Further up and further in
I am a seed. I’m just a little seed, thrusted into the deep, unknown and unknowing. Well, known by God, and knowing His mysterious love...
Behind those walls
I call it the castle. Technically, it’s the Eastern State Penitentiary, a massive prison in operation from 1829 to its close in 1971...
The fear (and joy) of embracing a life in exile
The following is a guest post written by Mike Antonacci. In October 2016, I went to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. That’s a true...
The breadth and the depth of a generous heart
The poor widow is my hero. For she, from her poverty, contributed all she had—her whole livelihood. Just two small coins, worth a few...
True joy in a parish hall
“Has anyone seen the crystal cake stand?” “Who has a lighter?” “Is there an extra tablecloth?” “Do we have any more knives?” It was 4:45,...
My lavish library love
I have a confession: I’m a glutton. No, I’m not prone to Netflix binge-watching. I tend to avoid all-you-can-eat buffets as a rule. And...
The comfort of change and the risk of stability
I’ve moved nine times in the past eight years. I’ve lived with 23 people. I’ve traveled to California and Texas, Mexico and England,...
Lift up your hearts
Do you ever say something you don’t mean? I do. I do almost every day, perhaps. I’m thinking particularly about a time that comes about...
The pleasures and perils of perfectionism
“14 Signs Your Perfectionism Has Gotten Out of Control,” the article headline read. Oh boy. There’s something innocuous, I’ve always...
On dishwasher duty and delayed gratification
There is something so satisfying about emptying the dishwasher. Don’t you think? There’s the little triumph of putting things in their...