I’ve never been much for being scared out of my mind by horror flicks or haunted houses. I don’t need trumped up Halloween lure to find myself terrified. And I am hardly fond of demon talk and exorcisms and such. Yes, I know it’s all true and real and all that. But my mind does of a heck of a good job of scaring me on its own. Want to scare me to death? Put me in front of that... Read more
Sick Pilgrim reader Julia Kriz Dzierma sent in today’s totally true ghost story. If you want to submit your own, email Jonathan at authorjryan@gmail.com In October 2011, my mom and I went to a family gathering. My mom’s favorite cousin, Carol, related to my mom and me a story that happened that past summer. I’d never heard anything like this before from what I would consider to be a likely legitimate source. Carol had a cousin on the other side of... Read more
(So, we here at Sick Pilgrim love all things spooky, weird and strange. We thought it was pretty fitting to tell real life stories of the strange and unusual, especially during the month of October. It reminds us there is an Unseen world to consider and try to understand. Plus, as Catholics, we have a long history and tradition of the Weird Tale. It’s kind of our thing. Feel free to read these at night…alone…in the dark…..and have your rosary beads... Read more
I’d wanted to purchase a little sailor suit for him to wear to church, because unlike most cats, mine is relaxed enough to be carried around in my arms. In the car, through crowds, among dogs, he lounges with perfect equanimity. He has rarely transformed himself into a furious, scowling, arching puffball. He is happiest perched upon a shoulder, rubbing his face insistently against a human chin and cheek, poking his nose into a human ear. With some pride I... Read more
As someone who watches Catholic media for a living, it’s hard to ignore the mass panic among various outlets about young people leaving the church. A recent article in OSV illustrates the point. In response to those surveys, people try to come up with different answers for how to address the problem. A variety of solutions have been proposed. Many people think making the church more “relevant” is the answer. In an article for U.S. Catholic, Jess vehemently disagreed. I’m not against... Read more
UPDATED! Sick Pilgrim has partnered with the University of Notre Dame to create a new conference that we hope will invigorate and inspire contemporary Catholic writers and artists. On June 22-24, 2017, “Trying to Say God” will bring together both well-known and emerging writers, artists and musicians for a new kind of Catholic literary conference–one that is open to, but not limited to, those working in academia. Our confirmed featured speakers include: Keynote Mary Karr, New York Times best-selling author of The... Read more
October is our favorite month for so many reasons. Down in southern Louisiana, the weather will finally start to cool off to like, 90 degrees. Matt Lafleur will enjoy days of brilliant blue skies and nights where he might even be able to open the windows or wear a long sleeve t-shirt. Up North, we’ll get sweater weather–and both Jess (in northern Michigan) and Jonathan (in northern Indiana) will revel in the brilliant colors of the trees before they drop their leaves and... Read more
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones. He made me walk among the bones in every direction so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain. How dry they were! Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord... Read more
Apologies to Clement Clark Moore ‘Twas the night before Michaelmas, when all through the blog All the creatures were hoping to see a Balrog; The Dark Devotional was ready for Friday, so bleak, (That is if we remember to post it this week); Good Christians were nestled, all holy and snug, While we the Sick Pilgrims were cutting a rug; Jess in her witch hat, and JR with his grin, Got ready for our favorite season to begin, But before... Read more
If you are like us, the season between the overstuffed summer and the barren winter is one reminding us of our own mortality. The dying landscape turns the color of flame, and the chilly foreshadowing of winter embraces us like a cold spectre. Decorations of cartoonish witches and ghosts adorn houses and businesses. People are preparing to remember their deceased and to give thanks for the bounteous harvest of the year. All before we withstand the stark and grim emptiness... Read more
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