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In Good Times and Bad…Sharing the Joy of the Gospel in Our Families

In Good Times and Bad…Sharing the Joy of the Gospel in Our Families

As a sister, I find that when it comes to sharing the Gospel with family and friends, I often feel like I’m either a lightning rod for religious discussions (friendly or hostile in tone) or I am ignored as irrelevant to everyday life. I suspect that any practicing Catholic whose family members “aren’t religious” goes through this as well. How do we share the joy of the unconditional love of God with all of these expectations swirling around us? There are two fundamental choices or attitudes ...
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St. Zélie and St. Louis Martin: A Family of Saints

St. Zélie and St. Louis Martin: A Family of Saints

Zélie Martin sat upright in the chair of the doctor’s office on that never-to-be-forgotten day in October 1876. She waited patiently for his verdict. Without raising his eyes, the doctor cleared his throat and began writing out a prescription. He said, “Madame, what you have is a tumor.”“Please be direct with me, doctor. What is the use of the prescription?”“Really, no use at all,” admitted the doctor.“Will an operation help me?”“I’m afraid not, Madame. We have diagnosed you too late....
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The Holy Trinity in Our Life

The Holy Trinity in Our Life

The Trinity can seem so far removed from us. As little children our teachers may have used the three leaves of a shamrock to help us understand, “one God in three Divine Persons.” The Trinity is a mystery, but that doesn’t mean that our awareness of the Trinity needs to stop with the shamrock. Even though we can't understand this mystery, it is highly “practical,” meaning it has a very profound effect on how we live our life. I’d like to share with you a few stories I have encountered rega...
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Light in Darkness: Superhero Movies

Light in Darkness: Superhero Movies

I’ve noticed something about movie titles lately. So many of them contain the word dark. The Dark Knight Rises, Thor: The Dark World, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Dark Shadows, Zero Dark Thirty. Others might not use the word but their subject matter is dark: Divergent, The Hunger Games franchise, even the recent Noah film. As Christian moviegoers, how do we stay focused on the light?John’s Gospel says, “The light shines in darkness and the darkness did not overcome it” (Jn 1:5). All of our live...
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Mary's Secret of Joy

Mary's Secret of Joy

May is a great time for thinking about decisions and futures. We celebrate ordinations, graduations, weddings…. We honor what has been achieved in people’s lives or our own, and we turn our eyes toward the next stage of our journey in life, whatever it may be.It is a wonderful blessing to us all that in the month of May we reflect on Mary, a woman who had to make a very important decision when she was probably just in her teenage years. She shows us the courageous spirit that makes decision-ma...
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Come Out of Ourselves to Become Christ

Come Out of Ourselves to Become Christ

A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by God to give grace. That’s the definition I memorized as a little girl. As a child I knew of seven sacraments of the Church. As I matured I learned that you and I could be “sacraments” to others in as much as we allow Jesus to work in and through us. The more we empty ourselves of our self, the more we allow Jesus to work in us. This coming out of ourselves or self-emptying allows us to be signs of God’s love and presence to those around us. I want...
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Heaven Is for Real Film Commentary: Invitation to Resurrection Faith

Heaven Is for Real Film Commentary: Invitation to Resurrection Faith

Summary:Heaven Is for Real gets off to a slow start, but ultimately engages and inspires us as we witness an ordinary, devout Christian family who together deepen their faith. Sentimental but not hokey, this appealing family film based on the popular book will probably be appreciated more by the adults in the family.  An Inspiring Family FilmTodd Burpa (portrayed by the amazingly talented Greg Kinnear) is the hard-working husband, father, and preacher who lives with his family in ...
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It's Easter! Who Do You Wish Would Come Back to Church?

It's Easter! Who Do You Wish Would Come Back to Church?

In the early 90s I remember being in our Pauline Books and Media Center in San Diego one day. A woman came in for a First Communion gift for a niece. It was just before Easter. She dropped the comment that she hadn't been in a church for ages, asserting that if she went the building would probably "fall down." Most of us have probably heard these words before, perhaps from someone in our own family. When it is from our own family it hurts a lot. Why is that so?  "Going to church" is something we...
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The Film Noah: A Spiritual Perspective by Sr. Marie Paul Curley

The Film Noah: A Spiritual Perspective by Sr. Marie Paul Curley

A bleak film with bold artistic choices, Noah has proven controversial to people of faith who have screened it. And perhaps deservedly so, since the artistic choices seem less about delving deeply into the scriptural story and more about creating a riveting story for the screen. Rather than an official review, I’d like to offer a few personal reflections that are more of a spiritual commentary.Listen to Sr. Marie Paul Curley on Salt + Light Radio Hour below.The Film vs. the BibleNoah is a ...
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