Melanie Rigney – Franciscan Media

Overcoming Obstacles

Melanie Rigney — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Reflect

Reading didn’t come easily to Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), and she didn’t learn to write until she was an adult. But Catherine wasn’t about to let those limitations and other obstacles—including her parents’ desire to marry her off—get in the way of God’s plan. The 400 or so writings—many of them dictated to others—that Catherine left behind paint a powerful picture of God’s love for us.

Pray

Jesus,
protect me today
from the Evil one’s whispers
that others
know better than you
what’s best for me.

Act

Make your time with God today a dialogue. Don’t do all the talking.

Living Authentically

Melanie Rigney — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Reflect

Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) was not the most popular woman in her community. Some regarded her as lazy; others, delusional. But she knew the only opinion that mattered was God’s, and she pushed on to fulfill his desire that she spread the message of divine mercy to the world.

Pray

Saint Faustina,
I am a people pleaser.
I’m uncomfortable
being the only person
in the room
who has a different view.
Show me
by your example
how to please
the only one who matters,
and become spiritually indifferent
to those who criticize me.

Act

Share the truth God has put on your soul, even if it results in shocked looks from people you love and respect.

Wandering a Spiritual Desert

Melanie Rigney — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Reflect

She was 40 before she had much of a prayer life, and admitted that she prayed for her hour of prayer to be over. Then St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) had a mystical encounter with an image of the wounded Jesus, and the floodgates opened.

Pray

St. Teresa of Ávila,
my prayer time is dry.
Help me to accept
this time in the spiritual desert
and to continue praying
even when it seems
God is ignoring me.
Amen.

Act

Try a different style of prayer today, perhaps the Divine Mercy Chaplet if you typically pray spontaneous prayers, or spontaneity if you usually offer a rosary.

What Are You Called to Do?

Melanie Rigney — Sat, 24 May 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Reflect

The community so admired Benedict the African (1526–1589), their cook, that they named him as superior although he was not a priest. Benedict served a single term, then went back to the kitchen because he believed his gifts were better used through cooking and one-on-one ministry.

Pray

Saint Benedict the African,
I am easily flattered
by the praise of others.
May I, as you did,
discern where it is
that God truly wants me.

Act

Make a list of three things at which others say that you excel. Which is God calling you to do?

Finding Common Ground

Melanie Rigney — Fri, 09 May 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Reflect

Dozens of communities rejected a plea to work in Hawaii among those with Hansen’s disease, once called leprosy. Marianne Cope and her sisters said yes. In 30 years of ministry, Mother Marianne did not contract the disease, probably due to strict sanitary and hygiene procedures.

Pray

Saint Marianne Cope,
I find it difficult to spend time
with people whose appearance or beliefs
I find repugnant.
Show me how to love them
as you loved the people
who suffered from Hansen’s.

Act

Have a conversation with someone whose beliefs on a hot-button issue differ from yours. Focus on what you have in common rather than what divides you.

A Lesson in Trust

Melanie Rigney — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Reflect

Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus gives us the shivers. Still, we understand the skepticism that came from some of the very people—including the disciples—he’d been persecuting. Was it all an evil trick? Paul’s actions, preaching, and ultimate martyrdom proved otherwise. They could trust him—after all, Jesus did.

Pray

God, sometimes
I think I know more
about what’s
in people’s hearts
and souls
than you do.
I pledge to do
a better job
of quieting
those thoughts
and focusing on learning
from my own
conversion moments.

Act

Refrain from gossiping today about someone who seems to be making life changes to become better liked or more popular.