Little Essay on Blood

In the evening of July 8, 1897, a young nun was admitted to the infirmary of her convent. It would be her final nest before flying into the heaven already present in her mighty soul, the marriage bed that she shared with her crucified Spouse. From July 6 to August 5, she coughed up bloodContinue reading “Little Essay on Blood”

The Woman in the Pink Overalls: An Open Letter to the APA

Dear American Psychological Association, I know that you are probably never going to see this letter. I know that being angry on the internet doesn’t accomplish much, if anything. But I also know that “a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And so I am writing to protest the injustice youContinue reading “The Woman in the Pink Overalls: An Open Letter to the APA”

Happy Hearts Day Part 2: Litany of Courage

I have so many dreams as a writer. This post fulfills a dream that for so long seemed too wonderful to even hope for. This is my first piece in post-Roe America. How beautiful is it that the first day of this new period in American history falls on the Memorial of the Immaculate HeartContinue reading “Happy Hearts Day Part 2: Litany of Courage”

Happy Hearts Day Part 1: Hidden in the Rupture

Does anyone actually like Valentine’s Day? To quote Jane Austen, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that every single or taken man or woman, regardless of fortune, age, or creed, does not actually enjoy corporate exploitation of one of the deepest mysteries of the universe for the sake of jacked up prices for flavorless chocolate,Continue reading “Happy Hearts Day Part 1: Hidden in the Rupture”

When Words Fail: Abortion, Dante, and Corpus Christi

O reader, do not ask of me how I grew faint and frozen then – I cannot write it: all words would fall far short of what it is. (Dante, Inferno 33.22-24) With these words, Dante the Poet begins to recollect his encounter with Satan, frozen in ice at the bottom of Hell. Dante’s SatanContinue reading “When Words Fail: Abortion, Dante, and Corpus Christi”

2021 in Literary Review

2021 has been an insane year. I started out as a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet, went through a major transformation and healing through Totus Tuus, and threw myself into the intellectual world at University of Dallas. Oh, and I’m minoring in political philosophy now, so that’s just one example of how many weird things JesusContinue reading “2021 in Literary Review”

Silent Light: O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. God is with us. Infinity invisible: He is asleep in the dark waters of a virgin’s womb, so small that His presence is only given away by a swelling belly. So quiet, so still:Continue reading “Silent Light: O Emmanuel”

Dancing in Prison: O King of Nations

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. If there were any two who understood that Jesus is “the only joy of every human heart,” it was the Blessed Virgin and JohnContinue reading “Dancing in Prison: O King of Nations”

Spiritual Canticle in Irregular Verse: O Radiant Dawn

Out of the darkness of this life the wasteland held captive by gloom’s shadow where there dwell frustrated hopes and dreams dashed against flint the unwearied Father places upon the weary dust the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. The small white Sun ablaze with love whose radiant joy springs overContinue reading “Spiritual Canticle in Irregular Verse: O Radiant Dawn”

Wreck My Life: O Key of David

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. Today’s antiphon reminds me of the bridge to the popular worship song,Continue reading “Wreck My Life: O Key of David”