Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 64

Returning Catholics FAQs: Straight to Hell

O n 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.

Some of my friends say the Catholic Church thinks Catholics are the only ones who can get into heaven. Can that be true?

Pope Francis has said that Jesus desired to save everyone...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Marie-Elisabeth Turgeon

Note: For the next several weeks, I’m featuring women with a connection to the Americas.

The Basics:Born February 7, 1840, in Canada; died August 17, 1881, in Canada; beatified April 26, 2015; feast day, August 17; woman religious, teacher.

The Story:Elisabeth, one of nine children, knew early that she was called to become a woman religious, but it took her a while to get there. She worked as a teacher for a number of years and then, when she was thirty-five, became part of a group of women w...

Sinking in the Moment

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.

I read somewhere recently that men are more likely to find God in the moment while women are more likely to go back and look at past crises and joys and identify His work. I don’t know if that’s true for you, but it certainly is for me. I can point to so many points in the past—my move to northern Virginia, a stormy pastoral counseling session, a...

Returning Catholics FAQs: About Praying

O n 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.

It seems like there are a lot of suggested ways to pray. How do I know which one Catholics are supposed to use?

Prayer’s an interesting thing. Some people find much comfort and s...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Caridad Brader

Note: For the next several weeks, I’m featuring women with a connection to the Americas.

The Basics:Born August 14, 1860, in Switzerland; died February 27, 1943, in Colombia; beatified March 23, 2004, by John Paul II; feast day, Feb. 27; woman religious, missionary.

The Story:From an early age, the girl whose birthname was Mary Josephine Caroline was a standout in

Covenant

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.

Covenant.

It means a promise, a contract, and agreement. We find it often in the New American Bible, Revised Edition’s Old Testament—more than 200 times. God makes covenants with Jeremiah (depicted at the left), Adam and Eve, Moses, and more.

We see the word far few times in the New Testament—35, by a quick scan, and fewer than ten times, includi...

Returning Catholics FAQs: About Voting

O n 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.

Now that I’m back with the Church, are the powers that be going to tell me how I have to vote?

While some priests may desire to direct you that way, in my experience most do not....

What Do You Really Want from 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.

A friend recently hosted a lovely event where we were asked to put on a poster board images and words of the things we really wanted. The idea was that if you name and picture your desires and goals, you’ll be more likely to realize them than if you flail about, flitting from one dream to the next.

It makes sense. If you really want a beach house...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine

Note: For the next several weeks, I’m featuring women with a connection to the Americas.

The Basics:Born May 3, 1632, in France; died May 8, 1668, in Canada; beatified April 24, 1989, by John Paul II; feast day, May 8; woman religious, nurse.

The Story:Catherine of St. Augustine packed a lot of service into her forty-six years. Even as a small child, she had a special devotion to Mary and was convinced she had a vocation as a sister. She entered the novitiate of the Hospital Sisters of the Me...

The Challenge of Families

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.

It happens to all of us at some point in life, I suspect, in varying degrees. We’re a little embarrassed because our mother is older or younger, louder or quieter, smarter or not so smart as the mothers of our friends or of the cool kids. Or Dad doesn’t have the high-profile position or doesn’t sing as well or laughs way too long or is way too qu...