Star of the Sea

I really like Paul Thigpen (and not just because he's bought a couple of my articles, though it's true I now like him even more.)

His website, Star of the Sea, abounds with information, inspiration and edification. He's such a prolific writer; it's hard to know where to begin with recommendations, but his writings for families are a great place to start. In this one, for example, he offers some fun ideas for Scripture games to play with children, thus deepening everyone's knowledge and appreciation of God's word. And in this one, entitled, "Are You Being Scraped or Scrubbed?" he details the ways in which we can view the challenges of parenthood as that much more worldly dirt being scrubbed from our souls before we reach (or, God willing, skip right past) purgatory.

I'm reminded of C.S. Lewis and his explanation of purgatory, one of the first that made sense to me in my pre-Catholic days: Lewis spoke of the need to be stripped of our filthy rags, scrubbed and made gloriously clean before we stand in the presence of God. As Lewis pointed out, we want to be cleaned up:

"Our souls demand purgatory, don’t they? Would it not break the heart if God said to us, ‘It is true, my son, that your breath smells and your rags drip with mud and slime, but we are charitable here and no one will upbraid you with these things, nor draw away from you. Enter into the joy’?

Should we not reply, ‘With submission, sir, and if there is no objection, I’d rather be cleansed first.’

‘It may hurt, you know.’

‘Even so, sir.’"

But back to Paul Thigpen's articles. They're accessible and to-the-point but also dig deep and challenge the reader. His apologetics and his pieces on theology and spirituality are short enough to digest in one sitting, but meaty enough to give plenty of nourishment, sustenance and food for thought (to seriously belabor the metaphor.)

And his prayers are striking in their beauty and simplicity.

If you haven't read his work, do yourself a favor and spend a little time with the Star of the Sea.