“Rose ree! Rose ree!” My toddler squirmed out of my arms, attempting to reach for my rosary after hearing the beads clink together in the dark. Like most nights, I handed the rosary over to him and counted with my fingers instead. He instantly calmed down, nursed for a moment, and then promptly fell asleep, clutching Jesus in his little hand. It’s moments like these when I’m reminded that living out our faith is the way we influence our children the most — and it’s something I’m keenly aware of as a convert who rejected these traditions for so many years. Little holy moments of faith Our oldes ..read more

Socializing has never been difficult for my sanguine soul. Whether it’s a heart-to-heart or vibing in a large crowd, I get energy by being with people. Growing up, I was accustomed to being dropped off at random soccer camps and conferences, never knowing anyone and having to go outside of my comfort zone to make friends. Yet as I got older, after graduating from college, I noticed a certain shame and paranoia would arise after hanging out with friends or going to events. “What did I just say?” “Why did I say that?” “Why was I acting like that?” We all have embarrassing moments, faux pas, tell ..read more

Variety is an important part of human life. How blessed we are that the Church gives us cycles of feasting, fasting and ordinary times in the liturgical year, as each mode causes heightened appreciation for the others. We need normal, ordinary days; we need times of extra-hard work and penance; and we need times of feasting, merriment and celebration. This is how human beings thrive. And yet we so often forget to live this way. In particular, while we are sometimes good at self-indulgence, in our atomized and hopeless society, we struggle to find ways to live with authentic celebration and joy ..read more

The first podcast that I ever listened to was a true crime podcast. After I listened to all 12 episodes on a cross-country road trip, I immediately re-started the series, desperate to find any detail or clue I might have missed the first time around, expecting to form the correct conclusion on who was guilty while I was driving on some of America’s longest highways. I learned later that the victim’s family, a family who tragically lost their teenage daughter and for decades thought they had closure on who had taken her life, were opposed to the podcast’s production. After years of peace, all o ..read more

Imagine a room. It is empty except for a few necessary things — maybe a chair, a fireplace and a lamp. You can just sit and be quiet, with no distractions. You can simply be in the present moment. Now, imagine that room is your heart. It is not crowded. There are no distractions; there is simply enough empty space for you to focus on what is truly important. Want more Radiant? Sign up for our weekly newsletter! You’ve probably heard of minimalism at this point. It is a term used in pop culture, in fashion and on social media. Some people are very intense about it and choose to get rid of all b ..read more

I doubt anyone has ever been called “weak” and blushed a shade of rose while uttering a humble “thank you.” By most standards, such a qualification would be considered a criticism, not a compliment. So, how must women receive the fact that, for all of history, we have been denoted “the weaker sex”? The more common, knee-jerk reaction is, of course, that of modern feminists: prove that we are not the weaker sex, but rather we are just as strong as men. The far less popular response is to recognize the unique beauty of women and endeavor to understand the power of weakness. To do so, we must cas ..read more

I sat in adoration, conflicted. I knew what the Lord wanted me to do, but as a people pleaser, it was hard to send someone “bad news.” The Lord, however, was persistent and clear, so out went the text to the guy I had a date with that evening, stating there would not be another date. And then I sat there some more just looking at Jesus. I had recently returned to the dating world after about a year away, and there I sat staring at Jesus, and Jesus looking at me, pressing on my heart to stop dating again. This time of not dating would be different, though. Instead of avoiding dating altogether ..read more

Working as a Catholic communications professional kept me busy. I rarely had the opportunity to sit down and read for pleasure. For years, I had wanted to read “Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska,” but somehow time kept slipping away from me. However, during Lent 2023, I was forced to rest due to a long-term illness. At the time, my eyes were fatigued, and reading a book was not feasible for me. Instead, I listened to the audiobook and found much comfort in it. Want more Radiant? Sign up for our weekly newsletter! While this book speaks about the second coming of Christ and the Divine Merc ..read more

Mercy: “compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” I’d never thought of mercy quite that way, that God has the power and the right to punish us when we fail. As Deacon Steve Greco said in the Catholic Journal, God’s mercy is “undeserved and unmerited divine grace.” It is a gift of love. Our God chooses to listen, to guide, to love and to forgive. We will never be worthy, but that is the beauty of his love. Pope St. John Paul II described Divine Mercy as the presence of a love “which is stronger than death and sin.” Want more Radiant? Sign up for ..read more

You’re busy. You’re being pulled in a million different directions, distracted by a million different hopes, worries and fears. Maybe your health isn’t great. Maybe your job isn’t thrilling. Maybe you’re worried about the economy or gas prices or the state of the Church. You get the picture. It’s easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of daily life that we forget why we’re even alive. So, today, I encourage you to try something different. Turn off social media. Turn off the TV. Go find a quiet place where you can block out the noise. Pause. And think of heaven. Want more Radiant? Sign up fo ..read more