by Claire Dwyer | Sep 30, 2023 | prayer, Spiritual Direction, Writing
“I don’t know if I have been able to write ten lines without being disturbed…I am not telling any lies when I say that I am writing practically nothing,” lamented (laughed?) St. Thérèse of Lisieux. She had snuck out to the convent garden to write, hoping to make...
by Claire Dwyer | Apr 21, 2023 | Creativity, Discernment, Saints, Writing
It’s Mother Angelica’s birthday today, April 20. She was born 100 years ago—grew up in a broken home, struggled with various painful illnesses, and was desperately poor. When I read her biography by Raymond Arroyo years ago, I was struck by the resilience of the...
by Claire Dwyer | Mar 18, 2023 | Creativity, Everyday Holiness, Spiritual Direction, The Sacred Everyday, Writing
We were wrapping up the Q&A session after my talk at an online writer’s conference. The recording had already stopped and I relaxed and stretched my legs under my desk as the moderator asked me to field a final question. It was one I’m asked frequently: How do you...
by Claire Dwyer | Oct 16, 2022 | Creativity, Spiritual Warfare, Writing
I glance at the computer and hesitate. The cursor is blinking at me, waiting and wordless. A few minutes later, rather than writing, I find myself sorting socks or organizing a drawer. The refrigerator is being cleaned out and the shelves straightened. Time—which I...