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A patron saint for Girl Scouts

By
St. Agnes (died c. 305) Feast day: Jan. 21 These days, invoking God in the Girl Scout Promise is optional. Nonetheless, for Catholics and perhaps members of other Christian churches St. Agnes is still on their books as the Girl Scouts’ patron saint. St. Agnes was chosen not only because she was barely in her […]
1/7/09
Reading Time 3 min

Christmas decorations remind us of new life from Christ

By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The traditional decorations of Christmas are reminders that the light and love of Jesus Christ bring new life to all who wait in darkness, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope spoke about Christmas trees as symbols of new life Dec. 12 when he met a delegation from Austria, which donated the […]
12/17/08
Reading Time 2 min

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us

By Fr. William P. Saunders
“Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!” was the fervent prayer of all of the faithful in the fall of 1571. Why? First, some historical background. At the time, the Muslim Turks were ravaging Eastern Europe. In 1453, Constantinople had fallen to the Muslims, leaving the Balkans and Hungary vulnerable. In 1521, Belgrade and most […]
10/8/08

Rhythm of Knitting Invites Reflection, Prayer

By Gretchen R. Crowe Herald Staff Writer (from The Issue Of 2/22/07)
For years, knitting was something grandmothers did while sitting in rockers drinking cups of tea and recollecting stories from days long gone by. In the mid-part of this decade, however, knitting suddenly became “the” thing to do, with commuters pulling out yarn and needles on the Metro and co-workers proudly comparing rows of self-crafted monotone […]
2/22/07
Reading Time 3 min

A patron saint for the chronically ill

By Thomas Craughwell
Juliana Falconieri grew up among saints. Her uncle, St. Alexis Falconieri, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order. The priest who taught Juliana as a child and deepened her love of God as she developed into a young woman was St. Philip Benizi, one of the early superiors of the Servites. Inspired […]
6/15/06
Reading Time 2 min

Abstract-Looking Meditation on Thomas Merton’s Art

By Angelic Mistakes: The Art Of Thomas Merton, Roger Lipsey, New Seeds Books, 2006
Reviewed by Menachem Wecker Special to the Herald (From the Issue of 6/1/06) The disappearing ink act performed at the Summer Palace in Beijing might best symbolize Thomas Merton’s art and life. At the palace, retired calligraphers gather to write with water on the sidewalks. Though the sun quickly evaporates the water, the marks seem […]
6/1/06
Reading Time 3 min

Straight Answers: The Morality of ‘Sex Change’ Operations

By Fr. William P. Saunders

Before addressing the morality of "sex change" operations, or what is more formally termed "sexual reassignment," we need to first call to mind the fundamental moral foundation governing this issue. Each person is a precious human being made in God's image and likeness with both a body and a soul.

10/20/05
Reading Time 5 min

The Origins of the Rosary

By Fr. William P. Saunders
The rosary is one of the most cherished prayers of our Catholic Church. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Therosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has everknown; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying […]
10/6/05
Reading Time 4 min

St. Helena and the True Cross

By Fr. William P. Saunders
In my parish, we have a stained glass window which shows St. Helena holding a cross. When I asked another parishioner “why?” she did not know. What is the reason?
9/15/05
Reading Time 4 min

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