Our family traveled to Europe for the first time in the Fall of 2000. We motored through four or five countries—savoring the sights and scents of cities older than anything we’d ever seen in the United States, and marveling at majestic mountain ranges. Our two-week road trip reached its apex in Rome—and more specifically, with the General Audience of Pope John Paul II on Wednesday, October 18, 2000. We were near and clicked this photo as the popemobile passed through... Read more
Here it is: the larger-than-life portrait of Pope John Paul II which was hung today in St. Peter’s Square. I suppose it wasn’t displayed at the May 1 Beatification because it would have obstructed the view of hundreds of the faithful. At the Beatification ceremony, Pope Benedict read the official decree in Latin: We grant that the venerable Servant of God John Paul II, Pope, henceforth be called Blessed and that his feast may be celebrated in the places and... Read more
It’s the stuff of science fiction, of a dark and dreary Dean Koontz novel: Vatican Invites Bloggers to Rome; Blogosphere Falls Silent Where Is Everybody? One hundred and fifty of us converged upon the Eternal City this week and now, only a few hardy souls—those who can subsist on two hours of sleep per night—are still writing! Are there no stories?! Actually, the bloggers I’ve met are still bustling, but on a different front. Unchained from their desks, some are... Read more
My father Roy “Bud” Davis, had he not succumbed to cancer in his early 40s, would be 84 years old today. Dad was a man of faith and high moral principles. He was a quiet man, even stoic—but Dad was not afraid to challenge someone who skidded across his clear line of acceptable behavior. For example, he could not abide a man who would use the Lord’s name in vain. Dad belonged to the Holy Name Society—and when he occasionally... Read more
Today I watched the sun rise over the Tiber River with a million of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Attending a Beatification is hard work! We had planned to leave the apartment at 4:00 a.m. Our group learned, though, that others would depart for St. Peter’s Square as early as 3:00 a.m.—so Lisa Wheeler, grand taskmaster and organizer extraordinaire, revised the plan and we planned instead to leave by 2:30. That’s 2:30 in the morning!! We set off at... Read more
This morning over at the Deacon’s Bench, Deacon Greg Kandra wrote about a House Blessing in which he had participated. Having read his story—twice in fact—I find myself in a story-telling mood! When my husband and I moved to our home six years ago, we were taking a big step and we knew it. Oh, our home isn’t huge—we have no marble staircase, no media room, no butler’s pantry…. What we have, though, is a bunch of trees—”big stuff” to us,... Read more
To all Congressional Republicans who have disappointed your constituents by your failure to support issues in defense of Life: The election will be held on November 6, 2012. The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts By Aesop A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together, the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed beneath his perch said: “Come with us”; but he said: “I... Read more
Last night at the beginning of the Easter Vigil, our pastor Fr. Bob LaCroix prepared the Paschal Candle. The pure white wax of the candle is inscribed with a cross, along with the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, and the date of this year of grace. As we gathered outside the church to watch, Father Bob inserted five grains of incense incased in wax into the candle, representing the wounds our Savior received on the Cross... Read more
A glorious rendition of Keith Green’s “Easter Song” by the Second Chapter of Acts. Read more
The Regina Coeli (“Queen of Heaven”) is a traditional Marian prayer. During the Easter season (from Easter until Pentecost), the Regina Coeli is recited in place of the Angelus, that ancient prayer of the Church which has traditionally been recited at noon and again at 6:00 p.m. The prayer dates back to at least the 1200s. According to legend, Pope St. Gregory the Great heard angels chanting the first three lines one Easter morning in Rome. He was inspired... Read more
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