This was written at the start of Lent last year. It happened to be a day of fasting and cold temperatures. Pondering the hunger and coldness, and embracing those elements instead of grumbling about them, brought insight. Continue reading
Lent
Good Friday Wounds
The King

Within a cave of winter cold,
A newborn King gets gift of gold.
The babe is our Lord,
Who escaped the sword,
Because his dad does what he’s told.
A Winter Lenten Challenge

Ice, snow, no electricity, no water, schools, churches and business shut down. The recent week-long Arctic blast was the start of a Lenten season that I have never experienced before. The freezing temperatures presented many challenges for us in Texas and other southern states that rarely experience such frigid weather. However, being shut in with no place to go and minimal distractions turned out to be a blessing! My prayer life was more focused, plus I had more time to write, which was something I was longing for.
Continue readingAfter This Our Exile

A Prayerful Reflection on the Pandemic
By guest blogger: J. M. Pridotkas
“This our exile…”
I learned the beautiful prayer “Hail, Holy Queen” as an adult, by hearing it prayed by others in prayer groups and on EWTN’s broadcast of the Rosary. I’ve always thought of it as referring to the state of our life here on earth before we see Jesus in heaven (“…show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus…”). I see it in another light now because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading