In the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, towering statues of the apostles line each wall. I took a moment before each one, marveling at the fact that each one of them gave their entire lives to Christ, loved Him, and died for others to know Him.  The Catechism reads, “The communion of saints is the Church” (CCC 946). That’s us. Our family, friends, the people we work with or the barista at the local coffee shop. Each one of us is invited into a deep friendship with God, invited to choose Heaven, and to strive for sainthood.  But how can we be counted among the saints? In the…

A Hidden Life is a beautiful movie. The majority of the film is silent, with little music and few moments of dialogue. It highlights the story of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, who lives on a farm with his family. As the Nazis work to draft him into World War II, Blessed Franz struggles between good and evil, and his resistance toward violence has his neighbors turning against him. In the meantime, he and his family continue to work the land and care for each other. Even while the characters are in chaos at times, the beauty of the landscape that surrounds their home is consistent. The silence allows me to notice…

“Acquiring and maintaining interior peace, which is impossible without prayer, should consequently be considered a priority for everybody, above all for those who claim to want to do good for their neighbor. Otherwise, more often than not, they would simply be communicating their own restlessness and distress.” – Searching for and Maintaining Peace Heaving a sigh, I collapsed onto my bed after a long day of travel back to my hometown for Christmas break. I don’t think I can do that again. This thought didn’t refer to the multiple flights, but the months spent working with each day packed to the brim. As I stayed home and slowly entered back…

God loves you. I’ve seen the same phrase posted in youth group classrooms and spoken in a variety of ways. But it was in prayer with the Catechism that God shared the Gospel with me once again. His love story for the world, for you, for me.  The beginning of the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes man’s search for God. This is not simply a religious pursuit but a need to satisfy the human heart. At the end of a rough day, when you feel alone or afraid, who do you turn to? At the end of a good day, when adventures and the people you love remind you…

This is a talk I gave to high school students during Young Life club. Something you should know about me is that I’m a 6 on the enneagram. A 6 is the Loyalist, which on the positive side means I’m a dedicated friend but on the negative side says I’m afraid of everything.  Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the future and who I want to be. The things that excite me about the future such as meeting new people and living in a new place also scare me.  But a couple months ago I was praying about where I wanted to be in the future. I was praying…

It’s 7:50 in the morning when I step into the Basilica of St. Adalbert. I settle into a pew behind the elderly regulars who frequent daily mass with me. Knees pressing into the cushioned kneeler and resting my elbows on the top of the pew’s wooden back, I stare at the large white crucifix behind the altar. On either side, statues of Mary and angels gaze upon Jesus on the cross. Windows line the walls, portraying the life of Jesus and the saints through stained glass. The truth, beauty, and goodness encountered here invites an internal transformation of heart and mind. Yet, on my computer hours later, photographs and videos…

I love hearing other people’s stories. There’s a moment when their passion for whatever subject they’re on takes over, where you can hear the lift in their voice and see the light in their eyes. You can tell that something has changed them for the better.  God works in mysterious ways. I love trying to connect the dots as our lives move forward, as we take new opportunities or as past obstacles are overcome, in order to see where God has worked in our hearts. As I hear other people’s stories and think about where our paths intersect, it’s overwhelmingly beautiful to recognize all the ways God has been leading…

Driving back to campus with one of my friends in February, we took turns playing some of our favorite songs and talking about what they meant to us. In these times where people are hurting and seeking justice, I thought it might help to just sit with these songs. They describe how lost some of us may be feeling, the healing our Lord provides, and how we can be made new through Him.  No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus by Steffany Gretzinger  Gretzinger’s simple phrase brings me comfort. Her lyrics guide me to remember where I find true joy. God satisfies in all ways, big and small. Gretzinger…

It’s become clear this is where we’re meant to be right now. Back home, in our childhood bedrooms, waiting for what’s next. At least, this is where I’ve found myself. As the hustle of everyday life has subsided, God is calling us into solitude with Him.  I understand having more free time is not a part of everyone’s life right now. Thank you to those who continue to work and are on the frontlines serving others.  Here are some ways I’ve been trying to be intentional.  Set Up a Morning and Night Routine Sitting cross-legged on my bed, three books are in front of me for my morning prayer. My…

“What are you writing on yours, Rachel?” Last semester, we were painting flower pots on a Women’s Retreat about growth and were decorating flower pots to fill with words of affirmation. I had written trust because it was something I always came back to in my relationship with the Lord. We need to put our trust in God. We need to trust in His plan for our lives, His goodness, and love for us. There was no need to ease back into life on campus after spring break. Everyone was faced with an unexpected reality. The rhythm I had been getting into of attending daily mass and holy hour with…