Yes, prayer works; Clarity and Healing

June 28, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Thank you. From my email know many of you – perhaps hundreds, perhaps thousands – whispered up generous and heartfelt prayers regarding this situation. Yesterday was a tough, frightening, emotionally and spiritually exhausting day…as with many things, the situation had to get worse before it could get better. Things skated upon a hoary edge…at one point I remember thinking, “Lord, I thought I asked you to stand between these two so that wouldn’t happen!” Then I realized…sometimes a thing must... Read more

A family in crisis and in need of prayers

June 26, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Sorry it’s been so quiet over here. Aside from just spending 7 hours in the ER with my best friend, all of our time has been taken up dealing with a family (no, not ours) who are struggling with many issues, including mental health, and the children within the family who are being mentally and emotionally abused. One of them has been essentially not permitted out of the bedroom since Saturday for – believe me – an “infraction” so minor... Read more

How you receive a thing is up to you

June 22, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Cannot write long today – the back is better but the schedule is full and guests are on the horizon, so that’s where my focus is. But I wanted to just link you to this story, because it’s something to think about. A walking stick is the unlikely center of a debate about political protocol, theological precision and news-marketing as a corporal work of mercy. President Bush gave the odd, carved walking stick to Pope Benedict XVI on June 9... Read more

Sorry so quiet…

June 20, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

I somehow hurt my back and have been unable to do more than stagger around today…sitting up is not fun either. You might be very interested in Deacon’ Greg’s thoughts on the birth of John the Baptist and what it all means as we hit the mid-year mark. And also his look at serving at Benediction for the first time.. Great posts. Gifted writer being well-used. Read more

Vatican road rules; Rushdie, a conventless nun and more

June 19, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Just yesterday I dared to confess my miserable mutterings as I drive: Driving this morning I saw the usual really bad, inattentive sort of driving one sees in a day, and spent my time behind the wheel muttering, “come on, ye bastid, drive like you mean it! Which lane do you want, sweetie, do you know? Why are you driving like you’re in a coma?” Yes, I’m distressingly bitchy, lately. But apparently I am not alone. Reader Kia kindly referred... Read more

Housecleaning, driving, Potts and Christian Islamists?

June 18, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

There are a lot of people in my house right now – several people home from college who either grew up here or are spending the summer, Buster and his large, noisy, pals. But today everyone is out and will be for a while, so I’m going to use the time for a bit of intensive housecleaning of the both literal and metaphorical sort, because I have a lot to think about, and lately it seems like none of us... Read more

Remembering Bobby Kennedy and Missing Great Oratory

June 16, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Today is the anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. On Facebook, Bishop Christopher Coyne posted this quote from him: “What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists, is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents.” Something to ponder in a world where extremism is become commonplace. We’ll not see the like of RFK again, to our detriment. I... Read more

Nunstuff

June 15, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

Over at Moniales, the blog of the Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ, they’re happily announcing the arrival of two new postulants, and: We are also looking forward to another postulant who hopes to enter this summer and to 2 aspirants. Please continue to pray for their perseverance and growth in holiness as they immerse themselves into our life of community, prayer, study and work. Good news. The Benedictines over at St. Walburga’s in Colorado have put up a history page. Read more

Is Tony Soprano Dead or Alive, II

June 15, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

I like this post by Patterico: As I mentioned the other day, everything made sense to me the second that a commenter at Captain’s Quarters reminded me of a line from an earlier episode this season, in which Bobby and Tony talk about what death must be like: You wouldn’t even know it had happened; everything would just go black. [UPDATE: This article says the line is: “You probably don’t even hear it when it happens.” h/t Patricia.] Under this... Read more

The mystery of forgiveness

June 15, 2007 By Elizabeth Scalia

In the post below I linked to this story about the found journal of one of the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre, her expressed thoughts on forgiveness, and how those thoughts were impacting her family. It is a powerful, moving and thought-provoking story that I hope you will read. But there is another bit of writing on the subject of forgiveness – that comes from the other end, which is confession, or acknowledgment of our faults and missteps –... Read more