“Look, Mom,” my 6yo Son, Hero, whisper-exclaims as he snuggles into my arm, “It’s your favorite part of Mass!”
The priest elevates the host, proclaiming, “Behold the Lamb of God! Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.”
That part of Mass gets me every time. Continue reading “Behold the Lamb of God: My Favorite Part of Mass”
Staying Faithful to the Church through Scandal
I hate it.
I hate that the people who were supposed to be leading the faithful to Jesus have hurt them. Abused them.
I hate that so many of our priests and bishops have put such a stumbling block in the path of our trust in the Church.
It’s a hard time to be Catholic. Continue reading “Meditation: It’s a Hard Time to be Catholic”
About this time last year I found out I was pregnant with our fourth child.
Since I was at the tail end of treatment for depression, my doctor let me instantly wean off my meds. Morning sickness plus the awful disorienting feeling I experienced from quitting antidepressants was a rough combination.
But it was welcome suffering compared to the pain of waiting for a child that would not come. Continue reading “It Still Hurts – A Story of Temporary Secondary Infertility”
Today’s the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Find the Mass Readings here: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 8, 2018 Continue reading “#MyMassTakeaway: A Thorn in My Side”
A recipe for the best muffins ever, and a reflection on charisms to go with it.
Well, we did it.
We made the big move. Thankfully, we had a plethora of family and friends available to help us over the weekend.
On Saturday, everyone got together at our old apartment and helped us load the moving truck. You should have seen it, we got the job done in 2 hours. I couldn’t believe how quickly it went.
Then on Sunday, we hit the early Mass, and a caravan of cars made the drive to our rental house. We unloaded the truck, put everything in the right rooms, and even assembled beds and got furniture set up.
By the end of the day, our house felt like home. Continue reading “A Charism of Hospitality and Unbelievable Apple Crisp Muffins”
A meditation on discovering God through nature.
I pull the laces tight on my sneakers and stretch my legs for a springtime walk in the woods.
As I follow the dirt path, hard packed by many feet before me, I keep my eyes fixed downward to avoid tripping.
My focus is on the path before me. Bumps and twists fill my view. Rocks crop up out of the ground, threatening to stub my toes. Continue reading “Finding Jesus in a Springtime Walk”
A meditation on the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary for a family who will be moving soon.
We’re counting down the days until the big move.
Everyone has something to be excited for: a new job, a new house, a lovely yard, and a welcoming neighborhood. We have an ice cream store and a beach right down the road. Five plus parishes to choose from.
But the upheaval in our life is undeniable. We’re all feeling the stress of moving away from family and friends. The house is a mess. And our emotions can be even messier. Continue reading “Family Move? How to Pray the Joyful Mysteries”
The Mass is the heartbeat of the Church.
We called her Bamas.
She was my dad’s mom. She had a collection of unique accents in her home that I always loved as a kid. Her blown-glass balls sparkling in the windows. Her vintage Mrs. Butterworths jars lining the shelf in the foyer. Her statues of portly friars adorning the living room.
By my favorite was the tangle of brass bells hanging on her door. Continue reading “It Sounds Like Home”
5 Simple Ideas to bring Christ into the everyday moments of your life throughout Holy Week.
St. Paul says we make up for what’s lacking in Christ’s sufferings (see Col 1:24). This isn’t because Christ’s Passion is in any way incomplete, but because Jesus offers us an opportunity to share in His Cross. What’s “lacking” is our participation – not Christ’s deficiency, but ours.
Here are 5 simple ways we can participate in Christ’s passion, by offering everyday moments of our life in union with His suffering. Continue reading “Tweak Your Holy Week – 5 simple ideas”
The checkout aisle betrayed me with a kiss.
We had gathered all the items on our list. We had made a successful compromise: no to toys, yes to character band-aids. We had taken our place in line – my three children, my 9-month pregnant belly, and I.
And then the consumerist tempter showed up. Continue reading “My Grocery Store Way of the Cross”
