Aspiring to holiness often seems a never-ending project. One step forward and two steps back, right? So many things seem to interfere, to get in the way, to draw one away from the goal; at least that’s the way it frequently feels to me.Which is one of the many reasons I turn to St. Ignatius, whose feast we celebrate today. Many saints had struggles with conforming their lives to the Gospel, but some of Ignatius’ struggles truly resonate with me. (I love the word resonate: it fee...

I'm a complainer by trade, and I'm always looking for ways to better my craft. Do I hear you saying that I should simply stop complaining? Thanks, but that wouldn't be bettering anything; it would only be eliminating something. May I suggest that anyone with a character hang-up like this (better known as "a defect") finds it not just difficult, but nearly impossible to change. Why? It's a bit of early learned reaction, perhaps an innate way of expression, a defense...

The Daughters of St Paul are re-releasing two albums sung by Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA. Songs of My People: The Complete Collection is being made digitally available to a new generation. Fr Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R., who was Sr Thea's student and "spiritual son" and who is working for the advancement of Thea's cause for canonization in the diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, likes to think of it as a revival."Sr Thea preached the good news of a Church revived, and w...

(The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has announced the celebration of a Special “Laudato Si” Anniversary Year from May 24, 2020 to May 24, 2021. With the advent of the Covid-19 emergency, the world came to realize how interdependent and interconnected humanity is, and the need for solidarity in order to create a new world.)Think about what you own. Really think about it. Close your eyes and take a tour of your house, of your garage, of your office, of ...

WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST DAY OF ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA ON TUESDAY, JULY 14!It takes tremendous courage to step out into the unknown and embrace a God spoken of by strangers.When Tekakwitha did just that, she sent shockwaves through her entire community. To some, she had done something beautiful and brave. To others, she had thrown her lot in with a people who had brought destruction to the Americas.When the French came to the New World, some brought with them the Word of God… and some brough...

Canada Day ~ Evening PrayerThe first Wednesday of the month is dedicated to St Joseph, who is also the patron saint of Canada. In our evening prayer, we entrust to St. Joseph’s intercession the members and mission of the Pauline Family in Canada (all the institutes of the Pauline Family are in Canada except the Apostoline and Pastorelle), and in particular, for the  intentions and needs which our sisters in Canada have shared with us. We’ll alternate sides praying the chaplet.&n...

Canada Day ~ Morning PrayerToday, July 1st, Canada celebrates the anniversary of Confederation with ‘Canada Day.’ As Canadians celebrate the birth of their nation, we pray in a special way for all these souls of our province.  We give thanks for all the hearts the Lord has touched through our presence in Canada, we ask for abundant blessings upon our apostolic initiatives amongst the Canadian people and their culture, and we intercede for our Pauline family present in the North....

I’ve just written a book on hope.I don’t say that expecting you to nod in understanding; I realize hope is a forgotten virtue. Many people equate hope either with optimism or with wishful thinking. I wanted to get back to the theological virtue of hope, which described when our happiness, all of our desires, are directed toward eternity and heaven.But I also didn’t want to write a dissertation about hope; there are a lot of great books that do that already. I wanted t...

We’re living in a time that seems both devoid of hope and, at the same time, filled with it. We asked youth minister Kris Frank, author of Hope Always: Our Anchor in Life’s Storms, available now through Pauline Books & Media, to share some thoughts about hope at this difficult and defining moment. Pauline Books & Media: It feels like we’re at a crossroads of sorts. How can the notion—and virtue—of hope help us in our present moment?Kris Frank: No matter...

My father and I were never close. He worked in the diplomatic service and was away from home—or so it seemed—more than he was with his family. But even when he was physically present, he was not a person who showed or shared emotions easily. We were estranged when he died and there is not a day that goes by—but especially on Father’s Day!—that I don’t feel regret.I know I am not alone. I know that there are fathers separated from their children for a myriad of...