suffering Archives

Tolkien Imparts Timeless Lessons

Tolkien, the Fox Searchlight biopic set for release this Friday, May 10, follows young John Ronald Reuel Tolkien through events early in his life — from school years to World War I — that would ultimately lay the foundation for his world-changing fiction. The narrative is delivered as a series of flashbacks as soldier Tolkien…

Infertility in Advent

Infertility is one of the worst pains that can befall a couple. And for those couples struggling to conceive, Advent — an entire season dedicated to the hopeful anticipation of a long-awaited birth — only highlights the aching they live every day. To all those couples reading this: we see you. Advice is probably not…

Where was God?!

The original version of this article was published on Awkward Catholic. Where was God last Sunday night in Las Vegas? Why didn’t he stop the bullets? Why didn’t he stop the gunman, give him a heart attack or stroke, or somehow alert the authorities? If God was so good, so loving and tender, where in the…

Do you Have Hands of Mary?

I recently came across this wonderful article, written by a religious sister reflecting on whether her actions follow in the footsteps of Mary’s actions. That is, do our actions point others to Jesus? It’s a great reflection and worthy of your time. But when I read the title, I thought of something a bit different.…

St. Gianna Beretta Molla: A Mother’s Sacrifice

Today we celebrate the feast day of one of CCL’s beloved patron saints, St. Gianna Beretta Molla. We honor her for her respect and esteem for marriage and motherhood, and her ultimate sacrifice of choosing her baby’s life over her own. St. Gianna’s story is quite an inspiring, yet heartbreaking one. A devout Catholic, she studied…