threaten the inherent beauty of our... Read more
Have you ever loved a singer-songerwriter so much, that it was as if they were singing to you? When I was in high school, I was absolutely in love with Ricky Martin. I loved his music, but more, I loved him, and when I listened to his music, it was him who was singing to me—just like in Marc Anthony’s 90’s hit, You Sang to Me: How I long to hear you sing beneath the clear blue skies And I... Read more
Whether or not you’re a practicing Christian, you’ve most likely encountered some beautiful images of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus—born in a manger. Maybe you attended a Christmas concert with beautiful music or watched a beautiful Christmas movie. Most likely, amidst the busyness and bustling of the holiday season, you’ve found at least a bit of the beauty of Christmas. The beauty of the Incarnation But the beauty of the Incarnation—when the Word of God became flesh–extends beyond beautiful... Read more
Lifted Up in Virtue When I was in high school and just under voting age, I became such a passionate Democrat that, dismayed after the election results came in, I wrote off voting for the next twenty years of my life. I decided I could do more with my time than delve into politics which could very likely lead to absolutely no change at all. Instead, I allowed that youthful passion for life, love, and liberty to lead me to... Read more
Have you ever been inspired to do something creative? Maybe paint, dance, draw, or create something new in the world? Renoir and his call to paint French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir surely did. He was determined to celebrate the beauty of creation by painting. What some people don’t know, is that Renoir suffered debilitating and painful rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, according to an exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum, Renoir was faced with such physical pain, that he perceived a choice... Read more
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