Jonathan Ryan's Blog, page 8

Dark Devotional: When Apologetics Fail

Twenty years ago, when this tired millennium was fresh and youthful, so was I. I was a newly-wed, eager-to-please young liberal-arts-graduate-slash-oldest child starting life in a new part of the country. Obviously, a woman-child in my position would be in search of a solid identity, one that could undergird my new adult life while pleasing […]

Fictional Saints

Saints are dead, to begin with. They’re dead, and Catholic, and they were very, very holy. Holy enough to be determined to be in Heaven with God, and thus able to perform miracles through their intercession. But we constantly hear, “Oh, she/he’s an absolute saint!” Usually this describes someone alive, who has to put up […]

Dark Devotional: Where is the Good?

Last week, Mary wrote about how the USCCB lobbied behind the scenes to prevent the formation of a National Suicide Hotline. The reason, if you have not followed this story, is that the bishops were concerned that such a hotline would be affirming of LGBTQ persons. To put it baldly, the USCCB opposed the establishment […]

Things Keeping Us Going: Bird Watching Edition

I have the tremendous good fortune to work walking distance from the Charles River. Foolishly, I rarely take advantage of that. Today, though, I checked out a new path that followed a wide curve, with forest on one bank, and an urban neighborhood on the other bank. The weather was glorious, and it seems like […]

Dark Devotional: Who Owns the Vine?

“The sexual abuse is awful and all, but you just can’t leave! You don’t want to go to hell!” This was actually said to me when I wrote a piece about whether to stay in the church or leave when the 2018 abuse scandal broke. While the church has not taught that those outside it […]

Things Keeping Us Going: Bonus Long Weekend Edition

I’ve been working–in person, on site–since June. I took my first day off (not counting the weeks we were closed at the end of December and the end of February) this past Friday. I stuck close to home, and fell in love–with my house and yard, with my valley, with my family and friends, and […]

Dark Devotional: Anointed Sheep, Shepherd and Queen

  The parable of the Good Shepherd . . . This is a familiar one, especially for those of us who spend time in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd “atrium,” that specially-prepared space where we gather with even the youngest children to “listen to God,” reflecting on Scripture together and “working with” materials that […]

Things Keeping Us Going: Vaccinated Edition

I got my second shot on Saturday morning at Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots football and New England Revolution soccer teams play. The clinic is set up in one of the luxury club levels. It was kind of cool to see where the folks who DEFINITELY have better paying jobs than I have […]

Dark Devotional: Of False Ghosts and Real Monsters

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands […]

Things Keeping Us Going: Squeezed All the Juice Out of The Weekend Edition

I almost forgot to write a post for today! This weekend was jam-packed with joyful moments: I had Zoom meetings with Mary, and with two nifty poets. I played with the World’s Best Baby. I puttered in my garden. (EVERYTHING is starting to bloom!!!!) I saw my Other Favorite Cousins (they’re ALL my favorite) for […]