Liturgical Living Between Christmas and Lent
After Christmas, we enter a short season of Ordinary Time, before Lent begins. Here are a few ideas for living liturgically during winter’s Ordinary Time.
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Playground
The invitation is real. His eyes dance with delight as He beckons me to join Him. “On a playground, Lord?” I ask. And all He does is laugh and extend His hand. The magnetic pull is strong. It’s as if one part of the magnet is Jesus’ heart, and the other is my heart. They are not meant to be separate but together. He is asking for my yes, my fiat. And He really hopes I don’t keep Him waiting…
Don’t Ask More Than God Does
I am preparing for my annual silent retreat weekend, and I have been thinking about my past retreat experiences. Sometimes I doubt that they are doing any good. Have I really grown spiritually in the past 2, 4, 6 years? I know that discouragement can be normal in the spiritual life, which is why I’m trying not to pay too much attention to the nagging voice. Still, as I reflect back on the post I wrote for CatholicMom.com three years…
Hello, Mom: Mary’s Constant Presence in Our Lives
Today, I am joining the #WorthRevisitWednesday link-up, hosted by Allison of Reconciled to You and Elizabeth of Theology is a Verb. Since May is the month of Mary, I am sharing a piece I wrote for a 31-day series on the Blessed Mother. I pray that it will inspire you in your own relationship with the Mother of God, the Mother of us all. It is a bright, sunny fall day. (Do you notice how on the sunniest fall day the…
Trusting in God’s Patience
Originally written last Lent, I thought I would share it here for #WorthRevisitWednesday! It is always a good time to ponder the Lord’s mercy, patience, and love! +++ In this Year of Mercy, I wonder how I experience God’s mercy. It is difficult to wrap my head around something so profoundly miraculous, because often, I feel so unworthy of it. But as I ponder the Scriptures, I cannot deny the reality of God’s mercy. Pope Francis explains it well when…
Finding Joy in the Season of Lent
This was originally posted during Holy Week 2011. I thought it might be helpful to repost it earlier in the Lenten season in case we are already waiting for Lent to be over. Perhaps we are even tempted to give up. The Lord is inviting us into the desert to be with Him, to remain close to Him, and to one day share in His glory for all eternity. We can do this! We can do this with joy! +++ This is…
Lent Around My Home: Reclaiming My Joy
This was first posted on March 2, 2015. It some ways it surprises me that this is still so applicable to my life, and in other ways, it does not surprise me at all. Life is funny that way. Our struggle—our cross—may take a lifetime of carrying, and yet how often do I just wait for it to disappear? Sure, our cross might look differently from year to year, decade to decade, but often it is the one way God has invited us…
Rejoice! It’s Still Christmas!
Today’s #WorthRevisit post was originally published on the WINE: Women In the New Evangelization blog, last December. Today is the fourth day of Christmas. *** On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … six geese a-laying. For much of our world, Christmas has come and gone. Christmas trees are on the curb, and decorations are packed away for another year. But in our Catholic Church, we are still in the midst of the Christmas season,…
An Advent Playlist: Music for the Season of Expectant Hope
Way back in 2009, I was inspired to create an Advent playlist. I love Christmas music so much, but I was trying to focus on what the actual season of Advent was all about—waiting, hoping, longing, preparing. I didn’t want to celebrate Christmas too early. And so, I searched for music that reflected the true spirit of Advent—waiting for Jesus, journeying with Mary, growing in excitement, preparing my heart and home. This Advent, I was inspired to dig up that…
Lessons I Learned From an Advent Wreath
Every year, when I take out our Advent wreath, I cannot help but smile. The Advent wreath is one of my family’s favorite traditions! Our wreath, in particular, has a story that I enjoy reliving—and retelling—each Advent, for within the story of our Advent wreath is a lesson that I need reminding of each year. In fall 2009, I finally purchased an Advent wreath online. Prior to this, I had made one each year with pillar candles and greenery. But…