Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

What difference does it make? How many times have we heard that question?  Do I admit that I think it at times even if I don't say it? These days of Advent - with the O Antiphons - are a kind of novena - a final preparation for the coming of Christ among us.  But wait - he came 2000 years ago - you might be thinking.  Yet for me every Advent is a preparation for Christ's presence in me and in the world. What difference could these closing Advent days be for you and for me?  What yet do we need to ask of the Christ child - Emmanuel - God with us?  What might we do on Christ's behalf? We need to cast away the question I used to start this blog.  The real and true and holy declaration may be (and read the first words carefully):  What a difference it makes because I know Christ is in everyone - because there is a need in the world for mercy - because God has been compassionate to me . Contemplating this declaration moves us to this que...

During these days, I find myself in the midst of Advent waiting -- waiting to hear good news, longing and hoping for good news.   Again, it seems all we hear and read are horrific stories of people’s inhumanity to other people.   I keep asking myself, “How can a person do that to another human being!”   How can a group of terrorists kill over 140 school children in Pakistan?   How can …?   (The list goes on and on.) How do those individuals live with themselves? During a meal conversation with a sister friend, we spoke of so many sufferings we have witnessed over the past few months.   Our conclusions, if you can even call them that, were several.   Violence begets violence.   Someone in the cycle needs to stop and say no more -- no more violence, no more killing, no more hurting another.   Our faith tells us the deceased are with the living God.   Our hope leads us to believe those left behind mourning their loved ones will find co...