The Lenten season has drawn to a close; the Easter season is upon us. Fasting and penance give way to feasting and rejoicing. And yet, as we return to "normal ways" after observing whatever our Lenten resolutions demanded of us over the past forty days, we must pause, looking back and also into the future. What have we learned through our Lenten resolutions? How have they helped us grow? How will we carry that fruit into our daily life going forward? Perhaps you gave up socia

Every year as we approach the Lenten season, my mind goes back to one of my memories from Carmel. As Lent in Carmel drew near during my year there, I asked the Novice Mistress (the Sister in charge of those in formation), if I could please add on x and y extra penance during Lent, overeager little postulant that I was. However, permission was firmly denied, as I was so new to Carmel still, and I was urged instead to focus on living the Carmelite life as fully as possible. In

Motherhood is such a beautiful and sanctifying journey. In the joys and sorrows it brings, one is challenged to grow not only as a person, but in their spiritual life as well. One of the many lessons I have learned (and will continue to learn more deeply as the years of motherhood unfold) is detachment - detachment from seasons of time, detachment from material things, and most importantly, detachment from self. Having a growing little one makes the passing time all the more

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, many are taking stock of themselves and their lives, and thoughtfully considering what they want the next twelve months to look like. Monastic life, though lived in a very different setting than secular life, is a tremendous font of inspiration for those aspiring to live virtuously and in ever greater union with God. And so I sit here to reflect on what we can draw from monasticism for our New Year. I want to look at something from

Christmas is one of the holiest seasons of the liturgical year. It is also the time of year that we seem to have the least availability for silence and prayer; in the busyness of celebrating and doing good for others, our encounter with God through prayer is put on the back burner. Shopping, cooking, social events with friends and family, and the endless other things on our to do lists, have us scurrying in a million directions, all with Christmas music blaring in our ears ev