Hey There, On the 11th of November we celebrate Veterans Day in the US, while other countries celebrate Armistice Day. And it’s the anniversary of the end of World War I. As we pray and give thanks for those who serve … now and in the past … who sacrifice so much to protect us and keep us safe, it seems appropriate to focus on peace. There is conflict everywhere. Not only between nations, …
Turning a Vacation Into a Pilgrimage
Hey there, I’ve been blessed to visit a few sacred sites in my life. As a child my parents took me to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, where Our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego in the year 1531. Unfortunately, I was young enough that I don’t have a lot of clear memories from that trip. A few years ago my daughter and I traveled to Vatican City and we visited St. …
Reviving Saint Michael’s Lent
Hey there, Here we are in the middle of Ordinary Time. It started back at the end of May, after Eastertide. And will go until early December when Advent starts. It may seem like there’s not a lot going on liturgically, other than some feast days here or there. But there is something coming up in a couple of weeks. Something that I just learned about a few months ago! Have you ever …
Exercising Your Soul
Hey there, We’re obsessed with being more healthy … and exercise is one of our primary means to that end. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, everyone can experience health benefits of physical activity. “Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage …
Living The Law of The Gift
Hey there, I went on a road trip over the July 4th holiday. On Sunday I found myself in a beautiful Catholic church in a small Texas town. My husband and I were not the only visitors that day. The presiding priest was Reverend Greg Gerhart, Vocations Director at the Diocese of Austin, and 12 of his first year seminarians. Father Gerhart's homily really spoke to me. It was about the Law of …
Living a Life Prepared For Death (In a Good Way)
Hey there, I’ll never forget Thanksgiving Day 2001. I was standing in my entry way with my Mom, waiting for my Dad to leave for the Dallas Cowboys game. My mother was admiring a new piece of furniture I had acquired, a buffet. She added, “Who's going to take my dining room set?” I told her we didn’t need to worry about that for a long time. And quickly changed the subject. We said our …
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Reflecting on Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord
Hey there, Palm Sunday is always a popular Mass. Who doesn’t want to get some palms to wave around at Mass and take home? Or to weave into a cross? We celebrate the triumphant arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. We usually focus on Jesus’ experience. Or maybe the crowd of people welcoming him with palms in the air. But there’s another unexpected character in the …
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Following God’s Directions: The Ten Commandments
Hey there, “The first sign of intelligence is the ability to follow directions.” I can’t tell you how many times Sister Mary Brian Bole repeated this over the years at my Catholic high school. I don’t know if she borrowed the phrase from someone else. But it came to be one of her signature statements. Whenever one of us was not doing what we were supposed to do, you’d hear Sister Mary Brian …
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Ringing in a Catholic New Year
Hey there, When I read about the lives of many of our Saints, I must admit it’s intimidating. The saintly lives they lived, the religious orders they founded, the time spent in isolation and prayer. But not all of our Saints lived their whole life in holiness. Saint Matthew was a tax collector before he left everything behind to follow Jesus Christ. A youthful Saint Augustine was …
Do You Know The Difference Between a Basilica And a Cathedral?
Hey there, Today, November 9th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. And then on November 18th we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. So this got me wondering. What’s the difference between a Basilica and a Cathedral? And for that matter, a Shrine? I’ve visited a few Cathedrals and Basilicas before, but I must …
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Deepening Your Devotion to The Precious Blood of Jesus
Hey there, I have fond memories of my father driving me to school every morning listening to Paul Harvey on the radio tell us "The Rest of the Story." Here's a brief story from Mr. Harvey. It’s called Jesus and The Bird Cage. Once upon a time, Jesus and the Devil had engaged in a negotiation. Satan had boasted how he’d baited a trap in Eden’s garden and caught himself a world full of …
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Cultivating Your Spirituality
Hey there, My thumb is definitely not green. I try to grow plants, and though they do well for a time, eventually they all end up dead. It’s frustrating because I love plants and flowers. And I want to enjoy them in and around my home. But I never seem to know how often to water … or feed … or when to re-pot them. Is it getting too much sun? Or not enough? There’s so much to know …
