Mary at the Annunciation
Monsignor Moriarty, the censor and advisor for our Christ Our Life series, was adamant that we refer to March 25 as the Annunciation of the Lord. We usually associate this solemnity with the Blessed Virgin Mary. But it’s really the celebration of the first moment of the Incarnation, when almighty God initiates the process of…
Read MoreSt. Joseph, the Silent Saint
Last week we celebrated St. Patrick. This week we observe the Solemnity of St. Joseph. After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is the greatest saint, although he doesn’t utter a single word in the Gospels. His life, though, speaks volumes. Joseph was God’s choice for a father, the right man to be “abba” on…
Read MoreSt. Patrick, Fact or Fiction?
This Friday, St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll be giving a talk on the popular Saint to the residents of Notre Dame Village. As I prepared the presentation, I learned a great deal about him that you might find of interest. Because my name is Kathleen, some people assume that I am Irish. I’m not. But neither…
Read MoreStart Living in the NOW Right Now
When I was a teacher, one poster I put on a bulletin board read, “Only that day dawns for which we are truly awake.” Spiritual writers recommend we focus on the present moment, a good practice to develop during Lent! A friend of mine, Roman Vaynshtok, posted an explanation of what this means and the…
Read MoreColor, a Gift with Pizazz
People who encourage me to get cataract surgery say that colors will become more vivid, especially purple. This has caused me to reflect on the gift of color. Imagine if our world were only black and white. How drab! I remember watching the movie the Wizard of Oz for the first time. The film began…
Read MorePractical Tips for Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It begins six weeks of attempting to deepen our relationship with Jesus, Lent is the prelude for the celebration of his passion, death, and resurrection that saved all humankind, including you. Usually people give up things as their Lenten practice, things like candy and TV. All…
Read MoreBooks of Animal Prayers
One question people ask about heaven is Will my pet be there? My ninth grade religion teacher said, “If that will make you happy, it will be there.” Actually the jury is still out regarding the presence of animals in the afterlife. Because they do not have the same kind of souls that we do,…
Read MoreMary on My Mind
These days I am preparing for three events about Mary: a day of recollection, a two-day retreat, and a presentation Why and How to Teach about Mary: Fifty Nifty Ideas (At Least) at the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) convention in Dallas. That talk draws on activities in my latest book, Leading Young People to…
Read MoreDivine Messages in Dreams
I just read the book Dearest Sister Wendy… A Surprising Story of Faith and Friendship. It is a collection of daily email letters between Sister Wendy Beckett (consecrated virgin and art critic) and Robert Ellsberg (publisher and author) during the last three years of her life. The two discuss matters of life and faith. Ellsberg…
Read MoreCornelia Connelly, Woman of Trust
As I was preparing to give a woman’s retreat on our Sorrowful Mother, I wondered what example I could offer of a woman who suffered much and never gave up the faith. Cornelia Connelly came to mind. You’ve probably never heard of her, but her incredible, arresting story is worth telling. Read on. Cornelia was…
Read MoreBest Gift for Jesus
Visitors from Abu Dhabi once brought me the gift of frankincense from Yemen in a beautiful carved box. It is pictured here. Frankincense, which is the resin of a certain tree, has a strong scent that lingers on your fingers when you touch it. We’ve just the feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the visit of…
Read MoreChristmas Octave
The Christmas season extends beyond December 25. The Church celebrates the octave of Christmas, eight days, although the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has a longer time span. This week to still celebrate the astounding event of God becoming a human being to rescue us from sin and death, here is a prayer that…
Read MoreChristmas, Love Made Flesh
Well, I dusted off this post from 2013 and recycled it, for it’s worth repeating this year. Someone gave me a “Christmas card” that showed the billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Pointing to one tiny dot was an arrow labelled, “You are here.” Pondering this picture makes me dizzy! It emphasizes the…
Read MoreWatch and Wait in Advent
One Black Friday I ventured out to find a new watch and immediately located the right one. However, it needed two links removed in order to fit. “Just a minute,” the clerk said as she tinkered with the links. She continued to say that for over an hour. At one point I volunteered to try…
Read MoreChrist “Advents”(Comes)in People
I came across this suggestion in a devotional book: “For the next thirty days, treat everyone you encounter as the most important person in the world.” That is how Jesus treated people. Seeing everyone as a VIP can be quite a challenge. It ties in with our Advent season in which we focus on the…
Read MoreIdeas for Observing Advent
We are in the first week of Advent. Already! The word advent means “coming,” and during Advent we reflect on and prepare for the three comings of Christ: in history in Bethlehem, in mystery every day in the Eucharist and in others, and in majesty at the end of time. While engaged in the flurry…
Read MoreThanksgiving for Nature
This week as we thank God for our lives, our family, our home, our country, and so on, let’s not forget to thank God for the beauty and wonders of Earth. And let’s renew our efforts to protect our planet home. Someone noticed that the same letters are in HEART and EARTH. For your reflection,…
Read MoreQuiet Prayer: Enjoying God’s Presence
God speaks to us through various things. Lately I’ve heard his voice recommending a new way of praying in material I have read. In particular, the book Pray to Your Father in Secret by Jean Lafrance has prompted me to change my style of praying during my morning meditation. For years I spent this time…
Read MoreAfterlife in Purgatory: The Poor Souls
When I was writing a textbook series, one day a Jewish employee of the publisher called with an odd question. He asked, “How do you spell Poor Souls? Is it pour, poor, or pore?” Purgatory is pretty much a Catholic belief. In the Creed, we pray that we believe in the Communion of Saints. This…
Read MoreBe Like Children
Last week a Sister who succumbed to Covid asked me to teach her PSR class of first graders at a nearby parish. Although I hadn’t taught for decades, the class went well. When I suggested praying that their teacher would get better, one boy said, “Can we kneel?” So we all did, and I managed…
Read MoreWisdom from the Saints, Our Friends in a High Place
In honor of the Feast of All Saints (the day after Hallowed Eve), I’m offering eighteen of their words of wisdom. The saints are our heroes. They lived life successfully and show us how to do it. One of my favorite lines comes from St. Turibius, archbishop of Lima, Peru: “Christ called himself the truth…
Read MoreServants at the Wedding Feast: A New Insight
On the Catholic Mom website Maria Riley posted a reflection that I thought was worth sharing. Maria has her own website at mariarileyauthor.com She is writing a series of booklets for children, Adventures with Saints. The first one, which is about St. Joseph, will be published soon. So here is her interesting article: I love…
Read MoreThe Prayer of Christians
This year for the first time I am a companion to a candidate for our Sister of Notre Dame Associate program. At the opening retreat, the women were introduced to the Divine Office. The Divine Office is a form of liturgy, the official public prayer of the Church, just like the Mass and the sacraments.…
Read MoreAngels at Work for Jesus and Us
Lately we have been of celebrating angels: September 29, Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael; and October 2, our guardian angels. I was going to write a post about angels and then discovered the one I wrote before at this time. I thought it was worth repeating; I hope you do too! Science cannot prove that…
Read MoreSupernatural Messages from Beyond
Every once in a while, something happens that can’t be explained. In some cases we receive a message concerning a dearly departed one. Here are a few of them that I know about: One day when I visited Sister Mary Agera, an eighty-something Sister in our Health Care, she told me this story. As a…
Read MoreMary, a Sorrowful Mother
On September 15, we celebrated the feast of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother. We tend to associate this title with Mary’s appearance at the foot of the cross where her son was executed. There are many other reasons for calling her “sorrowful.” In fact, there is a devotion named Seven Sorrows of Mary. We might expect…
Read MoreThe Stunning Beauty of Flowers
During this Season of Creation, I thought it fitting to focus on flowers, arguably the most unique and loveliest masterpieces to come from the mind of God. The sheer number and variety of flowers covering our earth home attest to God’s ingenuity and beneficence as well as his love for us. For your delight, I…
Read MoreReclaiming the Beauty of the World
Last year Pope Francis invited everyone to observe the Season of Creation. It begins Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. The symbol for this season is the burning bush, a reminder of the…
Read MoreGod’s Love Is Forever
As I was decluttering my computer, I came across a list of quotations that I collected as I was writing my book A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits. You might find that some of these speak to your heart today. Sit with them quietly and be attuned to God’s love enfolding you and flooding…
Read MoreThe Parables in General
The Bible Walk in Mansfield, Ohio, is a life-size wax museum that houses many large oil paintings of the parables by Mark Pedro. Some are pictured at the end of this blog. Did you know that parables are one-third of the Synoptic Gospels? They are a main teaching device for Jesus through which he revealed…
Read MoreFaces of Mary in Honor of the Assumption
I remember that as a child I drew our Blessed Mother over and over. I tried to make her as lovely as possible. Over the centuries she has been a favorite subject of a number of artists…more talented than I’ll ever be. She has been portrayed to represent various cultures. The other year my retreat…
Read MoreA Different Take on Poverty
We Sisters sometimes remark, “We take a vow of poverty, but it’s lay people who live it.” My poverty is not obvious at all. I live in a well-appointed apartment with a gorgeous view of the sky and forest, plenty of delicious meals are available, any health problems are taken care of, I have more…
Read MoreQuestion of Religious Community’s Ministries
One of my Sisters suggest I apply to National Catholic Reporter’s “Global Sisters Report,” a site where each year 20 international Sisters answer two questions. After being accepted, I answered my two assigned questions. You might be interested in checking these out. The latest one is found at http://bitly.ws/t39F It is my answer to Do…
Read MorePersistence Pays Off
Recently I reviewed a book and promised the author I’d post my review on this website. The book is charming and suitable for all ages. Here is what I wrote: “The Doctor of Bellechester by Margaret A. Blenkush is a pleasant read with likeable main characters. It is just the book to curl up with…
Read MoreTake It Easy!
As a young Sister I lived for a year at St. Benedict Convent adjacent to the Benedictine Abbey. One winter night another young Sister and I tramped to the yard outside the many windows of the Abbey. There in the snow we wrote the Benedictine motto, “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work), for the monks…
Read MoreSummer Praises
How are you spending your 92 days of summer? On this July day, while sitting on my third-floor balcony under a bright blue sky and puffy clouds, I recalled some of my joys of summers past. Here they are in the form of a litany: Response: I praise and thank you, God! For the times…
Read MoreGod Declares, “I love you!”
Whenever we say, “I love you,” to God, we might hear him say, “I love you more.” Recently I wrote a book about God’s immense love for us— A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits. Today I share with you the introduction to this book in hopes that it will remind you that no matter…
Read MoreLet God Speak
One takeaway from my retreat last week was a way to pray. I wish I had included it in my book Praying on Empty! It’s very simple, though not as simple as praying a mantra (repeating a word, like “Jesus,” or a phrase, like “my God I love you,” over and over, especially when you…
Read MoreTake a Little Break
This week I am making my annual retreat. It is just what the word says. I am retreating from the business of the “world” in order to ground myself again with my Creator and nurture my relationship with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore this is not a full-blown post. I encourage you to…
Read MoreHow to Be Happy
To give more credibility and power to a saying or passage, someone will attribute it to a famous person. For example, Abraham Lincoln would be surprised at the number of things he allegedly said. Recently on Facebook a talk appeared that was attributed to Pope Francis. Now this pope has said a number of beautiful…
Read MoreWhy Mary Is the Seat of Wisdom
Today, June 8, is the feast day of Mary, Seat of Wisdom. She was known by this title since the 11th century. In the Litany of Loreto we invoke Our Lady by this name. Images of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, depict her holding Jesus on her lap and sometimes she is seated on a throne.…
Read MoreMusings on the Cana Wedding Miracle
The first miracle Jesus worked as presented in John’s Gospel overflows with lessons. He wasn’t planning to begin his public life that day, but Jesus was open to God’s prompting him through his mother Mary. Sometimes it’s good to pay attention to others’ suggestions. The setting of the miracle itself is significant. The fact that…
Read MoreSaint Hildegard of Bingen, an Extraordinary Woman
Recently I edited an article on Saint Hildegard and learned much about this remarkable woman. Although she was born in 1098, it took 900 years before Pope Benedict XVI named her a saint in an “equivalent canonization” in 2012 and then shortly after, she was given the title doctor of the church. A true polymath,…
Read MoreIntriguing Facts about the Blessed Virgin Mary
As I worked on my latest book about Mary, my research uncovered some interesting facts. Hope you enjoy reading them: • This is the fact I found most interesting: During the Middle Ages Europe’s crops were plagued by pests. After farmers prayed to Mary, beetles appeared that preserved the crops. These beetles were dubbed ladybugs…
Read MoreMary, God’s Mother and Mine
It’s May, Mary’s month, and the month we celebrate Mother’s Day. The other day I was thinking about my relationship with our Blessed Mother. She has been woven all through the tapestry of my life. So this week’s blog is rather like a memoir. I remember as a child I drew Mary over and over,…
Read MoreGlory to God!
Recently I edited a paper about God’s glory and realized this would be a fitting topic for an Easter blog post. Glory has several meanings. When we speak of God’s glory we mean his intrinsic holiness, his majesty, splendor, beauty, transcendence. It is so overwhelming that Moses had to hide his face when God passed…
Read MoreFather Thomas, Hero of the Titanic
Previously I posted about a heroic woman, Rosemary Koenig. Last week a friend alerted me to a heroic man I was not aware of: Rev. Thomas Byles, who went down when the Titanic sank in April, 1912. Today I would like to introduce you to him. Born in Yorkshire the oldest of seven children, Thomas…
Read MoreLess Meat Protects Earth
Did you know that April is Earth Month, and April 22 is International Earth Day? Pam Waitinas, an SND Associate, asked me to promote Meatless Mondays on this website. I was not familiar with this movement. Katie Drager, the co-director of my community’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office, provided ample information for me.…
Read MoreHappy Easter!
When I was a child, I loved Easter. For days Mom would be at the stove decorating Easter eggs by dipping a straight pin into melted beeswax and creating delicate designs. On Friday we tried not to talk from noon until 3:00 p.m. and went to church for stations. On Saturday we took a basket…
Read MoreMaking Suffering Meaningful
Who hasn’t suffered? Suffering may stab us periodically, like a toothache or a friend’s betrayal. Or we may be awash in it constantly, as when we have a chronic illness. The mystery of suffering has always tormented us—in particular, why do the innocent suffer? Why is there such devastating misery in Ukraine? No answer satisfies.…
Read MoreA Modern Day Holy Woman (Part II)
As editor of the Christ Our Life textbook series, I once lived in Chicago to facilitate reaching the publishing deadline. For two weeks I lived in a convent that was a bus ride away from the publishing house. Then for the remaining eight weeks, Father Flaherty, the Jesuit director of the company, located a place…
Read MoreSaints Canonized and Not (Part 1)
Recently a religion teacher told me that when she asked her students to name saints, they were stymied…until they began naming schools nearby named St. Something. What a pity that saints are not better known! Why is this? For one thing, many babies are named, not for saints, but for the sound or creativeness of…
Read MoreSisters of Notre Dame Crucifix and Its Artist
This morning during meditation I asked the Holy Spirit for an idea for this blog. During the past years I’ve already covered most topics related to our faith. This creative Spirit did not disappoint. As I sat down before my computer, strangely my crucifix was clearly reflected, centered, in the shiny black apple at the…
Read MoreGod’s Compliments
A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil. ~ Victor Hugo It’s predictable: In Hallmark movies when two dating people are dressed up to go out, the man says, “You are beautiful,” and the woman replies, “You look good yourself,” or words to that effect. People in love and friends are quick to…
Read MoreThe Cross of Christ, a Redeeming Symbol
On Ash Wednesday, people around the world will have a cross traced on their foreheads with ashes. It is a sign of death, but also of new life, thanks to Christ. My favorite crucifix used to hang in Cleveland Benedictine’s St. Andrew Abbey. It showed Jesus on the cross … but he was leaping off…
Read MoreA Lenten Resurrection and the Pieta
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday! What happened? It seems like I just put away the Christmas decorations. As I get older, time seems to be on fast forward. As we edge toward Lent, it’s time to decide what we will make of it this year. How will we invigorate our spiritual selves? Repeat our New…
Read MoreEveryday Miracles per St. Augustine
Today I read a news item that said that the core of Earth is a liquid-solid as hot as the sun and affects our magnetic field. And here we are walking around on Earth’s surface without a thought for its monstrous blazing hot center that keeps us in existence. Over the course of time humankind…
Read MoreCaring for Yourself for Valentine’s Day
We are in the month of Valentine’s Day, when we focus on love. What might seem like a detour, I’m writing today not about expressing love for your beloved, but about showing love for yourself. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,” he presumed that we love ourselves. There are good reasons…
Read MoreWhen You Need a Life Jacket
Years ago when I was overwhelmed by a seemingly impossible task and beset by criticism, lack of support, and bad luck, a woman I didn’t know came to visit. She proposed another job for me to consider taking on. As I walked her to her car, I said, “Pray for me.” Right then and there…
Read MoreLaughs for a Winter Day
If your weather is like ours here in Chardon, Ohio, it might be time for a little lightheartedness. So here is a collection of winter/Christmas cartoons that I posted on Facebook. Enjoy! Remember, as a real human being, Jesus laughed too. The movie “Chosen” portrays him this way. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend…
Read MoreWhen Your Prayer Life Is Stuck
Last week I reread my book “Praying on Empty.” You might find some thoughts from it helpful—if not now, sometime later… My God, grant that I may love you, and grant that the only reward of my love will be to love you always more and more. A priest advised a man who couldn’t pray…
Read MoreAmanda Gorman’s Encouraging Poem for the New Year
In case you haven’t seen this yet: A poem for the New Year by Amanda Gorman, who writes: “This is such a unique New Year’s Day, because even as we toast our glasses to the future, we still have our heads bowed for what has been lost. I think one of the most important things…
Read MoreSt. John’s Many Hats
St. John’s feast day is a mere two days after Jesus’s birthday. This is appropriate, for John was exceptionally close to him. In fact, I use John as a model when I give my talk “Intimacy with Jesus.” Many churches are named in his honor. The cathedral church of Rome is the basilica known as…
Read MoreA Fly’s Lesson on Prayer
This is an odd sort of blog post, but the Spirit moves me to write it. At liturgies in our Notre Dame chapel, I sit in the front row, where I can hear better. This past week before Mass a fly was on the white cloth on the altar. Then he lit on the lectionary.…
Read MoreAdvent Overshadowing of the Holy Spirit
The three so-called Advent figures are the Blessed Virgin Mary (of course), John the Baptist (the Lord’s precursor), and the prophet Isaiah (who spoke of the Messiah and God’s kingdom). To my thinking, the predominant Person was omitted from this line up, namely, the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Father sent the Son to save humankind,…
Read MoreAdventing in Advent
It’s the night before a new post goes up, and I just discovered that I forgot to set this one for last week at the top of the list. So for the sake of those who didn’t see it, here it is again this week! As a teacher, I presented Advent as the season to…
Read MoreThe Value of Little Things
Christmas is more than a month away (although you wouldn’t think so judging from the displays in stores). However, this post is a reflection on gifts—small gifts that can be given anytime. You’ve probably heard the saying “Good things come in small packages” and the rejoinder “Like dynamite and arsenic.” Nevertheless, there are multiple cases…
Read MoreHands of Blessed Mother Mary
Last week I wrote about the hands of Jesus. This week I’m giving a talk about his mother, Mary, at a local parish, and this prompted me to write about her hands now. Mary did not have the soft, pampered hands of a queen, but the strong, capable hands of a working woman. As a…
Read MoreHuman Hands of Jesus
When I was a high school freshman, my first article was published. The piece, “The Hands Tell the Story,” was printed in our school’s literary publication. I thought of it now that I’ve developed a trigger finger, which has made me pay more attention to my hands. This has also led me to reflect on…
Read MoreSaints: Flawed Heroes
Happy Halloween (Saints’ Eve) and Happy Feast of All Saints! What pops into your mind when you hear the word saint? Do you think of someone pale and sickly, serious (if not downright grim), clothed in religious garb and living in caves or on clouds? Actually the saints had their feet on the ground. They…
Read MorePros and Cons of Criticism
A friend was deciding whether to volunteer to be a reader at Mass. I warned her that if she did read, she had to be ready for feedback, not from the mike but from people! She might hear things like “You were too soft.” “You were too loud.” “You were too fast.” “You were too…
Read MoreThe Rosary Musn’t Be a Mystery
This post is mostly a repetition of a former one, but it is still appropriate. October is the month of the rosary, no doubt because October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. This feast originated with the Battle of Lepanto when, against all odds, Christians overcame the Muslim forces attacking…
Read MoreSeason of Creation
The Season of Creation runs from September 1 to October 4 (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi). In honor of this season, I present (again) the Introduction to my book Voices: God Speaking in Creation . . . I said to the almond tree, “Sister, speak to me of God.” And the almond tree blossomed.…
Read MoreAnnouncement
Here is a link about a free app that you might find helpful. Its creator, Ryan Bilodeau, explains: “At a time when we as a society are facing unprecedented moral challenges, the app collects, categorizes, and stores the Church’s official moral teachings in one place. Searching through the Catechism of the Catholic Church can be…
Read MoreHumility, Humus, and Humiliations
When I was in the novitiate, each Monday we were assigned an act of humility. Of the four possible practices, the easiest was to pray Cardinal Merry del Val’s “Litany of Humility.” Some lines from this prayer are “From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me,…
Read MorePerfume and Anointing, Lavish Gifts
One day when I was riding a rapid transit in Arabia, I stood beside a young Muslim woman garbed in black. Her fragrance was so enticing that I asked what it was. She said it was jasmine. Perfume and cologne are a big business. We all like to smell good! Here is a chapter from…
Read MoreThe Power of Names
Parents usually spend a great deal of time deciding on a name for their child. The name might honor a family member like grandma or reflect a certain attribute like strength. It might simply sound good. Did anyone ever make fun of your name? If so, that was an insult. Our name represents us. We’re…
Read MoreSerendipities: Coincidence or God’s Finger
Last week a strange thing happened. My novel The Book of Ruth: A Tale of Great Loves had just come out. At our provincial center we sign up to do the Mass readings. For the Friday reading someone had erased her name, and no one signed to replace her. Although I had recently read, I…
Read MoreAdvice from Two Spiritual Experts
Arguably the world needs joy more than ever as we grapple with the natural disasters of fire, hurricanes, earthquakes and Covid in addition to human-made tragedies such as the horror in Afghanistan and the surge of refugees in our southern border. Besides these challenges, some of us are dealing with personal tragedies. How do we…
Read MorePrayer in Time of Need
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoRBAOY_yf4 Click on this link and you will see me interviewed about my latest novel, Book of Ruth: A Tale of Great Loves. ) This past week two sources introduced me to a new way to pray: a book by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser (Forgotten among the Lilies) and a TV broadcast by Dr. Charles Stanley…
Read MoreConquering the Vocation Crisis
It’s no secret that the number of priests and consecrated religious in the Catholic Church is in free fall. A sad 20% of parishes have no resident pastor. Today there are about a quarter of the religious sisters that there were in the 1960s. The words of Jesus can hardly be more relevant: “The harvest…
Read MoreLoyalty and Faithfulness: Ruth, Naomi, God
Immigration, infertility, fidelity, and catastrophes that make one question God—all these are threads woven through the tale of Ruth. They make this book in Scripture (God’s word to us) a book for today. The following words of commitment are incorporated in some wedding ceremonies: “Wherever you go, I will go; where you will lodge, I…
Read MoreInspired, Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, was the President of Notre Dame University for 35 years. He was also involved in myriad government, international, and Church projects. One day someone asked him, “So, how’d you do it all?” Fr. Hesburgh replied, “Every morning, I pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ … and away we go.” I love that story.…
Read MoreArt for Faith, Creating and Appreciating
This week my book Jumbo Book of Art Ideas for school and home was published. It contains directions for over 300 art projects, many of them accompanied by beautiful samples created by my Sisters of Notre Dame—all in color. This prompts me to reflect this week on art’s role in fostering our faith. As you…
Read MorePresumed Guilty
I just finished reading the book A Stone for a Pillow: Journeys with Jacob by Madeleine L’Engle, famous author of A Wrinkle in Time. This book based on the biblical story of Jacob is quite different. In it L’Engle weaves in many personal experiences. One in particular that she mentions several times was an unsettling…
Read MoreGod Loves You…Unconditionally
Here is a very abridged chapter from my book, A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits. It’s entitled “Presence.” When we love a person we long to be with them. Meister Eckhart asserted, “No human being has ever desired anything as much as God desires to be with him or her.” At the Last Supper…
Read MoreModern Penance: Lemons into Lemonade
Saints of old practiced what we would consider bizarre penances. St. Thomas More wore a hair shirt under his clothing. In pictures St. Rose of Lima has a crown of roses. She actually wore a thick silver circlet with spikes on the inside (like a crown of thorns). When I entered the convent, we were…
Read MoreWhat Did Jesus Look Like?
The other day a few of us were discussing how Jesus looked. Not surprisingly, our opinions differed. He lived 2,000 years ago before cameras were invented. And he was Jewish, which meant that images were forbidden. (The first commandment forbade idols.) Therefore we have no accurate picture of him. This has not stopped people from…
Read MoreJoy, a Gift from God
One of my most precious memories is pushing my four-year-old nephew in a wheelbarrow on a farm. He was laughing hysterically and this made me laugh. Life is full of joyful moments like that one. Reflecting on them warms the heart. We feel joy when someone does us a favor, when we accomplish a difficult…
Read MoreThe Sacred Heart Is Not Passe
This Friday is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It fittingly occurs during June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart. To some people this title for Jesus smacks of times gone by. On the contrary, the concept of the Sacred Heart is relevant and meaningful. Take the idea of heart. To us,…
Read MoreMary’s Visitation
May ended with a bang: On May 31 we celebrated the Visitation and Memorial Day. At our Mass in the Notre Dame chapel, Father Jay wove together three events. He pointed out that Mary surrendered her life to God and this showed in her loving service to Elizabeth, our veterans gave their lives to serve…
Read MoreThe Bible: God Speaks
Don’t expect God to talk to you on your cell phone. He doesn’t zoom or text either. God communicates through the written word in a sacred book: the Bible. For thousands of years people have found strength, courage, and comfort in Scripture. It is a powerful book because it is God’s Word. One way to…
Read MoreThe Significance of a Name
An important role of new parents is naming their child. It used to be that Catholic parents named their baby for a saint, like Patrick, or for a feast, like the Assumption. Nowadays they choose a name to honor a relative, like Aunt Caroline, or to imitate an idol, like Taylor Swift, or to be…
Read MoreThe Power of a Compliment or Lack Thereof
I was going to write this week’s post about paying compliments. Then I discovered that one on that topic that I wrote six years ago had value (with some revision). So I compliment myself: Good work, Kathleen! I recall once introducing my niece to someone and remarking what a great job she does at her…
Read MoreCreation Praises Its Creator
This is not the blog post I intended to write. But then a friend emailed me this incredible video, which I had to see twice. Morning prayer included the Canticle from Daniel 3:57-88, which calls on all creatures to “bless the Lord.” One line is “You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.” Simply…
Read MoreThe Marvelous Gift of Music and Song
This week two friends informed me of outstanding pieces of music. I found the pieces on youTube and was delighted to listen to them. Music has the power to lighten our spirits and move us to tears. It makes our feet tap and our hands clap. It moves us to get up and dance. Animals…
Read MoreOur Father: The Lord’s Prayer and Ours
Every day I pray the Our Father in the Rosary and in Morning and Evening Prayer in the Divine Office, and (before COVID) at Mass. Often I glide over the words unconscious of what I am saying. St. Teresa of Avila taught that slowly and reflectively praying this prayer and the Hail Mary are sufficient…
Read MoreA Happy, Happy Easter
I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been experiencing a number of deaths, in particular friends and Sisters. Thank goodness, there is Easter to remind us that this world of ours isn’t the end. A whole new world lies on the other side, and it’s supposed to be more breathtaking than this gorgeous one…
Read MoreThe Stone Rolled Away: Resurrection
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.” Luke 24:2 On the morning of the resurrection, women who went to the Lord’s rock-hewn tomb found that the stone blocking the entrance was rolled away. In Matthew’s account, the women saw an angel move…
Read MoreEaster Special
Happy Easter! May we all experience new life. Here is a moving rendition of a version of the popular “Hallelujah” for your enjoyment and refection. I especially like it because the lyrics appear with the hymn. The singers are sisters.
Read MoreCelebrating Spring as We’re Sprung from Our Lockdowns
It’s spring! We are watching the woods on our property, waiting for the light green haze they give off before the trees burst with leaves. Increasing numbers of birds are singing and flying by our windows. On social media people are posting photos of crocuses and snowdrops peaking through the soil. Soon our dry, brown…
Read MoreSt. Patrick, Fact and Fiction
Because my name is Kathleen, occasionally someone will ask me if I’m Irish. I’m not, except on March 17, when suddenly everyone is Irish. We eat corned beef and cabbage, wear green, decorate with shamrocks, dance an Irish jig, and sing “Danny Boy.” The Chicago River has already been dyed green as usual. All of…
Read MorePutting up with Pet Peeves
The other day someone asked me a question. Before I had a chance to open my mouth, a person about three yards away called out the answer. Now that irritated me! Nevertheless, it did some good, because it suggested the topic for this week’s blog: pet peeves. I think every human being is irked by…
Read MoreGod Knitting Our Marvelous Body
“You knit me together in my mother’s womb. . . . I was being made in secret, intricately woven” (Psalm 139:13–15). What a beautiful figure of speech for our Creator God! The artwork here depicts God as an old man. Knitting, however, is usually the work of a woman. Maybe someday an artist will draw…
Read MoreGoing the Extra Mile (Especially in Lent)
This morning I saw a commercial for a car inviting people to “go the extra mile.” Now that is a good slogan for a Christian. After all, Jesus taught us disciples, “If anyone wants to sue you and take you coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile,…
Read MorePerseverance to Mars and Heaven During Lent
On February 18, 2021, the rover Perseverance is to land on Mars and collect samples. This achievement is the result of NASA’s perseverance. Perseverance, or persistence, is a virtue. Its partner patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Perseverance takes courage, a gift of the Holy Spirit. How is your New Year’s resolution going?…
Read MoreThe Greatest Love of All
Today I saw this posted on Facebook: “The sweetest time of the day is when you pray because you’re talking to the one who loves you the most.” Valentine’s Day is a good time to reflect on God’s love for us. We all crave to be loved. Sometimes we need to know we are loved…
Read MorePoems for Poetry Lovers and Others (Repeat)
(This post was unavailable for some time last week due to technological problems, so I’m repeating it.) Even if you are not a fan of poetry, I think you would enjoy Sister Mary Doreen’s poems. When she died this year, she left behind a legacy of more than 300 of them. They are simple and…
Read MoreLeaving Home for Sake of the Mission
My friend Andy Woconish, who ministered with me at St. Dominic Church, wrote an imaginative piece on a Gospel story that I think will make you chuckle. He agreed to be my guest blogger this week. . . . This coming Sunday we hear a familiar gospel story about the call of the first Apostles…
Read MoreSome Uplifting Thoughts for Trying Times
Last week Amy Cattapan interviewed me about my newest book A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits. It was the first time I was interviewed live with my face (and my apartment) showing. The interview is now on youtube. A friend who watched it commented that it was “a grand slam.” When I thanked Amy…
Read MoreJoseph, the Silent Saint Gets His Year
Pope Francis declared this year “the year of St. Joseph.” It’s about time! Joseph can teach us many things. Long ago I heard a bishop recount in a homily how at Christmas his mother would set up the Nativity scene at their house. Every year she would take the stable and figurines out of the…
Read MoreA Mentally Healthy New Year Review
The end of a year is a good time to look back and assess the 365 past days. The year 2020 is generally considered a terrible year, one that we will be glad to be rid of. Everyone has experienced disappointments if not suffering during this unprecedented time. Psychologists recommend ending each day with a…
Read MoreSeason of Love: Divine Intimacy
As promised, here is the first chapter of my book “A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits.” Merry Christmas! 1 An Unlikely Couple To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement. ~ St. Augustine Do you ever lie awake at…
Read MoreGod’s Amazing Love at Christmas: Divine Intimacy
Christmas is a celebration of God’s love: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” Just in time for Christmas I finished writing “A Love Affair with God: Twelve Traits.” Although one publisher considered the book “too romantic,” I was guided by St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila,…
Read MoreThoughts on Advent
Father Tom Weber gave this homily during Advent one year. I like the twist at the end. A couple of months ago, I went over to the Department of Motor Vehicles bureau in Mayfield Heights. I took a seat along the wall and after a while, a clerk asked me, “What are you waiting for?”…
Read MoreIdeas for Safe Celebrating
This year we are challenged to keep in touch with family and friends in meaningful ways in order to celebrate our holidays. My friend Roman Vaynshtok, founder of the Peace and Balance Reiki Center, emailed me the following suggestions that you might wish to adopt. Holidays ideas during the pandemic. First things are first. There…
Read MoreMeditation on a Sinner, Zacchaeus
Today’s Gospel was the story of Zacchaeus. It reminded me of the time I led a class of ninth graders through a reflection on it. The next day they surprised me by asking for another prayer like that one. Wow! I saved the reflection, and for what it’s worth I’m presenting it here. It may…
Read MoreA Woman Saint for Our Time: Julie Billiart
A question on Facebook today was, “Will you still serve God if Christianity becomes a felony?” That might seem a farfetched question at first. But in view of the chaos in our country recently—vandalized religious statues, attacks on churches; attempts to eliminate God in schools, in the Pledge of Allegiance, and on our coins—the question…
Read MoreLinks for the Eucharist and a Powerful Song
This past week I enjoyed two programs that I think you would also like. The first is a talk on the Eucharist, life, and art. The presentation includes much artwork, for which the Reverend Alexander Gorklavs, an Orthodox priest, gives many insights. You might skip the introductions and begin at 10.01. The talk is followed…
Read MoreAutumn Reflections
Trees aglow with amazing fall colors surround our provincial center. How grateful I am to live where we experience all four seasons. Each one has its own beauty, but in my opinion autumn is the most spectacular. The red, orange, and gold leaves are simply glorious. But how quickly they fall! (Is this why fall…
Read MoreDon’t Fret. Be Patient. God Cares.
On Sunday mornings I like to watch Dr. Charles Stanley while I eat breakfast. This week he mentioned that God says, “Do not fret,” three times in Psalm 37. I had to check it. He was right. This was new to me, although I did know that in the Bible God says, “Do not be…
Read MoreDown with Bible Illiteracy!
Last week on “Jeopardy” the final “answer” was “He tells his Son not to worry about the lamb for the burnt offering. God will provide it.” The brainy contestants wrote Joseph, Job, and Jonah. None of them recognized one of the most famous stories in the Bible: Abraham and his willing sacrifice of his son…
Read MoreReading My Way Through the Virus
Like many others are experiencing, lockdown has given me extra time. My talks and retreats have been cancelled. No more lunches or parties off our property. The upside of this deprivation is that besides writing more books, I’ve been able to read more. Here are a few: A retreat on images of Mary in art…
Read MoreHoly Angels on Earth and in Heaven
Today is September 29, feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The day after tomorrow we will be in October, the month dedicated to the angels. And October 2 is the feast of our Guardian Angels. You probably memorized the prayer to your guardian angel: “Angel of God, my guardian dear . . .”…
Read MoreGod Speaking in Dreams
This week I read a book that in part promoted listening to God’s messages in your dreams. I tried it that night, but my many dreams were so jumbled I couldn’t glean any message from them. I figured that way of communicating with God was not for me. Then last night loud and clear I…
Read MoreCan You Help Parents, Teachers, and Me?
RESOURCE 1: Today Covid-19 makes it necessary for parents to more fully carry out their role as the chief teachers of their children. It also means that children are spending more time at home and in the house. Parents are faced with the question, How do I keep them busy and in a meaningful way?…
Read MoreCovid and Creativity
My friend Jodie Bowers, a pastoral minister with whom I worked at St. Dominic Parish in Shaker Heights, has written a reflection that I thought was worth sharing. Here it is: One of the blessings of the pandemic has been the invitation to slow down and live with mindfulness and intention. Breathe deeply and exhale. As our…
Read MoreTrust in the Time of Pandemic
Some time ago a friend gave me this little bird along with the scripture verse “Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feed them. Are you not you more important than they?” (Matthew 6:26) The bird sits next to my…
Read MoreTips for Writing and Common Mistakes
I think we have an innate drive to teach others what we know. Parents constantly teach their children how to walk, talk, say thank you, and in general how to live as a good human being. By sharing what they know, mentors at work prepare others to do their job. Of course, the most important…
Read MoreTiny Things That Bring Happiness
Recently someone posted on Facebook a list of tiny things that bring joy. I wish I had copied it. Because I didn’t, I’ve come up with my own list. At the end is something worthwhile that I did copy: a reflection on happiness. Although it is attributed to Pope Francis and sometimes to a poet…
Read MoreNuggets from a Retreat on Marian Artwork
My annual retreat this year was via Zoom and presented by Father Terry Grachanin, an artist. The topic was Marian art through the ages. Some concepts were new to me, and I thought they might be new to you too. So in this post I will share a few of them. The retreat was in…
Read MoreStaying Positive During COVID-19
A Sunday church bulletin offered the following suggestions for staying sane and happy (or at least not depressed) while living through our present ordeal. I thought they were worth sharing with you: Limit your intake. You could watch 24-hour news channels, listen to dire warnings on the radio, or visit countless websites and be bombarded…
Read MoreFunny Cartoons During COVID-19
Every day I’ve been posting humorous cartoons on Facebook. Several people have told me how much they enjoy them. We need something to lighten our spirits when it is easy to be overwheled with bad news. In case you are not my “friend” on Facebook, this week I’m providing thirty of the funniest cartoons for…
Read MoreTen Occupations in COVID Isolation
When I was a child, my mom was fortunate to own a green book called What Can I Do Now, Mother? It was filled with creative projects to keep a child busy and out of her hair. Without it, the four of us kids would have spent many days bored and whining. Nowadays do you…
Read MoreLaughter, the Best Medicine
Isn’t it amazing how during ordeals, people still find or create something to laugh about? Look at the number of jokes, cartoons, and puns on Facebook nowadays! I was going to write a post on laughter because in these times we need it. Then I remembered I had already written one. So here it is,…
Read MoreDevilish Distractions
Once at a Christmas party while we were dining, my three-year-old grandnephew stood at the table crying hard. My brother-in-law said to him, “Go get Grandpa a cookie.” Instantly the little boy stopped bawling and went off in search of a cookie. My brother-in-law commented to me, “Your sister taught me how to distract him…
Read MoreHeart of Jesus: Sacred and Human
Today I finished writing a book about God’s love for us and our love for God and sent it off to a publisher. In the process I learned a few things. Because we are in the month of June, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, let’s focus on the love of Jesus for us.…
Read MoreHoly Spirit and Pentecost
In honor of Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Church, here is the introduction to my newest book: The Holy Spirit: Font of Love, Life, and Power. Introduction At first I was tempted to title this book “The Holy Spirit: Our Superhero.” Since the 1930s, people have been intrigued with superheroes…
Read MoreA Saint for Our Time: St. Julie Billiart
Many people have never heard of St. Julie Billiart. She happens to be the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame and the spiritual mother of us Coesfeld Notre Dames. I remember in grade school praying for her canonization, which occurred fifty years ago. In honor of that anniversary, we Chardon SNDs had planned a…
Read MoreMay and Mary, Our Blessed Mother
A recent post on Facebook read something like this: This month is called May because it may rain, it may snow, it may be 70º, or it may be 20º. No matter what the weather, something that doesn’t change is Mary’s love for us, her God-given children. And the month of May is dedicated to…
Read MoreMy Brother’s Keeper?
This morning I read an article about Bishop Gregory Mansour, the Maronite bishop of Brooklyn. I once helped him with writing a religious series for Maronite children. I knew him to be a kind, humble man. The article revealed his love for people. As the bishop walked down the street, he saw a man who…
Read MoreA Journey with Jesus: Emmaus and Pandemics
When I visited the Holy Land, our first stop was “Emmaus,” where we were told no one knows where Emmaus really is. This was confirmed when a friend emailed me that his friend on a pilgrimage had a similar experience. His Franciscan guide asked, “Is there anything else you want to see?” The friend said,…
Read MoreThe Resurrection and Stones
The Easter Season lasts fifty days, so the following chapter from my book Voices: God Speaking in Creation is still appropriate. Each chapter is a reflection on a physical object mentioned in Scripture. This chapter draws lessons from a stone: They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they…
Read MoreEaster Story for All God’s Children
I was asked to make a video of me reading the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus for children from one of my books. During this holiest of weeks—especially if you are sequestered with children—you may find this video helpful. It can be found by clicking on the link below, which takes you…
Read MoreHumor and Inspiration in the Age of the Coronavirus
During this dark and terrifying time, our sense of humor and urge to encourage one another are healthy. For your delight and inspiration, this week I’m presenting twelve images I’ve shared on Facebook and one fascinating video that shows what the human race can accomplish when we work together. Finally, at the very end is…
Read MoreTeaching Children about the Crucifixion
Moms and dads and grandparents might find the following article I wrote helpful now that we are approaching Holy Week. Feel free to pass it on! How should you speak to your child about Our Lord’s suffering and death? Convey this powerful story cautiously, sensitive to the impact it will have on your child. Impressions…
Read MoreTo Hoard or to Share
The news is carrying stories and photos of depleted shelves in stores. Facebook users are sharing cartoons of people stocking up on food, sanitizers, and toilet paper. The current pandemic is transforming many people into hoarders. They are trying to be proactive—preparing for the future. As a result, people who really need some of these…
Read MoreMusic as a Pathway to God
Saturday evening I had the joy of attending a concert by the Cleveland Orchestra in Severance Hall. The main number was Mendelssohn’s Symphony #2, which is also known as “Hymn of Praise.” It is a series of Scripture passages, mostly from Psalms, set to music and sung by a mighty chorus, two sopranos, and a…
Read MoreListening to the Spirit in Lent
During a Day of Recollection recently, in a talk “Engaging the Spirit Within” I pointed out that God dwells within us—a fundamental truth of our faith that we don’t often remember. In the depths of our being, the Holy Spirit, the Person responsible for sanctifying us, frequently nudges us to perform good acts. We used…
Read MorePsalms: God’s Love Poems
I was going to write a post on the psalms but then discovered that I already had written three of them! Here is one resurrected from the past: Did you know that we pray to St. Anthony for lost articles because he once lost his Psalter and the AWOL novice who took it came back…
Read MoreThe Human Body: A Physical Wonder
Recently I read a book that referred to our body as a physical wonder. This prompted me to reflect on the truth of that statement. The wonder of our bodies was brought home to me most powerfully after weeks of experiencing excruciating pain in my upper arm. To my surprise, the doctor’s diagnosis was a…
Read MoreHappy Quotations and Advice
Recently I exclaimed to someone that I was “very, very happy.” Coincidentally a friend of mine is giving a talk on happiness at the college I attended, and I’ve just read a book about happiness. Wikipedia defines it as an emotion or mental state ranging from contentment to intense joy. It is a goal that…
Read MoreCompetition—Good or Not?
Superbowl 2020 is over, and the Kansas City Chiefs are the winners. This is one of the most watched competitions. It seems we are hard-wired to engage in competitions. We grow up competing in various ways. In school we participate in spelling bees. We play games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey where one…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit: The Hidden God
My newest book is published and available. It is about the Third Person in God: the Holy Spirit. The introduction to the book says what I wish to say about the book, so I reproduced it here. If you would like a copy of this book, please purchase it directly from me so that my…
Read MoreCoping with Death
In January it seems we attend more funerals and send more sympathy cards than usual. Whether death comes as a relief after a long illness or as an unexpected shock, dealing with it is difficult. Our faith tells us that death is only the door to new, eternal life where we will be with God…
Read MoreThe Value of Christmas Cards
For decades my mother saved all her Christmas cards. Each year she rubber-banded them and put them in brown bags. Some people might call her a hoarder, but these cards were precious to her. My cards this year are hanging from my kitchen counter as seen above. The are part of my Christmas decorations and…
Read MoreChristmas Musings
Mary Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here is a Christmas gift for you: Two reflections from my book Heart to Heart with Mary: Love Made Flesh December 24 My child, some things are so awesome that words fail us. Imagine what it was like to hold my newborn son in my arms knowing he…
Read MoreA Cat Christmas Story
In a Christmas letter this year, a friend whose pet cat had died recounted how she noticed a calico cat roaming her property. It was “small, skinny, and timid.” She didn’t take it into her house but let it return to the woods. Regularly the cat came around, and the woman brought it lunch by…
Read MoreKindness for a Better World
We are in Advent, preparing to celebrate God’s incredible act of kindness to us human beings. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, meaning that God is alive and active in us. On the Internet I saw a list of things considered good etiquette. This inspired me to draw up a list of twenty…
Read MoreA Layman Answers Why Are You Catholic?
Len Calabrese, a friend of mine, wrote an article for the series “Why I Am Catholic” in his parish’s Gesu News. Thinking that his reflection is a good refresher for all of us Catholics, I asked Len for permission to share it on my blog. Here’s hoping that it evokes a deeper appreciation of your…
Read MoreAdvice for a Happy Thanksgiving Dinner
In the Pastor’s Notes of the bulletin from St. Dominic Church (where I spent many happy years) Father Tom Fanta offers some tips for a pleasant and holy Thanksgiving. I thought they were worth sharing and think you will too: There is always a bit of tension as families prepare to gather for a holiday.…
Read MoreThe Gift of Water
The first book I ever had published was Voices: Messages in Gospel Symbols. It contains reflections on objects in the Gospels. The following adapted chapter on water is just as relevant today. At the well the Samaritan woman encounters someone who violates the cultural code on two counts. He, a man and a Jew, asks…
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