Joy is an act of resistance against the world's darkness. Not an obligation, but a gift, one that we can give when we are strong and receive when we are weak. Joy does not trivialize evil - it is what enables us to stand against evil. ⚓

Working on a starter pack for vowed religious folks. Let me know if you have suggestions or would like to be added/removed (or if there is an existing such starter pack that I have managed to miss...). #NunsOfBluesky #BruvsOfBluesky ⚓

"Asceticism" comes from a root meaning physical exercise or training - practice that makes us stronger.

Whatever strengthens our capacity for faith, compassion, and justice is good practice, and whatever harms it is not good practice. Results, not appearances, are the true measure. ⚓

For those of us who would rather stand still and stay silent, self-denial sometimes means becoming louder and more visible. He must increase; I must decrease.

(This is a liberating and life-giving truth, and also one that I struggle with daily.)

“Germans of the 1930s were not immoral or stupid. They were highly educated, creative, and diverse by the standards of the time. They went to church in greater numbers than Americans do today. And yet, they allowed the unthinkable to happen to their neighbors.” 2018 ⚓️

roodscreen.org/why-we-as-ch...

"So many Christians exalt the demands and rigors of law because, in reality, law is less demanding than pure charity."

- Thomas Merton 🕯️

let us pray together the prayer of three deep breaths:

amen. 🕯️

The early virgin martyrs get too much credit for "purity" and not enough for "resisting imperial heteropatriarchy with their lives".

Catherine, Barbara, Margaret, Lucy, Wilgefortis, and all martyrs of Christ, pray for us. 🕯️

"God would have us engage with our Creator as we are, not as we think we ought to be."
- Sean Glenn