Wednesday, December 30, 2020

850th Anniversary of Saint Thomas Becket’s Martyrdom

  


Today is the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket on December 29, 1170. Thomas Becket was a statesman, a scholar, a chancellor, a priest, an archbishop, and a lion of religious liberty. Before the Magna Carta was drafted, before the right to free exercise of religion was enshrined as America’s first freedom in our glorious Constitution, Thomas gave his life so that, as he said, “the Church will attain liberty and peace.”

Friday, December 11, 2020

Holy Hacks from Fr. Calloway & Fr. Pacwa

   Holy Hacks are about increasing your capacity for holiness through thoughtful intentions to live a deeper faith. Here are two priests who shared their holy habits in Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith and Get to Heaven.

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Powerful Reminder to Pray First


I had forgotten to pray prior to practice with my co-hosts for our upcoming TV talk show, “Ladies of Another View” on BEK News
It was something we had done a few times and everyone happily agreed that it was a good idea. Then, I let it slip away. 

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

For the Man Who Hated Christmas

 




This story was published in Woman’s Day magazine December 14, 1982. It was the winning entry out of thousands of entries in the “My Most Moving Holiday Tradition” contest. 

“For the Man Who Hated Christmas” 

by Nancy W. Gavin 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Need a lift? Join Me at This Free Mom's Event

 
    This past week knocked me down in a way I don’t usually succumb. It’s not just our country, it’s our Church too for a number of reasons.

I hunkered down and prayed more. I focused on the fact that spiritual things are most important and they are all that is going to matter in the end. I also realize that even if I personally feel helpless, my prayers make a difference.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Threat of Biden According to Archbishop Sheen


         The threat against religious
 liberty that Joe Biden brings to 
his run for the Whitehouse was 
addressed by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen in 1947 in his  book, Characters of 
the  Passion. 

          For all the accusations that Christian and Catholic teaching is dangerous to our free society, Sheen pointed out that the reality is quite the contrary.“It was Jesus Christ who suffered under Pontius Pilate; it was not Pontius Pilate who suffered under Jesus Christ.  The grave danger today is not religion in politics but politics in religion.”

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Stevie Nicks vs Pope Leo on Freedom




In a recent interview with The Guardian, Rocker Stevie Nicks revealed her confusion to think that sex, drugs and rock and roll were greater than her baby. She ended her child’s life in 1979 while dating Don Henley of The Eagles.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Sacred Heart Promises Come True

 
The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart that Jesus gave us in 1673 changes lives. Through a series of apparitions to  St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, (feast day October 17) a nun in Paray-le-Monial, France, Jesus revealed the extent of his burning love for us.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Holy Art with Medals


  


     The first time that I attempted one of my medal mosaics, I bought the supplies, laid them out on my dining room table, and took a deep breath. I’m not an artist or master crafter so I had doubts about how my project would turn out. 

Sunday, August 16, 2020

A Scriptural Way to Peace


  At times we need to reflect on gentler things that calm and refresh. One way is to think of good things and give thanks. It’s a formula for peace that God gave us in Scripture.

Friday, July 31, 2020

We Need the First Five Saturdays Now!

 
There is a lot to fret over in our culture but there is also a lot at our disposal to fight against it. One very powerful action we can take is the First Five Saturday devotion. If you have never done it before, I encourage you to do it now and stick with it.  The promises are powerful and the need is great. 

Thursday, July 16, 2020

"From Severe Stuttering to Dramatic Success" by Chuck Piola


The teacher would call on me and I’d panic. My palms became damp with sweat and my throat would tighten.  I’d tell myself to calm down, but anxiety would force its way up.  The eyes of the other students seemed to bore a hole though me, watching and waiting for the answer that would not—could not--come. 

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Help Souls in Purgatory and be Helped by Them


God is behind every miracle and every answer to prayer, but he made us a family that interacts and can help each other.  When Jesus walked the earth, he taught us to pray for one another. That desire does not end when someone dies.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Life Changing Marian Apparitions Every Catholic Should Know


       
         To know the Virgin Mary is to love her. One way we can get to know her better is through her visits from Heaven to Earth. Marian apparitions are simply "private revelations" illuminating aspects of faith but not revealing new ones since, according to Catholic doctrine, the age of public revelation ended with John, the last apostle. 
            These messages that are in union with the Church, increase our love of the Blessed Mother who she leads us closer to Jesus, and call us to pray more and offer repentance for our sins.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Where Politics and Science Collide


Politics and science are often at odds, according to Mike Maguire, an atmospheric scientist for 38 years and occasional guest as the “Catholic Meteorologist” on Relevant Radio's Drew Mariani Show.  He writes here as a guest blogger, expressing his perspective that politics has been trying to redefine science in the areas of climate and life. 

Friday, April 17, 2020

Best Obituary Ever


    
         A friend of mine from Florida came across this obituary for Karen Dent and shared it with me. It is beautiful. I thought you would enjoy it too.Then, please join me in saying a prayer for Karen, although judging by the obituary, I suspect she is already in Heaven. 

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Cloistered Nuns in Need: ‘Please Send Us Your Intentions’

        A group of cloistered Carmelite nuns are asking for your intentions so that they can pray for you. Imagine!  We would actually be doing them a favor to ask for their prayers. All cloistered nuns pray for us, (praise God for such a blessing).

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Easter Came, Just the Same





       Easter was very different this year. And yet, Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Before going to bed, I was scanning Facebook and came across a post about this year's Easter by our daughter, Teresa. I found it touching and I thought that you would too.

Monday, April 6, 2020

During Holy Week & Easter, Pray with Our Lady



Surely, no human being suffered more during the passion and death of Jesus Christ, or then rejoiced more at the resurrection than did the Blessed Mother. If we ask, she can help us to get closer to her Son in a special way during Holy Week and Easter. 
Beginning during Holy Week, we can ask Our Lady to walk with us as we follow Jesus to the cross.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Is Pandemic from God and What to Do About It?


If there is a God, then why is he allowing the COVID19 Pandemic?  
For believers, there is no if.  But why?
In Psalm 6, verse 6, we read that sinful nations were chastised.  “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.”

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Are Sundays a Day Off During Lent?

Lent is coming soon so it's a good time to ask: Are Sundays a day off in Lent? I never heard about such a thing as a child but now, it seems like standard operating procedure.  From the Sunday-free-day crowd, I heard that since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of our Lord,  fasting is not even appropriate.  Well, what the heck?   Were all those extra days of sacrifice unwarranted? 

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Call on the Precious Blood of Jesus




Devotion to the Precious Blood is a devotion to the very passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ who shed his blood  as the price for our redemption. It is a powerful and intimate way to pray for reparation of sin and for our intentions.  Here are some prayers that do that.