Tag: Faith in Everyday Life

Keeping the Faith After Loss: Catholic Resources for Those Affected by Suicide

Ahead of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day, we at Busted Halo prayerfully remember and pray for the souls of those who have died by suicide, for people who are vulnerable to suicide, and for those who are impacted by loss. As Catholics, we believe in the sanctity and dignity of every human life, no matter the struggles they face. We are called to support those who are struggling with compassion, empathy, and well-informed action and awareness efforts.

We hope these articles and podcasts on suicide and resources for those impacted by it, enlighten, offer consolation, and inspire hope.

What Happens to the Soul of Someone Who Commits Suicide?

“Many people were raised thinking that the soul of a person who commits suicide can never be redeemed. Father Dave addresses these concerns and misconceptions, making specific reference to the Catechism, which says, ‘We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.’

Father Dave continues, ‘We pray for people who have committed suicide in the same way we pray for anyone who has died. We pray for their soul.’”

Do People Who Commit Suicide Go to Hell?

“In today’s times, we know much more about mental illness than ever before. We now know that anyone who commits suicide is not in control over their own actions. For something to be sinful, by definition, it needs to be done willfully, meaning, we need to be free to make the choice to commit the act in the first place and we have to know that the act is sinful.

So therefore, if one is not in control over their own actions, they cannot be held responsible for what they have done, suicide included.”

9 Ways to Help a Grieving Friend (That Aren’t Bringing a Meal)

“From my own experiences, I’ve learned that while the standard ‘Please let me know if there’s anything I can do’ means well, concrete action provides so much more assistance. When you know a friend is laid low in the mire of grief or despair, don’t wait for their call. Take action. Step in. Show up. Whether it’s bringing a meal or doing something less orthodox, any practical help will be welcomed with immense gratitude.”

Grieving a Loved One’s Loss to Suicide

“What we hope is that these books can bring comfort and healing to people who are in such terrible grief. Heaped on top of losing someone is the stigma and even discrimination that goes along with suicide. Losing a loved one is always hard. When it’s by suicide, it can sadly it can make it even harder.”

Approaching Mental Health Through a Catholic Lens With Deacon Ed Shoener

Deacon Ed Shoener is the president of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, and the co-author of two books with Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix, called “When a Loved One Dies by Suicide” and “Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders.”

Deacon Ed discusses mental health ministry in the Church. “We’re recognizing the need to do something about [mental health] and the need for God to be in the midst of this.”

Experiencing Suicide Bereavement With the Help of the Sacraments

“Every time I went to Mass after my sister’s death, I brought something with me. Often, it was anger against people I felt had contributed to my sister’s mental illness or had failed to help her. … During Mass, I acknowledged I did not know the whole picture and asked for the grace to forgive. I prayed for people I did not want to pray for, and gradually the anger eased.

I am a Catholic convert. The sacraments have been a great support since my conversion, and especially now.”

Fr. Chris Alar on Finding Hope After a Loved One’s Suicide

“Fr. Chris explains that years after his grandmother’s death, a priest told him he can still pray for her, ‘I said “Father, how? She’s already been judged.”’ And he told me that God is outside of time. There’s no past. There’s no future. Everything is present eternally at one moment to God. … God will take my prayer into account for my grandmother at the moment of her death years ago.”

Discussion About Suicide from the Busted Halo Show

Father Dave and Brett talk to a listener who recently lost his son by suicide. Father Dave explains that platitudes from well-wishers aren’t helpful to many who are grieving, and Brett opens up about his experience as someone who has friends who died by suicide.

My Daughter Committed Suicide. What Prayer Do I Say So That She Can Go To Heaven?

“Dearest Lord,

We entrust (name) to your undying mercy and love.

While in this life, they felt much pain and found life difficult.

May you enfold them now with your love where no pain can find them, but rather your love can heal them.

Make them Guardian Angels for those who struggle with life, for those who struggle to see you and the love that is around them.

Give them Lord, kind admittance to your Kingdom and bring comfort to their families.

We ask this, as we ask all things, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Book: ‘The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments, and Psychiatry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again’

Extensive clinical experience treating patients with depression has shown author Dr. Kheriaty that the confessional can’t cure neuroses, nor can the couch forgive sin. Healing comes only when we integrate the legitimate discoveries of modern psychology and pharmacology with spiritual direction and the Sacraments, giving particular attention to the wisdom of the Church Fathers and the saints.

Other Resources

To Write Love On Her Arms

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families

Whether you’re grieving, or you’re helping someone who is grieving, Dougy Center is here for you. Find tip sheets, activities, podcasts, and more resources.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Mental health resources for underrepresented communities (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, find mental health resources for minority and underrepresented communities, grouped by community.

Suicide prevention resources (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, find a list of resources for crisis situations, mental health care, and resources grouped by mental health conditions.

If you or a loved one is ever experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 988. And consult Suicide Prevention Hotline if you are concerned for yourself or another.

September 9, 2024
Understanding Christian Hope for a New School Year

Every new school year brings its own set of expectations for the future. I have a privileged position to reflect on this reality, as I teach senior theology, which includes a course on vocations. This opportunity inspires me to consider the Christian theological virtue of hope and its effect on the life to which Christians are called.

Many seniors at Catholic high schools come from families with means, whose hopes for the future involve attending a prestigious college, achieving professional success, and solidifying their legacy. One finds these hopes imparted well onto these young people. Every year I overhear the usual questions of “Where will you be attending school next year?” and “What will you be studying?”

LISTEN: Saints for the School Year: Holy Men and Women to Accompany Teachers

Instilling hope for a successful college and professional career is a necessary step in procuring that future. These are noble goals that should offer opportunities for deeper growth in virtue. But hope for these things is a little different when considered through the lens of faith.

In Spe Salvi, an encyclical which provides Pope Benedict’s treatment of the virtue of hope, he describes “one who has hope” as one who “lives differently” (2). Benedict sees hope through the lens of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Because hope is understood in light of the Resurrection, one’s death, but also one’s life, is viewed differently, particularly when it comes to God’s call for our lives. The early Christian martyrs died with hope for their resurrections because they had faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, but they also lived with hope before their martyrdom. This belief did not invalidate the deaths they faced; their individual lives and, more importantly, life itself were just more real. It was in the face of these seemingly hopeless circumstances that God’s purpose for them became clear.

RELATED: The Road to Emmaus: A Journey Toward Hope

A common movie trope involves the hero realizing his weapon cannot pierce the monster’s scales from the outside, so he must be swallowed by it in order to defeat it. It appears as though the monster has won and hope seems lost, until the hero cuts himself out of the monster from the inside, both freeing himself and killing the monster. It was by initially relinquishing his power but maintaining the small strand of hope that success was possible.

There is a powerful metaphor here for the way Christ conquered death and established hope in the Resurrection. In the same way that God worked on humanity intrinsically: Allowing himself to be swallowed up by creation, by time, and ultimately by death, he could then cut his way out by the double-edged sword of his Word (cf. Heb 4:12). This is referred to as the kenosis, or self-emptying, of Jesus highlighted by St. Paul in Philippians 2:7.

Kenosis is not only a foundational idea to historical orthodox Christology, but a foundation of Christian spirituality and an essential element to fostering hope. Through kenosis, we can see the proper way of viewing hope: How Christians are called to “live differently,” including how they see their vocations. One discovers a vocation through kenosis in recognizing their relationship to the whole. There is a misguided notion that discerning one’s next steps in life is a realization of one’s individuality by rejection of community. For those raised in a Catholic environment, this often requires a shedding of one’s Catholic “identity.” This is misguided not only because of the rejection of Catholic practice, but also because it asserts the self above the community that formed it. Worse than St. Paul’s eye in 1 Corinthians 12:21 saying to his hand “I don’t need you!” it’s saying it to the whole body. The discerning young person, in recognizing oneself as one member of the Body of Christ, finds a calling in relation to the Body. This is why many high schools and colleges, including the ones where I teach, have built-in service days and organizations to help young people see themselves as connected to their local community.

RELATED: Pope Francis’ Advice for College Students

Every school year is a continued preparation for students to become who God has called them to be. I implore that we not only preach kenosis to do this but also live it and model it. One way I have tried to model this practice is to be a little vulnerable, professionally and personally. Being willing to risk at least a small humiliation can begin to empty one of pride. Admit to a time you were unfair to a friend or a jerk to a stranger and had to ask forgiveness. Tell an embarrassing story not just to connect, but to show you can live through it. Humility is the vehicle for kenosis; it empties our ego quickly, which is the only way our hope is no longer in the “I,” but like St. Paul, it is now in “Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

Humility and kenosis are the tools for students to realize their vocation, which gives them hope when it is understood in light of the Resurrection of Jesus, leading them to live differently. Their time in school should foster hope that “does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:5) because it is in he who does not disappoint.

September 6, 2024
Salt of the Earth: Engaging Hearts and Minds With Jesus’ Metaphors

Photo by Jason Tuinstra on Unsplash

“Why didn’t Jesus talk plainly? Why didn’t he just say what he meant?” The student asked. “What is, ‘You are the salt of the world’ supposed to mean? I use salt on my eggs!” The quip got a big laugh.

My freshman-year student was genuinely puzzled over Jesus’ parables and metaphors. “How are we supposed to understand what he is saying?”

“Good questions,” I encouraged, impressed by her candor.

“Metaphors are a mercy of God for us,” I told the class. He wanted to transform his disciples – and us. Jesus hoped to change our views of our world, ourselves, and him. He wanted us to feel what he feels, to love others as he loves others.

I was not surprised by this question. After all, Jesus’ disciples asked him this. Jesus had answered, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you…” (Matthew 13:11). Christ offered us his divine metaphors as a different kind of language to draw us into his very different kind of kingdom.

LISTEN: Why Do Jesus’ Parables Vary So Much in Tone?

Metaphors, similes, and parables are essentially comparisons between two very different things or acts. They use familiar comparisons to expand our experience with less familiar acts of God’s presence. In the well-known metaphor that my student asked about, for example, Jesus said that those who know and do his word are the “salt” of the earth. What is not well-known, however, is the way metaphors open us up to new ways of knowing and experiencing Christ.

Metaphors offer us intuitive, “feeling” words to talk about his kingdom. As any religious teacher knows, we cannot describe and analyze God’s kingdom the same way a science teacher might talk about a chemical reaction. It degrades the kingdom of God to define it “clinically,” as if it were just another physical location. Metaphors liberate the kingdom from everyday definitions and develop expansive ways to understand and experience God’s presence. Metaphors engage our affect and intellect in ways that allow us to wrestle with ambiguities, challenge our worldviews, and help us to feel what others feel.

To engage with us more intimately, Jesus chose the metaphorical logic embedded in the heart’s mind. “The National Directory for Catechesis” encourages educators to continue using metaphors just as Christ did.

Jesus used metaphors and parables for our salvation. Metaphors link different ideas that normally do not connect. Who would have thought to connect “salt” and “God’s Kingdom”? These links pave pathways to new ideas, new perceptions, and more complete ways of knowing and experiencing God.

LISTEN: What Should Be Taken Literally in the Bible?

When we consider the different metaphors of Christ, we can explore new ways of understanding God’s Kingdom — our feelings and our thinking, our imaginations, and our ability to relate to others’ feelings. These qualities invite us further into God’s kingdom — to “feel it” as well as understand it.

Jesus knew that the very process of pondering metaphors is what produces new ways of understanding. The main task in teaching merciful metaphors and parables is to help students meditate upon them. In this way, educators offer valuable “sparks” to students’ brains that allow students to relate to Christ with their full minds and hearts.

How to accomplish this?

First, educators can introduce the “salt” metaphor by reading the passage in Matthew 5. Ask for any initial responses. Then reread the passage. Show a salt shaker and invite them to describe its function.

Second, the educator can ask students how they use salt today. The more ways students can relate to salt, the better. For example, do any students use electrolyte-restoring liquids when exercising? Has anyone gargled with salt water when they had a sore throat? How does salt enhance the taste of food?

LISTEN: Top 10 Tips for Catechists With Joe Paprocki

Third, the educator may offer insights about salt during Jesus’ time. For example, sometimes Roman soldiers were paid in salt because it was so valuable; even as valuable as gold. Teachers might note how salt is crucial for a proper diet and that salt was used to preserve meat. Some cultures rubbed salt in wounds to sterilize them.

After expanding their understanding of salt, return to the question of how Christians are like salt, as Jesus said. How can we act like salt’s healing or life-preserving qualities?

Fourth, ask “How can we all become even more ‘salty’ Christians?”

Fifth, ask students to suggest other metaphors for Christians or the kingdom of God. What other more modern metaphors could describe the healing, health-giving, sustaining, or life-giving acts of Christians?

In teaching by metaphors and parables, Christ used common images to draw his listeners into his uncommon life. Let’s continue that tradition.

September 4, 2024
5 Proverbs to Make You a Better Employee

The book of Proverbs may have been written centuries ago for an agrarian Middle Eastern society, but its wisdom isn’t bound by the confines of the “B.C.” era or the lifestyle of the ancient Israelites. From marriage to money to food, this book has something relevant to say about numerous aspects of living right—a compendium of biblical life hacks, if you will. One area in which the book of Proverbs offers a lot of insight is work.

Work comprises a major part of most of our lives. Wouldn’t we all like to say we’re good employees? Whether our work is agrarian like the Israelites’, industrial, corporate, or something else entirely, we can glean a surprising amount of solid advice about how to work well from various proverbs.

RELATED: How Can I Live Out My Faith at Work?

Here are five favorites to take to heart to become a better employee.

1. Take criticism graciously

“To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.” — Proverbs 25:12 (NLT)

In the moment, taking criticism rarely feels like being given a gift—it usually feels more like a slap in the face—but with the right attitude, criticism from a co-worker or boss truly can become constructive. We all make mistakes, and we all have blind spots. Gaining awareness of our missteps is an opportunity for growth and improvement. The miracle of perspective turns an affront into a gift of precious gold.

2. Stay out of office gossip

“A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.” — Proverbs 20:19 (NLT)

Workplace gossip can be tempting. When juicy secrets about your boss or rumors of the upcoming corporate shakedown get passed around, it can be hard to tune out. But the more you hang around with gossipers, the more susceptible you become to getting gossiped about yourself. After all, if a co-worker unloads to you in whispered tones about others, they’re probably doing the same about you, too. Making a commitment to keep yourself out of such discussions sends a message to everyone around you about your integrity. Plus, when you stay out of gossip, you won’t be burdened with information you didn’t really want to know.

3. Bring your company good

“[The wife of noble character] brings [her husband] good and not evil all the days of her life.” — Proverbs 31:12 (NASB)

Bringing your workplace good things is a win-win. It benefits from what you bring to the table (new business, positive representation in the marketplace, or just plain old outstanding day-to-day work), and you get recognition for being a rockstar.

So, put your thinking cap on: How could you go above and beyond to bring blessing to your organization? Do you have a great connection that could open doors? Is there an opportunity for distinction that your workplace could earn (like a grant, if you work for a non-profit, or an award of excellence, if you work for a school)? Could you organize a social or volunteer event to boost morale? Great things may result.

4. Take advantage of opportunities

“He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” — Proverbs 10:5 (NASB)

If this proverb had been written today, it might be summed up as “Don’t miss out.” When summertime comes, run, don’t walk, to get some of that harvest! Many jobs present seasons of opportunity. If you find yourself in a position you don’t love, try staying on the lookout for projects that could highlight your skills or fit your passions, even if they aren’t part of the on-paper job description. (And as long as they don’t take away from your regular work.) Eventually, this may make you stand out as the go-to employee for these tasks. Your job might even get upgraded to something more in line with your interests. Harvest time!

5. Give it your all

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” — Proverbs 12:11 (NIV)

Especially in a less-than-satisfying job, dreaming about better things to come can feel like a relief. This proverb reminds us that hunkering down and doing the work in front of us at the moment yields more positive results than fantasizing about the future. It’s not wrong to dream big, but couple it with consistent hard work. Your efforts will develop character and lay the foundation for a successful career.

Doing well in the workplace is an ongoing journey. It’s so good to know God has given us a resource that’s always available for advice.

Originally published September 16, 2019.

August 30, 2024
Less Worry, More Trust: Praying the Surrender Novena in Times of Change

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Sometimes, I really miss my childhood. With my parents reliably around to take care of everything for me, I didn’t have to worry about much. As an adult with many more responsibilities, though, I often wish for that same sense of security and the ensuing freedom to rest unencumbered by the anxieties and fears of daily life. I want to be assured that someone else has things under control — especially at a time like this, when we remain gripped by a global pandemic.

Jesus longs to give us that sense of security, to take care of everything for us in a way that even our parents couldn’t do when we were children: “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?” (Mt 6:30). But in order to allow him to provide for us, we need to surrender.

RELATED: How to Trust God When You’re Filled With Doubt and Disappointment

Surrender sounds lovely in theory, but it’s difficult in practice. Although letting go of our fears and anxieties seems like it should be simple, it requires that we stop worrying, and that takes great effort. Yet, until we learn to replace our worry with trust, we won’t live in freedom.

Okay, but how, exactly, do we do that?

Enter the Surrender Novena.

I first discovered the prayer at my parish’s Adoration chapel a few years ago, at a time when I was experiencing severe anxiety. Captivated by the freedom promised by a greater childlike dependence on God, I prayed it that spring and then tucked it into my prayer journal to revisit later in the future, when I was sure I would need it again. But then I completely forgot about it.

…Until a friend of mine shared recently that she has been praying the Surrender Novena on a loop for the last year or so, and that whenever she finishes the nine-day circuit, she begins again. Listening to her describe how the prayer had gradually strengthened her trust and peace over time, I saw that the Surrender Novena could become a powerful tool for spiritual transformation when prayed with consistency — and that it is most necessary when so much in the world around us feels out of our control.

RELATED: 9-Day Back-to-School Prayer Challenge: A Novena for the Start of the School Year

Revealed by Jesus to Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo, the Novena of Surrender to the Will of God (as the prayer is officially called) encourages us to lean into the Heart of Jesus with great confidence in his ability to care for us, through all the circumstances of our lives.

And we don’t have to wait for something big to arise in order to practice this kind of surrender, although I’m sure that in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, none of us are at a loss for worries. I myself am beginning a full-time graduate program at a time when the university environment looks completely different, and global uncertainty compounds all the usual concerns that come along with making a significant transition. How will the pandemic challenge the cultivation of community when I move to a new city? Will the university be able to sustain the learning environment it’s currently planning? What happens if there’s a resurgence? How will everyone stay safe?

My friend’s reminder about the novena felt timely — definitely a sign that I should consider taking it up again. So I searched for the old handout in my prayer journal and settled into bed on night one, confident that leaving everything in the Lord’s hands before I went to sleep would be the best way to end my day: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

RELATED: The Suscipe: A Prayer for All Occasions

I woke up the next morning feeling lighter and freer, deeply aware for the first time in a while that I didn’t have to carry everything by myself. As I continued to pray the novena in the days that followed, I increasingly surrendered to God concerns both large and small — the people I love, trips to the grocery store, conversations with friends, and on-campus learning conditions this fall, for starters. Doing so hasn’t entirely eliminated my worries, but it has given me a sense of peace and security, a certainty of being held through it all.

“Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful,” Jesus promises on day one of the Novena. For anyone desiring to rest in the heart of the Lord, particularly during a time still marked by lingering uncertainty, the Surrender Novena is an indispensable spiritual practice.

Originally published July 29, 2020

August 28, 2024
Four Tips for Keeping Your Semester Holy

Photo by Element5 Digital on UnSplash

I’m a college English professor with two children, ages 6 and 8. As a new school semester begins for our family, new routines automatically emerge. My son Jack will start playing basketball. My daughter Emmeline will start dance classes. I’ll begin teaching a new set of courses. A new semester automatically ushers in new ways of ordering our lives. My husband and I will arrange carline pickups and meal plans. College students will begin to schedule cardio classes with friends and other extracurricular activities.

As academics and activities increase for parents and students alike, so does joy – and stress. We need God in all of these moments, big and small. In the midst of school planning over the years, I’ve learned that an active spiritual life can sometimes get the short shift: There is no “back to school” meeting or college orientation that God plans for worship. Here are some tips I’ve learned over the years, so my family’s relationship with God remains at the center of every academic semester.

RELATED: 3 Ways to Keep the Faith This School Year

1. Take a few minutes to read or listen to the Daily Readings

Growing up, my mother always told me to “begin the day with Jesus,” and this advice has never left me. I remember seeing her in the mornings with her Bible and coffee in hand. Today, I often read Scripture during my morning routine, while blow-drying my hair, or I’ll listen to the Laudate app on the way to work. This five-minute check-in provides spiritual guidance, helping me ponder how God’s word relates to the events of my day. As I’m teaching or learning about new subjects or simply out with friends, I can think about how the daily reading intersects.

2. Create or find a sacred space that you visit

This summer, my daughter attended vacation Bible school and created a rosary with pipe cleaner and multicolored beads. She asked to hang it on her wall, so she could look at it and take it down to use. At work, I have a crucifix hanging and a poem by Mother Teresa that I reflect on when needed. Creating a sacred space doesn’t require a large area; all you need are small reminders that help bring you to prayerful time with Jesus. The side of your desk can hold a prayer card, as can your laptop. If you feel your environment isn’t conducive to creating a sacred space, find a space that helps you feel close to God that is easily accessible during your week. Don’t be afraid to visit your parish, your college’s Newman center, or the sanctuary at your school if there is one! Even a beloved tree will do in a pinch. Schedule this quiet time with God the same way you would a visit to the gym or a study group session. Just 10-15 minutes in prayer, away from the bustle of everything you have to do during the week, can help recenter your mind and bring a quiet peace to an otherwise packed day.

RELATED: 9-Day Back-to-School Challenge

3. Befriend a saint for the semester or school year

Last year, because of the pandemic, I got to know Julian of Norwich, someone I’d always found inspirational but never had time to discover more about. I spent time asking for her intercession and read a little about her, often sharing her devotional writings at the start of my classes. She lived in isolation during a pandemic and has a famous prayer: “All shall be well” that has always given me comfort. Spending dedicated time with her helped me not only grow in knowledge but also deepened my faith. If you’re interested in literature like many of my students, you might choose to spend time with Saint George—the patron saint of reading. Or, if you’re interested in medicine, Saint Raphael or Saint Gianna Molla might be for you. Perhaps when creating a sacred space, you keep your saint for that semester or even school year in mind, knowing that they’ll be praying for your spiritual and academic success.

4. Set aside time for Mass

This one you probably expected to see on this list—but sticking to it is harder than it sounds during a busy semester. On my semester calendars and syllabi, I mark off religious observations and holy days. God may not require you to attend an orientation like I mentioned above, but we should be sure to schedule Mass into our lives just as we do anything else (or ideally before we do anything else). In the same way you’ve befriended a saint for the semester, you might try to find a friend to attend Mass with. If you’re in college, Newman centers or campus ministries are excellent places to start to find like-minded Catholic students. Or simply start showing up, and you’ll find familiar, friendly faces with similar values.

Mass is like beginning the day with Scripture: it infuses the week with love. Receiving the Eucharist. Offering peace to your fellow Catholics. Praying together in communion. This is what being Catholic is about, so it’s important to make this time with God a must—even and especially when we’re the busiest. This is one way we bring peace and joy to ourselves, and to the world around us.

RELATED: Back to School: Staying Connected to What Matters

It feels fitting to end with one of my favorite Bible verses, Philippians 4:8, which reads: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

A busy semester will pull us all in a multitude of directions, and busier schedules will likewise have us contemplating a range of different “things.” Setting aside time to read what is “right” and “pure,” spending time in sacred spaces that are “lovely,” getting to know a “noble” saint one “admires,” and attending Mass where “truth” is spoken and felt are all ways to create a holier semester. I’ve learned over the years that none of the practices I’ve suggested take much time from my everyday life, but each of them has transformed it in a different way. Incorporating these ideas into your calendar at the beginning of the semester – as my family will be ours – will help ensure not only that your spiritual life feels attended to, but also that your whole life might be infused with a sense of calm because you’ll know that God will be a fixture in the patterns of your life no matter what the semester may bring.

Originally published August 31, 2022.

August 26, 2024
Our ‘Hidden Lives’ in Nazareth: How Embracing the Ordinary Encourages Holiness
Photo by Vytautas Markūnas on Cathopic

My 17-month-old daughter signals me to replay the “Freeze Dance” song for the 10th time in a row. A look of repetitive torture creases my brow as I sigh and rewind one more time. My baby girl once again dances when commanded and then freezes when prompted. Meanwhile, I just stare blankly at the television screen, my enthusiasm used up about eight dances ago. I would love to do anything else, but I keep hitting play for my daughter. This is what I call my hidden life in Nazareth.

Jesus spent 30 years in Nazareth, a small, backwater town about 60 miles from Jerusalem. This leads to a big question: What exactly did Jesus do for three decades during these hidden years of Nazareth?

Answers to this question can prove elusive because there is very little written record or information about Jesus from this time. Gnostic Gospels, such as “The Infancy Gospel of Thomas,” even try to fill in the blanks of this period by giving an apocryphal account of Jesus’ childhood. We have no detailed answer as to what Jesus did during this time except for one episode in the second chapter of Luke in which Jesus is lost for three days in the temple. Luke gives a vague statement at the end of the chapter, “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and Man.”

LISTEN: Do We Have Any Information on Jesus’ Life Before His Public Ministry?

How was Jesus able to grow in wisdom and favor before God and Man in such a small place, around the same people, doing the same old tasks day in and day out? The simple answer is Jesus is God. However, Nazareth also played an important role in developing Jesus’ human nature as well. There, Jesus likely experienced what I felt when I watched the “Freeze Dance” with my daughter for the 10th time: The monotony of everyday life. This is what helped him grow in wisdom and holiness.

Here are a few things that I imagine Jesus could have experienced on a day-to-day basis:
- On the way to a carpentry job with Saint Joseph, Jesus meets the neighbor who says the same thing to him for the thousandth time, “Hey, Jesus! Working hard or hardly working?” (Complete with a wink, finger point, and goofy smile.)
- At night, Jesus sticks his fingers in his ears and prays for patience as Saint Joseph’s snoring kept most of the neighborhood awake.
- The Blessed Mother prepares the same meal for multiple days in a row. Jesus learns to be thankful and enjoy it for the nourishment and sustenance it gave him.
RELATED: How to See Life’s Interruptions as Blessings

These examples are silly, but it is entirely possible that Jesus grew in wisdom and holiness through instances like these. He learned to give of himself for the love of his neighbors and to treat them with a smile and a kind word. It is in Nazareth that he likely did the same things every day, as we often do, and learned humility and abandonment of self to the will of God. Nazareth taught Jesus to detach from worldly things and embrace the spiritual. This is what our hidden lives of Nazareth teach us as well, by learning to drop our selfish desire to do anything but watch the “Freeze Dance” again with our children and see this normal life as a beautiful gift from God.

I would like to share three Scripture verses and reflections to help you contemplate your own hidden life in Nazareth, and how to detach from the world and embrace the spiritual life.
1. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (Matthew 19:21).
There is nothing in the world as important as living for Jesus. All our money, honors, and dreams will someday die with our final breath. Our eternity will be based on one of the following questions: Did I follow Christ? Did I not follow Christ? The answer will depend on whether we die to our own selfish will and follow God’s.

2. “If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well” (Matthew 5:40).

I often find myself worked up or anxious about worldly things I encounter daily. I worry about money, if I am doing my job correctly, my family, and how people perceive me. These worries keep me focused on myself and on things that pass away with this life. I aim to hand them over to Christ and practice detachment.

3. “And to another he said, ‘Follow Me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’ But he answered him, let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59-60).

God wants us to follow him. Is there anything more beautiful than knowing that the creator of the world wants us to be with him? To do this, he asks that we let go of the sins we are attached to before we are buried with them in the ground. What sins do we need to repent from that keep us from life?

Remember when you find yourself dragged down by the monotony of the day, that Jesus endured this too. He embraced his Nazareth, loved his Nazareth, and learned in Nazareth to obey the will of the Father. May we imitate him in the daily routines of our lives.
August 21, 2024
Lessons From Saint Benedict: Creating Community in the Classroom

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The first day of school can be scary, and it’s especially scary when you’re the teacher. The first time I stood in front of a classroom, I was apprehensive, if not terrified. I wanted to engage students academically, form them in community, and assure them of God’s loving plans for their lives. But, I was daunted by the challenges of diverse student needs, apathy, and classroom management. In the face of these obstacles, I sought to respond with both excellent pedagogy and Christocentric formation.

Several years into my teaching career, I had made some progress but was still searching for inspiration. During a conference on formation, a colleague gifted me a small red booklet that would unlock a plethora of wisdom for my classroom: “The Rule of Saint Benedict.”

St. Benedict lived in Italy during the sixth century. He faced a multitude of challenges, including violence, economic instability, and a licentious culture. He wrote “The Rule” as a guide to community life in the Lord’s service. It includes instructions for prayers, meals, discipline, and work. As I read, I saw ways that St. Benedict’s wisdom could be applied in my classroom.

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Classroom management

On my first day as a teacher, I was terrified that my students would not respect me. My solution was to assign a large amount of work and enforce scrupulous rules. I thought if students were stressed about their grades and detentions, they wouldn’t have time to be disobedient. However, it only made my students anxious and left me exhausted.

St. Benedict suggests a different approach. He insists that boundaries and rules be put in place to protect the community and help people become holy. He writes, ”In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love” (Prologue 45-47).

Following St. Benedict’s advice, I started assigning work from a place of purpose, not fear. I didn’t forbid bathroom privileges but limited the pass to one student at a time. This meant that if someone abused that privilege, they were taking an opportunity from someone else: Students challenged their peers to think about the needs of others. I allowed students to work in groups, but they had to rotate working roles, ensuring a shared effort. I also dedicated 25 minutes each week to community conversations, where we discussed and argued theology, school policies, or preferred ice cream flavors.

These changes took some energy and management on my part, but the students and I became galvanized and enlivened by just a few adjustments.

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Leading by example

Students need to see that teachers believe what they say, and that is done by deeds, not words. Benedict understood this to be true in the monastery, and it’s just as true in the classroom. He directs leaders to, “Point out to them all that is good and holy more by example than by words” (2.11). Whether I set an example by following the dress code, praying earnestly, or putting away my cell phone, students respond to direction well when they know that I do not expect anything from them which I do not demand of myself.

Meeting student needs

Instructing a classroom of diverse learners is a challenge. Students learn and respond to direction differently, which has led to the rise of differentiated instruction — an understanding that education needs to be tailored to individual students.

While differentiation is relatively new to education, St. Benedict employed the idea over a century ago. He says, “With the undisciplined and restless, he will use firm argument; with the obedient and docile and patient, he will appeal for greater virtue; but as for the negligent and disdainful, we charge him to use reproof and rebuke” (2:24-26). Basically, form people in the way that will be most effective for them.

I have high expectations for students, but leave room for charity. I allowed a student an afternoon snack break because medication suppressed his appetite in the morning. One of my students was exceptionally bright and needed more challenging reading, so I gave her a copy of a novel when the rest of the class only read a short selection. I added art analysis to my class and quizzes, since several students were captivated by pictures more than words. When we know our students and seek their well-being, we can lovingly differentiate.

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Lesson plans, interrupted

I may craft excellent lessons and assessments, but there are days that students don’t need my lesson plan. Sometimes they need to ask new questions, catch up on work, or have time to pray. St. Benedict teaches, “Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love” (4:20). We must never turn away someone who needs our love, which sometimes means putting aside my plans for the sake of the people in the classroom.

Love is patient

I sometimes forget that my students are students! They may not know how to stay focused, compose a sentence, or work with others. They need to be taught math equations, grammatical terms, or how to say sorry when they’ve done something wrong. St. Benedict reminds teachers to have perspective. He says, “He should realize that he has undertaken care of the sick, not tyranny over the healthy” (27:6). When I find myself frustrated by student behaviors or deficits, St. Benedict reminds me of my task—to instruct with patience and love.

As the new school year approaches, I feel both optimism and the onus of teaching. St. Benedict writes, “anyone undertaking the charge of souls must be ready to account for them” (2:37). Every teacher will be held accountable for their effort to form their students. When I open the doors to my classrooms this fall, I will not forget to open my heart, and allow Jesus and the saints, like St. Benedict, to form my classroom beyond education and towards formation in love.

August 19, 2024
What St. Philip Neri Can Teach Us About the Sabbath

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If you’re anything like me, then the call to keep holy the Sabbath is something of a challenge, thanks to a constant struggle to maintain work-life balance. Whether you find it easy to overwork without respite or struggle to get started, hitting that happy medium can be difficult.

Honoring the Sabbath reminds us of the need for this balance: six days for work, and the seventh for worship, self-care, and spiritual and physical restoration. But when it proves difficult to actually live this out, what do we do?

To live properly and pray sincerely, we have to avoid exhaustion. We need time for fun and joy, as these rejuvenate our souls. One saint strongly associated with joy is St. Philip Neri, whom I’ve been inspired by. He uniquely blended holiness and joy throughout his life, earning him the nickname “The Laughing Saint.” Philip Neri’s spirit beautifully encapsulates the Sabbath: a celebration of joyful life unmistakably connected to God.

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The saints, as we know, are meant to be our exemplars, so how do we emulate Philip Neri? Well, I can give you an example of what not to do. It’s crucial to be intentional and avoid letting Sunday become overwhelmed with mundane tasks (yard work, for instance), or, for the readers in my age group, schoolwork. So many times I would walk into my college’s library on a Sunday and witness row after row of students hunkered over their studies. Though it is good for students to work, I wished we’d chosen another day to put our noses to the grindstone.

Philip Neri was a very hardworking man, but also one who knew how to balance his duties with fun. Philip’s mission was to restore Rome, which had fallen into spiritual disarray during the early 16th century, to a passionate love of the faith. He accomplished this by establishing authentically human connections with those around him, which sometimes involved deep conversations, but oftentimes did not. He played practical jokes and took part in wine-drinking contests to make himself more approachable to those around him. After Philip’s death, doctors discovered that his heart had grown noticeably larger, to the point of damaging two of his ribs — a true testament to this great man’s jubilant heart.

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Everything Philip Neri did, regardless of how frivolous it may have seemed on the surface, had a purpose indisputably connected to God. His entire ministry was treated as one continuous Sabbath, vividly showcasing his blend of holiness and joy. This is why I’ve found him so inspiring personally — the mindset we’re called to emulate on the Sabbath, he exemplified throughout his whole life.

Inspired by his love, passion, and charity, we can bring this saintly approach to the Sabbath into our own lives. Despite the importance of work, Philip knew how to incorporate joy into every day of his life, and so should we. His example reminds me that we aren’t made exclusively for work; we’re meant to live complete and fulfilling lives, with diverse interests and passions. Establishing boundaries between our work lives and the Sabbath, and engaging in the kind of Christ-centered fun Philip loved to partake in so much, is a valuable step in the right direction for us if we struggle to embrace the Lord’s Day.

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My Sundays might involve fun projects. I incorporate prayer into these activities— ora et labora, as St. Benedict would say. But boundaries are important, and I always make sure to never miss out on time for my important relationships, and for prayer. For others, take the day to relax, read, enjoy nature, or have a casual phone call with a friend. But without question, time for God must come first, especially on the Sabbath.

Being mindful and intentional about observing Sabbath lets us capture the spirit of Philip Neri, that spirit of joy that helps us learn how to incorporate family, friendship, and fun into the Lord’s Day. As Phillip himself puts it, “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.”

August 16, 2024
Our Lady of the Assumption: Her Importance and Influence in Everyday Life

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One day, I asked students at the school where I work, “What’s the name of our school?” They responded in chorus with the expected exuberance of 23 first graders, “OLA!”

“What does OLA stand for?”

This response wasn’t quite as resounding as the first, “Our Lady of the Assumption!” Their eyes shone bright with proud enthusiasm.

“On what date do we celebrate Our Lady of the Assumption?”

Blank stares… then

“Wednesday!”

“Christmas!”

“New Year’s!”

One clever set of eyes darted about for clues and found a hint on a plaque hanging on the brick facade near where we stood outdoors, on our way inside from recess. She confidently blurted out “1952,” the only numbers on the plaque (the year the school was founded). Other parroting voices trailed in echo.

From that day on, the first graders could recall August 15 as Our Lady’s Day of Assumption as readily as they recalled their own birthdays. Whenever they did, I felt an inner joy and a renewed connection to Our Lady.

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In addition to the date, the children would eventually learn the Church’s teaching on the Assumption: “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven…” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 974).

Of Our Lady’s devotions and prayers, there are the Rosary, seven sorrows of Our Lady, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, etc. Similar to their attractions to certain of her apparitions, many Marian devotees are partial to specific feast days. Often, one chooses a particular devotion because of an experience where Jesus opens a door, and his mother appears from behind it. That was the case for me and my devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption.

A few years ago, I felt a nudge from God that it was time to seek employment outside the home after a hiatus to raise my children. To take the guesswork out of where God was calling me, I prayed the Lord would open one and only one door for my employment. Eventually one opportunity arose and the Blessed Mother seemed to confirm it in a dream.

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In the beginning of employment at OLA, the name of where I worked held no significance for me. But when I had a hard time adjusting to my job, I found solace when my eyes landed on the sign that announced Our Lady of the Assumption, as I drove into the parking lot to start the day. In solid block letters announcing her title, I found consolation on difficult days and the comfort in knowing she had chosen this place for me.

There was a time, just after I converted to the Catholic faith as an adult, I didn’t know a thing about the Blessed Mother. After some buds of our relationship began to blossom, I attempted to keep Marian dates straight to honor her. Once, I mixed up the dates of the Immaculate Conception — December 8 — and Assumption — August 15 — by mistakenly combining the two days into one and confidently marking December 15 on my calendar as an important feast day.

While my family teases me for my inability to recall anything verbatim, not even a single lyric of a beloved song, I somehow memorized all the mysteries of the Rosary practically overnight. Through the Rosary, and the maternal mentors God has placed in my life, Our Lady weaves threads of her care. From guiding me to a counselor during the rocky times of marriage to selecting our children’s high school – titled after another of Mother Mary’s namesakes – her gentle presence in my life became palpable.

Last year, on August 15, as I attended the Solemnity of the Assumption Mass at the church and school that both bear her name, I marveled at how a last minute schedule change had brought me to this landmark Mass. Mother Mary indeed wanted me there to reassure me of her call for me to this place of employment.

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I randomly recalled that when my children were in elementary school, I would attend this Mass at their school every year to pour out all my hopes for the new school year to Our Lady. One year, after the August 15 Mass, my then-13-year-old daughter had announced that she was going to teach religious education classes. I immediately knew this was a grace from Our Lady. The fruit of Mother Mary’s intercession continued as my daughter taught catechism and Vacation Bible school classes the following years; she went on to obtain a college minor in teaching, and took a gap year after graduation to volunteer as a teacher. Our Lady of the Assumption’s intercession continues to bear great fruit in my family’s lives.

My new place of employment was her nod to me as my mother, and yet another thread confirming she claimed me as her own. At the place that bears her name, this mother of all mothers is schooling me in true discipleship. Lesson plans in love, sacrifice, and humility often shine a mirror on warts I never saw before; some days the virtues she’s trying to instill in me scratch against my pride and leave scrapes that feel like cuts. But when I look at my paycheck, I’m reminded that of all the places to work, I labor for Our Lady, and there is no one kinder and gentler to tutor me in the virtues.

One chooses a saint as his/her own because of an experience of his/her intercession. It’s a mystical, reciprocal companionship. A devotion to Our Lady’s feast day is similar. Of her feast days, I have to say Our Lady of the Assumption, where she schools me in lessons in love, is my favorite. Wherever I go, whenever I see a church or school named Our Lady’s Assumption. I feel the warmth of a mother’s arms; I’ll always honor her on this and other special occasions.

Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us!

Originally published August 14, 2023.

August 14, 2024