Review by Michele Craig Sherry Weddell begins with a Catholic history lesson- refreshing our memory of war torn, anti-Catholic France in the 1600’s- reminding us how a handful of “intentional disciples” renewed the Church of their day. “As a group, they were remarkable for their diversity. Thousands were actively involved in the renewal, but the major figures included a cardinal, a bishop, three priests (including one who had grown up a peasant and spent time as a slave), two young... Read more
Mary endured a sorrow more cruel than death St. Alphonsus reports how Our Lady told St. Bridget that “the sorrow announced to her by the holy Simeon never left her heart until her assumption into heaven.” From the day of Jesus’ presentation in the temple forward, how sad a scene must love have continually placed before the eyes of Mary—a scene representing all the outrages and mockeries that her poor Son was to endure. See how love would have already... Read more
Review by Michele Craig I recently facilitated a book study at my parish using Sherry A. Weddell’s insightful and inspiring book entitled Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus. Not only did members of my parish attend, but members from many parishes in the surrounding communities as well. To me, that speaks volumes in terms of the number of Catholics who genuinely long to know and follow Jesus. But how is that accomplished? According to Sherry Weddell,... Read more
A sign that will be contradicted St. Alphonsus imagines, beyond the few words recorded in Scripture, what St. Simeon may have said to Our Lady when Jesus was presented in the temple. Watch now as Mary walks to Jerusalem to offer her Son. She hurries toward the place of sacrifice, and she herself carries the beloved Victim in her arms. She enters the temple and approaches the altar. There, beaming with mod- esty, devotion, and humility, she presents her Son... Read more
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of experience in TV, radio and newspaper and spent 19 of those years working in front of a camera as a reporter/anchor in the Detroit market. In the year 2000, Teresa left the secular media to start her own speaking and communications company, Teresa Tomeo Communications, LLC. Her weekday morning radio program,Catholic Connection, is produced by Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan and now heard on over... Read more
My sins are swords in Mary’s heart St. Alphonsus tells a story that reminds us how our sins are part of Our Lady’s suffering. Fr. Roviglione, of the Society of Jesus, tells how a young man had the devotion of every day visiting a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. In it, she was represented with seven swords piercing her heart. The unfortunate youth one night committed a mortal sin. The next morn- ing, going as usual to visit the... Read more
Dr. Scott Hahn was born in 1957, and has been married to Kimberly since 1979. He and Kimberly have six children and are expecting their twelfth grandchild. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has delivered numerous talks nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics related to Scripture and the Catholic faith. Hundreds of these talks have been produced on audio and videotapes by St. Joseph Communications. His talks have been effective in helping thousands of Protestants... Read more
We are the children of Mary’s sorrows St. Alphonsus reminds us that Our Lady’s cooperation in our redemption, as she suffered at the Cross, allowed her to bring us forth as her children. Blessed Simon of Cascia writes: “All who saw this mother silent at the cross, and not uttering a complaint in the midst of such great suffering, were filled with astonishment.” But if Mary’s lips were silent, her heart was not so, for she unceasingly offered the life... Read more
Gratitude for Mary’s sufferings St. Alphonsus reminds us that even though Jesus’ sufferings were “more than enough to save an infinity of worlds,” Mary wished to join in his work of redemption through her own sufferings. St. Ildephonsus didn’t hesitate to assert: “To say that Mary’s sorrows were greater than all the torments of all the martyrs together, was to say too little.” And St. Anselm adds: “The cruelest tortures inflicted on the holy martyrs were trifling, or even as... Read more
Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows St. Bridget of Sweden was a visionary who spoke often with the Blessed Virgin and had a deep love for her. Here she focuses on the role of Mary’s sorrows in our redemption. O Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculate Mother of God, who endured a martyrdom of love and grief beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! You cooperated in the benefit of my redemption by your countless afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father... Read more
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