Pam Spano

Four things to do this Lent

What are you doing for Lent? Every year I try to do something a little different to make my Lenten experience more meaningful. This year, I decided I was going to get fit and I returned to an exercise routine I had given up. I know that doesn’t sound very spiritual, but when I feel better physically, it does help my prayer life

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What are your favorite prayers?

What are your favorite prayers? I have quite a few. I would have to say that my favorite one is "Morning prayer before starting work" that is on the Laudate App. I pray it every morning in the breakroom (or bathroom!) at work.

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A Yizkor Meditation in Memory of a Parent Who Hurt

My mother and I never got along. Up until the day she died, we had a contentious relationship. Though I have moved beyond some of the many hurts she inflicted on me, I find that sometimes I still feel the uprisings from within of an old wound.

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The Art of Advent

In Sunday’s homily, our pastor, Fr. Li talked about Advent and waiting. He likened it to one of the parishioners waiting for the results of her blood tests. She turned the struggle of waiting to prayer. Waiting became an action.

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33 Days to Morning Glory

33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael E. Gaily, MIC (on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble) is a do-it-yourself retreat to prepare for your Marian Consecration. Why consecrate yourself to Mary? As I read the introduction to this book, it is the pathway for all of us to become saints.

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Rediscovering My Own Catholicism

To celebrate the first day of my vacation, I went to one of my favorite restaurants for breakfast. Before my food arrived, I took out Matthew Kelly's book, Rediscover Catholicism and started to read. Unfortunately, I was on the chapter about fasting. Oops!

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My Sleeping Saint Joseph Statue

This past March I came across this article about Pope Francis’ Sleeping Saint Joseph statue. I posted the picture and article on my Being Catholic ... Really Facebook page and everyone just about lost their minds! “Where do I get one?,” everyone asked. So the search was on and I contacted several Catholic gift stores.

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The Seven Reasons Why I Go To Church

I see a lot of articles on the (insert number) reasons people don’t go to their Catholic Church, so I thought it was time for an article on the seven reasons why I do go to church:

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A prayer before I write

May the Lord guide me and all those who write for a living. Through your prayers, St. Frances de Sales, I ask for your intercession as I attempt to bring the written word to the world. Let us pray that God takes me in the palm of His hand and inspires my creativity and inspires my success. St. Francis de Sales, you understand the dedication required in this profession. Pray for God to inspire...

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An Unexplained Moment, A Gift From God

Years ago, I had one of those unexplained moments that caught me completely off-guard. Some would call it supernatural, something from beyond or even just my imagination. Though I don't understand it, I would call it a gift from God.

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Touring Chicago's beautiful churches

Over the last two summers, while my husband I were on hiatus from singing at St. Thérèse Chinese Catholic Church, we have been visiting different churches in the Chicago area.

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A Prayer Before Work

I was promoted at the end of March and I love my new job! I'm blessed to have a boss that wants me to succeed and is very helpful. She is more than willing to answer my texts on her days off or she will call the office so she can walk me through something I'm stuck on.

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How do you thank a saint?

Recently my family went through a crisis. Our intercessory saint of choice was St. Michael. In the course of about a week’s time, my husband said the St. Michael chaplet and I prayed the St. Michael prayer. I also gave the family member under attack a St. Michael prayer card.

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Coming out as Catholic

Coming out as Catholic surprised me but it gave me a boldness in faith that I never experienced before.

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Can Catholics preserve marriage?

Can Catholics preserve marriage? Can we lead by example? Can we show society what holy matrimony is? Or have we already failed? You probably know people who are divorced. Most of us do. Sometimes it’s beyond our control to stay married to someone who clearly does not want to stay married.

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