Frederick Buechner: Great Writer, Old Friend
Notice: We thank God for our newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, IL. I will say a few words about him before our song at the end of this reflection. *********************************** The other day I came across a quote by writer Frederick Buechner. It was like running into […]
The Healing Power of Tenderness
Years ago when I was novice director, I came across this sentence in some psychology book I was reading: “A definitive sign of human maturity is tenderness.” These words came back to me as I pondered the life and ministry of Pope Francis. In one of his first encyclicals, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the […]
Time (Again!) for a Little Laughter
The Easter season is an appropriate time for a little laughter. As someone has said, “On Easter Sunday, Jesus had the last laugh over Death and the Evil Spirit.” And I always appreciated what comedian Victor Borge said: “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” With that in mind, here are some items and […]
Easter Reflection: Interview with a Birder
A Happy Easter to all of you! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! I just heard the news that Pope Francis went home to God today, the Monday after Easter. We remember him in special prayer and thank God for his goodness and leadership. I will certainly write more about this beloved Pope in the weeks to come. […]
Holy Week: Celebrating Jesus’ Profound Love
What do we commemorate during Holy Week? Several significant events. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the washing of the feet and the giving of the Eucharist. On Good Friday we remember Jesus’ agony in the garden, his frightening arrest, his torture at the hands of Roman soldiers, the unjust trial, the decisive death sentence, the […]
Poetry for April
April is national poetry month. In honor of this ancient and beautiful literary form, I am offering three short poems for your enjoyment and pondering. I suggest you read each poem slowly and aloud. The first poem is by someone most of you know: John Hopkins a regular reader and responder on this blog. (I […]
Can Curiosity Be a Virtue? Can Questions Be a Grace?
As a little girl, I was curious about many things. As a result, I was always asking questions. Lucky for me, as the youngest in a family of six, I lived with five older people who were a “fount of knowledge” for me: my three older siblings and my parents. Early on, though, I learned […]
Praying with Someone Else’s Words
When we pray, should we use our own words or someone else’s words? I believe the short answer is both. There are times we use own words and times when we use the words of others. In addition, there are times when we pray with no words–as when we sit in silence and awe, or […]
Bearing the Yoke of Jesus
As many of you know, I write occasionally for Give Us This Day, a wonderful and inspiring monthly booklet published by Liturgical Press. Each issue contains the daily Mass readings complete with reflections by authors both ancient and contemporary. Each reflection is limited to 250 words. Today I’m sharing my reflection for Dec. 13, 2023 […]
Four Kind Strangers I Met along the Way
Last month I flew to Florida for a few days of R&R with two good SND friends living in Safety Harbor. I admit, I had been feeling a little depressed by our news headlines lately–not to mention our extremely cold and dreary weather. So before I left, I asked God, “Please send me some ordinary […]
