Lent is here + new article on the seasons of life

Hello everyone, and happy second day of the Lenten season! Did you get ashes yesterday?

I did find it odd to be back there, again, another Ash Wednesday in pandemic, but also another Ash Wednesday, generally. As I have written before, the day holds meaning for me, because it was at the Mass in 2013 at a church in downtown DC where the priest challenged everyone there to go to daily Mass once a week during Lent. I did, and became a fully practicing Catholic and, well, you know the rest.

On that topic, I have a new article up at Catholic Stand, called Living the Spiritual Seasons of Our Lives. I wrote it after reflecting on how probably most of us are in a different season of life now, than when the pandemic began, for better or worse. And how God always finds us there, and even in the times when you have not been as faithful to your prayer practice or, in some cases, church attendance, God is still with us.

As the wonderful prayer of the L’Arche Greater Washington, DC community goes:

Liturgist: God is with us when we are happy.

All: God is with us.

Liturgist: When we feel good.

All: God is with us.

Liturgist: When we feel bad.

All: God is with us.

Liturgist: No matter what.

All: God is with us.

Liturgist: No matter where.

All: God is with us.

Liturgist: God is with us. Why is God with us?

All: Because God loves us.

Liturgist: God wants us to love ourselves and to love each other. Sometimes we hurt each other and ourselves. Let us tell God what we have done wrong.

Liturgist: God forgives us.

All: We are God’s loved ones.

Have a blessed and peaceful Lent.

See you at the March for Life

I am excited to share that this Friday at the March for Life, I will be joining a team from Relevant Radio to host some on-the-ground interviews with attendees and pro-life advocates. Huzzah! If you’re near the media tent, come say hi.

We’ll probably do a mix of audio and Facebook live, and I’ll share what we come up with here.

For all those marching, and also for those staying home and praying or fasting, thank you for what you do for the ultimate cause of life. The breath of life was the first gift God gave us, and we must protect the right to life for every human being, especially those who cannot stand up on their own.

Looking forward to a memorable and joyful March.

Making spiritual new year's resolutions

My latest article at Catholic Stand is up: How to Make Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions.

Now here’s the thing: I don’t really make new year’s resolutions, and I know many people don’t. Generally, it feels materialistic, or more importantly, that any resolution I make is something I should have been doing all along.

However! There is value in setting goals, and certainly in reevaluating and resetting for a new year. And, occasionally our spiritual life needs that.

Indeed, to focus on strengthening one’s inner life - one’s relationship with God - is always a worthwhile pursuit, no matter the time of year. And if setting a resolution to do so helps - go for it!

I organized ideas around four common areas we typically make resolutions or set goals: education and learning, time management, volunteering, and finances. Have a look!

My list is by no means exhaustive, and you may very well have an entirely different idea of your own. I hope those listed spur some thought, and action.

As for me, I think I want to reacquaint myself with the Blessed Mother. I am a dedicated rosary-sayer, but I know there’s more to it than that. What shape that will take, to be determined. Perhaps I will ask the Legion of Mary if I can host the pilgrim Virgin statue.

I hope you had a blessed Epiphany!