CULTURE

A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Many people picture medieval darkness when they think of Naples, Italy. Amid the aged cobble streets and tight walkways, there is an iridescent light...

THE CHURCH WELCOMING

I know that everyone always says to bring your kids to Mass.  Yes, even your loud, obnoxious, sometimes adorably irreverent toddlers and inconsolably screaming...

CREATIVE PROMPTS

Inspiration isn’t something that can be turned on, which is why creative professions are often difficult to navigate! What happens when you get into...

OWNING YOUR AUTONOMOUS SELF

Sometimes, when you forget a password (and frankly, which email address you even used to create an account several years ago), a company will...

SINCE HE IS BREAD, WE MUST BE BREAD

Adam Bernard Chmielowski was born in the village of Igołomia in Poland on August 20th, 1845. Despite beginning his studies in Puławy at the...

MY FRENCH NEIGHBOR

We have lived in our house for almost 7 years. We’ve added on a 16x30 foot deck; we’ve added board and batten in our...

PINPOINTING WORDS

As my toddler wrapped up her “Hail Mary” by repeating me, she slipped up with “Holy Mary, Mother for God…” which got me thinking—if...

IMAGES OUT OF DARKNESS

My friend’s husband passed away recently, and he left behind a striking collection of old cameras. These devices were well cared for, many in...

CAMPION’S BRAG

December 1st marks the feast of a beloved, but not well-known saint. His name is St. Edmund Campion, SJ.  In 1540, Edmund was born to...

REFLECTIONS ON A CHRISTMAS POEM

There have been endless beautiful Christmas poems and hymns written over the centuries that chronicle the event of Christ’s birth, many of which are...

WHY I’M EMBRACING THE SHORTER DAYS OF WINTER

We all feel it—a lack of motivation, a malaise by 4pm—the dog days of winter are here. It’s easy for me to complain about...

CONTEMPLATING HEAVEN

“And first behold the beauty of the place / Where all the saints with Christ in glory reign; / Where honor is not mixed...

POP CULTURE VS. THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS

For better or worse, there’s an impulse in our human nature that some of us are more susceptible to than others to obsess over...

BEGGING FOR GRACE

In 1198, St. John of Matha founded the Trinitarian Order. This community was founded in a dangerous time.  Muslim fleets were continuously raiding and capturing...

STEP UP TO THE PLATE

My summer featured a great amount of baseball.  Many games, many ups and downs, and a lot of dirt and equipment in my car...