The Air is Full of Prayers
by: Kathleen Aparo

by: Kathleen Aparo

Joy, as Father Richard Rohr so beautifully reminds us, is both a decision and a surrender. It’s the choice to open our eyes and hearts to what is good, what is beautiful, what stirs our soul—and to let ourselves be delighted by it. And it’s the gentle surrender to life’s unpredictability, understanding that while we…
In all my walks, I find the main topic in conversation to be forgiving others who have hurt you and how to forgive yourself. We all have been hurt by others in some way and we all have hurt others in some way. If you say you have never hurt anyone, then you need to…
“Do you have to be Catholic to walk the Camino?” Believe it or not, this is the most asked question I receive. And the answer is “no.” A resounding “no.” Yes, the Camino has Catholic roots. It is the path St. James walked as he taught and encouraged everyone to be faithful and fruitful on…
We all love our Nativity scenes. These have been popular Advent and Christmas decorations for centuries. But were you aware they originated by our beloved St. Francis? St. Francis of Assisi had a special devotion to the Child Jesus. He is credited with creating the first nativity scene on Christmas Eve of the year 1223. It…
Francis of Assisi (13th century) simply wanted to live as Jesus did—as a wandering preacher with as few material possessions as possible. Francis never set out to found an order, but amazingly, people began to emulate him. The “Order of Friars Minor,” which we now call the Franciscans, was created. I believe part of the attraction…
My Beloved Soul My son knew what it would take to change peoples hearts. He knew that in order to save you in every way, it would take his sacrifice on the cross. He knew the depth of your hurt and your unforgiveness. And so he gave himself up to the crowds, lived out his…