Field Notes
It has been a big week for me. For starters, I'm happy to share that Catholic Exchange has
Draw Near to the Throne of Grace
As a teen I thought no one could understand me. I sometimes think the same of Christ, yet Hebrews 4:14–16 shows He knows my weakness because He bore temptation Himself. At His throne of mercy, the wound of “Not Good Enough” is healed.
The Author of Beauty
A reflection on Wisdom 13, Augustine’s Confessions, and the paradox of the Cross: why Truth without Beauty blinds, and how the suffering of Christ reveals both most fully.
Selling Authority: Masculinity in Crisis
The crisis of manhood won’t be solved by culture-war slogans or borrowed masculinity. True authority is forged in the Confessional, at the altar, and in the daily labor of leading the domestic church.
Take Your Junk to Prayer: Letting God's Light Transform the Darkness
Take your spiritual junk to prayer. Beyond the sins we see and confess lies a deeper darkness, the raw material of our wounds, habits, and struggles. God doesn’t just want to fix our behavior—He wants to transform the very junk of our lives into agents of grace.
We Remember, and Tremble
A family vacation, a brutal river, and a familiar Old Testament reading converge in this reflection on spiritual complacency, reverence, and the quiet danger of letting awe fade. We must remember who God is—and tremble because of it.
God's Beet Field
The parable of the vineyard isn’t just about God’s grace—it’s about us. About the ways we measure ourselves against others, and the quiet resentment that creeps in when we think we’ve worked harder for the same reward.
The Sacrifice of the Sacrifice
Voluntary penance doesn’t need to be extreme to be effective. In this week’s Toolbox, we explore hidden sacrifices, prudent practices, and how parenthood can sanctify even our exhaustion.
