Prayer for the United States of America
This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America–for many of us, our cherished country. But anniversaries are not merely a time for nostalgia and celebration. As Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore wrote: an anniversary “calls us to consider not only who we have been, but who we are becoming…and […]
Quotes on Rest, Leisure & Play
It’s summer time here in the northern hemisphere. And when we think “summer,” we usually think vacation or enjoying more lesisure time–especially outdoors. Consequently, I thought it would be fitting to give you 20 quotations on rest, leisure and play from a variety of individuals. I invite you to reflect on these “leisurely.” 1) The […]
The Peregrine Falcon Live Camera
(Please note: I am typing this Monday evening. This blog was posted Monday morning as usual, but for some unknown reason, it wasn’t sent out to our subscribers. Our IT department is looking into this glitch. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.) For the past two years, I have been been watching the Peregrine Falcon live-cam […]
Four Short Prayers…
Today I have four short prayers for you. They are very different from each other, but perhaps you might find one of them expressing some of your own thoughts or feelings. Several years ago during my annual retreat, I was struggling with someone. I shared my struggles with my retreat director. We conversed about this […]
Embracing the Times in which We Live
There are certain phrases I hear or read frequently that annoy me. One phrase is this: “in our troubled times.” It seems to imply that other times in the past were not troubled or, at least, not as troubled as our times are today. Other phrases are “in our polarized times,” “our violent times,” “our […]
“Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye”
A few months ago I featured a phrase from the Bible,”Gird your loins,” and explained what it meant. (See the post for February 23, 2026.) Today I’d like to focus on three other phrases found in scripture: the apple of your eye; amen, amen, I say to you; and you are the salt of the […]
What Is Heaven’s First Law? Hint: It Isn’t Order
Alexander Pope, a prominent British poet of the 18th Century, penned these oft-quoted words: “Order is heaven’s first law.” (from An Essay on Man) Pope and many others of his day, believed we lived in a highly ordered and structured universe created by God “Himself.” They felt this “divine order” should serve as the guiding […]
Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Through the Eyes of A Single Painter
It’s May! And this is the month the Catholic Church traditionally devotes to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In honor of Mary, I am devoting today’s reflection to several paintings of Mary created by a single artist, Sister Maresa Lilley, a Sister of Notre Dame and good friend of mine. A few years ago I […]
Which Animals Have a Bad Press?
My sister and I were going out for a walk. It was a little chilly, so we both donned our jackets. That’s when I noticed the large round badge pinned to her coat. It was a colored photo of the head of a vulture! “Mary Ann!” I said. “Why are you wearing that badge with […]
The Virtue of Perseverance: Faithfulness in Loving
A little girl named Rachel lived with her parents in a small apartment in New York City. One day, her grandfather came to visit carrying a small paper cup. Rachel hoped there was a treat for her inside the cup, but when she looked inside, all she saw was dirt. Her grandfather told her to […]