Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

A very wise mentor suggested that as part of my spiritual journey, I might incorporate eating an apple into my prayer life, a metaphorical way of getting to the core of my spirit and the questions that lie there. We use the word ‘core’ more often than we may realize, in phrases and idioms like “getting to the core of the matter”, or the “earth’s core”, or of businesses that use “core competencies” to evaluate their employees. One of our Sinsinawa-sponsored ministries –Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin – has as its motto, “Cor ad Cor Loquitur” - “heart speaks to heart” – a dialogue between souls, based in compassion, leading to understanding. When we are open to prayer that spirals us ever closer to the Sacred Center, we will discover at our core seeds. They are like God’s breadcrumbs, leading us to further questioning, deeper searching, and more profound union with the One who scattered them. I am grateful for this new prayer experience and what it has meant to me thi...

When I was nine years old, I went to Kathy Fitzgibbon’s house and the two of us went on an adventure-walk to Perry Creek.  It was great fun but in the end we both fell into the shallow waters and were filled with mud.  Kathy’s mother was furious that we had gone to the creek.  I went home terrified that my mother would be equally angry.  Instead, she asked me where I had been; told me to clean up and nothing more was said.   How blessed I was to have a mother that loved me unconditionally and allowed me to learn from my mistakes through the consequences of my decisions. I have treasured this memory of coming home to a safe harbor and on my spiritual journey, I try to create such a harbor within myself.  A harbor where I learn from my mistakes without judgement and I simply wash away remorse and bask in the loving mercy of my God.  This is true freedom! Daniel Berrigan who passed away this month wrote: “ Practically no one ...