Category: Prayer / Spiritual Life
Embracing My Inner Martha: Living the Lesson Learned
Not even 3 seconds after I hit the send button to let people know about an upcoming event, my friend Marta had emailed back, “Did you make a FaceBook Evite yet?” Marta… Marta… Marta…. What do you mean, “Did you make a Facebook Evite yet?” Don’t you know I just zipped that last email about [...]
The Holy Spirit – The Principle of Unity throughout Scripture
by Sister Benedicta Marie, O.C.D. Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles The principle of unity throughout scripture is the Holy Spirit. The Pentecost Sequence, Veni Sancte Spiritus, describes this sanctifying – and therefore unifying – role of the Spirit of Father and Son: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the [...]
Marian Devotion and the Spiritual Life
The one aspect of spiritual development that has, until recently, been more mysterious to me, is Marian devotion. During my conversion to Catholicism, the doctrines concerning Mary were among the most difficult to embrace. The turning point was when someone pointed out several things to me. First, they challenged me to reflect on the scripture [...]
On the Question of Suffering
When my nephew Michael was getting ready for college he told me he was expected to write a paper in his first week entitled, “How do I know I exist?” After discussing the matter for some time he concluded that the best thing to do was to punch his professor in the nose. The resulting [...]
How the Weakness of the Cross Makes Us Strong
“When I am weak, then I am strong”; “power made perfect in weakness.” Such verses are often cited as key to spiritual growth, but do we really understand what they are talking about? Can anyone ever understand? Yes. If we couldn’t understand it at all, God would not have told it to us. God does [...]
The Deadline That Changed My Prayer Life
Mornings are God’s masterpieces. A new day awakens, filled with potential. The night sky disappears into the heavens, while the sun slowly creeps up out of the distant horizon. Most of the time, I don’t see the sun rise. Dawn comes quite early according to any clock and Carmelite Sisters rise even before the sun [...]
The Room of Tears
Just ahead of the Papal Conclave, the so called “Room of Tears” popped up quite a bit in many news stories and reflections, as reporters began marking the days ahead of the pope’s election. In this room, we were reminded, the newly-elected pope dresses in a fresh white cassock, signs his papal name, and prays [...]
Developing a Deep Prayer Life – The Most Important Talk You Will Ever Hear
Editors Note: Sister Regina Marie, O.C.D. is the Vicar General of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. At the time of the conference talk, she was Mother Regina Marie, O.C.D., Superior General of the community. I had the great privilege to listen to a talk delivered by Mother Regina Marie, [...]
Lenten Prayer Intentions for Our New Pope
I don’t know about you, but when I heard the news about Pope Benedict XVI, my heart dropped. I was immediately saddened. Being in the news business, I had to immediately push this aside in order to work to confirm the statement — and work with our Register team and EWTN to get the word [...]
“Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep.”
In the twenty-first chapter of St. John’s Gospel, we find a gut-wrenching encounter between Jesus and Peter that defines the essence of Peter’s mission. To make this encounter unforgettable, Jesus takes Peter to the point of deep distress as he asks him not once, but three times, “Do you love me?” It is hard to [...]
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