The Justifying Power of Mercy
The Justifying Power of Mercy Some years ago, I read about this incident at a middle school: a boy, who was about ten years old, was suspected of stealing. One day, at the end of class, his teacher called him...
Author: Sister Gabriela of the Incarnation, O.C.D.
Lessons From a Bowl of Jello
This is the first article in the series “Spiritual Challenges.” Recently there have been various attempts to address the polarization in the Catholic Church in the United States. Last month, Cardinal Pierre gave an address at Loyola University Chicago discussing...
The Canonical Background of the Situation of the Arlington Carmel
“I have a question for you. If someone on the outside appoints a superior for your Carmel, without the knowledge or consent of any of the nuns, how would this go down?” Over the past year, there have been various...
Can the Faith Be “Traditioned”?
As a Discalced Carmelite, I belong to a community dedicated totally to contemplation. That means that we have no outside ministry. We do not teach or nurse except to care for the members of our own community. We do not...
Does Jesus Matter?
In 1971, Frank Sheed published a book entitled What Difference Does Jesus Make? In chapter one, “The Dimming of Christ,” he writes, “Christ is in eclipse for many Christians in many Churches.” He then goes on to say, “I was...
Judge or Lover?
I considered the image on the screen. It showed a picture of Christ with both arms upraised in a gesture of triumphant majesty. The face has an intense expression of determination that could easily be interpreted as anger, and I...
Upjection
We used to have a small orchard of fruit trees on our property until the racoons started pre-empting the harvests. I was in charge of it, and I would spray the trees, a cherry tree, a couple of peach trees,...
Bruised Reeds and Dimly Burning Wicks
This is the second article in the series “The Once and Future Lord.” The first was “Uniting Treasures Both Old and New.” Recently, the Washington Times posted a pair of articles on mental health and mental strength. The question had...
Uniting Treasures Both New and Old
This is the first article in the series “The Once and Future Lord.” I am not a fan of jigsaw puzzles. When I gaze at hundreds of small bits of cardboard daubed with variegated colors, my vision soon blurs, and...
Can Prayer Empty Hell?
Pope Francis, in a recent interview, said that “I like to think hell is empty; I hope it is.” There will no doubt be a lot of discussion about this, but I would like to add my viewpoint on the...
Traditional or Pseudo-Traditional?
“It is the American way, as we know, to establish traditions quickly, where popular instinct and sentiment pronounce them sound.” So declares Orson Wells in his introduction to the dramatic presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This may be...
With Faces Unveiled
It is clear in reading the Gospels that tensions ran high between Jesus and the scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers. The Gospels recount a number of instances when one or another of them “stood up to test Him.” He in His...
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