It was silly to comment on a Facebook post. I “went down the rabbit hole,” as my daughter sometimes says when one becomes too involved
“My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many.
Don’t let this title mislead you. The idea of slowing down for Lent brings to mind a resolve to minimize unnecessary busyness and allow time
At this time of year, many families of Catholic children are choosing a school for September. Whether the child is a preschooler, a potential transfer
In early January of 2024 a classic Nor’easter brought snow to our area for the first time in two years. When winter storm Ember dropped
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on
For our fortieth wedding anniversary, my husband and I traveled to New England. Autumn leaves painted the Berkshires and the Green Mountains like a multicolored
When my grandmother was young, she and some friends visited a fortune teller at a carnival. The soothsayer foretold that my grandmother, Eva, would have
During my freshman year in college, my assistant professor in Composition 101 once went on a seemingly random rant against what was then a relatively
My siblings and I were blessed to attend Catholic schools for most of our education. At one point, though, my father found it necessary to
A Post-Christian Culture? Fifteen years ago, a colleague of mine lamented that a few students in her literature classes did not understand biblical allusions in
Musicians love harmony. There’s a soothing satisfaction when notes work well together. One would expect this principle to carry over into the way musicians relate
Imagine the joy of Mary on Easter morning! Think of her recently broken heart, rejoicing beyond her own imagining at the sight of her beloved
How often it is that teachers learn as much from the lesson as the students do? Preparing for RCIA class last month, I read over
The teaching of Christian morality ought to foster dignity, confidence, and contentment. Knowledge of the Commandments, the Gospel, Church doctrine, and natural law can help
The transition between the wondrous Christmas season and Ordinary Time can be critical. If the holidays have been especially spiritual, the letdown and return to
Two figures, a man and a woman in their 19th-century work clothes, stand in a farm field. Their heads are bent in prayer; their farm
Recently, I had the honor of presenting to our parish RCIA group on the topic: Christology, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity. It was a
Most Catholic adults can recall the rhyming Guardian Angel prayer they learned as children. Recited daily, the prayer reminds children of their special angel, a
September finds schoolchildren back in the daily routine of lessons and learning. Summer camp and beach days yield to books and structured academics. Teachers return
A history text in my Catholic grammar school described a Medieval artist painting an ornate mural on the ceiling of a large cathedral. The chapter
An Example of Holiness Once, at a teachers’ workshop, I heard a woman describe a beautiful altar which she had created in her workplace. Each