Is there a case to be made for the continuing relevance of the "monastic-generated" tradition of asceticism ("spiritual training or exercise") in Christianity beyond monastery walls to all members of the churches, particularly when it is understood comprehensively as "spiritual discipline(s)" and not narrowly as “a life of exceeding self-denial” ? When considered amidst the everyday realities… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: Asceticism as Spiritual Discipline
The other day I was having a conversation once again with a friend of mine who is the parent of a teen who was now experiencing a conflict about her daughter's unwillingness to attend church. Her daughter argued that she, "does not need to go to church or receive the sacraments to experience God in her… Continue reading Our Journey through the Sacraments
She was a bit surprised to see him there..standing among his homeless companions of many years. For several months he had found sobriety along with an apartment and a day job, maintaining his distance from a number of his former friends. The last time we had seen him he had appeared healthy and in much better spirits… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: A Slippery Slope
Today, I share both my reflection and the wonderful community of CatholicMom.com with each of you! Tune in daily for wonderful insights, reflections, recipes, book reviews and more! John 10:1-10 What is it about the image of a lowly shepherd that instills in us a reminder of the love of our Father? A shepherd’s primary… Continue reading CatholicMom: Daily Gospel Reflection
“John's Jesus has a totally different outlook. He does supply earthly bread to a crowd that hungers; but that is not the real marvel, for they will hunger again and so are not permanently better. The real marvel is that Jesus can give a bread from heaven that obviates hunger: the true (alēthinos) bread of… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: Bread of Life
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to… Continue reading With Hearts Afire
“Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ, just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it, can they derive peace, grace, and truth.” St. Anthony of Padua With every passing year, in… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: Crave Peace
In looking at Paul’s understanding of the church as the body of Christ we see a set of relationships, that of the individual believer to Christ and the believer in community. It is through baptism that both the individual believer accepts salvation through the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection, and is joined to the… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: The Body and the Vine
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew… Continue reading Witness the Resurrection
"It is by the apostolic preaching of the Gospel that the people of God is called together and gathered so that all who belong to this people, sanctified as they are by the Holy Spirit, may offer themselves 'a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God'." Vatican II, Presbyterorum ordinis, 2 With the end of Lent… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: Sacrifice
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