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It is no secret that St. Hildegard of Bingen was every woman. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, her life served as a testament to God’s expansive creativity embodied in every single one of us. Whether you know St. Hildegard primarily as a mystic, poet, composer, philosopher, playwright, herbalist, Benedictine nun, visionary, preacher, traveler, or leader–she truly was, every woman. Attentive to God’s calling, she listened, with the ear of her heart, and became the person God need

Today’s readings ask us to confront what is probably the least popular emotion: anger. We spend enormous amounts of energy trying not to be angry or to suppress anger or feel shame about our anger. The readings today certainly condemn it. But is anger always bad? Like any emotion, anger gives us information. It also gives us energy and focus. The famous quote attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo reads “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger

This past winter, I attended a Know Your Rights training led by a statewide immigration coalition. The presentation included information on types of immigration enforcement, people’s rights in different spaces and situations, and how to be prepared. I attended as a community member looking to support my immigrant neighbors, and I had anticipated others would be there in a similar boat. However, as it turned out, many, if not most, of the people in attendance at this particul

Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow me. In today’s Gospel from Matthew, after his epic admonition to Peter (“Get behind me, Satan!”), Jesus defines discipleship. A relatively straightforward reading of Matthew 16 has gifted me with experiences and relationships that have enlivened my world. My earnest desire to follow Jesus has influenced every step of my vocation in ministry, service, and justice work. It has shaped my relationships (in all their imperfections) to mone

The Psalm we pray today on St. Monica's feast whispers the thing she must have clung to for decades: where can I flee from your presence? If I sink to the nether world, you are present there. St. Monica knew the nether world. She watched her son Augustine sink into it, the Manichees, the concubines, the restless wandering, and she followed him, not to rescue him, because she couldn't, but because she refused to pray from a distance. She followed him from North Africa to Rome

In today’s second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he marvels at the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God. His words invite us into wonder before a mystery that can never be exhausted. I find myself returning to this passage, especially on days when the weight of the world feels especially heavy and difficult to carry. It brings me consolation to remember Paul's words: "For from him and through him and for him are all things." There is always more unfolding t

During my undergraduate years, I had truly formative opportunities to get involved in social justice education and advocacy. Specifically, as a student at a Jesuit institution (Canisius College – now University), I attended several teach-ins coordinated by the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN). Between 2005 and 2009, I made my way, more than once, to Columbus, Georgia for the annual ISN teach-in. While the lessons were expansive, we learned, in particular, about U.S. militar

After watching two dear friends pass away this year from painful illnesses, I am eager for the extreme joy of the Assumption of Mary! It is only the perfect Mary, Mother of God, who is granted the Grace of being spared the [potential] agony of death, and she is just Assumed into Heaven. My friends and their loved ones, also very dear friends (and the doctors, nurses, therapists, extended family, and community of friends) did everything they could to take care of these specia

I read today’s readings at the end of a long summer week entertaining my two and five-year-old sons at home. I had just put the younger one down for a nap and my older one was doing his “quiet time” of self-play. I sat down at my favorite spot in our house – our screened in porch – which is surrounded by greenery and the sounds of birds. Peace, at last. As an introvert and internal processor, the constant noise of two small children can be overwhelming. So today’s first read

Praying for Those Who Thirst and HungerI became a runner quite by accident. After finishing my first half marathon in 2015, I decided to try my feet at running a full marathon. In 2019 and 2021, I ran the Detroit Marathon. In my training leading up to race days, I always had to consider the importance of hydration. When you start to feel thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. The effects of that can be felt more when doing such exertion like running a marathon. The importa

Jesus’ human nature is often overshadowed by his divine nature; Jesus is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the World. What makes him remarkable, however, is not his ability to turn water into wine, to calm a storm, to multiply fish and loaves, or even to raise someone from the dead. Jesus truly shines in the encounters he has with humanity which highlight his emotions, relationships, and connection. We are most human in community, when we support and care for

For the third week in a row, we are hearing a Gospel Reading from Matthew’s very long Chapter 13. Parable after parable. When I was younger, I must confess that I tuned out much of these “stories”. I didn’t get the point of them. I lacked imagination, but otherwise, I was not the root of the problem. Why didn’t our Lord just TELL us what he was trying to teach us rather than giving us these unwieldy puzzles?! The riddles? Drawn perhaps from the ancient Hebrew life as a teach

Is there a sound more beautiful than to hear your own name called out by the one you love? By one who loves you? To know in that moment that you are loved, connected, tethered, seen? I think of all the moments where I have wandered, crying and lost, looking for where they have put my Lord. Because far too often, it has felt in the midst of ministry, in the midst of the horrors and sufferings that keep happening throughout the world, in the midst of figuring out how to be a w

It is just over 100 days since Easter Sunday and the end of our Lenten journeys, a time characterized by our fasting and repentance. I am bringing this forward to you for reflection as we consider our repenting. Is this still a part of our practice now? As our first reading from Wisdom highlights, God gave us “good ground for hope.” The cause of that good ground? That God would permit repentance for our sins. As we look further into the Gospel, we reflect on what this good

A beautiful, young Saint who experienced sickness, family conflicts, rumors, and even the slander of her name trials that remain so prevalent in our world today. “Her faith and fervor for Jesus were evident, as she died shortly before her 24th birthday, with her final words being, “Jesos Konoronkwa” (“Jesus, I love you”).” Her motto throughout life, according to her “biographer, Father Claude Chauchetière, S.J., was: “Who will teach me the best things about God so I may follo

We always talk about the dirt, but I think we miss one of the most important lessons from the Parable of the Sower. Recently I have spent quite a bit of time reflecting on things like the dignity of work, co-creation with God, and other facets of Catholic Social Doctrine. Pope Leo reminded us in his most recent encyclical that our work is part of our call, our vocation, and not just a way to pay our bills (ideally). It is a way we co-create with God and build the culture and

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."— Matthew 11:28 There are seasons in every woman's life when the path ahead seems uncertain. A cherished relationship changes. A loved one dies. Children grow up and leave home. Health concerns emerge. Retirement arrives. A job ends. Plans unravel. Sometimes the changes we face are chosen; often they are not. In those difficult seasons, it can feel as though we are carrying more than we can bear. The G

Several months ago, just before my Lenten Instagram hiatus, I found myself cackling at a simple post by a stranger who made me feel seen. She writes: “you’ll never catch me being nonchalant. I’m a diehard chalanter. always chalanting. giving so many chalants” (@ashleypaigey). Same, Ashley. Same. More recently, then, one of my favorite Instagram accounts, the truly hilarious @merriamwebster—yes, the dictionary—posted: “Is ‘chalant’ the opposite of ‘nonchalant?’ There is no wor

One of my favorite things to do at the airport when traveling is people watching. The hustle and bustle of people sauntering through the airport or those who are hustling to their gate. The warm, happy reunions at baggage claim. A person reading a book or in deep thought. A group of friends laughing over drinks at a bar. An airport is an opportunity to be amid the full diversity of humans from all walks of life from all corners of the globe. As I watch all the people coming

From childhood through my mid 20s, I was consistently in environments that nurtured and supported my faith. I am long-time Catholic school educated. As a teenager, I became involved in my diocese’s youth department, attending formative programs, conferences, and retreats. I attended a small, Jesuit college and did my best to do all things campus ministry. Retreats. Small faith sharing groups. Service trips. Vibrant mass. Then, I spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Cor