“God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.”
Category: Life
Teaching from the Thirst
“I thirst.”
GUEST BLOG: “Writing Letters to My Future Husband” by Stephanie Calis
I hope he’s from a big family who likes to eat. I hope he’s funny. Oh, and it would be nice, God, if he had blue eyes. Some people fall asleep counting sheep (or do they? Raise your hand if you’ve ever actually done this?). From the time I was thirteen, fresh and on fire from hearing Crystalina Evert’s…
Chained to Our Lady
“It is the Virgin Mary who invites us to consider history as an adventure of love in which God keeps his promises and triumphs with his fidelity. ” -St. John Paul II
The Empty Soul of Technology
Anima Technica Vacua. Coined by theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar, the unique phrase “anima technica vacua” more or less means “the empty technological soul,” and it’s an adequate and fascinating description of our rampant technology use and the modern fragmented person. It’s a fascinating concept with too many concrete examples. We have become excellent processors of rapid information but have…
The Problem of Catholic Celebrities
“Praise often creates in us a false impression that we deserve it.” -Ven. Fulton Sheen “How can I do what you do?” Whenever Jackie or I get this question after a talk or an event, we sometimes respond with a tongue-in-cheek, “What? Share the Gospel with other people?” No, silly. “Travel. Be a speaker. Stand on a stage…
My Marriage is Not a Fairy Tale
My Marriage is Not a Fairy Tale by Jackie Angel Also titled, “How you can marry the man of your dreams and still want to punch him in the face sometimes” A few years ago, as a single woman, I sat across from a young engaged couple at a Theology of the Body retreat during lunchtime. Curious about their “love…
Baby Worship
Babies are useless. Yes, I mean this. Babies are also “the worst roommates,” as the comedian Jim Gaffigan puts it: “They’re unemployed. They don’t pay rent. They keep insane hours. Their hygiene is horrible. If you had a roommate that did any of the things babies do, you’d ask them to move out.” A baby has no use. But…
Discernment II: Get Quiet
How can I know what God wants of me? How does one discern well? How do I listen for His call? While I’m no priest or trained spiritual director, most of my twenties were spent discerning my vocation, reading lots of books, hyperventilating, going on retreats, and eventually entering the seminary after hyperventilating a little more. I’ve been through…
On Every Breaking Wave
As a U2 fan, I was one of three people not complaining about a free album that showed up my iTunes library last year. New music from my favorite band, pro bono? [See what I did there?] Yes, please. One of the most poignant and heart-breaking tracks from Songs of Innocence received amazing new life through its new…
