One Catholic Life Blog

Theotokos

Spirituality

Mary: A Model of God’s Invitation to Shared Life and Sacrifice

How wonderful to open up the January issue of Give Us This Day and discover that the very first meditation of the new year is by my diocese’s very own Bishop Blase Cupich. Here is the conclusion of his meditation on this Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: This blessed virgin agreed not only to give birth to the Son of the Most High God. She also consented to enter into a unique relationship with God, a relationship that is so intimate that only the bond between a...

To the Field of Stars

Books and Reading

The 10 Best Books I Read in 2011

2011 was a record year for me in terms of number of books read. I use Goodreads.com to keep track of my reading, and about this time last year Goodreads opened up the 2011 Reading Challenge. My goal for the year was 36 books, which was a slight increase over the past few years. I had read 31 books in both 2009 and 2010, and my previous high was 34 books in 2006. I felt fairly confident that I could read three books a month. Much to my...

The Holy Family

Spirituality

Three Valuable Lessons from the Holy Family

Today’s Office of Readings provides a beautiful meditation from Pope Paul VI on this feast of the Holy Family. As Paul VI reflects, he recalls three things we can learn from Jesus’ upbringing: Silence First, we learn from its silence. If only we could once again appreciate its great value. We need this wonderful state of mind, beset as we are by the cacophony of strident protests and conflicting claims so characteristic of these turbulent times. The silence of Nazareth should teach us how to meditate in peace...

Cornucopia

Spirituality

What Does It Mean to Be Thankful?

What does it mean to be thankful? Being thankful begins with community. It means knowing we cannot do it alone, and that as much as we Americans worship freedom and doing things our way, we cannot do everything ourselves. There is no thanksgiving for those who need no one. Second, being thankful requires awareness. It means looking closely at our lives and noticing how much we have been given. It means recognizing that Someone loves us enough to hold us in the tender hands of the universe and...

To the Field of Stars

Book Review / Books and Reading / Spirituality

Review: To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim’s Journey to Santiago De Compostela

To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim’s Journey to Santiago De Compostela by Kevin A. Codd My rating: 5 of 5 stars I enjoyed every word of this gorgeous, honest, life-giving journey with Fr. Kevin Codd as he made his pilgrimage across Spain to Santiago De Compostela. Fr. Codd not only recounts the physical aspects of his journey, but–more signifcantly–he lets us in on the psychological and spiritual journey he went through as he trekked over 500 miles on foot. To the Field of Stars is a concrete...

With Fire and Sword

Book Review / Books and Reading

Review: With Fire and Sword An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia.

With Fire and Sword An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. by Henryk Sienkiewicz My rating: 4 of 5 stars With Fire and Sword must be one of the greatest historical epics you’ve never heard of. Set in the 17th century, and told from the Polish point of view, it recounts a Cossack uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The historical backdrop serves as a grand canvas for the portraits of courage, love, and spiritual devotion that form the heart of the story. In print, With Fire and Sword...

Weird Al in Concert

Music

Video and Set List from the Weird Al Concert in Spokane, WA

We had a great time seeing Weird Al at the Spokane County Fair last night. Best seats I’ve ever had at a concert–four seats from the front. The video shows some of the great costumes Al wears and features clips from “Party in the CIA,” “Wanna Be Ur Lovr,” “Eat It,” and “The Saga Begins.” Here’s the complete set list: Polka Face TMZ Smells Like Nirvana Skipper Dan Party in the CIA CNR Canadian Idiot Wanna B Ur Lovr Medley: Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies Whatever You Like Another...

Paradise on the Steppe

Family

Digging Up the Past

A phone call from out of the blue last week was the latest of several events that have sent me on a genealogical journey to once again dig into family history. It’s almost like God has been dropping little hints lately that it’s time to get back to researching my ancestors’ roots. First, a few weeks ago, my uncle discovered that my grandfather wrote a song in the 1930s, so Mom’s been sending me updates on his progress in finding the lyrics and sheet music. That got me...

Basilica of Notre Dame

Travel

On the Campus of Notre Dame

While here at Notre Dame for the ACE Summer Forum I had time to make this short video for Catholic School Chronicle. Enjoy! http://www.nicksenger.com/onecatholiclife/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NotreDameCampus.m4vPodcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Christ the Teacher at Notre Dame

Travel

Christ the Teacher at Notre Dame

Shot this video just before we began our last session of the day. The statue is “Christ the Teacher” by Burl Jones, dedicated August, 2004. http://www.nicksenger.com/onecatholiclife/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Christ-the-Teacher.m4vPodcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

View from the air

Travel

In-Flight Photos and Video over Montana

As I make my way to Notre Dame, I am taken by the beauty and peace of this land America and the clouds that wreath it. Though I’m a nervous flier, once we’re in the air all anxiety ceases and I sit back and enjoy the ride. As we took off this morning, the space shuttle Atlantis also launched, bringing the shuttle program to an end. It is sad for me. I remember when my grandfather first told me about the shuttle program, and I recall watching the...