Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, first celebrated on August 31, 1670 in Rennes, France. Devotion to the Sacred Heart became a universal celebration based on the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque on June 16, 1675, thus establishing the solemnity to be celebrated during the octave of the Feast … Read moreMiracles of the Sacred Heart
Ten years ago on June first, I had a brush with death. Here is the hair-raising story… In the quiet of a library, I first heard news of the tornado watch. A mother and her young daughter gave clues that danger was afoot. Hurriedly, she gathered up an armload of books. “Radar shows that an … Read moreTrapped by a Deadly Tornado
Good news for followers of this blog and other friends! My newest book, Lucia of Fatima, is published! Here is the incredible true story of three children who witnessed visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a hillside in Portugal 107 years ago today. Two years in the making, I relied on the memoirs of Lucia … Read moreLucia of Fatima!
This is a true story of a man I will call Joseph. Now Joseph is a handsome man who stands strong and tall at the age of 84. You and I might imagine reaching that age and deciding to relax in an easy chair. Not Joseph. Let me explain. Joseph and his wife led the … Read moreHero in the Trenches
Zoom in now on the photograph. Picture this man in jail. It is a narrow cell with dim light. You might imagine that he would stare at a dirty wall and do nothing. That is not the case. In fact, he sits on the bed and begins to write. First, he writes on the narrow … Read moreA Tribute to Dr. King
My dear husband can, at times, be a puzzling gentleman. Perhaps you can relate to this statement. I present to you a case in point. On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, he wished to celebrate the feast in a unique way. He conjured up the perplexing idea of having a picnic. That may sound fine … Read moreA Most Peculiar Picnic
Turin , Italy – 1898. Excitement was in the air as Secondo Pia set up his photographic equipment to take what was to become one of the most famous photographs in history. Big preparations were underway for the 400th anniversary celebration of Turin Cathedral. Pia, an amateur photographer and lawyer, was given permission by King Umberto … Read moreThe Most Famous Photo Ever Taken
Death first smacked me one day as I was walking to school. I was a Shirley Temple-type kid with blond banana curls and wide, innocent eyes. Back in the olden days, neighborhood children walked to school with not a responsible adult in sight. In fall, I shuffled through dried leaves piled up on sidewalks, picking … Read moreLessons from a Robin
I am a city slicker, raised in the suburbs of Boston, accustomed to the clatter of MBTA trains roaring into the station. As a child, I imagined train headlights to be dragon eyes gleaming out of the black tunnels dug below city streets. Little did I know that another spooky subterranean world lurked in my … Read moreIce Out!
Two-year old Jack splashed in the tub as his mother, Alice Kirke, washed his hair. With each rinse, tension began to build. Her husband, Kevin Kirke, was a Marine major who had been serving in Afghanistan. Kevin had not seen his son for one year, but now he was home, ready for that first night … Read moreThe Enchanted Hour