prayer

A Catholic Writer’s Prayer

This has been my prayer for many years.  I reread it often. Rather, I pray it often.  I’m happy to share it with you, and if you do pray it, kindly send one up for me too. Thank you.   ::: + Heavenly Father, there have been fits and starts to my creative life. Help…

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This makes me think… about heaven in this month of holy souls…

There by Mary Coleridge There, in that other world, what waits for me? What shall I find after that other birth? No stormy, tossing, foaming, smiling sea, But a new earth. No sun to mark the changing of the days, No slow, soft falling of the alternate night, No moon, no star, no light upon…

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Venerating the Saints: Relics and Real Life (a photo essay)

As the month of all saints and all souls continues, I thought I’d share some cool photos of relics from some of my travels in recent months. Relics, honored in the Catholic Church, are the bodies of the saints or objects connected with them or with Our Lord. God has often shown His approval of…

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Among Women: On Faith, Grace, and Prayer in Marriage and Family Life

This week’s episode of Among Women talks about many things that are close to my heart — marriage and family — and the calling to make Christ the center of those relationship and in our home. I hope you’ll join me as I reflect back on 30+ years of marriage and family life, plus have…

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This makes me think… about prayer as first action…

“[P]rayer is in many ways the criterion of Christian life. Prayer requires that we stand in God’s presence… proclaiming to ourselves and to others that without God we can do nothing. This is difficult in a climate where the predominate counsel is “Do your best and God will do the rest.” When life is divided…

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Good for the Soul: On Writerly friends, Pray-ers, and Sisters-in-Christ

I am a blessed woman and I know it. For much of my life I have not only enjoyed the love and friendship of my husband, Bob, but I have known the wealth of women friends who are devoted to Christ and each other. And let me tell you, Bob himself is grateful that I…

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I’m over at CatholicMom.com today… with 3 Reasons to Offer Things Up

Here’s an excerpt from “3 Reasons to Intentionally Pray: Jesus, I Offer This to You”… from CatholicMom.com When I was growing up and going through some trial, well-meaning Catholics would tell me to “offer it up.” For a very long time, I didn’t understand what benefit that might bring until I learned that my offering…

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This makes me think… about what it takes to know and embrace God…

Grant me, O Lord, an ever-watchful heart that no alien thought can lure away from you; a noble heart that no base love can sully; an upright heart that no perverse intention can lead astray; an invincible heart that no distress can overcome; an unfettered heart that no impetuous desires can enchain. Grant me, O…

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St Augustine and me, 18 years cancer-free.

My buddy Augustine. St Augustine and I became buddies 18 years ago. I was vaguely aware of him growing up, save the oft-quoted lines from his Confessions. Maybe you know a few of them? This is perhaps his most famous, the first non-scripture saint quote found in the Catechism. (See CCC, 30.) You are great,…

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Here’s to the mundane, the ordinary, and the works of mercy we cannot live without.

Today I had a thought. A complete thought. And that’s a good thing amidst a million distractions. Here’s to the mundane. Here’s to the stuff of earth and all the little things we do — the unspectacular, unexciting needs met for love of God, and love of others. For God notices what we do, even…

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