Order from Chaos
Diane M. Houdek
April 29, 2021
Dreaded chores or cherished hobbies have a centering power that can bring us closer to God.
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Diane M. Houdek
Diane M. Houdek is the former director of content at Franciscan Media. She is the author of Lent with St. Francis, Advent with St. Francis, and Simple Gifts: Daily Reflections for Advent.
Lent with St. Francis: ‘Let Us Begin Again’
Diane M. Houdek
April 4, 2021
Easter is a beginning, not an ending. And this Easter story from Thomas of Celano reminds us that for Francis, the challenge to remain true to the Gospel was one that needed to be renewed again and again.
Lent with St. Francis: Dead to Sin
Diane M. Houdek
April 3, 2021
As we come now to the celebration of Easter, we recall that one of the hallmarks of Francis’s life was a deep joy in the love of Christ and the glories of creation.
Lent with St. Francis: ‘By Your Holy Cross’
Diane M. Houdek
April 2, 2021
For St. Francis, meditating on the Passion was not some medieval exercise in masochism but a means of uniting himself completely to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, a way of living so thoroughly into the mystery of Christ that he was able to lead others into this mystery.
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Diane M. Houdek
April 1, 2021
Our unity is far from perfect, but today’s liturgy reminds us that if we are not always working toward that unity, then, like Judas, we are finding excuses to betray Christ’s ideals.
Lent with St. Francis: Eucharist
Diane M. Houdek
April 1, 2021
St. Francis was absolutely devoted to the Eucharist. It’s one of the reasons he was so concerned about rebuilding and cleaning local churches, making them suitable homes for the Eucharist.
Lent with St. Francis: Betrayal
Diane M. Houdek
March 31, 2021
Do we always end up betraying Jesus at some point? We are all sinners. We all need salvation, again and again and again. And so we come to the paschal mystery, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.