Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 61

On the Nightstand: October 2016

I recently reconnected with Ginger Kolbaba, an editor and writer I knew and respected a great deal when our paths crossed about fifteen years ago. In one of those God-is-so-fun situations, Ginger edited my dear friend Letitia Suk’snew book about do-it-yourself women’s retreats. Well, one thing led to another and Ginger is now critiquing a Christian novel I finished about four years ago and put in a drawer after an agent and a publisher turned it down. (Obviously, I did not follow my own advi...

Friends in Faith: Paula Hummel

Paula Hummel and I grew up less than a hundred miles apart in the Upper Midwest. (Me about ten years before her, but does that really matter? Not to me!) We have some other similarities in our backgrounds, but it’s the way Paula lives her faith today that inspires me. She’s a devoted wife and mother. In her part-time job at Catholic Charities, she works to get donations for St. Margaret of Cortona Family Transitional Housing, which helps homeless families get back to independence after emerg...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Rosa Venerini

Note: For the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring women who were beatified or canonized in the 20th or 21st centuries.

The Basics:BornFebruary 9, 1656, in Italy; died May 7, 1728, in Italy; canonized October 15, 2006, by Benedict XVI; feast day, May 7; teacher.

The Story:Rosa’s life is one of service through education. It took time to discern her vocation; she was engaged as a young woman, but her fiance died. At twenty, she entered a monastery, but came home to care for her widowed mother, who...

Who’s In Charge Here?

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

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to...

Returning Catholics FAQs: Catholics and Other Faiths

On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics , a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.

I came back to Catholicism when I got married a couple years ago, but feel lonely. Our parish doesn’t have the young people’s or couples’ programs and activities that my non-deno...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Emilie de Villeneuve

Note: For the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring women who were beatified or canonized in the 20th or 21st centuries.

The Basics:Born March 9, 1811, in France; died October 2, 1854, in France; canonized May 17, 2015, by Francis I; feast day, Oct. 3; woman religious.

The Story:In many ways, Emilie’s early years did not foretell what would become her life’s work. She was the third daughter of a wealthy French

By Romitello (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...) o...

“Those Who Hear the Word of God”

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

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:19-21 NSRVCE)

You have to wonder what the mother of Jesus...

Returning Catholics FAQs: About Funerals

On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics , a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.

My healthy mother, who hasn’t been inside a Catholic church for even longer than I have, has recently announced she wants a Catholic funeral. I’m not exactly sure what that means...

“Without Anger or Argument”

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

The New American Bible notes on today’s second reading from 1 Timothy 2;* tell us Paul’s intent is to direct that “the prayer of the community should be unmarred by internal dissension.” (The verses that follow the reading, for example, set forth rules for women in community worship.)

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Giulia Crostarosa

Note: For the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring women who were beatified or canonized in the 20th or 21st centuries.

The Basics:Born October 31, 1696, in Italy; died September 14, 1755, in Italy; beatified June 18, 2016; memorial, September 14; woman religious; mystic.

The Story:Giulia was the tenth of twelve children born to a wealthy couple, and had a playful, frivolous life until about eleven, when it is said she began to embrace the idea of living more simply and prayerfully. The tugs at...