Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 78
November 17, 2015
Come On Over
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.
Imagine it: Someone you respect greatly, a humanitarian, perhaps, or an esteemed educator or innovator. Maybe it’s even a politician. And there you are in the crowd, just trying to catch a glimpse of this person when he or she not only calls you by name… but invites himself or herself into your home at that very moment.
What do you do? Demur beca...
November 16, 2015
Returning Catholics FAQs: Social Media MIA
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 thinking about starting to go to Mass again but WOW–the website for the church nearest me is horrendous. It’s boring, 
almost all text, few pictures, no videos. They don’t even...
November 15, 2015
Tis the Season… for Faith
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 is perhaps the most challenging time of the year. The days are short, and will be getting shorter still for the next month. While we’ve had a pleasant reprieve the past few weeks, we are certain the cold is coming. In winter, we hold fast to the knowledge that spring is coming. In fall, we hold fast to the 
knowledge that… winter is coming. Tha...
November 11, 2015
Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Crucified Satellico
The Basics:Born December 31, 1706, in Italy; died November 8, 1745, in Italy; beatified October 10, 1993, by John Paul II; feast day, November 8. Woman religious.
The Story: Maria’s short life was full of both struggle and joy. From childhood, perhaps influenced by a priest uncle who lived with her family, Maria wanted to become a sister. She joined the local Poor Clares monastery when she was fourteen and professed her vows when she was nineteen. Maria spent a term as abbess, but was not abl...
November 10, 2015
Entitlement vs. Hope
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.
There’s entitlement, and then there’s hope. Which motivates you in your relationship with the Lord?
In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus reminds us of our position: beloved servants of the Father, but 
servants nonetheless:
“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were oblig...
November 9, 2015
Returning Catholics FAQs: Volun-told?
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.
Last weekend, someone asked me to “bring up the gifts.” Since I didn’t know what that was, I said no. I mean, I’m haven’t even been back to confession yet. The person seemed hurt....
November 4, 2015
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Mary the Slave
The Basics:Born unknown; died in the fourth century in Italy; canonized pre-congregation; feast day, November 1. Victim of persecution.
The Emperor Diocletian
The Story: Mary was not popular with the other slaves of Roman senator Tertullus, at least in part because as the only Christian, she refused to participate in pagan rites. Tertullus found her to be an excellent servant, but feared for her (and perhaps himself) when the emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians increased. Tertullus...
November 3, 2015
Declining Our Gifts
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’s a simple concept, really: do more of what you’re good at instead of focusing on how to improve the areas where you struggle.
In the business/human resources world, Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder concept espouses this. You complete a typical battery of questions, and you learn—or, perhaps, relearn—what your top five strengths are: Achiever....
November 2, 2015
Returning Catholics FAQs: Learning the Faith
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 feel like I really don’t know much about Catholicism. It’s been five years/fifteen years/twenty-five years or more since I was in religious education, but I can’t not be Catholi...
November 1, 2015
On the Nightstand: November 2015
OK, seriously, how do you not pick up a book with this title?
I preordered mine back
in July when I met author Maria Morera Johnson and we had an immediate mind melt about the way we both love the saints. This book is part memoir, part a sharing of how women, canonized or otherwise, influence Maria’s life. I’ve read as far as the introduction so far, and was struck by this: “Everybody has a story. Some are broken by it and don’t know how to write new and better chapters. Others celebrate it.”...
