“Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another who has not labored over it, he must leave property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.” “For you... Read more
People are always asking what Sick Pilgrim is about and what we want to accomplish. It would be great to say we had all this planned out and a vision for how it would go. We didn’t. Not really. We just knew we were different–square pegs–and we wanted to find the others who were like us. But in the months following, we’ve stepped back and looked at what we are, what we want Sick Pilgrim to be about and where... Read more
“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul suggests that suffering is something in/for/about which to give glory. But Paul, don’t be ridiculous. I can’t give glory for my sufferings.... Read more
Sick Pilgrim started when we, Jess and Jonathan, two writers and editors, started chatting about theology, ghosts and everything in between through email and Facebook. We always joked about sharing our convos on the blog. Today we had a great one about our mutual obsession with Stranger Things. We thought you might enjoy it. Have you been watching Stranger Things? Tell us what you think about it in the comments section. Careful, Possible Mild Spoilers ahead! Jonathan: I told... Read more
I saw that it is the will of Christ’s love to be put into the hands of sinners, to trust Himself to men, that He may be their gift to one another, that they may comfort Him in each other, give Him to each other. In this sense the ordinary life itself becomes sacramental, and every action of anyone at all has an eternal meaning. I knew too that since Christ is One in all men, as He is One in countless Hosts, everyone is... Read more
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. “I relate to Jesus kind of like he’s my brother.” I was 20 years old, answering a friend’s question about my relationship with Jesus. That line was a bunch of baloney, a straight-out lie—though... Read more
I’m something of a National Park fanatic. On my cubicle wall at Ave Maria Press, I have a huge map of the National Parks. Every time I visit one, I mark the spot with a push pin into my cubicle wall. Even more embarrassing, I have a National Park Passport that I get stamped very time I visit one of the parks. I’ve been really stressed out lately with the million different moving parts of my life. When I discovered... Read more
“People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.” — Abraham Lincoln The world has gotten so heavy in the last couple weeks, and this blog has followed suit. We all need a break. As Jess is so fond of reminding us: Even St. Teresa of Avila said that sometimes you have to make life bearable. And summer (like fall…and spring…and winter) is a great time for escapism. Of course, even when Sick Pilgrims escape... Read more
Catholic writers often find themselves in a weird position. We’re accused of being neanderthal conservatives on one hand and communist liberals on the other. And it’s not because we aim to find “the middle ground” or “see both sides.” Rather, Catholicism often represents a third way, the Gospel way, inspired by sacred scriptures and the teachings of the Church, and we find ourselves politically homeless, alien and strange to non-Catholics. Very often, the third way calls us to positions that are... Read more
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;... Read more
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