On Christmas Eve, our pastor, Father Connors, encouraged us to "open the gifts our faith gives us"! I loved his homily. Father Connors had all of us envision children running to the gifts under the tree Christmas morning . . . then just standing there, looking at them, but not opening them. He said, "that would never happen!!!" We all couldn't help but imagine what really happens - lots of … [Read more...] about Five Presents You Can Open in His Presence
catholicism
For the Sake of the Kingdom
Once Padre Pio was asked if his wounds from his stigmata hurt him. Padre Pio responded, "Do you think the Lord gave them to me for decoration?" When I heard Father Pio Mandato recount this story, I could not help but chuckle. Father Pio Mandato was the celebrant and homilist at the Padre Pio Festival held at Saint Bede's Church in Holland, PA. As a part of my "summer shrine tour" I went to the … [Read more...] about For the Sake of the Kingdom
Visiting the Carmelite Monastery
The Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia is located about a mile away from my childhood home. Yet, I never stepped into it's doors, or even thought of doing so, until I was 24 years old. That year, the relics of St. Therese' were brought to the Monastery as part of a wold tour that began in 1995. I worked at a Catholic School as a teacher, and one of my co-workers wanted to go and see the … [Read more...] about Visiting the Carmelite Monastery
8 Ways to Pray Using a Journal
I once transformed a marble copybook into a prayer journal. Writing in it helped me: pay closer attention during prayer, relieve stress, express some creativity, and document my feelings and thoughts. One of my goals this month is to really get back into keeping a prayer journal. I long to enjoy this "me time" and prayer time. Perhaps even with a glass of wine . . . There are … [Read more...] about 8 Ways to Pray Using a Journal
Summer Shrine Schedule 2016
Do you have a bucket list? Italy is on mine - way ahead of anything else! I daydream of vacationing in Tuscany: renting a villa, drinking wine overlooking the Italian countryside, and walking the roads that St. Francis and St. Clare walked. To me, it would be the perfect vacation that would allow me to experience my faith in a way I never have; it would also allow me to enjoy wine in a place … [Read more...] about Summer Shrine Schedule 2016
Love, Your Guardian Angel
This post contains affiliate links. Please see my About Me page for more details. I must have directed my 3 year-old to do this and stop doing that more than 100 times today. He listened once or twice. I'm not going to exaggerate and say he listened three times. He definitely didn't listen to me that many times today. Oh, and his "best friend ever" . . . he too tested my patience today. I … [Read more...] about Love, Your Guardian Angel
