I don’t watch award shows, but Chris Pratt’s MTV awards acceptance speech was being shared widely on social media yesterday. And I really cannot rave about it enough. To say that it might be my favorite acceptance speech ever doesn’t really do it justice because who rates acceptance speeches. Instead, I’ll say it’s been one […]
Archive | evangelization
On the Redemptive Value of All Work
In his book about his experience in the Russian labor camps, He Leadeth Me, American Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek writes about how work is ennobling. Although I read this book five years ago, I don’t remember it well, probably because I was pregnant at the time and very sleepy and mentally sluggish. This time I’m […]
Look at Him
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and […]
Building Stately Mansions
You are the temple of God When I was in high school I memorized The Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell Holmes. I’ve forgotten most of it now, but the first part of final stanza has stayed with me, the part of the poem that I loved best Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, […]
Why I Remain A Catholic
Responding to Elizabeth Scalia’s challenge: Why do YOU Remain a Catholic? Finding Jesus in the Eucharist. By itself the Eucharist would be sufficient reason to stay. The fullness of our Savior, of his Body, his Blood, his Soul and his Divinity is present in every particle in every drop of the Eucharist. And he invites […]
Potential Energy and the Spirit
The deacon’s homily for the feast of Pentecost had so much potential energy that was never released. He began by describing forest fires in the Western United States, and talked about how the roar and the wind and the flames were similar to the Gospel’s description of the action of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. […]
“Nobody Likes the Tangerines”–Reinventing the Liturgical Year
Sunday morning on our way to Mass Dom commented on the sign at the corner pharmacy advertising Valentines Day merchandise, wondering if people really buy Valentines stuff this far in advance of the holiday. That got us talking about all these secularized holidays and how cut off they are from their roots in authentic Christian […]
The End of the Fiery Sword: Adam & Eve and Jesus & Mary
The End of the Fiery Sword: Adam & Eve and Jesus & Mary by Maura Roan McKeegan, illustrated by Theodore Schluenderfritz. Do you know about Adam and Eve? About Jesus and Mary, too? Two are from the Old Testament, Two are from the New. Their stories are the Word of God, Their messages are true; […]
The Little Oratory Giveaway– Winner Announcement
ELisa has won. Yay Elisa!!!! I wish I could give a copy of the book away to everyone who entered. If you do decided to go ahead and buy a copy… consider buying through my affiliate link: The Little Oratory: A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home. I promise to spend every cent I […]
The Little Oratory– Father’s Day Giveaway
So I told Auntie Leila that I would host a giveaway of her new book. I was very, very excited to do so. But in my perpetually-bleary state I misread the details. Somehow I got it into my head that the blog post was supposed to be up by the 10th, but really the giveaway […]