Grief has no timeline. There are moments in which memories of our deceased loved ones flicker in both the mind and heart, unexpectedly and unbidden. Our calendar years are peppered with these intense emotions of heartbreak and tenderness,…

Whenever an injustice befalls us, it’s natural for anger to surface. Think of the times you have experienced betrayal, deception, or some type of misunderstanding. It’s not an emotion we’re comfortable with, especially as Catholic…

Having a melancholic temperament makes forgiving others quite a feat. As a child, I was sensitive to jesting, even if it was done in a lighthearted and impersonal matter. Because of my insecurities and bottled up shame, I internalized…

Every time I leave my house, I’m amazed at how impatient and frenzied the world has become. It seems as if most people are striving to stay busy with family activities, work, and pursuing the “perfect” life of health and wealth. As a whole,…

What happens when you chase every enticement the world has to offer, but end up disenfranchised? Then, realizing you have nowhere else to go, you look up and find the gift of Our Lady, waiting to take your hand and heal your heart. Some…

We all carry both psychological and spiritual wounds that affect our motives, our reactions to other people’s behavior, and the deeper reasons we fear or avoid certain things. When I was in junior high, I dabbled in the occult. My parents…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: God speaks to us all the time. We just don’t always hear his voice, because we aren’t paying attention to the “still, small voice” within our hearts. Wisdom comes in many forms, and I can’t say…

There’s nothing more consoling than to find refreshment in the arms of our heavenly mother, Mary. When we doubt or feel abandoned by God, turning to Mary under specific titles dispenses particular graces to our wounded and weary hearts. She…