JOY Alive in Our Hearts

The joy of conversion, Christian community, and the Catholic faith

Category: Hospitality

Advent / Christmas / Hospitality

Favorite: Christmas is a beginning

Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room or him in the inn. The innkeeper didn’t know that the Son of God was coming to him. He wasn’t prepared and missed a great blessing.
If the innkeeper had known what we know, he might have acted differently. The Scriptures would have acknowledged him as a participant in this great event. The gospel might read, “Jesus was born in an inn in Bethlehem, far from his home, attended by the innkeeper and the innkeeper’s wife.” Pilgrimages would bring the faithful to this famous inn instead of to the cave.

Thanksgiving Table (Photo by Richard C MIller - Getty)

Family / Holidays / Hospitality / Joy / Prayer

Thanksgiving Blessings: Edelweiss and the Doxology

Our family tradition for Thanksgiving grace is sung to the tune of  “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music. At the festival, the Von Trapp family performed the forbidden national anthem as they prepared to escape the country.
When we celebrate with the family of one of our married children, they sing the doxology, a familiar hymn to both Protestants and Catholics.
Wherever we are, after dinner we take turns around the table expressing one or two things we are thankful for. This starts out being sentimental and ends up being hilarious. We leave the table laughing.
What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Community / Family / Healing / Hospitality / Jesus / Joy / Nancy Ward / Prayer / Sacraments

The Six Lessons of 9-11

After 17 years, I still keep a poster on the wall of my office advertising the National Book Festival, which my husband and I attended on September 8, 2001. All kinds of booths and entertainment venues filled the National Mall in Washington, DC. The neighboring public buildings hosted educational and informational presentations. Authors signed their...