Deeper Life: Choosing to grow spiritually through times of grief

When sorrow barges through the door of my heart like an unwelcome guest, I have learned to take a deep breath and welcome her as the clumsy cleaning crew she is, here only to sweep out cobwebs and dust, to freshen up the arrangement of furniture and clear out the superficial things I don’t need (or […]

How praying the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary helped me learn to forgive

Deep down, isn’t this the grief we all share? Having to witness the loss of innocence, up close … and personal, where we can feel it for ourselves … In infinitely creative ways, we’re called to realize the excruciating death of Christ. We’re asked to stand for love, while darkness twist minds and hearts against […]

Spiritual Journey: Through the seasons of life

When it’s been winter for so long you’ve forgotten the smell of flowers, the color of grass and the whisper of a warm breeze … When earth has been frozen for so long, you’ve forgotten your aversion to the bitter cold and found your peace in the barren wasteland … When you’ve embraced the palette […]

Power of Prayer: How the Divine Mercy Chaplet healed my broken heart

If you could glimpse into my soul, you’d see a cavernous scar chiseled by darkness and filled with rays of glorious Light. You’d see my deepest wound stitched with radiant threads, golden and sealed with the grace of Divine Mercy. Who would I be without Your generosity, Lord? Where would I be without the depths […]

Spiritual Journey: When You Reach the Limits of Your Human Capabilities

When I allowed my heart to open so far, so fast that it shattered into a million tiny pieces – I didn’t realize I was making the smartest decision of my life. My love exploded into the universe like fireworks vanishing into thin air, and I experienced the gaping emptiness of my broken humanity – […]

Deeper Life: After the loss of a loved one

When the Light we’ve been depending on goes out, we have a choice: surrender to darkness or find a way to Shine. When we lose the relationships that help us feel connected to God, it can feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath us. The grieving process can bring out the worst […]

Deeper Life: When you’re lost in the wilderness of life’s challenges

Sometimes we choose to climb mountains. We’re up for a challenge, so we buy maps and boots and join monasteries. Other times, we’re forced to climb. We’re kidnapped by heartache, left in the wilderness- alone with our prayers. Sometimes when we’re asked to walk a high road, it feels more like being left for dead. […]

Spiritual Journey: Finding God in the brokenness of our humanity

When did the foundation of your life begin to crack? What happened that shattered your illusions once and for all? There are a million ways for our hearts to break; There are a million reasons to fall apart; And thankfully, There is one God, who rushes in to seal every fissure with Love. On the […]

Unite in Prayer for lives shattered by violence

Jesus, we know You are near to the broken hearted, and we know you save those, who are crushed in spirit. Please send an infinite shower of graces over all the innocent people, whose lives have been shattered by acts of violence and hatred. Send an outpouring of Your Spirit like a balm of sweetness […]

Encouragement for those, who are grieving

Sorrow is a tunnel that leads deep into the heart of our shared humanity, where we discover the mystery of God. While grieving, we can be tempted to feel alone. Even on the cross, Jesus in His humanity asked “My God, why have you abandoned me?” But the truth is found in Psalm 34 18: “The LORD […]