St. Maximilian Kolbe
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Today is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the priest who volunteered to die in place of another prisoner at a Nazi concentration camp.
From American Catholic:
A prisoner had escaped. The commandant announced that 10 men would die. He relished walking along the ranks. “This one. That one.” As they were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Number 16670 dared to step from the line. “I would... READ MORE
Gymnastics Then & Now
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Before we bid the Olympics farewell, here’s a video showing the progression of skills in gymnastics from 1950 to now.
Just Enough
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, June 06, 2012
This little food-for-thought post over at Bearing Blog has had me pondering for a few days now. “The decline of grace” discusses the idea that God giving us the grace we need to handle our lives’ challenges means that when our we pass from a more trying state of life into an easier one, the grace we receive also diminishes. We’re given exactly as much as we need, is the idea. No more.
The theology-major... READ MORE
Lenten Adventures
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, March 06, 2012
I was going to give up sugar in my tea for Lent.
A hot sweet strong cup each morning is one of my daily pleasures, and I thought sacrificing it would be just enough penance in a life that is, day-to-day, already pretty tough.
But on Tuesday before Lent started, the day I posted this, it suddenly came to me that denying my sweet tooth was not enough. Instead, here was my resolution: to stop feeling... READ MORE
Conversion of Paul
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the day when God knocked Saul off his horse, took away his sight and miraculously created a new man on fire to serve the Lord.
This is a painting by Caravaggio, Conversion on the Way to Damascus; a few years ago a good friend gave us a print of this for our home. I love how the artist keeps the focus on Paul, there on the ground arms extended... READ MORE
The Real Waste of Time
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
I got to confession last weekend for a sorely-needed first time in a long time. It ended up turning into a mini-spiritual-direction session with the compassionate-but-fair priest. (I felt sorry for the people behind me in line.)
More than a week later, I’m still thinking about one of the insights he gave me. It hadn’t occurred to me before. And I thought I’d share it with you in case you haven’t either.... READ MORE
Keeping Christ in Christian
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, October 06, 2011
A friend of mine recently shared this perfect cartoon and yes it’s obviously hilarious but it also gave me lots to think about.
It’s very easy, when trying to do the right thing, to get caught up in a black/white way of thinking. It’s easy to point out how others are falling short in being a Christian—and then lose sight of our own failings in the midst of that.
When I think about the times I have... READ MORE
Can "Reparation Therapy" Work?
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Marriage on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
My intent was to publish something about the Triumph of the Cross, today’s feast.
I decided this reflection on same-sex attraction provides an exemplar of how a cross can lead to triumph.
Responding to homosexual scoffing at so-called “reparation therapy,” a chaplain for the Courage apostolate wrote this in his local paper.
The plain truth is that people with same-sex attractions experience them... READ MORE
Fighting Our Crosses
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Colleen Duggan offers a lovely reflection over at Catholic Digest, in which she shares some beautiful insight she gained about “fighting her crosses” through the words of her young son.
It’s typically the little stuff Jesus wants me to surrender — the wiggle worm sitting next to me, the request for one more cup of water, or reading the same picture book for the 1000th time. These are the things He wants, the things that make Him happy.
Definitely read the whole thing. You’ll be glad you did.
Tree of Life
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
My friend Tom Hoopes calls Tree of Life “Into Deep Silence” for lay people.
I like that description, although the film isn’t merely a quiet meditation on a way of life.
It poses a question to the viewer, the same question the main character must grapple with.
Which is the path to happiness: what the film calls “the way of nature” or “the way of grace?” Is life just “one dang thing after another,” and each of us must grasp what goods we may? Or is it, even in the midst of suffering and sorrow, ordered, mysterious and profoundly beautiful?
I loved this film, although it took me a while to surrender to its meditative pace.
It’s been said the most effective apologetic in our culture is the argument from Beauty, and this unusual film makes a strong case for “the way of grace” without forcing the conclusion.
Have you seen it? What did you think?
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