Review by Michele Craig A coffin-maker, a child of divorce, an international and award winning actress, a national spokesperson, a cloistered nun, the head of an educational deanery… How has God incorporated, integrated, all of these roles -some of them seemingly unrelated -into one person? In Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows by Mother Dolores Hart,OSB and Richard DeNeut, Mother Dolores shows how God, who is love, took each part of her life -each... Read more
Mary’s martyrdom lasted a lifetime St. Alphonsus explains why the name “Mary,” one of whose meanings is “bitter sea,” is fitting for our Lord’s mother. “The passion of Jesus,” St. Bernard says, “began with his birth.” Mary was in all things like her Son, so in a similar way, she endured her martyrdom throughout her life. “A bitter sea” is one of the meanings of the name of Mary, as St. Albert the Great asserts. So the words of Jeremiah... Read more
Julie Onderko has been married for 34 years to Tom. They belong to Christ the King Parish in Milwaukie, Oregon. They are blessed with three grown sons and five grandchildren. Julie’s past experiences include being a stay-at-home mom, a free-lance writer, a youth minister, and a real estate broker. Currently, she is the Director of Faith Formation at The Madeleine Parish in NE Portland, Oregon. She holds a bachelors degree in Theology and is currently enrolled in the Graduate School... Read more
The soldier’s lance pierced Mary’s heart The lance that opened Christ’s side passed through the soul of the Blessed Virgin, St. Alphonsus tells us, because her soul could never leave her Son’s heart. So that the joy of the following Passover Sabbath wouldn’t be disturbed, the Jewish leaders wanted the body of Jesus to be taken down from the Cross. This couldn’t be done unless the criminals were dead. So men came with iron bars to break our Lord’s legs,... Read more
Raymond Arroyo is an internationally known, award-winning journalist, producer, and New York Times Bestselling author. As news director and lead anchor for EWTN, he is seen in more than 200 million homes on six continents each week and heard on hundreds of AM/FM affiliates and on EWTN’s stand alone SiriusXM satellite channel. Mr. Arroyo created The World Over Live in 1996, which he hosts live each week from Washington DC. Known for his penetrating interviews, Mr. Arroyo has interrogated the... Read more
Mary’s soul was crucified In a sense, St. Alphonsus concludes, two crucifixions took place on Calvary: that of Jesus’ body, and that of Mary’s soul. O God, what a cruel sight it was to behold this Son in agony on the cross, and at its foot this mother in agony, suffering all the torments endured by her Son! Listen to the words in which Mary revealed to St. Bridget the sorrowful state in which she saw her dying Son on... Read more
Only a miracle spared Mary’s life at Calvary St. Alphonsus insists that when Jesus sacrificed his body on Calvary, Mary sacrificed her soul through suffering. Mary was the Queen of Martyrs not only because her martyrdom was longer than that of all others, but also because it was the greatest of all martyr- doms. But who could ever measure its greatness? Jeremiah seems unable to find anyone to whom he can compare this Mother of Sorrows, when he considers her... Read more
When we first heard the news I believe we were all in a state of sadness. We were aware of the fragility of Mother Angelica’s health but the loss still stings. Our beloved Mother Angelica passed only a few short months ago and Raymond Arroyo delivers in a book that gives an overview of the last years of Mother’s life. Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence: The Last Years and Living Legacy pulls the curtain back on the silent years of Mother.... Read more
Our Lady’s sorrow at the Cross Can we even begin to imagine the depth of sorrow that Our Lady felt as she watched her dear Son die on the cross? Blessed Henry Suso imagines her tell- ing what she experienced on that dreadful day. All the sorrow that ever could afflict a heart would be like only a drop in the ocean compared to the unfathomable sorrow that my maternal heart at that time endured. Keep in mind that the... Read more
This week we have two titles to give away! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence by Raymond Arroyo and sponsored by publisher Image Books. (you can read the review here). A second lucky winner will receive one copy of Discovering Your Next Mission from God by Julie Onderko and sponsored by Sophia Institute Press (you can read the review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts NOW and... Read more
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