Archive - The Prodigal Parishioner

Musings on Love, Death and the Song of Songs

“As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shade, and his fruit was sweet to my…

Apr 10 •

March 2024

Lift Me Up, Lord

Building a sense of safety requires trust—not reliance on others, but trust in the strength and beauty of our inmost selves, made in the image and…

Mar 27 •

A Meditation on the Divine Mercy Chaplet

"Jesus, I trust in You."

Mar 10 •

February 2024

A Parable of Hungry Patience

My husband and I are attempting to buy a house. I say attempting, because although our offer has been accepted, we’re under contract, and all the…

Feb 26 •

A Template for Prayer: Matthew 6:7-15

Prayer is the primary aspect of our spiritual lives. It’s a way of communing and communicating with our heavenly Father, of drawing closer to Christ…

Feb 5 •

January 2024

Our Wounds Rest on the Body of Christ

Lately I've been thinking about the crucifix of St. Thomas Aquinas. The ancient crucifix is located in Orvieto, Italy, the Umbrian village where St…

Jan 28 •

When We Become Graces from God: How He Uses Us to Bless Others

When we’re open to Divine Will, when we allow ourselves to be used as instruments for His grace, we touch others with His love in unexpected ways. And…

Jan 1 •

October 2023

First Comes Love, Then Comes ... Part 2

This article is the second in a two-part series from guest author Sara Dietz. An important caveat: The dynamics we discuss below depend on a marriage…

Oct 5, 2023 •

September 2023

First Comes Love, Part 1

Healing as a grace of the Sacrament of Marriage

Sep 26, 2023 •

The Trinity as Sea, Harbor, and Wave

The doctrine of the Trinity can be confusing to believers, and ridiculous to non-believers. Some skeptics even go so far as to claim that Christians are…

Sep 4, 2023 •

August 2023

Prayer: An Intimate Dialogue

This I know to be true: Jesus desires a relationship with me even more than I desire one with Him. St. John of the Cross tells us that if a soul is…

Aug 15, 2023 •

July 2023

The Forgiveness Deception

A Reflection on Matthew 18:21-35

Jul 25, 2023 •

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