Every year at this time, I take out the Playmobil Nativity set, which has always been a big hit in our house since we bought it for Noah years ago. I think it has something to do with the fact that it’s out for only one month of the year, so it is eternally new. Chiara, however, has given us an exciting new twist on how to make the most of this toy. (more…)
Ever since I first came in contact with the writings of Thomas Merton some 25 years ago, he has spoken to me. I know I’m not alone there. Countless people of every faith and persuasion have found meaning in his writings and his life. Of course, others will counter that with claims that he was too flawed to be held up as a role model, or, dare I say, saint. But that’s precisely why he’s a great example. (more…)
My most recent Life Lines column, running in Catholic New York and The Catholic Spirit this month:
I don’t know about you, but I tend to approach my prayer life – my spiritual habits or “skills” – from an unrealistic place. While I easily recognize the need to practice or work out in order to keep up my basic guitar skills or my jogging endurance, I expect to settle down to prayer and reap immediate rewards with little or no effort. Or I allow myself to fall into a prayer rut that ends up leaving me on autopilot, until the words I say have about as much meaning and feeling behind them as reading a recipe out loud. (more…)
You may recall that last week’s kick-off to the Advent festivities at our house deteriorated into fighting, screaming, a coin toss, and, eventually, a declaration (by me) that all fun Advent activities would cease at once and until further notice. (We did keep up our Advent wreath practice before dinner each night, however.)
So this morning I asked Chiara if maybe she’d like to retrieve the wooden Advent calendar from the basement, along with the Playmobil Nativity set, and the little Advent Christmas tree. Her immediate reaction was a panicked, “NO!” That seemed curious, so I persisted. In a teary voice, she said that she didn’t want to take out the Advent activities because she was afraid there would be more fighting.
Hmmmm…Things were getting curiouser and curiouser. (more…)
When I saw the headline on this story — “Poking Fun of Nuns, With Big Returns” — I expected the worst. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a really positive story about someone who’s looking to poke fun (in a respectful sort of way) at Catholics sisters while raising funds for them at the same time.
Vicki Quade is the Chicago playwright who wrote “Late Nite Catechism,” a one-woman show where the audience plays the part of Catholic school students. Quade uses the shows to raise money for various communities of religious sisters. (more…)
