In the midst of my nephew’s disappointment, he came up with an idea. Everyone in the family could pick two favorite fictional characters, and he would build a bracket.

There’s something about the rhythm, the soothing tones. You move from words into humming, holding the baby until he’s just tired enough that you can slip him into the crib. Then you tiptoe off to bed, fingers crossed that you can get a few hours of sleep.

Many of us have one topic on our minds right now, but my mother challenged me to write a 7 Quick Takes post that doesn’t mention it. And I do love a challenge. So, here we go.

Joseph is a strong role model for someone who accepts the will of the Lord and lives it out.

As we celebrate women’s history month this March, I encourage every person to commit the name of Anne Marie Becraft and her revolutionary fight against slavery and racism in the American Catholic Church and nation at large to memory.

Dipping your fingers into holy water on your way into Mass seems like a small gesture until you can’t do it. There was no water there. I could bless myself with a waterless cross, but I missed that tangible encounter.

I love Lenten Fridays so much that I always think I should give up something else besides meat those days.

When we believe that we are made of the “stuff” of God, then we have the power to co-create our world again in God’s likeness. Our time is limited. Our love is not. 

Sin is a wound in the heart of an all-loving God. This should bring home to us the enormity and preciousness of God’s gift of mercy.

I like to think God has a good sense of humor. So who says we can’t have fun in church?