Living through the pandemic and all its challenges that have been exposed has been tough. From job loss, health crisis, identity crisis and watching the social injustice, it is easy to become hopeless and feel like there is nothing one person can do. But there is. Each and every one of us can say these five words which will profoundly impact our world:
Continue reading “Five Words That Can Change the World”With St. Mary Magdalene, let us accept Christ’s ‘Do not touch me’ with the certainty that His words give us a new mission, and a new way to be with Him, just as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton met the hardships of her life with renewed faith and strength. Written by Lisa Lickona from the Seton Reflection published last year.
This year we celebrate our great and holy Feast, the Resurrection of Our Lord, in the most unexpected circumstances, most of us separated from physical participation in the Mass and the opportunity to receive Communion.
We are cut off from our family and friends and our parish communities. And we wonder: how can we live in this new situation, separated from the Body of God—both in the Eucharist and the living Church?
Continue reading “Shining a Light on Goodness. The Empty Tomb: Easter with Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth Ann Seton”
As was the case last year during the beginning of the pandemic closures, this year’s Stations of the Cross (or Via Crucis) presided over by Pope Francis were held in the quiet and virtually empty St. Peter’s Square. This year, though, the mediations and prayers for each Station were prepared and read by children from Rome and other Italian cities. The faith and hope expressed by these children are profound and moving and are worthy of further reflection during this Easter season. As a complement to the text of the meditations and prayers provided here, you can watch a video of the Stations and hear the children’s sweet voices, as well as see several of the children greet Pope Francis with hugs after the Stations concluded.
Continue reading “Shining a Light on Goodness: We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You”Written by Jennifer Stavinoha for Every Sacred Sunday one April 4, 2021
It’s the greatest news to ever hit the headlines of humanity – but the arrival of Easter comes with some surprising emotions.
Continue reading “New Life and Consolation Our Easter Celebration Continues”Amid the many hardships we are enduring, let us never forget that we have been healed by the wounds of Christ. In the light of the Risen Lord, our sufferings are now transfigured. Where there was death, now there is life. Where there was mourning, now there is consolation.
Pope Francis
After recollecting our Lord’s Passion and Death on Good Friday, Holy Saturday begins as a day of quiet prayer and reflection. It is a day when no Mass is celebrated in the Catholic Church (until the solemn Easter Vigil that begins after sundown). Instead, the faithful pray and meditate on the great sacrifice our Lord has made for all of us, and anticipate His Resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.
Continue reading “The Greatest Solemnity of the Year”
So much of my life I was caught up in what people would say instead of basing reality on their behaviors. This likely stems from having significant relationships in my life who were emotionally unavailable to me in my formative years. This destructive coping mechanism led me into a lot of wishful thinking and living in the hopeful future. After suffering the consequences of a failed marriage and another long-term dating relationship, I was able to see how this habit was not serving me well and was able to change my mindset to ensure that actions must match words.
Continue reading “Good Friday Lord’s Passion: Action Speaks Louder than Words”
We have spent the past 40 days of Lent renewing and reinvigorating our faith in preparation for Easter. The sacrifices and penances we have made have softened our hearts to be ready to enter the Easter Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil — in which we commemorate the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter Triduum allows us to walk in Jesus’s footsteps during His final hours on earth.
Continue reading “Holy Thursday — Entering the Easter Triduum”
Have you ever had an encounter with God that left you in tears because you understood the power of His goodness? I will never forget the first time I watched Passion of the Christ a few years ago and how it brought me into the life of Christ in such a powerful way. I watched Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery, His passion and resurrection with fresh eyes. Seeing Jesus portrayed in His humanity and divinity brought home for me the magnitude of suffering, rejection, and betrayal He faced. I may start my Spiritual Director’s practice of watching this movie on Good Friday. Will you join us?
Continue reading “Palm Sunday – Encountering God’s Goodness”
Fasting is amazingly popular in our culture today if you are seeking to shed some weight or reap the debated health benefits. A google search provides an overwhelming amount of information. On the other hand, not much is written about fasting as a tool for our spiritual growth. This time-tested practice is a proven method for shedding the weight of self-will and the evolution to our lower self. Today, I challenge us see how fasting trains our soul for goodness and the higher purpose of love. I have mentioned previously, God prunes our hearts through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as we unite with Him.
Continue reading “Fasting For The Love Of It”
Smitten With Goodness 