The Soulful Catholic Blog
by Joyce Coronel, caffeine junkie and mom of five
A little nudge about penance from the Holy Spirit transforms unwelcome isolation
The sheaf of papers in a bulky envelope from the health care system our family belongs to arrived in the mail. Along with all the instructions for the procedure I was to have done was a document with one short paragraph. After filling in my name, I was expected to sign it before a witness.
Want real freedom? Jesus Christ shows us how to be truly free
The 12 sets of eyes staring back at me pondered the question: What would happen if at your next soccer game, there were no rules? You could pick up the ball with your hands if you wanted to, even if you weren’t the goalie. There’d be no out-of-bounds at all. And, the score would be whatever you wanted it to be.
America, it’s time to turn back to God
My husband and I were sound asleep that morning, oblivious to the nightmare unfolding in New York City on September 11, 2001. Pounding on the front door sent us stumbling from our bed to find a neighbor, a World War II combat veteran, looking extremely agitated.
“We’re under attack!” he shouted. “Turn on the TV!” With that, he hurried back across the street.
The love of God isn’t virtual — it’s real and it’s in Person at every Mass, waiting for us
A likable woman who’s running for local office was lamenting the fact that knocking on doors in neighborhoods to share her message with voters just wasn’t working out as well as in previous races.
A gentle whisper of love in the face of rejection leads to peace, and ultimately, joy
If your journey through life takes you enough times around the sun, eventually it happens. And when it does, your heart just might break.
Catholics and Protestants: Let’s have some coffee with a generous splash of friendship
I can still picture the middle-aged man, Stephen, standing in our driveway, a huge grin on his face.
“I knew it!” he exclaimed. “I just knew it. Catholics do know Jesus! They’re not bad people!”
What an unforgettable conversation that day. Stephen had been our bug guy for several years, coming out every quarter and helping to stem the tide against scorpions, black widows and other nasties that tended to disrupt the harmony of the Soulful Catholic’s humble homestead. The outline of the fish on the back of his mini Toyota truck gave evidence of his Christian faith and, impressively, he usually found a way to bring Christ into the conversation. Every. Single. Time.
Saying yes to forever–at 22? Be still my heart
The happy news came, as news of this kind frequently does, through a social media post.
Crimson rose petals shaped the words: Will you marry me?
Do we see Jesus in disguise, right in front of us?
Susan was doctoral candidate with a bright future the night her life changed forever. The evening bicycle ride with her husband was something they did regularly but would never share again. After the freak accident in 1994, her entire left leg had to be amputated.
Boldly sharing Jesus with a world bent on destruction and thirsting for hope
“Jesus hears ya,” the flashing, digital billboard declared as I slowly drove past.
Does God enjoy making us crack up?
Never doubt that God has a sense of humor.
Courage from Christ: ‘With My Heart beating in you, there’s nothing we can’t face together.’
The month of June is a scorcher for those who dwell in the sizzling metropolis of Phoenix and this summer is no different. The Soulful Catholic remembers all too well the year Sky Harbor International Airport was forced to shut down because officials didn’t know if aircraft were safe to fly when the mercury hit 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Searching for peace? Listening for the still, small voice of God in a noisy world
There’s a grotto on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land where you can visit the cave in which Elijah once took shelter during a fierce storm.
Peace the world can’t give, at your fingertips
For many people, even those of deep faith, lingering anxiety remains one of the more sinister aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trip back in time reveals God’s gift of mercy for sinners like me
I left the house that Saturday morning in plenty of time to make the 30-minute drive to my class.
The truth rocks: God’s love is real and it’s here
It’s been less than two weeks since Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix issued an Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist, but the treasure contained therein is already having an impact.