Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 70

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

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

The Basics:Born August 29, 1769, in France; died November 18, 1852, in the United States; canonized July 3, 1988, by John Paul II; feast day, November 18; woman religious, teacher, missionary.

The Story:Financially, the young Philippine’s existence was quite comfortable. But the stories she heard from missionary priests who visited her parish made her long for something else. Despite family objections, at...

Be Annoying. Be Sheep.

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.

Sheep get a bad rap. They’re smelly. They’re stupid. They’re herd animals who blindly follow the shepherd or leader anywhere, even if it’s into a hole or into traffic on a country road.

In short, sheep are annoying.

So are Christians. Annoying, that is.

In today’s Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus almost boasts about His power over His true foll...

Returning Catholics FAQs: You’ve Got Company

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 don’t know. I’d kind of like to try coming back to the Church, but I figure I’ll stand out like a sore thumb. Won’t everyone know that I’m an outsider because I don’t know when...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Marguerite d’Youville

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

The Basics:Born October 15, 1701, in Canada; died December 23, 1771, in Canada; canonized December 9, 1999, by John Paul II; feast day, October 16; woman religious, wife, mother, businesswoman.

The Story:The first native-born Canadian saint had a bit of a roller-coaster life. Marguerite’s first years as the oldest of six children were spent in relative comfort, but the family was left destitute when her f...

The Cost of Opposing the Holy Spirit

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.

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.”(Acts 7:51, NAB)

It was not an easy time for Stephen.

He stood before the Sanhedrin, falsely accused. He knew this was not likely to end well in an earthly way. An...

Returning Catholics FAQs: The Pope, Divorce, and Remarriage

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’m divorced and not annulled… and I’ve been happily remarried for many years. Does what the pope said last week mean I can take communion if I start going to Mass again without g...

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Eugenie Smet

Note: To observe the Jubilee Year of Mercy (which runs through November 20), for several weeks I featured women who exemplify one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Today we wrap up with pray for the living and the dead.

The Basics:Born March 25, 1823, in France; died February 7, 1871, in France; beatified May 26, 1957, by Pius XII; feast day, February 7; woman religious.

The Story:Eugenie was the third of six children in a relatively prosperous family in the Lille area, and attende...

One Heart, One Mind

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.

Do you start each day with the daily readings… and shake your head a bit at those who don’t?

Do you log in hours every week or month at a homeless shelter or food pantry… and feel just a mite superior to your friends who don’t?

Have you at any point in the past year served as sacristan, lector, and EM all at the same Mass (!)… and wondered about...

Returning Catholics FAQs: Getting Married in the Church

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 boyfriend and I just got engaged! We were both raised Catholic, but haven’t been to Mass in a long time. His parents really want us to have a Church wedding, but they live half...

Mercy Divine

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.

What is Divine Mercy? It’s as simple as ABC, devotees say: Ask for the Lord’s mercy; he desires us to approach Him in pray, repenting and asking for mercy. Be merciful; let that mercy we receive flow through us to others. Finally, Completely trust in Jesus.

St. Faustina Kowalska was passionate about obeying the Lord’s command to her to remind the...