Blessed Virgin Mary
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Blessed Among Women
Friday, May 30th, 2008“A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to [Jesus], ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it’” (Lk. 11:27-28). At first glance, this passage can be a little troubling for [...]
Just Do It!
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008During this month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, with May crownings and last week’s celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Fatima still fresh on our mind, I thought I would take this occasion to call all of us to renew our desire to pray the Rosary frequently and with much fervor and devotion. I’m not necessarily talking [...]
Living Fatima
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. On this date in 1917 the Blessed Virgin Mary made the first of what would be a series of appearances to three children in Fatima, Portugal, culminating in the miracle of the sun on October 13, 1917, which would be witnessed by tens of thousands of people. [...]
Our Lady’s “Obedience of Faith”
Monday, April 7th, 2008The Church calls the act of hearing God’s Word and taking it to heart the obedience of faith. St. Paul bookends his Letter to the Romans with that expression (1:5, 16:26; see also Catechism, nos. 144, 2087). In our time, Vatican II says that the obedience of faith “must be given to God as He [...]
Chants Occurrence
Monday, March 24th, 2008When my daughter Virginia was about a year old, I twice received calls that she was unconscious and being rushed to the hospital. (I hope you fathers out there never receive such a call.) Thanks be to God, on both occasions, by the time I arrived at the emergency room, she was awake and fine. [...]
The Exquisite Timing of Lourdes
Monday, February 11th, 2008The timing of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes beginning on February 11, 1858, was not only providential in the sense of God’s loving kindness to us sinners, but was absolutely exquisite in terms of what was going on in European intellectual circles at that time. The sex scandals involving priests and [...]
Are You My Mother?
Friday, December 14th, 2007One of my young son’s favorite books is the P.D. Eastman classic Are You My Mother? In this story, baby bird becomes separated from his mother and frantically goes in search of her. Along the way, he asks many creatures and even inanimate objects if they’re his mother, but none of them are. Finally, when [...]
Dressed in Blue
Saturday, December 8th, 2007I admit it. Most days I pay precious little attention to what I wear. As long as it’s clean and presentable–and still fits–I’m satisfied. This morning, however, I sought out my best blue dress shirt. It’s a holy day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and I thought it would be fitting to wear blue [...]
The Last Father
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Damascene. For many years I have considered him the patron saint of my computer. Of course, I’m the same guy who thinks Blessed Kateri Takeitwithya is the patroness of fast food restaurants! Actually, St. John Damascene (died c. 750 A.D.), priest and monk, is considered the last [...]
The Family That Overtook Christ
Monday, August 20th, 2007Today is the feast day of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). For many people, unfortunately, St. Bernard is merely a big, lovable breed of working dog. Even those of us with Catholic sensibilities might not know too much about him. Maybe we remember that he was devoted to Our Lady (which saint wasn’t?), and that [...]
« Previous Entries Next Entries »