One of my childhood friends was in Washington DC recently, and we had the chance to get together one evening and catch up.  At some point, we got to talking about food, and she made a comment which went something along the lines of "who doesn't like a lentil soup?"  We had a great time talking about both the past and the future, but for some reason her comment about lentil soup...

Here in Maryland, it's starting to feel, at least a little bit, like fall.  I love it.  To me, the change of seasons reminds me that there are many things, including weather, that are outside of my control.  The recent hurricanes are sadly a clear indication of this.  May God bless and strengthen those who have been effected by these incredible...

This past Saturday, I returned from a weeklong silent retreat.  The Retreat Center where I was is at the top of a large hill, I guess too small to be considered a mountain, but for me, I felt like I was far, far away from the daily rhythms of my busy life.  It had been several years since I made an extended retreat, and boy did I ever miss them.  As providence would have it, the...

Today, July 31st, is the Feast of St. Ignatius.  Without a doubt, adopting the spirituality rooted in the life of this great saint has made a huge impact in my life.  Nearly ten years ago, I happened to sit across a dinner table from Fr. George Lane, the publisher of Loyola Press.  The initial conversation started with Fr. Lane asking me, "so what do you know about Ignatian...

Where has July gone?  I'd like to say I've spent most of it at the beach, up in the mountains, someplace where I'm called to slow down and relax.  Well, my July hasn't been that.  I've been super busy, but I hope the results of all this activity will bear fruit in the future. First off, I've been working on my health. If you follow this blog, you know that my favorite...

Each year, my friends and colleagues at Loyola Press offer a wonderful gift to those devoted to Ignatian Spirituality.  For the entire month of July, which ends on the Feast of St. Ignatius, daily updates will include articles, blog posts and videos to help you gain new/deeper insights into the spirituality which developed out of the life of this great saint.  You'll find everything ...

Do you remember the movie, Dead Poet's Society?  I was a teen when it came out, and there was a lot in the film which struck me.  Sometime back, I showed just the beginning of it to my religious ed. class, the part where Robin Williams had his class gather around the trophy cases in the school hallway.  He told them to move in close and listen intently.  Did they hear...

Summer is a great time to learn something new, or get deeper into an area you want to learn more about.  A group of friends and I are into your second week of The Ignatian Workout by Tim Muldoon.  I've read the book before, and knew that this group of friends, who I took through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius last year, were looking for a fresh approach.Right from...

This past weekend, I had the blessing to make a retreat at Eastern Point Retreat Center in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Once the stately home of a New York Stock Broker, the main house of the Center was built in 1921, and is was created for parties. Big parties. It must have been amazing to be a visitor there during those days. Now, it provides a serene place to spend time, spiritual time. On...

I was at Bon Secours retreat center yesterday, hoping to recharge after a long month.  May has been great, with graduation, family visits, and good times with friends.  I also said goodbye to a good friend who died too young from cancer.  Life's journeys have plenty of twists and turns, and sometimes we loose our way and spend a lot of time and energy trying to get back on...