Posts by Lizzie Gildner
Spotless Victim
Today I reflect on the second reading from Hebrews and the invitation the Lord presents to us. Our Lord came as the ultimate sacrifice. He came as a blameless, spotless victim who offered his life out of love and for our salvation. From the very moment God breathed his breath into man, He prepared and…
Read MoreMemorial of St. Cecilia
The Gospel reading today brings me to reflect on the universal calling and the Mystical Body of Christ- one body with many individual parts as He intended (1 Cor. 12). The Church is what Christ instituted on the Cross. He gave Himself to the entirety of humanity. The gift of His life is offered and…
Read MoreVoice and Actions
Readings from the Optional Memorial of St John Paul II “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” For today, this scripture from Isaiah reminds me of God’s glory and presence that is for…
Read MoreWhy
But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. Mark 9:32 Understanding our faith can be complex! I would hope that I am not just speaking for myself. During my years of college, I wrestled with the teachings of the Catholic Church among many other trends. In the Gospel today,…
Read MoreHail Holy Queen
He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. Mary was raised and formed in the temple. Her faithful upbringing and time spent therecultivated in her a preparedness for her vocation. Our Heavenly Father worked, in all hismajesty, from the beginning of time, to make Mary the…
Read MoreSt. Mary Magdalene
The National Eucharistic Congress just took place over the past several days here in the United States. As some might know, it is the first congress happening in 83 years! Although I am not able to attend, I look forward to hearing about the outpouring of graces and fruits from this monumental time of revival.…
Read MoreSacred Heart of Jesus
In our church traditions, we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Heart of Jesus is unbound and ever flowing with love for creation. To me, our Church’s monthly devotions direct my spiritual life. They allow me to take on new understandings of what our Fathers and Councils outlined in the decades and centuries before.…
Read MoreSaint Rita of Cascia
Today, we honour the life of St Rita of Cascia. St Rita lived from 1381-1457 in Italy. From a young age, God had set her apart from the world as His beloved one. In his book, Saint Rita of Cascia: Saint of the Impossible, Fr. Joseph Sicardo, OSA, describes St Rita as a tiny plant bound to the One True…
Read MoreSister Wilhelmina
For the reflection today, I want to share God’s beauty hidden in rural Missouri, where I recently took a pilgrimage to. For context, Sister Wilhelmina was ninety-five at the time of her death in May 2019. Her body is present in Gower, Missouri with the community Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Exhumation took place…
Read MoreBystander, Believer or Stone Thrower?
The Gospel for the Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent points towards the coming Passion of Christ. We know the story; we know what is going to happen come Sunday and the next Friday. The New actively fulfilling the Old. There are many liturgical things that I enjoy during Lent. I might seem like…
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