About Gretchen Filz

Gretchen is a Lay Dominican with a passion for fostering an increase in Catholic faith and devotion. After receiving her M.A. in Christian Apologetics, she converted to the Catholic Faith in 2011. She lives and works in the Diocese of Charlotte.

Latest

A Prayer to St. Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters

May 03, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

St. Florian (c. 250-304 A.D.) was a commander in the Roman army serving under the Emperor Diocletian in present-day Austria. Among his duties was the organization of firefighting b … Read more

Latest

Nine Ways to Celebrate the Month of Mary

May 02, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

Many things can be said about Catholics, but it can never be said that we don't honor our Mother! In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady in her many titles … Read more

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Prayer to St. Peregrine for Cancer Sufferers

May 01, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

St. Peregrine Laziosi (d. May 1, 1345) was a Servite priest (Order of the Servants of Mary) who was the victim of a spreading cancer in his leg. The disease was so painfu … Read more

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The Pope of the Rosary: Pope St. Pius V

Apr 29, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

Pope Pius V was a Dominican friar, a great reformer of the Church, a holy bishop, and a saint who headed the Church from 1566-1572. He was especially known for his devotion to … Read more

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St. Catherine of Siena: Why the Desire to Suffer for God is Pleasing to Him

Apr 28, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

The following is a powerful passage in the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena. In this great spiritual classic, which made St. Catherine of Siena a Doctor of the Church, she record … Read more

The Saint Who Influenced Pope St. John Paul II's Profound Devotion to Mary

Apr 26, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

Pope St. John Paul II was well known for having a deep and abiding love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. His devotion to her was evident in all that he did: his teaching, his prayer li … Read more

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The Story Behind the Making of the Official Fatima Statue

Apr 24, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

The below excerpt is taken from the book Vision of Fatima by Fr. Tom McGlynn, O.P., the sculptor who crafted the Our Lady of Fatima statue according to the instructions o … Read more

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How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Apr 20, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer taught to St. Faustina Kowalska by Our Lord, who revealed to her how to efficaciously invoke his Divine Mercy and its great power to save … Read more

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The Three Fatima Seers are Heading for Sainthood

Apr 20, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three Portuguese shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Because this Marian apparition … Read more

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The Spiritual Significance of the Four-Way Medal

Apr 19, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

It's an ancient tradition for Catholics to wear religious medals around the neck, and the Four-Way Medal is one of the most popular because it combines four of the most po … Read more

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Everything You Need to Know about the Divine Mercy Devotion

Apr 17, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

The Divine Mercy devotion is a modern devotion to the attribute of God's infinite mercy that was promulgated by St. Faustina Kowalska in Poland, and later to the the Univ … Read more

Latest

Three Simple Ways to Celebrate the 50-Day Easter Season

Apr 16, 2017 by Gretchen Filz

Holy Week is the time of year we experience in a deeper way many of the events we remember each time we pray the Holy Rosary. The Sorrowful Mysteries take us through Jesus' … Read more

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About Gretchen Filz

A Prayer to St. Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters

Nine Ways to Celebrate the Month of Mary

Prayer to St. Peregrine for Cancer Sufferers

The Pope of the Rosary: Pope St. Pius V

St. Catherine of Siena: Why the Desire to Suffer for God is Pleasing to Him

The Saint Who Influenced Pope St. John Paul II's Profound Devotion to Mary

The Story Behind the Making of the Official Fatima Statue

How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Three Fatima Seers are Heading for Sainthood

The Spiritual Significance of the Four-Way Medal

Everything You Need to Know about the Divine Mercy Devotion

Three Simple Ways to Celebrate the 50-Day Easter Season