Ellen Kolb

Merton on activism and “the real hope”

I’m indebted to Frank Weathers at Patheos for bringing Thomas Merton’s Letter to a Young Activist to my attention. The Patheos post came just after the 2012 election, after I had been a staff member on a statewide political campaign that fell short. Merton’s words were just what I needed to hear and ponder. IContinue reading “Merton on activism and “the real hope””

A Holy Door I’ll remember

Unless my understanding is dim (always a possibility), every year is a Year of Mercy in the economy of salvation. Even so, I understand and rejoice in Pope Francis’s declaration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy now drawing to a close. I’ve enjoyed the little delights, the mini-pilgrimages, visiting different churches with Holy Doors. Each hasContinue reading “A Holy Door I’ll remember”

Election Day and an appointment at the Cathedral

Much as I appreciate my freedom to exercise Catholic citizenship, I’ll be relieved to get past this election, bitter and noisy and chaotic as it is. I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way. Whoever handles social media for my local Diocese brightened my Facebook feed the other day with a simpleContinue reading “Election Day and an appointment at the Cathedral”