Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 77

Returning Catholics FAQs: Gone Retreating

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.

It’s my first Christmas back, and the parish bulletin has information about an “Advent retreat,” but it’s just a couple of hours each week between now and Christmas. How can that...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Dionysia

The Basics:Birthdate and place unknown; died in 484, possibly in Tunisia; canonized pre-congregation; feast day, December 6. Martyr.

The Story: This saint is described as beautiful, as so many others are. She was also strong. Dionysia lived in North Africa during the time of King Huneric, notorious for his persecution of Christians. Her young son Majorcus wept as she was scourged; she called out to him to be brave. The two of them and Dionysia’s sister were burned at the stake; two companions...

On the Nightstand: December 2015

I’ve had some pretty intense conversations with friends on whether it’s harder to live for Christ or to die for him. Let’s just agree that both are extremely challenging, and that martyrdom goes on today, in more places and situations than we care to acknowledge. Perhaps Pope Francis said it best, recently calling Christian persecution “a form of genocide.”

I’m looking forward to spending time this month with Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s new book about martyrdom through the ages, including those w...

Being Christ in Our Lives: Patricia Watson

PatriciaWatson, a wife, mother of two, and grandmother of two adorable grandchildren, spent most of her working life as a teacher. And she enjoyed it immensely! Then one day, the bulletin for her Washington, DC, church had a notice looking for help with Landings International, a Paulist ministry for those considering a return to the Catholic Church. Pat says she decided to sign up because she knew and respected the parish contact who was listed. That decision led Pat into a whole new min...

Rejoicing in 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.

You know those moments, where everything, and I mean everything, is so right with the world, specifically your world, that you can’t help but be joyful? And however you show it—belly laugh, chuckle, big grin, quiet smile—everyone around you can’t help but see it and feel happy too. Or maybe you’re down about something, and you see someone being t...

Returning Catholics FAQs: Doughnuts and Fellowship

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’ve been going to Mass, but I don’t know how to get acquainted with other people at my parish. I don’t want them to know I was away for a while.

You just might be surprised to le...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Catherine Laboure

The Basics:Born May 2, 1806, in France; died December 31, 1876, in France; canonized July 27, 1947, by Pope Pius XII; feast day, November 28. Woman religious; visionary.

The Story: She was nobody special. Catherine would have told you that, just a girl in a large family who lost her mother when she was nine and was raised by an aunt after that point. She found comfort in the Blessed Virgin. Catherine was twenty-four and a sister in the Daughters of Charity when the Blessed Virgin gave her a s...

“A Kingdom That Shall Never Be Destroyed”

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.

We had a couple incidents last week where I work; nothing along the lines of Paris or Mali or Beirut, but a bit unsettling all the same. In one case, a coworker saw a package deposited on a major thoroughfare; an investigation turned up nothing dangerous. In the other, a less than focused security guard phoned me to help an unidentified member of...

Returning Catholics FAQs: About Ordinary Time

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.

The bulletin said we’re near the end of “Ordinary Time.” What’s that mean? Is Mass more boring at some times of the year than at others?

Personally, I never find Mass boring. Call...

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

The Basics:Born July 7, 1207, in Slovakia; died November 17, 1231, in Germany; canonized May 27, 1235, by Pope Gregory IX; feast day, November 17. Wife, mother, princess, Franciscan tertiary.

The Story: Elizabeth could have been bitter. After all, the Hungarian princess was taken away from her family as a young child to be raised with the prince to whom she was bethrothed. Her mother was murdered when she was six. When she was nine, her fiance died and she was then promised to his younger bro...