We all know the awe-inspiring story of Mary Magdalene, the first person Christ appeared to after his Resurrection. She was a true saint of hope running to tell the Apostles she had seen the Lord. They didn’t believe her until they ran to the tomb themselves. The unbelief of the Apostles steeled her for a … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: July 15th, 2021Saints, Spiritual Reflections
It was the late spring of 2007. My car had just over 5,000 miles on it and I was in the midst of my first long solo road trip. In moving from Indiana to Maine for a summer job, I’d taken advantage of the time before my first day of work to visit my parents … Read More
Bri CampbellLast Updated: July 6th, 2021Saints, Uncategorized
As time goes on, I’m constantly amazed at the connections, relationships, and opportunities that the Lord has made possible in my life. Reflecting on the past, it’s so easy to see where the Lord has answered my prayers and moved me along His path by simply putting people in my life. As you look throughout … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: June 17th, 2021Saints, Spiritual Reflections
St. Augustine was a man of many words. Five million, to be precise. At least, that is how many of his written words remain to this day. This includes books, letters, and sermons, and is not even the entirety of what Augustine created during his life. With all of these writings, there come some famous … Read More
Bri CampbellLast Updated: June 9th, 2021Saints, Spiritual Reflections
Humankind has an obsession with the heart. “But don’t tell my heart, my achy breaky heart…” “And my heart will go on and on…” “You’ll be in my heart…” “Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame…” “Don’t go breaking my heart…” “Listen to your heart…” Songs for ages have revolved around the heart – … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: May 26th, 2021Saints
On Monday of this week, we celebrated a world-wide feast for only the fourth time ever – the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. Though the idea and basic theology of Mary as Mother of the Church have been around since at least the 4th century, it wasn’t until 2018 that Pope Francis elevated … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: May 13th, 2021Saints
The city of Santiago de Compostela has been looking forward to 2021 since the end of 2010 for a very important reason – it is the next Holy Year (Jubilee) of Santiago! These Jubilee years occur whenever the Feast of St. James (July 25th) falls on a Sunday. The next time this will happen will be 2027.
Bri CampbellLast Updated: May 13th, 2021Saints, Spiritual Reflections
This past year has brought a lot of attention to a most beloved and humble saint. In the midst of a confusing pandemic, declining affiliation with the faith, and overall detriment of the family unit, what better saint could we have called upon than the Protector of the Holy Church, Pillar of Families, and Terror … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: March 29th, 2021Holy Land, Saints
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14 This is the verse before the Gospel we hear at Mass today. It is also one we hear during Christmastide – both at the Christmas Mass during the day and the Second Sunday after Christmas (when the Epiphany isn’t celebrated that day). … Read More
Bri CampbellLast Updated: March 29th, 2021Saints
I don’t think it’s any sort of exaggeration to say that we are living in some very confusing times. Between the “new normal” of the pandemic, political tensions, riots, and media-touted gender and reproductive ideologies, it’s rare to live a day without some sort of stressor or anger-inducing blurb eating away the God-given peace of … Read More
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the … Read More
Krista BehringerLast Updated: March 10th, 2021Saints
As we are today, it seems that humanity has always existed through struggles. Wars, famine, civil unrest, natural disasters, and epidemics seem to have always been a part of daily living. Many in the wake are left in destitute situations and have become solely dependent upon others for help. I love reading about our Catholic … Read More
Bri CampbellLast Updated: March 10th, 2021Saints, Spiritual Reflections
This past Tuesday, we celebrated the feast of St. Polycarp, a second century bishop, martyr, and saint. A disciple of John the Evangelist, Polycarp was a man whose faith was rooted deep and whose heart was aflame with love for the Lord. Throughout his lifetime, he set out to preach the truths of the Faith … Read More
Andrea JoinesLast Updated: February 8th, 2021Camino de Santiago, Pilgrims' Stories, Saints, Spiritual Reflections
In 2013, I took a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain and to the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal, with a local church group of close to 50. We celebrated Mass together each day and were accompanied in our worship by one pilgrim who had brought along his guitar. A song … Read More
On many Sundays, we hear the name Agnes proclaimed during the Eucharistic prayer after the Consecration. But who was this saint, and what does she have to do with one of the longest Catholic pilgrimage routes in the world?
