Pause+Pray

There is no facet of the human experience that Mary, our universal mother, cannot understand. In times of unrest—in the world or in our hearts—Our Lady is ready to help us. We need only turn to her.

For most of us, living courageously is a matter of choosing it with quiet resolution day after day. Take this moment to reflect on the area that is requiring courage of you.

At age 58 in 1978, Pope John Paul II was still an avid skier, hiker, and swimmer. But over the next 27 years, age and health issues caught up with him—as they do with us all.

Today think about how Jesus used the tangible objects of our world to describe himself to us, especially as a door on which we can knock.

Wars, elections, and civil unrest upend our quest for peace. As the next big election nears, it will only get worse. Now is the time to ask ourselves: Am I part of the problem or the solution?

The most well-known female disciple of Jesus has often had her name dragged through the mud over Christian history--Mary of Magdala.