Madison Chastain
Here’s the short intro:
I am an ex-military brat, Northern California transplant living in Chicago and writing about bodies, faith, creativity, and culture.
My creative emphasis on disability began at a young age with the birth of my younger brother, who has Cri du Chat and DiGeorge Syndromes.
The intersections of chronic illness and wellness culture were instigated by my own diagnosis with PCOS.
I am a cradle Catholic who continues to wrestle with the nuances of her faith through public theological writing.
(Also, I collect perfume! So sometimes I write about that too.)
I received a BA from Saint Mary’s College of California in English and Theology & Religious Studies. I received my MA from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School in ethics and theology. Now, I work as a full-time freelancer helping Catholic nonprofits with their email and social media management. CLICK HERE to learn more about my offerings.
All other published work can be found below:
“Letter to Caregivers” for The Catholic Woman
“Seeking Sunshine: Relearning Childlike Wonder” for Live Today Well Co.
“A Gathering of Friends: Exploring the World of SPRED” for Live Today Well Co.
“Advice for Dating a Guy Who Isn’t Catholic” for FemCatholic
“Disability and Catholic Feminism Part 1: Including Disability in our Vocabulary” for FemCatholic
“Disability and Catholic Feminism Part 2: The Wide Reach of Ableism Narratives” for FemCatholic
“Abortion, Vasectomies, and the Problem of Individualism” for FemCatholic
“Discerning Marriage as an Ecumenical Couple” for The Young Catholic Woman
“The Lesser-Known Consequences of IVF” for The Young Catholic Woman
“The Goodness of True Expertise” for The Young Catholic Woman
“Prayerfully Navigating Chronic Illness“ for The Young Catholic Woman
“You CAN Quit Your Ministry Job“ for The Young Catholic Woman
“Transcendental Design and Architecture” in Vigil by The Young Catholic Woman
(Book Review) Be Opened! The Catholic Church and Deaf Culture in the American Catholic Studies Journal
“I’m an Anti-Abortion Disability Advocate. Overturning Roe isn’t the Answer” for NCR
“The Shia LaBeouf Conversion Interview: A Portrait of Masculine Aggression” for NCR
“An Ecological Lamentation” for Vol. 1 Issue 7 of Common Horizon
“Zines Against the Machine” for Issue No. 67 of Geez Magazine: “Winter 2023: Craft at the End of the World”
“4 Ways We Can Make the Church More Welcoming for People with Disabilities” for Live Today Well Co.
“Pursuing a Theology for Every Body” Will These Bones Live? Issue 71 of Geez Magazine (2024)
“The Real Significance of Fiducia Supplicans” for the National Catholic Reporter (2023)
“The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception” for Catholic Women Preach (2023)
Chapter: “Teresa of Avila” The Modern Saints: Portraits and Reflections on the Saints (2023)
“The Secret Is… Still Skinny: The Victoria’s Secret Rebrand and ‘Tour 2023’” for the National Catholic Reporter (2023)
“Mary, Mission, and Discernment” for Wisdom’s Dwelling (2023)
“The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time” for Catholic Theological Union (2023)
“Fearing Bodies That Change: The Wisdom of Trans Discernment” for the National Catholic Reporter (2023)
“The Ethics of Love and Responsibility” for Common Horizon, Vol. 2, Issue. 3 (2023)
“Marriage Preparation Ministries Should Trust Engaged Couples” for the National Catholic Reporter (2023)
“Beyond Access” for US Catholic Magazine, Vol. 89, No. 8 (2024)
“‘Stay In Your Lane’ Says Man Far Outside His Lane” for the National Catholic Reporter (2024)
“What is the Right Way to Live in a Body?” for US Catholic Magazine (2024)
“Our Bodies Are Nature” for Education for Justice (2024)