Simple Holiness
Righteousness amid the busyness
I oftentimes have said that the month of May has become busier than the month of December, with sports practices and banquets, dance recitals, AP tests and the beginning of graduation parties. There are so many events and schedules to accommodate that a family could find itself easily double-booking on any given day or evening without realizing it, and then have to miss something that is truly important to them.
Hope, even in the shadow of the cross
We are called in this Lenten season to grow in our faith and to be in the shadow of the cross, overcome neither by its threat of death nor the fear it intends to evoke. As people who stand firmly in the face of such intimidation, we know death is vanquished by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. Easter Sunday must be preceded by the horrors of Good Friday, and as my mother-in-law always said, “There can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.” In her wisdom, she meant there will be difficult, and perhaps discouraging, times for all of us as we move through the phases of our lives.
Lent a time for self-giving, rather than ‘giving up’
many Catholics continue to think of Lent as a time of giving up something that is appealing to them so they are able to think about the sacrifices Jesus made on our behalf. This, however, fulfills an expectation of the season from the faith perspective of a child, rather than an adult.
When a marriage is hurting
With the celebration of Valentine’s Day this month, most people do not think about marriages that are struggling or hurting, due to infidelity, miscommunication or past hurts.
How emotional intelligence can save your marriage
Throughout this new liturgical year (which began with the first week of Advent), we will hear from St. Luke’s Gospel, which is known for highlighting Jesus’ compassion. As we hear the readings, we are invited to place ourselves within the context of the Gospel stories and become a more compassionate, caring person as well.
Preparing for Christ
Advent is one of the least understood and least acknowledged liturgical seasons of the Church year. Many of us are quick to think about Christmas, rather than Advent, at this time of year. In fact, we found holiday decorations in the stores before Halloween so we could get a jump on our shopping. But here we are in the beginning of December and we likely have not even engaged in the season of Advent.
Choosing gratitude
It’s so easy to see the things that are imperfect, drive us crazy or are disappointing in our lives. We know that allowing ourselves to focus on these aspects of life is not uplifting or energizing, and yet, if that’s what we’ve been doing, that’s where we so often go. Allowing ourselves to change our focus is often easier said than done. But it is possible, and, for lasting happiness, necessary.
The rosary a reminder to ‘do whatever he tells you’
I love the rosary. I have slept with one under my pillow for several decades, and as I say it, I often fall asleep. My mother told us when we were young that if we didn’t finish saying an entire rosary, the angels would finish it for us.
In each ‘season,’ marriage can be ‘a silent homily’
If you ask a couple in a longterm marriage if they have experienced “seasons” of love, they will assure you that they have. Just as a year has seasons, so does marriage. According to author Gary Chapman, these must be strategically managed for marriage to be successful.
Growing in gratitude for last summer days
No one in Minnesota wants to think about back-to-school sales, less sunlight each day, or the sumac beginning to turn red. With last winter still fresh in our minds, we want to hold on to every vestige of summer we can, tucking it away to retrieve in the coming season of snow, cold and ice that awaits us. And then when we hear we must enjoy every moment, we can feel more anxious than energized. But how else can we approach these waning, delightful days of summer?
Independence or interdependence?
In modern marriage, there seems to be so much emphasis on independence, and yet, the foundation of a Catholic marriage is interdependence, which in many ways, is a reflection of our dependence on God. This can be seen in the concept of mutuality, which in marriage and family therapy is defined as showing empathy, support and like-mindedness with our spouse. The concept of mutuality may be seen as the fulfillment of the concept of “shalom” in the Jewish tradition.
To love, to honor — and to have fun
It’s summertime, and with the longer days and warmer weather, we are reminded to have fun with our spouse.
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