Posts by Christy Wilkens
One, holy, catholic, apostolic
On Sunday, we attended one of the weirdest, most uplifting Masses of my life in the ugliest basilica I have ever seen. It was a gorgeous mess.
Read MoreA visit to Our Lady’s house
A pleasant springtime stroll through the Grotto of Massabielle turned out to be a revelation.
Read More7QT: 7 Days in Lourdes with the Order of Malta (and Cardinal Dolan!)
A quick overview of our not-so-quick trip… just enough to leave you wanting more.
Read MoreThe privilege of praying for others
This week, I have been chatting with various members of the Order of Malta as we prepare for our upcoming pilgrimage. Every single one of them has offered some variation on this theme: “Oscar’s presence will be such a blessing to us. It is our privilege to pray for you.” This seemed, at first, quite…
Read MoreA Sabbath year
A few weeks ago, I got an email from another special needs mom, someone I don’t know directly but who knows many of my friends. She got in touch with me because someone had suggested taking her son to Lourdes, which made her remember our upcoming pilgrimage, which made her get in touch to ask…
Read MoreSuffering, redemption, and standing in the gap
The darkness never wins. The suffering cannot prevail. But that does not mean the suffering is not real, that it did not happen.
Read MoreIn God’s hands, or how to live in a state of chronic hypervigilance
Research has shown that people who multitask suffer huge performance hits. My whole life is one long multitask. I live in a near-constant state of hypervigilance.
Read MoreThe way of the mustard seed: Dying to the self you thought you were
Something good is stripped back, and back, and back, until all that remains is a tiny, unrecognizable fragment of its barest essence. But from that tiny, barren beginning, something good may yet grow.
Read More3 ways to live Lent when you are already in the desert
If you, like me, are in the desert this Lent, consider a different kind of spiritual practice for the next 40 days. Hold on to the ice cream, but work on the attitude.
Read More10 ways to love a special needs family
Every family faces a crisis at some point, and even close friends can feel uncertain how to help. Many of these tips may sound familiar and can apply to many crisis situations, special needs or otherwise. In our experience so far, here is what really helps. 1. Offer to pray. (And then actually do it.)…
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