What it really means to ‘die to self’
Ever since I was little, I have wanted to achieve great things: to be an artist and a dentist. To study oceanography. To change the world. To become a saint….
Saints to help us discover the extraordinary in the ordinary
Daily we experience the punishments incurred by our first parents’ fall: sickness, pain, the toil of work, life’s tediousness. We live the latter daily, finding our lives slipping into a…
Drop everything and think of heaven
You’re busy. You’re being pulled in a million different directions, distracted by a million different hopes, worries and fears. Maybe your health isn’t great. Maybe your job isn’t thrilling. Maybe…
A valuable lesson from the most ambitious saint
I’ve heard it said that after her death from tuberculosis in 1897, some of St. Thérèse’s religious sisters wondered what would be put in her obituary. After all, she was…
How to reform your life with Christ at the center
Do you believe you are worthy of living a free and fulfilled life? If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely experienced at least a season of putting off making changes…
How to live for heaven here and now
Several years ago, I climbed the tower of the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone. Though I could have survived without the experience, as I am not a fan…
When you see holiness in a life well lived
Five years ago, on the eve of the feast of the Assumption, my grandfather passed from this life. A fresh college graduate, I had spent the previous few months living…
Uncovering the hidden blessings of the melancholic
There is a popular book, written by Art and Laraine Bennett, that every Catholic should read. In “The Temperament God Gave You,” the authors identify four human temperaments that have…
Set goals with sainthood in mind
As we turn the calendar to a new year, the momentum of resolutions fills the air. People post reflection questions and set intentions. Others choose a word or a theme…
Preparing even the littlest ones for their vocations
As a mom of two littles, I see daily the many responsibilities parents have for their children. Dirty diapers, half-eaten plates and lots of little toy cars often make up…