In English, the word “suffer” has at least two different but related meanings, both of which are important for contemplating how suffering affects our spiritual and moral development. In the first, suffering imposes itself upon us, against our will or consent. In the second sense, we consent to suffering as …

Whenever I think of Mary’s joy, I’m instantly reminded of the Joyful Mysteries: the Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of Jesus, Presentation in the Temple and Finding Jesus in the Temple. As I meditated on these events, however, I noticed a pattern: her joyful moments were also surrounded by suffering. This is, …

But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them (Lk. 24:29). The two disciples’ request for Jesus to remain with them when they arrived at Emmaus was the theme of …

It was 11 a.m. on a Saturday morning and our son, Carson, was starting to wake up. As a 15-year-old teenage boy, he slept late every now and then, but that Saturday morning was different. Carson had been dealing with a severe eye abrasion, like a paper cut, from three …

People who struggle with depression and anxiety walk around casually carrying emotional wounds that if they were physical would probably require emergency surgery! Yet, they often act as if they are not injured. Somehow this feels easier than acknowledging the reality of the wound. Perhaps because deep down there is …

Over the past few months, we have seen Pope Francis continue his mission from a wheelchair, witnessing for us the strength of his commitment to his ministry of leading the Church. At the St. Charles Center in Carthagena, OH, Missionaries of the Precious Blood and their lay residents are also …

Everyone’s story has three parts: Events from our past shape our present, and the way we live our present has the power to change our future. We meet people in their present, and our interactions with them can impact their future—for better or worse. So, my mission as a client …

During the Mass, the people say, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church.” What does this mean? Why wouldn’t God accept our sacrifice? The prayers of the Mass are …

Families of those who recently lost a loved one, including through miscarriage or stillborn children, can find reassurance at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. “The ministry of all Catholic cemeteries consists of both the corporal work of mercy of burying the dead and the spiritual work of mercy of consoling those …

Suffering looks different for everyone. For some it’s going to a job every day that they hate, for others it’s battling mental illness and for many it’s a physical injury or illness. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of suffering, it’s a topic we can all, unfortunately, relate …