Life hacks. Kitchen hacks. Studying hacks. Gardening hacks. Budgeting hacks. What’s with all the hacks? Are there really any shortcuts when doing anything meaningful? And even if there were hacks, would I actually take them? As previously established, life is inherently inconvenient, but it is precisely that which makes it beautiful. We are all called …
About two weeks before Lent the questions always begin. “What are you doing for Lent?” ”Got any plans for Lent?” “What are you fasting?” And parish programs promising “The Best Lent Ever” start popping up. Someone recently came up to me smiling broadly, “It’s almost Lent! Are you as excited as me?” I paused. Finally …
I grew up with a version of the Prosperity Gospel. Not a pure version, mind you. Because we were not wealthy. We were pretty healthy though, despite everything. Maybe we couldn’t manifest money, but in lieu of health insurance, we certainly saw more than our share of divine healing. I say that without an ounce …
Last night I got to share my conversion story with the women’s group at my parish. It was the first time I have given my testimony in a public way. It was a blessing to be able to share my excitement and the honor I feel in being Catholic.
(I apologize for how fast I talk and for hand movements that when seen without the audio look something like interpretive dance.)
I didn’t grow up with the Sacraments. Yes, I was baptized and received Communion (as often as it was offered, which was about once a month. The focal point of a Protestant worship service is not the Eucharist.) but I don’t recall them ever being called Sacraments. They were symbols. I was also married in …
As a Protestant: I don’t have to confess my sins to a priest! I can go straight to Jesus. As a Catholic: I get to confess my sins to a priest and hear the words of absolution straight from Jesus!
A little more than a year ago I was sitting around with two (then) Protestant girl friends, drinking tea, discussing theology–namely Catholicism. Yes, I have better than average friends. We may not know who won an Oscar or who wore what on the red carpet, but we can discuss transubstantiation, theology of the body, and …
Long before I even considered becoming Catholic, I found that on moral issues I was in the Catholic camp more often than not. For some reason, in my own Protestant churches, I could not find a lot of common ground on some things I considered very important. Such as: the indissolubility of marriage, abortion, birth …
A year ago there began a really intense longing in me for the Sacrament of Confession. Which is an odd thing for a, then, Protestant to so greatly desire. After all, I can confess my sins directly to Jesus (and of course we should). Such an antiquated idea that we need to confess our sins …
My heart feels heavy for the condition of the church. Oh, Luther! Calvin! Zwingli! Let’s go back and start over!!!! Because this is getting ridiculous. It’s passed hurtful, looking at comical in the rear-view mirror and now is downright confounding.
reconciling things 