The Blessed Virgin Mary did not have an easy life, despite the joy she knew as the loving mother of Jesus. She faced many difficulties. such as being pregnant and walking — or riding a donkey — for 90 miles over three or four days. Devotionally, the Church lists seven major sorrow-ful events in her life:

This month’s book review features four books — two written by authors from our own diocese — that are designed to help readers grow in virtue and develop their prayer lives. Each one would make a great gift on its own, especially during this time of year when Catholic parents are thinking of ways to help their college-bound children to remain strong in their faith.

We ate our honey. We ate a lot. Now we have no honey in our honey pot.”

With those 17 words, averaging just three letters in length, Jan and Stan Berenstain launched their legendary book series. They were using the methods Dr. Seuss had coached them on: rhyme, repetition, short sentences.

If you want to hear from someone who is really concerned about the condition of our poor in the United States, talk to a visitor from the Gaza Strip.

There is, to be sure, a stress within the Biblical tradition that God is radically other: “Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.” (Isaiah 45:15) and “No one shall see [God] and live” (Exodus 33:20). 

Liatris is an exceptional perennial for Colorado in that it is both tough and beautiful. Its tall, slender flower stalks are eye-catching and seem to remind us to “Stand up straight and walk with God!”

Business was good. So good, in fact, that the family company had become one of the largest breweries in New England, producing 300,000 barrels a year and supporting two generations of Geisels in Springfield, Mass.

In 258 A.D., Publius Licinius Valerianus — known to history as Valerian — had been Emperor of Rome for five years. He became perturbed that many members of the patrician and equestrian classes were fascinated by a dead Galilean carpenter whose teachings had vexed the empire for two centuries.