St. Catherine of Siena’s Song
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.” (Song of Songs 1:13) In a letter written during the Easter season of 1376, St. Caterina (Catherine) of Siena chided a parish priest in the town…
St. Gertrude the Great: A Heart that Bore Christ
In this moving image of St. Gertrude the Great, I am invited into the silence of divine intimacy. Clothed in the habit of a Benedictine nun, she rests gently upon the Scriptures, symbolizing her life steeped in contemplative prayer and…
Eucharist and The Bridegroom
In the wedding vows, the groom says to his bride, “I take you to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and…
The Bridegroom Ascends
As Jesus ascended into Heaven, His feet lifted from the earth not in farewell, but in promise. The Ascension is not an end—it is a beginning. Christ, having completed His mission of redemption, returns to the Father to take His…
The Gift of Attunement
It is the unexpected "kisses from heaven," simple, sweet, and spontaneous, that can open doors to Jesus' heart, to His and Mother's, and to the hungers of our own. I had such a gift very recently. During the "check-in" at…
The Cross as the Tree of Life
(Painting by Laura Ercolino, Copyright 2024) Today, I’d like to share some reflections on the spirituality of Christ the Bridegroom and what that means for the way we view the Cross. When I think about the cross, I often recall…
Bridal Posture for Bridal Pasture
My spiritual mother sent me an email in all caps: STOP, AND LET GOD LOVE YOU. This was my Lenten theme. Such a clear directive. I can get so caught up in what I need to do and discerning God’s…
The Coming of the Bridegroom in the Byzantine Tradition
In the Byzantine Church during the first three days of Great and Holy Week, we celebrate a special service known as ‘Bridegroom Matins’ (morning prayer). In some churches, they celebrate this service in anticipation, meaning the night before, making the…
The Bridegroom’s Gaze, Conchita and Mk 10:17-27
Mark 10:17-27 includes the beautiful comment about Jesus looking at the rich young man. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” We know from other instances, that Jesus’ look of love can change people. At Peter’s third denial of Christ, when…
Our Yes, Wrapped in Mary’s
I came into my weekly Adoration hour this morning brimming with family concerns--this adult child facing a life-altering decision; that grandchild stricken with intractable physical pain; a sister braving brutal chemo; a nephew profoundly lost. And those are just starters... …