Mercy is heartfelt sympathy for another’s distress, impelling us to support and assist if we can. As St. Thomas Aquinas says, “Mercy takes its name—misericordia—from denoting a person’s compassionate heart for another’s unhappiness.” Our beloved Pope Francis, laid to rest yesterday, was known for his merciful approach to leading the church.
Continue reading “Divine Mercy”
Edith Stein once said the limitless loving devotion to God, and the gift God makes of Himself to you, are the highest elevation of which the heart is capable; it is the highest degree of prayer. Our exterior lives reflect the interior. Do you reflect the guiding hand of the Spirit?
Continue reading “Divine Guidance”
Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore as Christian’s we ought to always be in good spirits. How is your cheerfulness barometer today? God’s grace calls us towards love and cheerfulness. In this Easter season we are keenly aware of our neediness of Christ’s saving grace.
Continue reading “A Cheerful Spirit”
Recently I was meditating on the following reflection from Ron Rolheiser OMI that I wanted to share:
Here’s an example of an invitation that lies at the very heart of the Sermon on the Mount. At one point, Jesus invites us to a “virtue that goes deeper than that of the scribes and the Pharisees.” It’s easy to miss the point here because, almost without exception, we tend to think that Jesus is referring to the hypocrisy of some of the scribes and Pharisees. He isn’t.
Continue reading “Invitation to Something More”
I’ve always been fascinated with doors. Mainly on vacation in foreign countries I snap pictures of interesting doors as I stroll down the historical streets especially in Europe.
Continue reading “The Door of Something More”
I was recently taking a contemplative walk in my neighborhood offering it as morning prayer. It was a restorative action on my part to counter all the “doing” and “input” of my life. No music, no podcast, no phone call. Just me and the Spirit walking to the tune of the sun rising and the birds singing.
Continue reading “The Mess of our Lives”
Spring is always uplifting I think because we see God’s creative nature in full bloom…literally. The silence of winter is shaking off its sleep and the birds are bursting in song. It’s a cacophony on my back patio as I listen to at least six different birds sing their song. I even was buzzed by a “hummer,” a sacred moment for me each time it occurs.
Continue reading “Lovely Day”
For Catholics, Easter is the most important feast of the year, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It signifies the triumph of life over death and the promise of eternal life.
Continue reading “Alive Again”
Holy Saturday in the Catholic Church is a day of quiet anticipation and reflection, marking the day Jesus’ body lay in the tomb between his death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. It’s a day of prayer and fasting.
Continue reading “We Wait”
St. Ignatius of Loyola is known for saying
“All is gift.” Ignatian spirituality carries this message forward, inviting us to find God in all things. Everything around us, both beauty and suffering, can speak of God.
Smitten With Goodness 