Silent Surrender

You speak in silence.
Lips sealed. Mind revealed.
Tearing, staring,
Tear-rendering:
Silence.

But do you speak?
An ear cannot hear what
the eyes long to see...

Thee

The glory of the One in Three, 
The One in me... 
Yes, the One to whom 
We, We, We ... I 
Bow 
Down...

To You, 
No, not you -- 
impersonal deity beyond all reach, 
But the touch, a flame, 
Yes: Incarnate, enfleshed, 
Inflamed. 

Here now, 
Near how?
The wind, the rush... the stillness staring...
Hearts still sharing:
Here now... hovering
Be it done, be it done... 
Let it. 







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Pages to Ponder...

Origin and Destiny

Where am I from and where am I going? When I graduated from twelve years of Catholic schooling, I didn’t really know the "end goal" or purpose of the Christian life. Sure, I had some elusive concept of the Kingdom of God and our eternal destination as a people of God…but I was never told or encouraged to embrace this as my truth, my way, my life, more so,  my destiny . Sanctity was something persevered for those who had given their life to serve God as contemplative nuns, priests, or pious people out on the streets proclaiming the word of God in love and in truth. Often I was left wondering: What’s all of this for? These uniforms, these commandments? What’s the purpose of the Mass? Why do I need to confess my sins? Why do we pray before we start our day? Why do I need to take class on Social Justice or Morality? Although these questions each have their own unique and necessary responses, there is an underlying insecurity that anchors them all: why am I doing whatever ...
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What is a postulant?

A good question goes a long way. There are some questions that can easily catch me off guard. Like when someone recently asked me if I was French. Maybe? I'll have to check on that... But generally whenever I meet someone for the first time there are a few questions I always expect to hear:  How tall are you?  Where are you from?   Delaware.  Oh…where is that? Or better: I’ve driven through there!  How do you say your last name?   (Dook-e-min? Duck-min? Or my favorite, Dutch-man?)  Trending now: what is a postulant? Nearly three weeks ago, my journey as a postulant with the Conventual Franciscans began. So what exactly is a postulant? To be honest, I’m still searching for an appropriate answer myself! The official Webster’s definition of a “postulant” is a “candidate or petitioner,” especially referring to someone interested in joining a religious community. Definitions help me, but this still doesn’t really get...
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How can I still have faith in the Church?

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Only Tears Last Tuesday, a grand jury report listed 301 Catholic priests from the Diocese of Pittsburgh as responsible for sexual abuse of over 1000 young people. The investigation covered priests both living and deceased, reaching back at least 70 years into the history of the diocese. The headlines seem unending. The perversity and abuse are diffuse and pervasive. The cover-ups are chilling, the silence sinful, and the despair devastating. Last Tuesday, I received a text message from a friend that captures the raw emotion and disgust we shared at the release of this news: “I’m reading the articles and am reeling in pain. I have no words. Only tears.” A week before this same friend sent me this link about a group of religious sisters who were bringing to light even more sexual abuse from Church officials. Battered on all sides it seems, it is safe to ask: why remain? Why would I profess faith in the Catholic Church? Why would I still believe in “o...
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