The Blessing of Throats
In modern times, at least among many American Catholics, one of the more popular blessings offered by the Church has been the blessing of throats on the feast of Saint...
Tarheel Disciple |
The Tarheel Disciple
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A German-American Saint
In 1883, Mother Marianne received a plea for help from the King of Hawaii to serve those suffering from leprosy on those islands. Over 50 other religious communities had declined...
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The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary with St. Joseph
In many places during the last 500 years, the Catholic Church celebrated the espousal (or betrothal) of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Saint Joseph on January 23rd. Its purpose was...
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Some Notes on the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
Until recent times, the cardinals of the Catholic Church were often referred to as “Princes of the Church,” and in diplomatic circles were accorded the dignities afforded to secular,...
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When Does the Christmas Season Really End?
Among more traditionally minded Catholics, sometimes there arise fraternal conflicts with regard to the question of when the Christmas season “really” ends....where does February 2 come in? Prior to the...
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Devotion to the Infant of Prague: “The more you honor me, the more I will bless you”
The feast of the Infant of Prague is celebrated on January 14. While this feast day may not be widely known, the image is. There are many images of the...
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Good Fiction for the New Year
Good fiction can open doors. We might explore topics and places that are entirely new to us and thus put the book down intellectually enriched. We can learn about situations...
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Servant Leadership in the Marketplace
This book would make a lovely New Year's gift for a young adult immersed in today's culture. For some of them, it would be a welcome word of affirmation of...
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Why Is January 1 a Holyday of Obligation?
“Holy days of obligation” are more confusing than they used to be. For many of us it was clearer in times past that Catholics were obligated to attend Mass in...
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Caryll Houselander’s The Reed of God & Mary, the Mother of God
The book, Reed of God, originally published in 1944, is a sustained reflection on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God, in poetry and in prose. It is...
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A Great Gift for New (and Old?) Catholics
Saint Augustine teaches us that time is a creature. It is created by God. Like all creatures, it is meant to be used for the good. Christians should be especially...
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St. Lucy - Virgin and Martyr
December 13 is the feast day of St. Lucy, patroness of the blind and those with afflictions of the eyes. Devotion in the Church to this virgin-martyr is ancient. In...
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Three Marian Feasts in a Single Week!
This year, 2025, the second week of Advent sees the liturgical celebration of three Marian feasts: The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Monday, December 8), The optional memorial of Our...
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