I sit in a coffee shop, across the table from Nathan, who has courageously offered to tell me — and in turn all of you — his story. In the middle of our conversation, I pause. “Nathan,” I ask, “why would you say addiction is a pro-life issue?” He looks at me and is silent, [...]
As children we are taught to identify what hurts, where it hurts, and how badly it hurts so someone we trust can fix it; a necessary skill we carry with us for the rest of our lives. When my throat hurt, I told my mom, we went to the doctor, and got medicine. When I [...]
Pope Francis, in his most recent Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), discusses the Universal Call to Holiness in today’s world, and focuses especially on “middle class holiness”–that is, “holiness found in our next-door neighbours, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence” (7). Gaudete et Exsultate reminds us that holiness [...]
ThenIf you had asked me seven years ago if I was pro-life, I would have automatically said, “Personally, yes, but politically, I’m pro-choice.” I took the comfortable position, the position that didn’t impose my beliefs on anyone else. I was able to take this stance because I knew nothing about abortion statistics, and because I [...]
Albert Einstein famously said the following: “Every one is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” More often than not, I believe we are the fish, judging ourselves on our inability to climb a tree. And, time [...]
"And they fell in love and lived happily ever after.” Go ahead, roll your eyes. But deep down — guys and girls alike — isn’t this the moment we’re all waiting for, the moment we’re all hoping for? Don’t we want to believe that true love is possible? Don’t we long for deep, meaningful relationships?Today’s [...]
If someone were to ask me what marriage prep is/how it is typically done, I would explain that a newly engaged couple meets with a priest a few times, at least six months before the date of the wedding, and that some of these sessions will include a Pre-Cana Retreat and a FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory.However, [...]
The Jeweler's Shop, a play written by Karol Wojtyla, now Pope St. John Paul II, is explores love and the sacrament of marriage by telling the stories of three different couples. The play is divided into three acts: The Signals, The Bridegroom, and The Children. Through the stories of these couple (Teresa and Andrew, Anna [...]
“County Jail,” read the sign, and for the first time in my life, rather than driving past it, I put on my blinker and pulled into the entrance. My heart was racing. It was a beautiful summer day, and as I stood outside the jail with two other women, I wondered if I was making [...]
It was a Tuesday afternoon. I was sitting in a nearly empty Church, staring at the crucifix, praying. Out of of the corner of my eye I saw two people slowly shuffling their way down the side isle. My eyes trailed away from the cross as I watched this old couple taking baby steps. It almost looked [...]
Caitlin Bean 