“The onion of forgiveness: It’s got layer after layer and almost always makes you cry.”-stacee

This week’s Gospel brings to memory a forgiveness moment I experienced in the gardens of Espace Bernadette at St. Gildard’s Convent in Nevers, France (last week’s post). Walking in Saint Bernadette’s footsteps, I remembered vividly, during my conversion to Catholicism 10 years ago, being charged with selecting a “personal patron saint” for my confirmation.  I was pretty excited about the whole idea of finding someone in history to call my own.   I did my research.  I made my choice. I marched into the living room after an RCIA class (Sunday school for adults joining the Catholic church) and announced that Mary Magdalene was my gal.  My husband, back in the days when we lived under the same roof, was not impressed.  Although he was raised culturally catholic, his own religious education took him just past [Read more →]