Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 38

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Jane of Signa

The Basics: Born 1244 in Italy; died November 9, 1307, in Italy; beatified September 7, 1798; feast day, November 17; shepherdess; woman religious.

The Story: Jane was a simple child whose life turned out to be somewhat extraordinary. She spent her early days as the family shepherdess with a deep concern for her flock. She didn’t initially interact much with her peers. But then they noticed that whenever bad storms broke out, Jane and her sheep would wait under a large oak tree and never be t...

“Where Are You Going?”

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.

Maybe it’s been a “great” Lent for you; you ticked all the boxes you wanted ticked, did all you had hoped when it came to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Congratulations!

Or maybe it was less than great. Maybe those pledges you made to yourself and the Lord fell by the wayside like so many Lenten promises and New Year’s resolutions have. Maybe y...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Ivetta of Huy

The Basics: Born 1158 in Belgium; died January 13, 1228, in Belgium; feast day, January 13; mother, wife, woman religious.

The Story: Ivetta’s wealthy family married her off when she was just thirteen to a man whom she disliked so much that she was known to have wished him dead for a time. And die he did, five years into the marriage, leaving her with two young sons. (Both eventually became Cistercian priests, as did her father after a conversion prompted by Ivetta.)

Five years later, at twen...

“What Is Pleasing to Him”

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 recently was part of a group discussion about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, perhaps the most misunderstood of Catholic sacraments. Another woman allowed as how since she spends most of her days by herself, there just isn’t much to confess.

Now, I don’t know her interior life. But the comment made me ponder my own, because that’s...

Today Is the Day

An occasional series based on stuff that hangs in my room… or my heart.

Today is the day.

Not yesterday, which we can’t do anything about. Yesterday includes a lot of sweet memories–to be literal, in my case, a good haircut, a lovely visit with my tax professional, a delicious meal, and a win by the Washington Capitals. Some days aren’t so good, and can be a lot easier to remember: in my case, the day my mother died suddenly, the day of my bankruptcy hearing, the innumerable days I said too m...

Wednesday’s Women: The Martyrs of Angers

The Basics: Eighty-three women, born between 1721 and 1771; died between January 12-April 16, 1794, in France; beatified February 19, 1984, by John Paul 22; feast day, February 1; martyrs, laywomen, women religious.

The Story: They were mothers, daughters, sisters. Three of them were women religious. It appears they were everyday women… not leaders in their communities but lovers of the Lord. All told, 83 women were executed at Angers in a four-month period in 1794 for practicing or refusing...

“Do You Want to Be Well?”

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.

Jesus, we see in today’s Gospel reading from John 5, was not the only one of His time who didn’t answer questions directly.

It was a simple question that He posed to the man in the pool: “Do you want to be well?” And instead of responding with, “Well, duh! Of course! Wouldn’t you?” or something a bit more polite, the man whines and moans about h...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Colomba of Rieti

The Basics: Born February 2, 1467, in Italy; died May 20, 1501, in Italy; beatified February 25, 1625, by Urban VIII; feast day, May 20; woman religious; mystic.

The Story: It was an auspicious beginning. As the baby named Angelella was being baptized, a dove flew to the baptismal font. From that day on, she would be known as Colomba (“dove”).

Legend has it that Colomba’s fascination with self-mortification began early; it’s said that when she was three, she put thorn branches under her sheet...

Forgiveness: Not Seven Times but Seventy-Seven

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.

Payback, a good friend once publicly observed, is hell.

We avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. We atone for our sins, large and small, public and private. We make reparations. We know the Lord forgives us, even when we find it difficult to forgive ourselves. We pray for the faith that once an offense is cleansed, the...

Ready: March 2018

Note: My word for the year is “Ready.” Each month, I blog briefly about my progress.

March has already brought some opportunities to make amends, with more on the horizon. Making amends means I’m ready to let go of some long-held grudges, some hurts that were or weren’t intentional. Does that mean those involved will be my new best friends? I think that’s unlikely, although stranger things have happened. For right now, it’s more about not wasting the energy to keep picking the scabs of those...