Julie’s Latest – Julie Henkener – Integrating Toward a Wholly Life

25 May

Trinitarian Peace Prayer III

Holy Spirit, Ground of our Being, we ask you to give our political leaders the humility to show restraint during deliberations about the use of force, and patience in current diplomatic negotiations across the globe. We especially ask You to touch their hearts and minds as they perpetuate devastating war and violence in a world that yearns for peace and the grace that peace brings. Make us mindful of the ways in which we can bring Your love to the world around us. Gather and lead us to work to end the madness of wars and violence, so that we […]

25 May

Trinitarian Peace Prayer II

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

Divine and Human Jesus, how many moments of darkness and terror have been endured in war-torn nations? How much blood has been shed? How many lives have been shattered by violence? How many hopes have been buried under the pain and rubble? Let there be a movement of compassion that leads us to initiate concrete action to achieve an equitable justice for the peoples of the world. Guide us toward justice and peace for those who live under the overwhelming reality of violence, for those who have become refugees from their homes due to wars of aggression, for those who […]

25 May

Trinitarian Peace Prayer I

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

O God, who dwells within us, we come to you from a place of struggle and fear. We pray for peace within our families and friends, within our local, national and world communities, and within the entire web of life. Empower us with courage, wisdom, and strength so that, beginning with peace in our hearts, that peace may flow out into the world. Help us to speak honestly to each other, with respect and an acceptance of the value and dignity of everyone. Give us the strength and perseverance to choose conversations to promote better understanding, rather than hatred and […]

14 May

Gertrude the Great of Helfa

Acrylic Monoprints, Women No Comments

Gertrude the Great of Helfa (1256-1302) was a thirteenth-century nun and mystic with a high degree of cultural and evangelical stature. Her life and thoughts have come down to us through her writings that have uniquely impacted Christian spirituality. Gertrude was born on the feast of Epiphany in Eisleben, Thuringia (in present day Germany), but nothing much is known of her parents or earliest life. She entered the Benedictine monastery school, Saint Mary’s Abbey, at Helfa in Saxony at the age of five. It is not known if she was brought there by her parents as an oblate to the […]

19 Apr

Emmaus Presence – Luke 24:13-36

New Testament, Spirituality No Comments

The gospel this morning is the beautiful and familiar story of the disciples that meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It is one of my favorite accounts of the resurrection. This blog post explores the Emmaus story, focusing on its four scenes: Encountering Jesus, Jesus Listens and Interprets Scripture, Recognizing Jesus, and Returning to Jerusalem. Encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself […]

02 Feb

Presentation at the Temple

Art, Bible verses, New Testament No Comments

February 2 falls right at forty days after the Nativity, bringing an end to the Christmas and Epiphany seasons. This is a short reflection I wrote last year at this time about a hidden in plain sight aspect of the presentation at the temple. The feast day is known both as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin. And, in some places, it’s called Candlemas, the day when candles are blessed for use in the remainder of the year. The tradition of celebrating Candlemas evolved, because Simeon […]

23 Jan

Umiltà of Faenza

feminism, History, Saints, Spirituality, Women No Comments

This blog post begins with a biography of Umiltà of Faenza (1226-1310), also known as Saint Humility or Saint Roxanne, an Italian nun who founded monasteries and lived as an anchoress for many years. It also presents my favorite quote from Umiltà and includes images and a description of a fourteenth century polyptych, with images of her life, that was painted by Pietro Lorenzetti. Biography of Umiltà of Faenza Umiltà was born in 1226 into a wealthy family that lived in Faenza, a town close to Ravenna, in northeastern Italy. Her parents, Elimonte and Richelda, named her Rosanna Negusanti, and […]

18 Jan

Creativity Reading List

Art, Spirituality No Comments

Over the years, I have collected quite a library of books associated with art and spirituality. I thought I would share my list with you, because there are just so many good books to choose from. Allen, Pat. Art is a Spiritual Path: Engaging the Sacred Through the Practice of Art and Writing. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, 2005. Allen, Pat B. Art is a Way of Knowing: A guide to self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through creativity. Boston, MA: Shambhala, 1995. Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane, ed. Art, Creativity, and the Sacred: An Anthology in Religion and Art. New York: Continuum Publishing, 1996. Azara, […]

18 Jan

The People Who Walked in Darkness – Matthew 4:12-17

Bible verses, New Testament, Old Testament, Spirituality No Comments

I led morning prayer again this week and gave the following reflection on the Sunday readings. The texts for today are Isaiah 9:1-7, Psalm 36:5-10, Romans 15:8-13, and Matthew 4:12-17. In the first lesson today, we read: But there will be no more gloom for the land that was in anguish! In the past, God humbled the land of Zebulun, the land of Naphtali, but in the future, God will bring glory to this Road to the Sea, this Land Beyond the Jordan, this Galilee of the Nations. The people walking in darkness are seeing a brilliant light—upon those who dwell […]

04 Jan

Teresa of Ávila – We are the Body of Christ

Acrylic Monoprints, Art, Quotes, Saints, Spirituality, Women No Comments

Teresa of Ávila was a sixteenth century Carmelite nun from Ávila, Spain, who wrote spiritual treatises, founded monasteries, and is one of only four women to be honored as a Doctor of the Catholic Church (the others are Catherine of Siena, Hildegard of Bingen, and Thérèse of Lisieux). Teresa was a mystic, religious reformer, author, and theologian of the contemplative life. I’ve posted about Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) before, and you can find my previous blog post that includes a summary of her biography here. She is truly a spiritual guide whose knowledge of contemplative practices and the spiritual life is […]

30 Dec

Teresa of Ávila – God Alone is Enough

Acrylic Monoprints, Art, Quotes, Saints, Spirituality, Women No Comments

Teresa of Ávila was a sixteenth century nun from Ávila, Spain, who wrote spiritual treatises, founded monasteries, and is one of only a few women to be honored as a Doctor of the Catholic Church. She was a mystic, religious reformer, author, and theologian of the contemplative life. This blog post provides a short biography of Teresa of Ávila, various images of Teresa, a few details from my visit to her convent in Ávila, and the famous bookmark quote from Teresa. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) was born in either Ávila or Gotarrendura and was named Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y […]

21 Dec

O Thomas Didyme – December 21

Art, balance, Music, New Testament, Prayer, Saints, Spirituality No Comments

This blog post presents the O Antiphon for the apostle Thomas that was previously used on his feast day, December 21. It also describes three iconographies of Thomas related to the post-resurrection story of Thomas examining the wounds of Jesus and his subsequent admission of faith. I wrote a blog post about the O Antiphons in 2019, and I loved picking out the image to illustrate each one. If you aren’t familiar with the O Antiphons or need a refresher, please check out my 2019 blog post here. In the Roman tradition, there are seven standard O Antiphons that are […]

08 Dec

Advent 2: Bringing Life to Barrenness

Bible verses, New Testament, Old Testament No Comments

Welcome to Advent 2–the second Sunday of Advent. The bible texts for this week are all about bringing life to barrenness. In the Beginning The gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus, and the gospel of John begins with the image of Jesus as The Word. But the gospel text this second Sunday of Advent is taken from the beginning of the gospel of Luke, which is the only gospel that records the story about Elizabeth and Zechariah. From the very beginning, Luke points us back to the older and larger story of faith and covenant between God […]

21 Oct

The Courage to Speak Up

Current Events No Comments

Last updated: December 7, 2025 According to Joanne Freeman, history professor at Yale, we are living in a time of “extreme contingency.” The political landscape in the United States is dire. I tediously and obsessively watch the news daily, with growing concern. Universities, corporations, media outlets, and law firms are being extorted by officials in the White House. The economy of the United States is spiraling downward, driven largely by the imposition of steep tariffs and an increasing number of layoffs. Masked agents sweep up immigrants and citizens alike, and detention camps are being set up across the country to […]

07 Sep

What More is Required

Bible verses, New Testament, Spirituality 2 Comments

The gospel reading today, Luke 14:25-33, begins by saying that “large crowds were traveling with Jesus.” Attracted by his miracles, at witnessing Jesus’ power over demons, diseases, and disabilities, Jesus had developed a big following. But he doesn’t leave it there – He goes on to challenge these travelers by telling them that something more is required, for them to become His true disciples. In this difficult teaching, Jesus tells us exactly what “more” is needed for us to transform from being just a traveler into being a disciple of Jesus – the three things that need to be addressed. […]

06 Jul

Three Models of Lectio Divina

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

Lectio divina is an ancient monastic spiritual practice, dating back to the early church, when the scholar, patristic father, and theologian, Origen of Alexandria (circa 185–253 CE), advocated scriptural reflection and interpretation and wrote about “scripture as a sacrament.” Origen believed that Christ, as the Word, was incarnate in the scriptures, and he passed his teachings on to Ambrose of Milan (circa 339–397 CE). Ambrose, in turn, taught Saint Augustine (354–430 CE), and an emphasis on reading and reflection on the scriptures was subsequently passed down to the Western monastic tradition. Last year I released a blog post that describes the […]

20 Jun

Still There

Art, Current Events No Comments

I came across this photograph by Peter Ralston on Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack newsletter. This image of the weathered American flag touched me deeply. The title “Still There” is a reference to the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. Reference: “Still There,” Ralston, Peter, Ralston Gallery, https://ralstongallery.com.

14 Mar

No Time for Despair

Acrylic Monoprints, Art, Current Events, Quotes 2 Comments

Last updated: May 17, 2026 I recently came across this quote from Toni Morrison on Instagram and immediately wanted to include it in my upcoming book, Women Give Voice to Wisdom. [Update: Women Give Voice to Wisdom now available on Amazon here.] This is the final quote I selected for the book, and all of the permissions to use excerpts from the writings of other women are now solid and in place. Thank God – that took forever!! The story behind this quote is that Toni Morrison was complaining to a friend, after George W. Bush won the presidency in […]

21 Jan

Constant Movement of Life

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

Constant Movement of life, Breath of ever-changing being, Holy One, forming and transforming continually— This dancing world is Your Body, This evolving world is Your being flung forth; Let me trust the changing of my own life, For I have become a stranger in a strange land. In the disappearance of the familiar Let me recognize the mystery of Your transforming dance; In the preponderance of the untried Let me accept the challenge of your unfolding newness; In the absence of old friends Let me discover the presence of the human circle; In the landscape of the strange Let […]

10 Dec

Advent Waiting

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

O Holy One, You are from the beginning Who Heaven sent to be born of Mary Into a cold, dark world. We await your coming once again this Advent Season To be Heaven’s gift to a lonely people In need of a Savior who will re-unite with God. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, And people of all nations in unity seeking and worshipping. One Holy God, One Blessed Savior Jesus Christ Our Lord. Holy One, are you waiting too this Advent Season? Do you wait for us to offer you our hearts That you may love […]

19 Nov

The Apocalypse is Here

Bible verses, Climate Change, Current Events, New Testament, Old Testament No Comments

When I volunteered to lead morning prayer last Sunday, I had no idea that the subject of the readings would be the apocalypse. The Old Testament reading was from Daniel, chapter 12: ”At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some […]

08 Nov

When News is Bad

Current Events, Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

Take seriously your grief.It is love, stripped bare.Let it flow through you. Trust that you are held.We all are held by the Beloved,the Broken-Hearted One,the One who Suffers most Deeply. Know you are not alone.Millions bear your sorrow.Ancestors and even unborn generationswalk with you gratefully. Seek others who are tenderhearted.Receive all the grace you can.In the flesh is best, but even in spirit,know we are here. Trust the Goodness.God has not given up on us.Through every disaster grace remains.Refuse to despair. Choose courage over selfishness,trust over fear, love over anger.You do not know the end of grace. There is much […]

04 Oct

Prayer for the Universe

Prayer, Spirituality 6 Comments

Last updated: May 8, 2026 All-powerful God, we thank you, as we are finding ourselves alive in this gorgeous universe and blessed by Your presence today. We know that You extend Your presence both to the smallest of creatures and to the vastness of our ever-unfolding Universe Story. When we look deeply at the spiraling celestial stars at night, we could almost get lost or feel dizzy as we gaze into the boundlessness of our immense universe. Creator God, we praise You for the beauty of the expanding cosmos – the spinning knots of stars and blue shadow moons and […]

24 Sep

Elati Publishing – On Finding a Name

balance, Book Reviews, Indigenous People, psychology No Comments

As you may know, I have been on an almost ten year journey to publish a book. I went through the process of writing an incredibly detailed book proposal that I polished over and over again. I knew it was time to send it out into the world when I was barely changing a single word every time I read it. Still, it took me months before I finally got my courage and a long list of potential publishers together. I submitted my proposal to all of the publishers I thought might be interested, which turned out to be 10 […]

28 Aug

Praise — A Lectio Poem

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

The hills and groves were God’s first temples Filled with the glory of God Stone sermons Set us off on a great adventure Filled with the glory of God Every hidden cell throbbing with music and life A great adventure of mind and heart Every tree swirling in glorious enthusiasm Every cell throbbing We are all kin in the evolving community of life Every tree tossing their branches, enthusiasm like worship Our vision must be one of flourishing for all Our evolving community of life is now under siege Stone sermons Give us visions of an evolutionary future that will still surprise us No wonder the hills and […]

22 Aug

Prayer for a Wholly Life

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

God of healing and miracles, we bring our weakness, brokenness and hunger for wholeness to You. We do not always know exactly what to pray for, but we bring our hands and hearts, our minds and souls to you completely. Healing Spirit, You make everything holy and whole. Come and heal the shattered places within us and around us – those shards painfully scattered in our innermost selves and across the globe. And bring us closer to You in completeness, knitting us together in spirit, soul, and body, surrounded by Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus, heal us of […]

24 May

Prayer Against Envy and Jealousy

balance, Prayer, Spirituality 20 Comments

Most Holy One, we thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed on us in our lives. When we look at the ways others have been gifted by you and seek to compare them to ourselves, grant that we may reach first for gratitude as an antidote. Keep us from fixating on their achievements and attributes, instead of focusing on who we ourselves are and what we are uniquely called to do. Merciful God, forgive us for our feelings of envy and jealousy that are so detrimental to our health and well-being. Open the inner eyes of our hearts […]

09 May

Lectio Divina – A Ladder to the Sky

Prayer, Spirituality No Comments

Last updated: September 14, 2024 Lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”) is an ancient monastic spiritual practice – a contemplative way to connect with the aliveness and wisdom of sacred texts. Traditionally, the texts are scripture readings, but texts could include other spiritual writings, nature, art images, music, poetry, or even the text of our own lives. There is a long history of practicing lectio divina, and the roots of this prayer method date back to the early church. Desert monastics from the 4th and 5th centuries CE memorized scriptures and meditated on them extensively, since handwritten manuscripts were very […]

28 Mar

Amma Syncletica

Acrylic Monoprints, feminism, History, Quotes, Saints, Spirituality, Women 3 Comments

Last updated: January 24, 2025 Amma Syncletica was part of a monastic tradition that was established primarily in the desert areas around Jerusalem and Alexandria. Desert Mothers were women, known as ammas or “spiritual mothers,” who lived as Christian ascetics in the fourth and fifth centuries CE. Ammas were women who had achieved a spiritual maturity and wisdom, actively developed during their withdrawal from mainstream society. These women gathered together in monastic communities, but there were also some who lived as hermits. For these early Christian women, one appeal of living in the desert was the freedom they could experience […]

27 Feb

Mary Magdalene and the Blue Tunic Relic

Art, History, Mary Magdalene, Saints, Women No Comments

Last updated August 13, 2024 In 2020, I wrote a blog post, Assumption of Hairy Mary, because I was interested in images of Mary Magdalene that I had come across, where she was shown clothed in nothing other than her long red hair. In some images, she is even depicted with a fur-like suit or hair that is growing directly out of her skin. I never suspected that I would revisit that blog post, but I became aware of this recently revealed woodcut image that appears to be a Hairy Mary Magdalene, shown at left, and I became intrigued. So, […]