If there is one theme that many of the saints return to again and again, it’s this: the absolute requirement that we have as Christians is to see Christ in everyone, to see God’s hand in everything. The Gospels tell us, Pope Francis tells us, Mother Teresa tells us…and, in the early part of the 20th century, an Englishwoman named Caryll Houselander told us, as well, in words that still resonate today: There are many people in the world who cultivate a curious state which ...

Everyone knows about St. Patrick. Or, rather, everyone thinks they know about St. Patrick. He was Irish, right? And he drove the snakes out of Ireland? And he has something to do with…green beer?

Inner peace. It’s what everyone is looking for, isn’t it? It has to be: there are hundreds of self-help books flooding the marketplace, each of them claiming to give readers the path to inner contentment. DVDs walk us through mindfulness meditations, herbal “remedies” claim to calm our anxieties, yoga classes urge us to breathe deeply and discover our inner self.And yet something isn’t working. Everyone is still waiting for the next book, the next video, the next cl...

Welcome to the Online Lenten Book Club!During these six weeks of Lent, we are reading and reflecting on the classic on prayer, Pray To Your Father in Secret by Jean Lafrance. For more information about the book club, visit this blog post. Week 2, Section 1 - The God of DialogueFr. Lafrance urges us to walk in the steps of God’s people in Scripture. As Moses discovered, God isn’t accessible through our minds: he is mystery. Moses, Elijah, and the psalmist all knew ...

In 1922 Teresa Merlo made her vows, along with nine other women, as Daughters of St. Paul, a new community in the Church with a very unique mission.As her name suggests, Thecla was dedicated to the mission of serving God through media and communications. As she told her sisters, “Our Master dwells in the Tabernacle. From there he preaches to our mind and heart by means of the Gospel… We must always live united to Jesus. The Holy Trinity dwells in those persons who are united to Jesu...

St. Brigid and St. Patrick are Ireland‘s two patron saints, and among the most famous. But whereas we know a lot about St. Patrick, we only have three contemporary sources of information about St. Brigid—and two of them contradict each other!That hasn’t stopped many people from being devoted to her. Here’s a beautiful prayer to St. Brigid:Brigid of the Mantle, encompass us,Lady of the Lambs, protect us,Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us.Beneath your mantle, gather us,And res...

“I just can’t wait.” How many times do I say this? To be put on hold or made to wait unnecessarily because of some controlling tactic by another person is one of the most frustrating experiences in our lives. If you look up “Waiting is Deadly” on the Internet, the top matches are quotes from people trying to deal with government offices (no surprise there!), immigration visa departments, and especially from prisoners… and everyone I know has had been made a &...

There is perhaps only one thing that people of all nations, all political parties, all beliefs, and all races can agree upon: the world is in turmoil. The planet may have already suffered irreversible damage. The situation in Syria is perhaps the worst humanitarian crisis of all time. The United States is so politically polarized that family members cannot speak civilly with each other. Children go to bed hungry, and people pass the homeless on the street with no more than a cursory glance. ...

Week 1 of the weekly guide to the "Pray To Your Father in Secret" Lenten Book Club: Preface.

This week we will solemnize the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Yes, a time for greater prayer and fasting.At first, we may think that it is time to cut down on food and one of our favorite treats. Yes, this or any other sacrifice that is close to your heart would be a good choice. We pray and fast in order to prove to Jesus how much we love him and to make reparation for our sins and the sins of the world.However, there are many ways a person can fast. I have my thoughts, words, actions a...