AuthorChristina Chase

Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.

Posted September 4, 20154 Comments liturgy

The Humility of God and Holy Communion

Do you pray silently before receiving Communion or afterward? What do you pray? After receiving Christ in the Eucharist, my prayer is intimately personal. Not always grand or uplifting, that’s … Continue Reading The Humility of God and Holy Communion

Posted August 27, 20157 Comments doctrine

What Is Holy Communion? How I’d like to Break It down to My Little Ones

Here is what I wish I was bold enough to say aloud about Holy Communion. My nephews, ages 12 and nearly 10, seem to be uncomfortable around talk of religion … Continue Reading What Is Holy Communion? How I’d like to Break It down to My Little Ones

Posted August 21, 20151 Comment poetry

Inside Out

I would like to have grown from the inside out. To know myself, with my eyes closed, before I explore the external world of color, shape, and sound. To learn, … Continue Reading Inside Out

Posted August 13, 2015 Uncategorized

The Assumption and Every Body

Originally posted on Christina Chase:
Imagine that we’re sitting together in a cemetery … I’ve had difficulty with the Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – just…

Posted August 6, 20152 Comments poetry

Coming Through

The rose came through the rain better than I did. The Storm fell suddenly, heavy, wet, and grey. The rose met the rain with pretty upturned face, until the burden … Continue Reading Coming Through

Posted July 23, 2015 life and death

The Heavy-Laden One

Who amongst us isn’t wounded? Who amongst us isn’t crippled in some way? Who amongst us doesn’t bear the scars of past hurt or the pain of present heartache? To be … Continue Reading The Heavy-Laden One

Posted July 17, 2015 Postcards

Beauty Doesn’t Lie

Posted July 10, 20154 Comments poetry

Seeking You

I seek You, Lord, in the wilderness, in the shadows and the desert of night; I seek You, Lord, on the mountaintops, in the meadows and the oceans of light. … Continue Reading Seeking You

Posted July 2, 20155 Comments in the world

Freedom

Posted June 26, 2015 life and death

Words to Live By

Christian humility and charity are neither timid nor sappy – they are a radical recognition, a bold transformation of life: Metanoia. Yesterday was the Feast Day of the patron saint … Continue Reading Words to Live By

Posted June 19, 20153 Comments Postcards

Eternal Now

Posted June 12, 2015 prayer

The Sacred Heart of Reality

Here is a re-presentation of an earlier post for June: Catholic imagery can be beautiful… and also a bit terrifying. Gruesome even. The picture of the Sacred Heart of … Continue Reading The Sacred Heart of Reality

Posted June 4, 2015 doctrine

What Is Religion?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”[1] Sometimes, holding onto the Mysteries of Faith is like holding onto a stack of smoke rings … Continue Reading What Is Religion?

Posted May 29, 20151 Comment doctrine

The Holy Trinity Is like… Really Confusing

Confusion isn’t always a bad thing… Re-presenting here, in honor of Trinity Sunday, my thoughts on the unfathomable Mystery of the Holy Trinity. And by “unfathomable”, I mean totally confusing. … Continue Reading The Holy Trinity Is like… Really Confusing

Posted May 22, 20156 Comments holy days

She at Pentecost

On creaking knees, worn with repeated hours on earthen floors making bread and coaxing coals into flame, she now knelt in the upper room in the city — and prayed. … Continue Reading She at Pentecost

Posted May 14, 20157 Comments holy days

The Essence of the Ascension – Weird and Wonderful

Okay, it’s true, Catholics believe some radical things. Take the Ascension, for one. We profess that Jesus not only rose from the dead, but also went bodily to a supernatural … Continue Reading The Essence of the Ascension – Weird and Wonderful