ischmalzried

This jubilee year of St. Francis1 began for me in a surprising and unforgettable way when I encountered Christ on a sidewalk in Philadelphia. My family was walking to Mass together when I heard someone call out “Miss, Miss, can you help me?” I walked by, hurrying to get to Mass, but the call persisted. As I got to the door of the church, I realized that, as the only woman in our group, the voice had been calling me personally! Suddenly, I knew it was Jesus! I quickly dug out my purse and grabbed all the cash I had and [...]

“Unless the world rediscovers silence, it is lost. The earth then rushes into nothingness.” ? Cardinal Robert Sarah, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise  I submit here a short reflection on the subject of silence. It is a tiny fragment of nothingness compared to the profound things that have already been written about the topic - most notably by Cardinal Sarah in his fairly recent book quoted above. This small, personal echo was inspired by our lovely colleague, Dean of Academics and Director of Middle School: our very own resident superwoman herself, Karen Celano, she who is “Small [...]

When my godson, Connor, was an infant, he was fascinated with kitchen cabinets. Whenever the pantry cabinet was left open, Connor would frantically crawl toward it, eager to explore the shelves of interesting boxes. If successful, he would shake them, entertained by the sound of dry pasta or rice rattling inside. And Connor was especially delighted when a box opened and his shaking produced both noise and a mess! On one occasion, Connor’s mother filmed him crawling toward the cabinet. He pulled himself across the kitchen floor on his belly until his mother called, “Connor, no. Come here.” Connor paused and [...]

“The cross is the hope of Christians, the staff of the lame, the comfort of the poor, the destruction of all pride, the victory over devils, the guide of youth, the pilot of mariners, the refuge of those who are in danger, the counselor of the just, the rest of the afflicted, the physician of the sick, the glory of martyrs.” -St. John Chrysostom These words from St. John Chrysostom remind us of the many ways the Cross has been a source of strength and hope for Christians throughout the centuries. What was once a symbol of suffering and death has [...]

There are many things that I love about being the Headmaster of St. Benedict Classical Academy. This role has brought me into contact with so many wonderful people throughout the years, and being the head of a school is truly a blessing. But I did not choose the vocation of a teacher so that I could plan budgets, raise money, or set school policies. All of those things are good and bring their own kind of joy. They are also necessary so that teachers are in the best position to do their most important work. However, I chose to be a [...]

As I sit in the play-yard each day, watching the children collect worms, leaves, and insects to observe, I can’t help but think about how pleased God must be with these kids' connection to Him through nature. After all, it seems as though everywhere you look these days, people of all ages are glued to their screens. Could that really be what God had in mind for us? God designed mankind as part of nature, yet we as a species seem to be trying everything we can to remove ourselves from it. Humanity is losing its connection to nature, making nature [...]

Grandparents are an integral part of the family. Through them, family history, faith, and traditions are lovingly passed down from generation to generation. We see those traditions of faith lived out every day here at St. Benedict Classical Academy, and they were especially evident during our Grandparents Day celebration last week. If it were not for the countless grandparents who instilled the importance of Catholic faith and education in the hearts of our students’ parents, our school would not be here today. Last summer Pope Leo XIV spoke at the Vatican about the vital role the older generations play in passing [...]

The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. Genesis 2: 8-9, 15 “Organize your desk” was a command I frequently used in the past, only to [...]

A few years ago, I made a journey through France that included visits to Paris, Chartres Cathedral, Mont Saint-Michel, and Versailles.  I also had the privilege of visiting the Basilica of Saint Thérèse in Lisieux. St. Thérèse of Lisieux is known for her “little way” of life – the belief that we can live out our Lord’s great love through even the smallest daily tasks. Seeing this magnificent Basilica, built in her honor, served as a visible reminder that though our lives and the acts within them may seem small, they can have a lasting impact far greater than we realize. [...]

I have often struggled with what to do during Adoration. What prayers should I say? Should I just sit and listen? Do I stare at Jesus on the cross? Last summer, my husband purchased a book whose title intrigued him. It arrived a month or so before our daughter was going to Malaga, Spain, for a 3-month Spanish language immersion program. I was nervous about her being away for that stretch of time, and I knew nothing of the area she was going to. The title of the book is What the Heart of Jesus Does and Says in the Tabernacle. [...]