The joys of being a godmother
A godmother. There is almost something mystical about the term. Children’s fairy tales are full of these kind, magical figures who always make things turn out right. That enchanting impression…
Experiencing childbirth in light of the Resurrection
A year or so after my first child was born, a pregnant friend and I were chatting about her plans for childbirth. She was unsure whether or not to use…
Letter to a young bride
Dear Bride, I’ve been married for a long time. I won’t tell you how long because Radiant’s readers are young, and I’m afraid you’ll think I have nothing to offer….
‘I can’t make you love me’
I said I’d never be that girl, yet I became that girl: your classic young adult Catholic woman who fell in love with a guy in her young adult group…
Finding God in the most unlikely place: My marriage
“I think that’s a lie.” She said it gently, but still it pulled me up short. My new spiritual director shifted in her seat and smiled. I had been talking…
Maybe your vocation isn’t marriage — and that’s OK
Ever since I was a little girl in pigtails, I’ve been influenced to believe happy endings involve a beautiful couple riding off into the sunset to live happily ever after….
Memento mori: A good motto for preparing to give birth
Preparing for labor and birth has reminded me of the ancient Latin and monastic saying: memento mori, remembering your death. As I wait through the last weeks of pregnancy with…
A daily checklist for joy-filled single years
The daily examen is a spiritual practice beneficial to all people. It enables us to prayerfully reflect on the day, see God’s presence in our lives, and determine where or…
A daily check-in for a happy marriage
One’s relationship with God is better able to grow and thrive when one is praying a daily examen — a practice that allows one to reflect on the day and…
Expanding our definition of fruitfulness, no matter our vocation
“When our own spiritual lives bear fruit, we become filled with joy, which is the clearest sign of faith’s grandeur.” The above quote is one of my favorite lines from…