Melanie Rigney's Blog, page 8

Harvests

Note: On Saturdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

There are harvests, and then there are harvests.

The independent small farmers who remain in this country are among its biggest gamblers. Even with crop insurance, its a dicey business. An early frost, a tornado, record-setting rain might be bearable one year or even two for some, but not much more than that.

If its not a calling, theres little financial reason...

On the Nightstand: In Full Bloom by Claire Swinarski

I’ve been on Claire Swinarski’s email list for some time, even though I am hopelessly not techy enough to find her Catholic Feminist podcast.

I like the things she has to say… and the way she looks at feminism. In Full Bloom promises to help the reader “see God’s grace at work” and to thrive regardless of what life throws at us. I’m thinking that’s something we all can use today in these tumultuous times.

What’s on your nightstand?

Friends in Faith: Erin Benbennick

Erin Benbennick’s hands are always busy. I like that about Erin, and not just because she surprised me a few years back with a beautiful purple prayer shawl I often wear when I’m speaking.

Erin has knitted a lot of prayer shawls over the years. She’s helped others experiment with a wide variety of crafts over the years, encouraging them to find their creative spark, whatever it might be. When Erin takes up a cause, whether it’s fighting human trafficking or supporting her husband’s work with Ho...

The 2020 Great Advent Giveaway

I’m so excited to tell you about these four wonderful woman-owned businesses that are offering $25 each in gifts in this year’s Great Advent Giveaway! (Enter by 12:15 a.m. ET this Saturday morning, December 5.) One winner will be selected at random for gifts from:

Dusty Donkey Soap (Cherie Bradley)
CB Jewelry (Ambassador Karen Konar)
Novena Cards (Kristin Taddey Bryant)
Joyful Colors cards and paintings (Kathleyne Sigler)

What do you have to do to enter? Just visit their sites (or my Facebook ...

Of Harvey, Harley-Davidson, and Holiness

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

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,  “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:5-6, NRSVCE)

Many years ago, while I was an “away” Catholic, my husband and I toured the Vatican as part of a t...

Don’t Wait for an Invitation

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

“For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17, NRSVCE)

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. (Luke 19:5-6, NRSVC...

Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, ...

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

“For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17, NRSVCE)

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. (Luke 19:5-6, NRSVC...

About Good and the Light

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

“So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’: (Luke 17:10 NRSVCE)

Doing what is good can be hard. Being eager to do it, almost impossible at times.

We take the five minutes to talk or walk with an acquaintance who seems starved for human contact when what we really wa...

Obedience to the Point of Death

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he he humbled himself, and became obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, NRSVCE)

“Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town...

Happy Anniversary, Being Catholic… Really!

I didn’t know Pam Spano when I lived in Chicago. But I wish I had! I’ve gotten to know Pam through her excellent blog, Being Catholic… Really, and we’ve been able to share a couple meals over the years.

Her 10th anniversary as a blogger happens to be November 3, and I’m delighted to be helping her celebrate by giving away a few copies of a couple of my books. Do take a few minutes to wish her happy anniversary… and follow her!