Category: Christian Living

  • Book Review: “Sabbath”

    Sabbath: The Ancient Practices by Dan B. Allender Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009 What would you do with a day dedicated to delight? That is the question that Dan B. Allender poses in “Sabbath,” one of the books in the “Ancient Practices Series” edited by Phyllis Tickle and published by Thomas Nelson. Allender’s take on […]

  • The Closeness of Jesus

    At the Holy Thursday liturgy we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist. Jesus loved us enough to create a sacrament in which he physically comes into our body and soul – what an amazing gift! Yet, I admit, I often take it for granted. Don’t get me wrong – I look forward to going to […]

  • Finding Where One Belongs

    I went to go visit my best friend and her three month old baby yesterday. The baby is beautiful, an absolute gift from God. Like all new parents, my friend and her husband are studying her every move and characteristic, trying to determine where she fits in their family. Whose eyes and nose does she […]

  • Book Review: Finding Our Way Again

  • Loving the Neighbor Within Our Own Home

    A wise priest once said to me, “It is often easier to love the orphans in Africa than it is to love our own siblings.” I thought of that quote today as we were doing a lesson on “loving one’s neighbor” in third grade CCD. The first page of the lesson talked about how we […]

  • The Prodigal Son Revisited

    The parable of “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32) is one that most of us are very familiar with, so much so that when that particular Gospel comes, we might be likely to tune it out. Yes, yes, we nod. We know all the angles of this story. First, there is the prodigal son himself. He […]

  • Sharing Other’s Suffering

    Christ suffers in solidarity with every soul, and we can suffer in solidarity with Him. We are never alone, though we may feel forsaken. Christ shows us that He is one with us in our sorrow and pain, no matter how alone we feel. We are all wounded, broken, suffering in some way, and even […]

  • Book Review: 12 Strong Women of God and The Jesus Women

    Looking for a book for your women’s Bible study? Look no further. 12 Strong Women of God: Biblical Models for Today which focuses on Biblical women of the Old Testament, and The Jesus Women which focuses on the New Testament, will provide much inspiration and food for thought and discussion. Marci Alborghetti creates a compelling […]

  • Five Ways to Use Facebook as a Force for Good

    Facebook has been in the news a lot the past couple of weeks. While much of that news concerns the terms of service, in Catholic circles the debate has been about giving Facebook up for Lent. The push behind that movement is that, for many people, Facebook has become an addiction. They have been neglecting […]

  • Fasting vs. Loving One’s Neighbor

    I once ate chicken pot pie on Good Friday. It was the day I got home from the hospital after the birth of my first child. My very kind non-Catholic neighbor made us a welcome home dinner. I did a quick mental appraisal of the situation. I could either stick with the Good Friday rules […]