Uncovering spiritual gifts in the joys and sorrows of ordinary life

From pregnancy, raising children, nurturing a marriage to aging and dying -- the spiritual discoveries of ordinary life are found in the stories in this special issue on Family Life.

As Denise Roy says, “You don’t need to go off to a faraway special holy place but just look at the holy ground we stand on each and every day, including the messes, noise and chaos of family life.”

Roy, who writes and gives workshops on family spirituality, is one of the people interviewed by Rich Heffern in his article, looking at the foundational religious experiences that occur in the home, whether they be in shared prayer and rituals, or in shared experiences of service, love and forgiveness. ( See story)

Sometimes those insights can even come from a trusty car. Adele Azar Rucquoi tells the lively saga of her history with a Cadillac named Carlysle, a journey of making peace with possessions. ( See story)

Two essays delve into the experience of grief. Jean King Hill writes about the death of her husband and her new life as a widow -- her struggles with both the emotions and the practicalities of living alone, and her choice to move into the future with joy. ( See story) And, writer Ginny Moyer mourns her child lost in an ectopic pregnancy and finds solace in the mystery and strength of God’s love. ( See story)

-- Teresa Malcolm

Interfaith marriage 'painful but gratifying,' says convert By UCA News

Marriage is alive and well among foreign-born By Pueng Vongs

Resources: Books on family spirituality

National Catholic Reporter, November 17, 2006