St. Brigid is one of the three beloved Patrons of Ireland. Her Cross is an ancient symbol of history, legend, and faith that has spanned generations, and become a part of the heritage of Irish Catholics. Here is the history of this remarkable saint a...
In the Christian Easter traditions of the East and West, as well as the secular celebration of Easter, eggs figure prominently. For Ukrainians, the custom of decorating Easter eggs (called pysanky) is not just a popular tradition, but a rich and hist...
Most of us probably think of Lent as a somber time of repentance, sacrifice, fasting, and intense preparation that is not necessarily joyful. In fact, we feel it is more fruitful when we "do the hard work." We are more likely to "observe" Lent than t...
Many Catholics have heard of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or seen the "big green book" originally published during Pope St. John Paul II's papacy in 1992. Do you own one? Have you read one? Here's an explanation of the Catechism of...
When a Catholic is seriously ill, injured, or hospitalized, we call a priest. A traditional and practical part of that process is the "sick call set." It facilitates the Anointing of the Sick at the bedside of a Catholic in need of the sacrament.&...
The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 AM in the Ma...
Giving a Nativity Scene Set as a gift can be the beginning of a beautiful family tradition. When my first child was born, my mother-in-law gave her a tiny Nativity Set. It was a simple set of pretty but sturdy frosted glass figurines to be pl...
It’s October, the month of the Rosary, and Catholics everywhere are honoring the incredible power of the sacred beads. Even the secular media is getting into the game lately, acknowledging the rosary as a weapon. That’s nothing new to those of us...
The 13th century was, in truth, the century of Saints, and of Saints of no ordinary note; at the close of this century, as a crowning gift, came the great and beautiful Saint Gertrude, whose history has been too little known amongst us, while her v...
St. Jeanne Jugan is the beloved Patron Saint of the Elderly and Destitute. Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, this remarkable French saint endured her own persecution and exile with peaceful surrender, accomplishing great things for God....
Is it hard to imagine the Lord at rest, given all He had to do in His short time among us? Did Jesus ever take a vacation? We know He kept the Sabbath, so He rested on that day in obedience to the Father and Mosaic law. He also invited the ap...
St. Titus Brandsma was a Carmelite priest, professor, and writer. One of ten Carmelites martyred at Dachau during the Holocaust, this humble servant gave his life for truth and love. So relevant in our troubled times, he is an inspiration, model,...
Freedom is the hallmark of our American culture, yet many in our society misunderstand true freedom. The modern age has redefined it as the ability to determine your own personal truth and embrace that regardless of the consequences. ...
Recently I heard two young women chatting in line at the grocery store about marriage. They debated the advantages and disadvantages, pondering whether it was responsible to bring children into a world full of hate, and plagued by climate change....
For believers, Easter is a season of rejoicing, renewal, and reflection upon how greatly we are loved! For forty days after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostles, traveled, taught, and prepared them for His return to the Father....
"We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God...
Scripture speaks of motherhood as a high and important calling. In fact, God uses the metaphor of motherhood to describe the ways in which He loves and cares for His children. Not all women are called to physical motherhood, but there is more than on...
The Via Lucis, or the "Way of Light" in Latin, is a Catholic devotion also known as the Stations of the Resurrection. In these Stations, we meditate on Christ's Resurrection and the incredible events that followed, until He sent the Holy Spi...
A condition of complete simplicity(Costing not less than everything)...-“Four Quartets” T.S. EliotI recently accompanied my mom to the funeral of a friend of hers, an elderly man I did not know. Perhaps because I wasn’t emotionally tied to the family...
Have you ever noticed that in order to persevere joyfully and not feel depleted during certain seasons of life, you need a very specific spiritual focus? This is such a time for me, so I've been considering practices that could be spiritually rejuven...
