Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 28

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Emilia Bicchieri

The Basics: Born in May 3, 1238, in Italy; died May 3, 1314, in Italy; beatified August 19, 1769, by Clement XIV; feast day, August 19. Woman religious.

The Story: The signs were all there that God had a special plan for Emilia Bicchieri. It’s said that her pregnant mother had a dream of a woman dressed in white, surrounded by other women dressed similarly, all in church. A priest said that meant the baby would become a saint.

There are conflicting stories about when Emilia’s mother died, but...

Not One Sheep Left Behind

Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

I was doing some research recently for a project on midlife women, and decided it was finally time to look into Julia Cameron. You’ve likely heard of The Artist’s Way, which in the past nearly thirty years has helped millions seeking to discover or rediscover their creativity in pretty much any form. I have to confess I’ve rather studiously avoi...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Chiara Gambacorta

The Basics: Born in 1362 in Italy; died April 17, 1420, in Italy; beatified March 3, 1830, by Pius VII; feast day, April 17. Wife, woman religious.

The Story: It’s not uncommon for the lives of the saints to intersect, and so it was with Chiara Gambacorta.

The child, then known as Victoria, was born into a prominent Italian political family, and was married at thirteen. There was some form of correspondence with Catherine of Siena, who encouraged the girl to devote herself to God and her marr...

The Ears that Hear

Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

The Gospels have many accounts of Pharisees, Sanhedrin, scribes, and others who just couldn’t see. They were learned people, people who studied the Torah as if their lives depended on it, but just couldn’t see how the prophecies were being fulfilled, right in front of them. Their lack of faith kept their eyes and ears closed.

Earlier this year,...

On the Nightstand: Remember Your Death/Memento Mori Journal

It probably seems morbid to select a title like this for December, the time when we’re waiting for the arrival of the Christ Child and surrounding ourselves with love and joy. And yet, as Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble notes, this is a practice that has been encouraged for centuries.

“We remember our death in order that our lives may be filled with the Life of Christ, both now and when we enter into the joy of eternal life,” she writes. “… (T)he practice of memento mori is more about living th...

Friends in Faith: Mary Lou Swanberg

You know how you’re sometimes drawn to another person because there’s just something about him or her when you first meet? For me, Mary Lou Swanberg is one of those people. We first met about four years ago, and her faith and inner peace just radiated. At that point, Mary Lou was in a leadership role in a Catholic home schooling endeavor, and during that time she and her son hosted more than 125 conferences across the country to provide professional training and encouragement to home schooler...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Villana de Botti

The Basics: Born in 1332 in Italy; died January 29, 1361, in Italy; beatified March 27, 1824, by Leo XII; feast day, January 29. Wife, lay Dominican.

The Story: Villana’s short life took many turns. Born into a wealthy family in Florence, she was just thirteen when she left for a convent, determined to be a nun. However, her family had other plans and she returned home. At nineteen, she was wedded to Rosso Benintendi in an arranged marriage. The couple embarked on a self-indulgent lifestyle,...

Navigating the End Times

Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!” (Luke 21:8, NAB)

There is a little asterisk in the New American Bible edition of Luke 21:8 right after the word “come.” It reads: In Luke, the proclamation of the imminent end of the age has itself become a...

Endings and Beginnings

Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Ermenberga

The Basics: Born in the 7th century in England; died c. 700 in England; canonized precongregation; feast day, November 19. Wife, mother, woman religious.

The Story: It was probably not the way Ermenberga expected to spend the final thirty or so years of her life. She was the daughter and granddaughter of kings in the Kent region, and married  Merewald, a ruler in his own right. The couple had a son who died at an early age, and three daughters–Mildred, Mildgyth, and Milburga.

The daughters ap...