Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.
Tommy lay face down on the floor crying his eyes out. Parish School of Religion wasn’t easy for him. He was six years old and recently diagnosed with anxiety disorder, for which he took daily medication. To top things off, I had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. My illness...
Derek Becher Lights of color beautify the church this holy night; Poinsettias ’round the altar with their petals, soft and bright. Everlasting evergreens adorn the sanctuary, Behind the wooden Joseph and the Blessed Mother, Mary. In front of them is resting the divine Nativity; A simple grotto shelters heaven’s Holy...
Each of us has a cross to carry. Some are quite visible. Others are not. How we carry them may lead others to Christ or steer them away. Jesus said, “Take up [your] cross, and follow me”(Matt 16:24). Today my thoughts are on a young friend who is having a wisdom...
By: Richard Mark Dixon Underwear, shirts, socks, and school uniforms hung on a wire between two willows. Empty feet and legs opened and kicked with wind as if waiting for flesh and bone to fill them once again. Our church van drove past the waving toes and collars and parked...
By Lisa Grey As a child, I loved playing “mommy” to my dolls. I couldn’t wait to grow up and have my own children. Years later, my dreams of being a mom became tarnished. It happened when I realized that I found my eldest stepchild to be, well, challenging to...
…Of fried-egg sandwiches, Dad’s relationship with his maker, and other treasured memories of childhood. It’s funny how different people and events influence our lives. One of my earliest memories is going fishing with my dad when I was about six years old and being exposed to the grandeur and glory...
December 2013
For three weeks, Meditations on Vatican Art by Fr. Mark Haydu of the Vatican Museums occupied first place among Amazon’s new releases in religious arts and photography books. Published November 1 by Liguori, this hardbound book of Vatican masterpieces and accompanying meditations also sold out at nearly every stop on Fr. Haydu’s U.S. book tour. He believes that the book’s skyrocketing popularity is due to its beautiful art images and something else.
“People are starved for beauty,” said Fr. Haydu, who is the international coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. He wrote Meditations on Vatican Art to help people discover God’s love through the beauty of sacred art.
October 2013
Meditation
My nephew died four years ago. He had just turned 19 and was co-captain of his high school wrestling team. He was jogging before a track meet one afternoon when a teammate drove up behind him. Horseplay. An accident. A tragedy.
Frankie was also my godson. Every year on his birthday, I visit his gravesite and release a helium balloon. I stand there watching it until it’s out of sight. I like to think it’s going up to Frankie in heaven and not headed for the trees in the next town. It’s my quiet way of remembrance. It does more for me, to soothe my soul, than it does for Frankie, who probably has no need of earthly gestures.
September 2013 Dear Liguorian Readers, If you’ve already read Virgil Tipton’s column, you know that change is once again in the air at Liguori Publications. As my assignment as president and publisher drew to a close, Liguori’s board of directors set out to find new leadership. Their choices are a...