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40 Days for Life – What You Can Do
The Scripture readings for this week remind us of the value of life. Psalm 54 emphasizes “The Lord upholds my life.” God is the author and provider of life. Without God, our heart would never pulse a single beat nor would we ever take a single breath. He alone has the right to choose when […]
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Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on September 15th. This feast recalls the seven scriptural references to Mary’s heartache. For a woman who “kept all these things in her heart,” (Luke 2:51) that heart knew a great deal of pain. Heartache often goes hand in hand with parenting. With great love and […]
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Book Review: Difficulties in Mental Prayer
I recently had the pleasure of reading Difficulties in Mental Prayer: A New Edition of a Classic Guide to Meditaion by M. Eugene Boylan, O.C.R. Ave Maria Press has issued a new edition of this work which was first published in 1943. Obviously the world has changed a great deal in nearly seventy years. The […]
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Finding God in the Housework
I do not enjoy housework. Not even a little bit. Just yesterday I was telling the young lady who lives next door to me that I wished I had a magic wand that I could simply wave and have a clean house! Alas, that is not the case and I do have to put things […]
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Book Review: “Living the Rosary”
Living the Rosary: Finding Your Life in the Mysteries by John Phalen, CSC Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2011 Fr. John Phalen is a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross which is committed to promoting the Rosary. In “Living the Rosary: Finding Your Life in the Mysteries,” Phalen seeks to connect meditation on […]
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Dealing with Distraction in Prayer
Perhaps somewhere out there are women who can completely empty their minds and focus totally on God. I’m sorry to say that I am not one of them – never have been. Just by way of example, there are times I have said an entire rosary and realized at the end of it that my […]
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Book Review: Pathway to Our Hearts
Pathway to Our Hearts: A Simple Approach to Lectio Divina With the Sermon on the Mount by Archbishop Thomas Collins Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2011 Archbishop Thomas Collins states “Lectio divina is a prayerful encounter with the word of God. By the ‘word of God,’ I do not mean simply the text of the […]
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Book Review: “Fragments of Your Ancient Name”
Fragments of Your Ancient Name: 365 Glimpses of the Divine for Daily Meditation by Joyce Rupp Notre Dame: Sorin Books, 2011 Litanies, or the repeating of various names of Jesus or Mary, as a form of prayer has a long tradition in the Catholic Church. In “Fragments of Your Ancient Name,” Joyce Rupp explores 365 […]
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Why is St. Anthony’s Help Sought in Finding Lost Things?
Have you ever prayed to St. Anthony to help you find a lost item? This is a practice I learned from my mother when I was a little girl. Whenever something was missing, she encouraged me to seek his intercession. Over the years, St. Anthony has helped me find many, many things. He hears from […]
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Does God Actually Have a Plan for Our Lives?
When my time in this world is over, I hope that I have the opportunity to ask God one question. Actually, I would like to ask many more than one, but if could ask only one it would be: Was there a plan for my life? A good friend and I debate this frequently. I […]