Here are SEVEN ways to make Adversity our friend :

7. Adversity builds confidence

6. Adversity teaches us gratitude

5. Adversity helps us realize hidden potential

4. Adversity drives us to make a change

3. Adversity reveals true friends

2. Adversity uncovers new opportunities

and...

This picture is from Holy Week Missions (2023).

This video is when we did Holy Week Missions on our now in 2009.

Today is Good Friday. Four of the Seven Sorrows take place on Good Friday, so it’s especially a good time to consider the tears of our Blessed Mother.

It's also a good day to consider Psalm 69:

Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was...

I was recently published in "The Ultimate Guide to Lent" by the Catholic Telegraph in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  The article was entitled, "Powerful Promises."

Math is not my strongest subject, so when I discovered that there IS a Seven Sorrows Rosary, my first thought was, how can it be that different from the traditional, 5-decade rosary?  The traditional (or Dominican) rosary is five sets of ten Hail Marys. The Seven Sorrows rosary is seven...

“Blessed are those persecuted for holiness, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.”

Once Jesus was dead, who was the first person to receive the shame and derision that the chief priests had reserved for her Son? Jesus was no longer the target of their jealousy and derision. They...

“Blessed are the merciful, for mercy shall be theirs.”

In the Sixth Sorrow, Mary receives the Body of Christ. Not as we receive the Body of Christ at Communion, but she receives the dead, almost unrecognizable body of her beloved Son. How does Mary exemplify this Beatitude?

Mercy is...

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness, for they shall have their fill.”

How can we say that this Beatitude relates to the Fifth Sorrow- "Mary stands at the Foot of the Cross?" What does it mean to hunger for holiness? What is holiness?

During mass, we sing the words...

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

What does it mean to be a peacemaker? 

I suppose someone can live peacefully when they never have to face conflict. But that would be like fasting when there are no food options. A true peacemaker is someone...

“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”

Purity of Heart uniquely relates to the Third Sorrow of Mary, because Mary sought out Jesus, she looked for him, she pursued him. She didn’t put off looking for Jesus until she had her affairs in order. She went right...

 “Blessed are the sorrowful, for they shall be consoled.”

Mary lived this Beatitude perfectly in the 2nd Sorrow: the Flight into Egypt.

Just as laughter comes from an unexpected delight, sorrow comes from an unexpected disappointment, an outcome completely at odds with desires...