There is good reason that St. Francis de Sales is the patron of writers—he really had a way with words. During his lifetime, he wrote pamphlets defending the faith that actually converted many people away from heresy. He also wrote books advising laypeople in the spiritual life, which was a revolutionary concept at the time.… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: 10 Brilliant Quotes from St. Francis de Sales on Cultivating Peace

As the days grow shorter and the Christmas holiday approaches, I always have the urge to curl up with a good book. If you’re looking to find reading that will engage both your mind and your soul, there are lots of choices to pick from! Here is a list of eight spiritual books I’ve read… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: Looking for Spiritual Reading? Here Are 8 Great Books Worth Checking Out

The Year of Mercy will come to a close with the end of the liturgical year on November 20. How can we make the most of the final month of this Jubilee Year? Here are some ways to finish out with a bang… Read the rest at Ignitum Today.

A compilation of/expansion upon some of my recent writings about the humility of the centurion and Christine Horner’s HuffPo piece: The words of the centurion are uttered right before we’re being offered the most priceless gift: Christ Himself, present in the Eucharist. Who are we to think ourselves worthy that the Lord would stoop down… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: Neither Worthy nor Worthless

Often, when I have faced points of transition in my life, I have felt a sense of weariness, waiting for clarity as to where to go next. Unsure of which direction to take, I feel as though I am treading water at a fork in the river, stagnating as I wait for a clear call… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: Treading Water and Making Decisions

Recently I had the chance to see Les Misérables on Broadway for the second time, and its themes of mercy, redemption, and sacrificial love have been swirling through my mind ever since. It’s no secret that the story, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, is filled with themes that reflect Catholic spirituality. What struck… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: Les Misérables and the Church Militant

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Maria Goretti, the Little Saint of Great Mercy. Her story reminds us that we are never beyond hope, that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. By forgiving her murderer and praying for his conversion, she not only kept herself from falling into sin; she reached… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: The Little Saint of Great Mercy

This is one of the simplest spiritual exercises you can put into practice, but it just might be powerful for you, too: Open your eyes. Turn off your phone. Look at the trees, the ephemeral spring blossoms, the rain rolling down your windowpane or the grasses being swayed back and forth by the invisible wind.… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: Open Your Eyes to Creation

Whenever I have a cold or stomachache, or when I’m feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, I struggle to pray the way I normally do. But I know that in those moments, I shouldn’t just give up prayer altogether. In those times especially, I am in particular need of God’s guidance and grace, and even though I… Read More Over at Ignitum Today: How to Pray When You’re Sick