This story is inspired by Luke 13:10–17. Eighteen years! For 18 years, I lived crippled by a spinal problem. It began when I was a little girl and was painless at first, but over time, my spine began to ache and...

I’ve never been a huge fan of Halloween—I was one of those children who scared easily and who did not enjoy being scared. But as an adult I appreciate that the concept of Halloween reminds us once a year...

“Blessed are those who live in the present moment, for they shall see God in all things.” If I had been around when the Beatitudes were being written, I would have asked for this one to be included. For me,...

Most people would assume that water beads as tiny as pinheads are useless and worthless. But add water, and they fluff up to be the size of large marbles. They’re translucent and brightly colored. When fully saturated, they’re used...

While no one is sure of what day St. Ignatius was born, some sources place it on October 23, 1491. During Ignatius’s birthday week, we’re hosting a surprise party with a twist—instead of surprising the honoree, let’s notice God’s surprises...

Recently, I was babysitting my eight-year-old nephew, Joshua. At day’s end, we were snuggled in and had said some prayers. Ever inquisitive and curious about the bigger questions in life, we’d discussed angels and saints and the whereabouts of...

Discernment of spirits isn’t just for adults. Help teens ask themselves how they make decisions, and lead them to practice discernment so that they can live a life of meaning and purpose. Loyola Press, in honor of the Ignatian...

This past summer on my annual retreat, I entered the time of retreat uncertain as to what I wanted from God. Of course, I always desire to grow closer to Christ and to be renewed for the year ahead....

When I hear the word saint, the first image that comes to my mind is not some Carmelite nun kneeling in a darkened chapel fingering her rosary beads. Now, I am sure many Carmelite nuns are saints, but they...

I’m reading through essays that my students have submitted in response to the assignment to spend one hour in nature, undisturbed by phones or to-do lists. They write about the maelstroms of stimuli coursing through their over-busy minds. They...