The Garden of my Life
My garden, once a sanctuary, was trampled upon by those closest to me – my own family. Years of betrayal and anguish left me feeling forsaken and utterly all alone. I tried to navigate life all by myself, but I…
Pilgrimaging With The Bridegroom
There are journeys we take for rest, journeys we take for discovery, and then there are pilgrimages—the sacred journeys we undertake to be found. In the heart of Italy, nestled in the rich soil of Church history and sanctity, I…
Jesus, The Bridegroom, AbbeyFest, and a Foretaste of Heaven
Imagine a music festival: the lights, the energy, the crowd moving together in rhythm. Now imagine that festival is AbbeyFest, the annual Catholic music festival which brings faith, music, and family together to praise our God. The headliner is none…
Moment to Moment With The Bridegroom
During the homily at the closing Mass of a recent Theology of the Body Institute week which delved into God's beauties, Father Ryan Mann marveled at how the presenter, that very morning at breakfast, had seen the wealth of a…
God’s Love Song
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…” We may know with our minds that Jesus loves us, but do we know His love? Over the past few years, something really incredible has happened; something which…
Blemished and Beautiful
You are wholly beautiful, My love, and without blemish. (Song of Songs 4:7) How can my Divine Bridegroom say such a seemingly absurd thing? When I look in the mirror, I see plenty of blemishes; not just physical defects, but…
Permission to be a Poem!
Last week I attended a Theology of the Body course called “Poets for the Kingdom: the Sacramental Stories of Lewis and Tolkien”. Our teacher, Bill Donaghy, shared with us his passion and extensive knowledge of the lives and writings of…
Into the Depths of His Love
How vast is the Bridegroom’s love for me? How deep is His mercy? How endless is His Presence? These are questions which I have been blessed to ponder over these last few weeks as I sat gazing upon the ocean. …
The Cross is a Door
Within the cross is life And consolation. It alone is the road Leading to heaven. This sacred cross, An olive tree so dear, With its oil anoints us Giving us light. My soul, take up this cross Rich with consolations…
Praying With The Holy Name
I will be forever grateful for my Jesuit graduate school professor, Father William Walsh, and the many "take-homes" of his Spiritual Theology course five-plus decades ago. "Why tune the violin after the concert?" he'd say. "I promise you that if…