The Irish speak of thin places where heaven and earth are very close, places where God can seep through the cracks. Autumn is a time when God seems to seep through the cracks rather easily. Stars are brighter, air crisper, colors more brilliant. Thoughts are turned nostalgically to the “last

God’s gift of self began with the creation of the universe. Another dramatic giving of the Godself occurred on the cross. Giving his life is who God is. If God is Self-Gift, then to be more like God we must become self-gift. As children we may have climbed into a

I wish we could calculate the number of hours of service people give in a 24-hour period. It is edifying to hear of schools and parishes and organizations involved in mission trips, fundraisers for the needy, and projects that protect Planet Earth. It is equally edifying to see spouses, family

During a wedding rehearsal I entertained a two-year-old whose father was playing the guitar and whose mother was attending a three-month-old. The conversation with the little girl went something like this: Girl: Gibberish…baby…gibberish…mommy…gibberish…day…gibberish…me. Me: I believe you’re right. I totally agree. Girl: Gibberish…doll…gibberish…you…gibberish…play…gibberish…daddy. Me: Yes, that was a lovely party.

Tiny purple spears stood erect, their heads strained in one direction, as if intently listening. The Mother of Thyme had called a convocation. The sight reminded me of the Church, an assembly called into being on the cross and the primary place where we meet Christ. It is in the

Does a day go by when we don’t feel a tinge of chagrin caused by the persons around us? I mean, after all, why can’t people be like me perfect in every way? The ideas of Julian of Norwich and those of Teilhard de Chardin remind me that we’re all

Recently I read an article about the millions of microbes in and around me—how in some way they’ve been around since the Big Bang and will continue in existence, how they are all necessary in the plan of creation. I’ve been making myself more conscious of the interdependence of all

It’s jubilee time in the convent, and there’s so much to celebrate! We have jubilarians of joy professed 75 years ago. They have been a joy to us and to those to whom they ministered. We have iron jubilarians professed 65 years ago. They are still giving their firstfruits, while

The challenge of the Christian life is to become steeped in God. The method: I the water and God the tea bag. That sounds odd, for Jesus spoke of himself as living water. But I would have no power to change clear water into green tea. God is the One

Thank you, God, for buzzing things, For humming things, for chirping things, For crocuses, first cheery signs of spring. For irises purpling the drive, For perennials on cue opening wide, For colors that flaunt in unabashed pride, For strawberries scenting the sky, For vines that furtively pry, For white daffodils