I sincerely hope people start making peace with the fact that we cannot control the outcome of this pandemic. No SARS vaccines have been viable in the last seventeen years. One may be found for this one, but there’s a good chance it won’t. That means herd immunity is our best shot, which means we …
The Saints and the Cross Episode 12: St. Helena and the True Cross
Today I talk about St. Helena and the True Cross. I have a rather mysterious connection to St. Helena and I share a little bit about my own journey and my temporary guardianship of three holy relics of the True Cross. I have learned that the Cross is non-negotiable if we want to become saints. …
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The Saints and the Cross Episode 11: St. Padre Pio
Today's episode is on St. Padre Pio and persevering through this period of exile. He is a saint who achieved high levels of sanctity and was given great blessings and gifts from God, including the stigmata. He suffered tremendously, often at the hands of others because of these extraordinary gifts. During this time as we …
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The Saints and the Cross Episode 3: Our Lady of Sorrows
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Pieta (1876) A blessed Holy Week to you all! Today I cover Our Lady of Sorrows in the next episode of The Saints and the Cross. Let us turn to Our Lady of Sorrows to help us unite our will fully to Christ's and to allow ourselves to be pierced with …
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Love is the Cross: The Agony of 9/11
Suffering agony in this life isn't easy. It doesn't matter if that agony is our own or our neighbor's. All of the calls to radical individualism and self-reliance are lies in the face of the ontological reality that we are all bound to one another. God has created us for union with Him and communion …
Catholic Exchange: When Advent Feels More Like Lent
This time of year can present challenges to all of us as we approach the Christmas season. More and more Catholics are trying to slow down and enter into the period of waiting and preparation in the Advent season. As the secular Christmas season continues to spiral out of control, a lot of people are …
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No, We Can’t Fully Protect Our Children From Suffering
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” G.K. Chesterton Our culture seeks to hide suffering behind closed doors. The elderly are left in nursing homes while the unborn are "humanely" disposed of in abortuaries. We pretend that suffering …
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Catholic Exchange: Beauty Reflects God’s Love for Us
God is rather gratuitous in the beauty He bestows upon Creation. This is evident in crystal clear rivers descending into roaring waterfalls, the sun gently rising over the ocean, the quiet of sunset over snow covered peaks, misty trees golden by early morning light, and it is most profoundly seen in the eyes of our …
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Catholic Exchange: What Does It Mean to Want to Be a Saint
I wish that I could say that I have submitted and relinquished my will entirely to God. I can’t say that, yet. I’ve spent more days sitting beside my husband in hospital rooms than I care to count. Hospital visits are a monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly occurrence for us. I have had to stand by …
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Catholic Exchange: Healing the Wounds of Rejection
It happens to every penitent who frequently seeks forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance. We trudge, once more, to the confessional door and upon our entry, lament to the priest that we are once again confessing the same sins. It’s been a week, a month, a year, and it’s the same sins. We are tired …
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Swimming the Depths 