When I was a little girl, I loved the mail. I heard the mail truck, with its distinct clunky noises, much sooner than I saw it, and when it finally came into view, I waited by the window until the mailman drove to our mailbox to deliver the mail. Then, I rushed out the front door to collect it. I am not sure what it was about the mail that I loved. Most days, it was nothing but bills and…
Ever since I was a little girl, Valentine’s Day has been a special holiday to me. During my childhood, I remember making mailboxes in school to collect all of the red and pink heart-shaped cards from my classmates. As I grew into my tween and teen years, my family emphasized the importance of celebrating friendship and appreciating loved ones. Valentine’s Day, therefore, wasn’t just about romance. As a result, I never resented Valentine’s Day if I didn’t have a “sweetheart”…
For as long as I can remember, December 13 has been an extra-special day in our family. It is the Feast of St. Lucia, which is my daughter’s name-day. She has loved this day and the saint we celebrate ever since she could grasp its specialness. We have cinnamon rolls for breakfast and read a favorite book about St. Lucy. Since her birthday is in the summer, she usually brings treats into school on this day. But six years ago, a…
The last saint in my mini “Saturday’s Saint” series within this 31-day writing series is St. Bernadette Soubirous. She is a most beloved saint in the Catholic Church, because the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her and asked her to build a grotto for healing in her honor. St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844. She was the oldest of nine children, but some of her siblings died at a young age, and even Bernadette became sick as…
Today’s saint is St. John Vianney, one of the greatest parish priests in the history of the Catholic Church. Many might be surprised that he struggled in school, because he is such a beloved priest and saint in our church. But he did, and his story of perseverance is inspiring. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney was born and baptized on May 8, 1786 in France. He was raised in a Catholic home, and his family was often found helping the poor. During the French Revolution,…
I probably should be writing about St. Teresa of Avila today, as it is her feast day. But today’s saint is St. Joan of Arc. Why? Well, this past summer I was on retreat, and I found this lovely holy card of St. Joan of Arc. I was drawn to it because of the prayer on the back, and I thought, “Wow! St. Joan of Arc is a perfect intercessor for my daughter!” Joan was born in France in 1412….
As a Catholic mom, I am grateful for the belief in the communion of saints, the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. On earth, they strived to live holy lives, following God’s will, practicing virtue, and overcoming sin. Now, they are in Heaven, and God has generously given them the opportunity to pray for us on earth, who are still striving for our Eternal Home. I often teach my children about particular…
As I ran errands this week, I noticed the inevitable: stores decorating and displaying Christmas items. The Halloween section was being consolidated, while the Christmas gift wrap was being set up in the very next aisle. Whenever I start to see Christmas coming too early, I get a bit panicky. Suddenly, I feel as if I am behind with the extra to-dos that this season brings. I have to remind myself that I still have an entire month before Advent…
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, during the month of the Rosary! I discovered a lovely reflection on the Rosary in my archives, and I thought it would be #WorthRevisiting today: All the supreme teachers, the popes, have been unanimous in proclaiming that the devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary are the hope and salvation of the world in our evil and dangerous era. They have endeavored, by word and example, to bring the…
Have you ever been asked the question, “Are you a ‘Mary’ or a ‘Martha’”? It’s as if we are expected to choose one or the other. It’s also as if one is better than the other, for doesn’t Jesus say, “Mary has chosen the better part”? (Luke 10:42) Many women identify with Martha more than Mary. After all, we see ourselves doing the same tasks that cause so much anxiety in Martha—cooking, cleaning, running errands, feeling busy with our long…