Note: Mother Aemiliana Dirr founded the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1849. After difficulties fulfilling their mission, she and some other sisters left the order in 1860 and lived out the rest of their lives as lay women. I have written Mother Aemiliana a letter. July 28, 2011 Dear Aemiliana, My heart is so…
The first things I noticed when I entered the hospital room were all the tubes and the constant whirr of the fan inflating the bed. Visiting Gary, who was lying in a specialized bed, connected to a breathing tube, was part of my rounds as a chaplaincy student. “I can’t walk, I’m connected to all…
Gospel living is messy. Christian discipleship is a life of struggle, as we advocate for social justice, live simply, serve others, practice contemplation and live in community. Welcome to the mess. Listen on: LATEST PODCAST LATEST BLOG RESOURCES NEWS Messy Jesus Business We are followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are people on…
It is hot as I walk across the grass. Really hot, with a heat index of 108 degrees, and the humidity is oppressive. Heavier than the heat are the thoughts in my own mind. Grief, pain and depression mix with this pervading sense of loss. I’m sad because of the chaos which is our world…
We walk in silence through the often-deserted streets, accompanied only by the solemn beat of one drum. Our feet fall into rhythm. It feels strange to walk with friends and companions without talking, but soon the silence becomes more comfortable and our moving along feels sacred. Together we form one body. At the front of…
The air is palpably different, more alive, almost tingling to the touch. The round room always feels like entering home and my gaze is fixed on one spot. Sometimes a river of warmth comes toward me and holiness is not even the right word to describe a feeling this immense. At the same moment, the…
For many of us 2021 has been a time of grief, turmoil, sorrow and discomfort. We have felt the storms of society and the catastrophes of climate change, suffering with those the world would rather ignore. Our bodies ache. We feel stress and anxiety. We are afraid and tired. All of us are hurting. Even…
St. Francis loved Christmas. He loved it so much that in the little village of Greccio, Italy, on a craggy hillside in 1223, he reenacted the nativity. He was not really a big words, intellectual guy. Francis liked to jump in with his whole heart and body. So the story goes that he invited the…
Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel yourself wanting to retreat from reality? I am with you, my friend. War, violence, refugees, the pandemic, climate catastrophes, fires, floods, droughts, division, racism and just solid injustice floods our senses and our hearts to the point of overwhelming despair. As I think about the heartache and horror, I…
Contributors Messy Jesus Business radical disciples/contributors Our host is Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Julia Walsh: co-founder of The Fireplace Community, a former waitress, a scribbler of words and Catholic sister. Our guests and contributors are spiritual teachers, social justice activists, artists, Catholic sisters, community organizers, servant leaders, theologians, ministers and authors; mothers, fathers, sons,…
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