Regnum Christi

It has been a beautiful experience to begin my time here in Spain while all the consecrated in the country are together here in Madrid for spiritual exercises and a territorial convention. At the end of spiritual exercises, several of the members of my community commented on how we felt that we know everyone in the territory now… even if we only knew their names (if we even remembered them) before starting our week-long retreat together. Praying together really united us in a way that nothing else could – together at the foot of the Tabernacle, as true sisters, gathered around “him whom my heart loves” (Song of Songs). Continue reading →

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.” Anne Frank

Tonight, a group of our young professionals and business leaders in Manhattan will join forces at Covenant House to begin what we hope will be a productive and ongoing relationship. Please pray for us and pray for these 16-20 year old homeless youth, so that we will be able to serve them in an effective way so as to get them back on their feet!

I’m blessed to live in a country that people want to get into rather than out of: The United States of America.

My ancestors came here many generations ago, mostly from Germany. My wife’s ancestors came from Italy – just a couple generations ago. Not we’re all Americans.

In the past few weeks, three of my friends became American citizens. One from Mexico, one from Australia, one from South Africa. Continue reading →

bike in cemetery just after fixing

I was coming back from a long bike ride the other day when my gears got stuck. Jammed. Bad.

It was the hill that did it – the bike path crossed over a little stream then up a hill and across a cemetery. Shifting gears too quickly as I went up the hill, the chain got stuck in between a sprocket and the wheel. I stopped and leaned over and tried to wrench it free with a stick – but to no avail. Greasy hands are not my favorite, but I had to give it a go. Still, even yanking on the chain with all my might only made it wedge itself in more. Continue reading →

It was quite simple, really. It was 11pm, and I was sitting in the adoration chapel, finishing my first full day at Belmont Abbey College. I was talking to Christ about my day, and how I was feeling, and my worries and expectations, so basically about…me. All about me. That is, until I heard the door open behind me and some muffled sniffles from the back pew soon after. I was quite comfortable up in the front, just gazing at Jesus, but then he started nagging me. Continue reading →

“And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. (Gen 1:2)”

It’s hard to listen to the whispers of God, his “hovering” over the waters of our souls. You can’t hear it if that water is churning, and how often our souls are whirlpools of care. Early one morning I went down to the lake at our summer stay in New Hampshire to see the sunrise. During the day, the lake is a vacation hot spot, crowded with boats, tubers, fishers, long-boarders, etc. But that dawn I stood before a still, glassy expanse of water. The distant islands of pine trees were reflected inversely off the sheen surface of the water like a mirror. Loons called in the distance. I hopped into a kayak, pushed away from shore and began to carve through the undisturbed water. As I stopped to hear the birds’ morning chatter in that tranquil setting, the thought struck me: this is what my soul should be like, calm and undisturbed as the lake. Only then can I hear the “hovering” of the Spirit over the water. Continue reading →

My new home -- in Spain

I never would have thought I´d get up in front of 50 people and introduce myself in Spanish. But it happened.

Almost all of the consecrated in Spain arrived here at our house, Cerro del Coto, for spiritual exercises. After an evening Mass together, we got to know each other at dinner. As I stood up and tried not to get nervous, I realized I wasn´t. Because this is my family.

Each morning and evening whoever wants to in the community here prays lauds and vespers together. My favorite part so far (other than the beautiful singing accompanied by guitar) is the intercessions. After praying the petitions of the Church, members of the community spontaneously add their own. It is a beautiful moment of coming together as sisters before Our Lord.

I love my family.

Once again today the liturgy presents us with Jesus’ long discourse on the Eucharist. Over the past few weeks we Christ keeps telling us that we must eat his body and drink his blood to have life with him. Christ wants to make sure we understand. The Eucharist is Christ. The life that Christ wants to give us is eternal life. He wants us to live with him forever in heaven. This is true life. The Eucharist is the key to arriving to Him. We need to accept it. We need to receive Him. Do we feel this need? do we understand the importance God has given to this great gift? The only way to understand is to spend time with him and reflect on what great mystery this little piece of bread contains. Christ’s love is very personal and each one needs to let ourselves be touched by his love, and the Eucharist is where we are closest to Him.

“The family that eats together, stays together.”

Many thanks to all our friends who have helped us fund 83% of our dining room repair project. We are so grateful because it is where we break bread together every day and build up our family spirit.

We hope to raise the final $28,000 by the end of August so the brothers can start the academic year with a finished roof.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation:

Today marks five months since my consecration to Our Lord. So little time, yet so much has happened.

Tonight we begin spiritual exercises for eight days. So little time, yet I´m sure He wants so much to happen.

And for all of it, I am truly grateful.

In four days, we have packed in a lot, between sleeping off jetlag for 16 hours one night and 5 the next…rearranging, cleaning, and preparing the house for the rest of the consecrated from the territory who are also doing spiritual exercises here…trying to convince my body to sleep at night time and be hungry at mealtimes…praying together as a new community…unpacking…learning where everything is in the house…enjoying the beautiful summer sun…and preparing my heart for a retreat with Our Lord.

His love can do so much in my heart in so little time.