During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I began to suffer a deep depression, unlike anything I had known previously. I’m a...
The events of Good Friday are violent, to put it mildly. The crucifixion of Jesus and all the events leading up to it are...
I remember the first time I attended services at my church for the entire Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. I...
My first experience with Eucharistic Adoration occurred in sixth grade at my Catholic elementary school when my homeroom...
“I get nothing out of Mass.” How many times have we heard someone utter this dilemma? Depending on my mood, my mind bounces to...
My friend Madison once told me how in prayer, she’ll request signs from God — really specific signs. “God, if I’m supposed to...
As our family prepared for vacation one year, we were consumed with checklists and activities. While helping my daughter into...
The book of Proverbs may have been written centuries ago for an agrarian Middle Eastern society, but its wisdom isn’t bound by...
Patience. None of us have as much as we need. We all need it. The lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose, even sang about it....
Having emerged from your tryptophan-induced stupor, you awoke on Friday to the triumphant proclamation that it is Christmas....
When I was a nominal Catholic, I liked to pretend that I knew a lot about Catholicism. Realistically, I knew slightly less than...
The Catholic theologian Gerald O’Collins, S.J., has called the writings of the prophet Isaiah “the fifth gospel.” By this he...
If you’re like me, the beauty and deep meaning of Advent can get away from you awfully fast. One minute you’re lighting that...
It’s tradition in Polish culture to pay tribute to deceased loved ones with frequent visits to their gravesites, especially on...
Praying for the dead can be a helpful part of the grieving process, but it’s also part of Catholic tradition to pray for those...
I’ve never really been one to put much stock into what the proverbial crowd thinks or does. When it seemed that my entire...
While I’m not sure if I believe in the cliche of “love at first sight” as far as human relationships go, I’ve definitely fallen...
I came up with the term “broken-record prayer syndrome” shortly after my husband and I began praying out loud together. The...
I’ve taught faith formation classes to people of all ages, from preschoolers to pensioners, and by far the best questions come...
Often referred to as “the best-kept secret of the Church,” Catholic Social Teaching is central to our Christian faith,...
“Who do you imagine as a spiritual director?” Carla, the coordinator at my local Ignatian Spirituality Center asked. I started...
Most of us can identify certain teachers or mentors who have had a profound impact on our lives. The same can be said for...
While struggling to find bright spots of hope and light in a world of uncertainty during the pandemic, I had the happy fortune...
Earlier this year my home parish welcomed a new associate pastor. He’s a friendly and vibrant young priest and a gifted...
My husband Arthur and I are, in many ways, total opposites. I write; he welds. I think big-picture, while he minds the details....
A listener asks Father Dave for advice about sharing details of his experience during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Dave...
Does the thought of hosting a meal fill you with terror? Do you break out in a cold sweat when you think of holding a...
Hope. I thought I knew what the word meant. And I’ve practiced that “hope,” or what I thought hope was, since childhood: “I...
If you’re like me, the beauty and deep meaning of Advent can get away from you awfully fast. One minute you’re lighting that...
I always thought I knew exactly where my sons would go to school. There’s an excellent Catholic school right next to where I...
“Active waiting.” Isn’t that an oxymoron? We associate the word “active” with movement and energy. And isn’t “waiting” a...
It was another Saturday night in our house: The kids were asleep, the dog had been fed, the dishes were done. Finally, it was...