I Take Off the Mask

Photo by M&W Studios from Pexels There’s a song I don’t much like. It’s a very popular song, but I think it’s too often represented as a hopeful song. There’s actually a lot of despair within the lyrics. I used to change the radio station when I was driving and this song was played. I still do, but I take a moment to pray first. What changed? We went to a funeral, a couple of years ago, for a young man who had taken his own life. Because he was a music fan, family and friends were encouraged to wear concert t-shirts to the prayer service. And on the back of the prayer card, where there’s usually a prayer or a Scripture verse, was the first verse of this famous song, which begins, “Imagine there’s no heaven.” Imagine the despair behind that line. Imagine the utter lack of hope that it takes to hold the view that heaven does not exist. It’s easy, the songwriter maintains—but it’s not easy at all. It’s heartbreaking. In my book The Handy Little Guide to Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor) I ...

“ Snuggles, Kisses & Hugs: Have A Party” is truly an amazing book with a lot of heart! Featuring three wonderful characters who can’t be more different from each other, it’s a story that’s bound to prove how our differences need not keep us from forming a solid and lasting friendship that could overcome countless challenges in life. From the very beginning of the book, it has been dedicated to parents who wanted to raise their children to be good people when they grow up. It’s something that has quickly etched a mark of sincerity to a reader like me even before I read the rest of the story. Isn’t it what all parents desire to do? And what better way than through a fun-filled and engaging book that would dig deep into the heart and imagination of young ones? In this story, Snuggles The Bouncing Bunny, Kisses The Fashion Fox, and Hugs The Ballerina Bear will be faced with a seemingly simple yet difficult task of preparing a party for their common friend Tickles The Turtle . How w...

Life’s greatest happiness is to know that you have loved. Happy Valentines Day! You may use the above image in your personal or social posts.  I only hope that you add a link back to this blog. Quotes on the Love of God Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.- Saint Clare of Assisi “Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” – Mother Teresa There is no need to be dismayed if love sometimes follows torturous ways. Grace has the power to make straight the paths of human love. – Pope John Paul II God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. – Augustine “Take God for your spouse and friend and walk with him continually, and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must do will work out...

I never thought I’d start the day without you by my side, smiling at me with those eyes as though we’ve only met. I never thought I’d start the day without you holding me, reaching for my hands as though you’d never let them go. But I start the days now with this ache in my heart, not seeing you next to me as I awake, not being able to reach your hands. Yes, I start the day now not knowing where my feet would take me, and so I feel I’d rather sleep again, just so I could dream of you. I don’t know until when I could wake up each morning not seeing you, not feeling you, not finding you where you’re supposed to be. You were supposed to be right next to me, And my days should not be this empty now that you’re truly gone. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today— click here.

I used to love the silence, those quiet days when we’d just walk around the park holding each other’s hand and simply breathing, taking in all the beauty we could find. I used to love the silence, those quiet nights when we’d just lie down staring at the moon and the stars, listening to crickets as fireflies danced about. But now I hate the silence, those silent days when I forget to turn the radio on. Yes, I hate the silence, those silent nights when I am forced to think about all those moments that are gone. I used to love the silence, when silence meant I’d find you by my side. When even though no words were spoken, I know I’ve got a place to hide. Could I ever love the silence again? Sometimes I try to face my fears. Maybe if I could still feel you’re there, I may just love those silent tears. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today— click here.

It came over me again, this sudden sadness, sweeping like a wave, covering me, drowning me, throwing me again into a grief I couldn’t fight nor overcome. It came over me again, just when I thought I was already moving on, carrying on, healing, rising from the depths that have swallowed me whole. What do I do when they come? Should I run or should I hide? Should I lock my tears inside where they could never fall? Ah, but I have learned there’s nothing I could do, but surrender to the tides that take me back to you. And when the waves have come and gone they let me go when they are done, Washed ashore, I carry on To bask again under the sun. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today— click here.

I saw a yellow butterfly resting on a rose Day by day I saw it As it came for that single flower. It was quite peculiar, I thought for a butterfly to be attached to just one flower. Why must it fly again and again Why must it return for a rose that’s just like any other? Even when the rose has died the yellow butterfly stayed by its side. Was it weeping for sweet nectars it could no longer find? Go away, dear butterfly! Go and taste other roses for how could you live near a wilted flower? But the butterfly stayed as though saying, “I have only lived because I came upon this flower. I’d fly away, but not too soon, not before I kiss with one final bliss, not without remembering the rare sweetness of this rose.” The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today— click here.

The sun is setting now, the day shall go to rest. And the birds that have flown, shall go back to their nests. The sun is setting now, and darkness looms ahead. Our feet are weary, our eyes are tired, We look for comfort that only night provides. We shall go on our way, trying to make it home. Though we can’t feel for now, the warmth that we have known. Still we’d try to make it through, we’d make it through for you. We’d hold each other’s hands, and love each other true. We’d hold the hope we have, until the morning comes, We’d search the skies to find, the comfort of the stars. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today. – click here.

How could an angel die, an angel pure and small, untainted by our darkness, unscathed by our fall. It was so soon to go, far too soon to leave, when he hasn’t seen the sky to spread his feathered wings. Where must an angel go, if he must close his eyes, never to see the morning, never to see the night. Perhaps he’d find another sky, another star to see, The day he says goodbye to comfort you and me. Perhaps an angel may go down, to make us see his smile, Before in heaven he begins to live another life. In this we hope, in this we pray that even caterpillars may become butterflies one day to spread their wings and fly away! The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today- click here.

There are second lead characters in movies and television dramas that seem to offer more love than the the main lead but are often ignored or unappreciated. Even if their love is recognized, their love is not accepted in the end. The audience however knows this doesn’t mean they’re less deserving of love. The sad fate of not being loved back doesn’t necessarily mean one is not worthy or that one is not capable of love. Being rejected by one person doesn’t mean someone is better. It doesn’t mean you are not beautiful or dependable or charming. But why is it that in real life, that’s just how we feel? We feel ugly and broken and worthless. We feel that when we’re rejected, it’s because something’s wrong with us. Let us try to see things from another perspective. Being rejected is hard and painful. But let us not jump into the wrong conclusions because of it. Let us not lose our self-esteem. One’s unrequited love is not wasted because it has enriched the heart of the one who loves. It ...

Scars, people speak of them as though they’re the most wretched thing there could be, reminding them of wounds, reminding them of hurts, bringing back those days they’d rather just forget. But the scars you’ve left me, are not at all like those. The scars you’ve left me, are like jewels that I hold. Those scars from you are like fragments out of space and time, they’re like portals where I could reach you one more time. I’d choose those scars over gold, for gold is nothing without one’s soul. I’d choose those scars though tinged with pain, for I’d take the pain for all that I’d gain. You may not walk again with me, and I may not hear your voice, But when I touch those scars, I’m brought again to where you are. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief”. Get it from Amazon today— click here.  

Why is the sacred heart of Jesus bleeding? Because He hurts for our hurts and He aches for the pain of our wounded hearts. Sometimes I just want to lay still and let my heart feel those hurts, too.  Without words and without any outer movement, but just laying still and letting my heart be one with those who suffer. Letting my heart ache in unison with His. Dear Jesus, how can Your Heart contain all the sorrows of the world? Somehow, I’m starting to realize a deeper aspect in our mission of comforting others.  To comfort does not mean to immediately render actions that would heal.  Sometimes it also means that one first sees another person’s suffering and then finding the courage and the gentleness to stay with that person in one’s deepest grief. “Could you not watch one hour with me?” — Matthew 26:40, DRA Today, if you find yourself at the foot of the crucified Christ, and you remember that you have no power to pull out the nails that pierced His hands and His feet.  If you could do ...

Since you passed away, I no longer live In linear time. I no longer see each day The ordinary way, Living each hour From morning until night. Since you passed away, I’m often snatched from The current hour Snatched into the past Where you were, Back into that moment When we can be Face to face And I’d behold your gaze For as long as I could stay. Since you passed away, I sometimes move Into the future Where I see glimpses Of what could have been, You and me walking hand in hand, In a different future Where I never lost you Where you were never gone. Time is different for me now, And I guess it would never Be the same. How could it be the same When you have taken Away my heart? And thus I live From day to day From morning until night, Moving back and forth through time, Catching a glimpse of you Beyond time Beyond space Beyond everything that keeps me From going back to you. The above poem is included in Jocelyn Soriano’s book for those who grieve the loss of a loved one “Of...

How A Catholic Millennial Learned the Value of Redemptive Suffering Have you ever asked how a good God could let bad things happen? Where is God in the midst of suffering? Is there any hope left for me? On May 22, 2019, Caitie Crowley was an ordinary 24-year-old driving home from work, and then next moment her life would be changed forever. Caitie was in a traumatic car accident on her way home from work and almost lost her life. She couldn’t walk for 10 months. She took that time to write about her experiences and how her faith in God carried her through her pain. Her book, Stepping Up: How Christ Turned My Pain & Suffering Into Hope & Joy , takes the reader through Caitie’s physical struggle of learning to walk again and her interior struggle of learning to walk with God through the cross. LIFE BEFORE Prior to her traumatic car accident, Caitie was an ordinary 24-year-old girl. She was working at a marketing agency while attending graduate school at Northwestern University. A...