One who is centered on the Divinecan go anywhere one wishes, without danger.Perceiving the universal harmony,even amidst great pain because one has found peace in their heart.(Inspired by the Tao) For me, to talk about peace means to talk about prayer. According to St. Benedict, prayer is to be both regular and artistic. Prayer has…

While I enjoy the newness that each changing season brings, I’m especially fond of fall. Maybe it’s because I’m a farm girl, born and raised among the corn and bean fields of the Midwest. With each passing year of my life, I’m more aware of how those roots run deep in me. My husband and…

Once again, a new season is upon us. Autumn, like each of the four seasons, brings opportunities for God to communicate to us through His creation. A chance for us to ponder anew what the Almighty wants to teach us in this fresh moment, and to consider our ways of responding to life. I shared…

As summer surrenders to fall, a dying of sorts, I am reflecting on the forty-day prayer practice that is also ending for me. I have just completed “Behold your life: a pilgrimage through your memories” by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, and feel that I’m the better for it. I’d like to share one of the daily…

“The Lord your God will fight for you. You need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 My decision a few years ago to become certified as a spiritual director meant I would find myself a student again.  In my first session, sitting with the others anxious and excited, I was introduced to the phrase: “Be…

Summertime’s change of pace has always been something I have cherished. When our children were young, I loved summers—many activities/responsibilities had ended or were taking a break—school, Bible studies, sports. I would always turn to something new and different for my family and for myself. That included a new study or prayer practice for the…

Sr Kimberly, prioress of St. Scholastica monastery anointing my hands at the certification ceremony. “Spiritual direction is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” — Robert Mulholland The month of May is usually filled with graduations. As a mother of four, I’ve loved the opportunity to attend…

 “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you…” Zephaniah 3:17 This seems a fitting scripture passage for this post-resurrection Easter time when we sense the world of nature coming alive and being…

“Come, let us bind ourselves to Yahweh by an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 50:5) “I (Yahweh) led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”  (Hosea 11:4) The season…

“Can you drink this cup?”  “Can you accept the chalice of your existence—the humanity entrusted to you?” “You shall be obedient to your destiny. You shall not continually try to escape it! You shall be true to yourself. You shall embrace yourself. You shall allow yourself to be under the hand of Another.”[1] These questions…

Like many of us, I start my new year by choosing a focus word or phrase. Something I feel God brings to my mind as I’m reflecting on the past year, and looking toward the year to come. A few months ago, I found myself drawn to the word BEHOLD. You’ll find it used over…