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…
The Poverty of Spirit of the Friend of the Divine Bridegroom
Reflection on John 3:22-30 “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.” “He must increase; I must decrease.” These lines from John 3:22-30 open before us the inner contours of poverty of spirit. This and the…
Christ, The Perfect Gentleman
Have you ever felt frustrated that God doesn’t just tell you what to do? Why isn’t God more direct? The answer is that He is supremely gentle. There are many strong-willed people in our lives. They insist and pressure us…
The Bridegroom is Life
I recently attended the March for Life in Washington, DC. In all my years, I have never attended the March for Life, so I was very excited to be marching for the first time to show my support of life. …
The Bridegroom’s Plea
"Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her Beloved?" (SoS. 8:5) Decades ago, reading Father Jean D'Elbee's "I Believe in Love," I was stopped cold by two words. Two simple words. The story went that St. Margaret…
The Bridegroom of Marriage
I’m reading the Song of Songs a bit differently nowadays. When I first began to awaken after being stuck in “freeze” mode due to prolonged trauma, the Song of Songs was my guide to healing through the Divine love of…
Jubilee Duet With The Bridegroom
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we receive a great gift from the Bridegroom: a new outpouring of graces, a fresh invitation, and a season of abundant blessing. An ordinary jubilee year in the Church occurs every 25 years. Its…
Is the Spirituality of Christ the Bridegroom for Men, Too?
The ministry of Hope’s Garden began as a response to the need of women who struggled to regain their trust in Jesus after experiencing dysfunctional or toxic relationships. The goal is to gradually introduce the women to the spirituality of…