Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/09/25
The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a much older history than the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It originated in Jerusalem in the 6th century. This celebration was linked to the dedication of a church built on the traditional site of the Virgin Mary's ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/07/25
The spiritual landscape of three distinct places—the Judean Desert, Ars (France), and San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy)—was each radically redefined by the presence of a single man of God. These locations were not popular pilgrimage sites until the arrival of: John the Baptist, whose presence shifted the focus of pilgrimages ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/01/25
My first visit to Pompeii in October revealed a city truly frozen in time. The incredibly thick layer of volcanic ash that fell so rapidly acted as a protective blanket, preserving everything beneath it. This image of a sudden, unexpected end powerfully resonates with the Lord's words in today's ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/01/25
The story of David, the second and greatest king of Israel, perfectly foreshadows the reign of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Though still a teenager and while Saul was king, God anointed David as the future shepherd of his people.
After Saul's death, David’s path to the throne was a ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 11/17/25
The Temple in Jerusalem was a structure of immense splendor, a marvel that drew admiration for its solidity and decoration. In today's Gospel, as the Lord observed people praising its splendor, He offered a sobering truth: a day would come when this impressive, beautiful structure would be destroyed.
This ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 11/10/25
Here's a little physics. When sound waves strike a concave surface (a spoon for example), they are reflected inwards, concentrating the sound energy at a single focal point. A person can whisper and be heard by another person standing at this single focal point.
When I first visited the ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 11/02/25
I was so fortunate to have made a pilgrimage to Rome during this Holy Year. I traveled with a group of 14 people from Texas, all of whom were new acquaintances, under the guidance of a spiritual director, a priest from Mexico. The trip was marked by significant spiritual ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 10/20/25
The conflict between Israel and the Amalekites in the desert is the first armed struggle between God's people and a Gentile people. This wandering people clashed with Israel again at various other times. Two centuries later, King Saul's sin of disobeying God's command to completely exterminate the Amalekites is ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 10/13/25
In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. Luke tells us that ten lepers go out to meet the Lord. The group of lepers maintains a distance from the Lord. In Israel at the time, leprosy socially excluded those who suffered from it. The only way these ten lepers can "draw near" ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 10/05/25
The request the Apostles make to the Lord in today's Gospel, "Increase our faith," is a beautiful prayer. The Lord's response is surprising, turning the request on its head. He says, "If only you had faith." The Lord is the one who asks the Apostles to have faith. He ... Read More »