The origin of one of my most beloved Ash Wednesday traditions can be traced back to Game 7 of the 1988 NBA finals between Isaiah Thomas’s Detroit Pistons, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Pardon Our Dust
What is parenting if not equipping our children with the ability to function in the world?
Road to Contrition
Due to procrastination and a lack of communication I was anxious and alone on an otherwise serene night. The anxiety became anger and then in my anger, I sinned.
The Sin of Parental Pride
Time for confession— I take far too much pride in my son. It is sinful. I am a realist and know the day will come […]
Reconciliation of a Penitent: What Is It and What Can I Expect if I Try It?
A new book contains reflection and practical helps for the rite of sacramental reconciliation.
Reconciliation is at the heart of family life – and church life too.
Being turned away at another church taught me the value of the sacrament of reconciliation in my own.
The Litany of Penitence prepares us for the season to come.
If I want to be able to absorb all the new life Easter has to offer – all the resistance it offers to the powers of sin in our broken world – I need the grace that comes with honest confession and repentance.
My First Confession: Apologizing to God
The heavy stone of guilt was lifted. This was not magic, but mystery.
I see my story in the space DaVinci puts between Jesus and St. John.
St. John faints away at the words of Christ announcing his coming betrayal. The space in DaVinci’s painting helps me consider the ways I am separated from Christ.
Math, Sin, and Faith Formation in the Car
Responding to kids’ faith questions when they come – including in the car on the way to ballet – helps them understand that faith matters every day of the week.