Our Memorial Day was originally known as “Decoration Day,” an opportunity to decorate many graves of the over 600,000 men who died in the Civil War. It was, by far, our nation’s costliest war in terms of human life, about two percent of the entire population. Today, that would translate into 6.5 million people. Memorial Day honors all who have died in military service to our country since its inception. But why should we, as a nation and as Catholics, remember something so … grim?
My 95-year-old mother has severe dementia. The disease has robbed her of the ability to do so many things she used to fully appreciate in her life. … But I thank God every day that she is being cared for by compassionate staff in an excellent facility.
As a divorced/annulled woman, who is now married to the most wonderful husband, I remember trying to conceive without success. … It was difficult. I had lost all hope for a long time.
“Be known for your courtesy: It alone can make you worthy of praise. Courtesy is the best part of culture, a kind of enchantment and it wins the goodwill of all, just as rudeness wins only scorn and universal annoyance.
On April 19, the new legislature of the National Assembly, the Cuban parliament, after declaring itself officially in session, elected the new State Council, and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez as its president, who in Cuba is the chief of state and is also president of the Council of Ministers.
“You want to know why I don’t go to church anymore, look at the front page of the New York Post!” I was taken aback as a groom I was preparing for marriage called me and said that to me. I had not read the Post, so I asked him to hold on for a moment and I asked a retired priest I was living with for his copy.
Pope Francis has my admiration because I hear the voice of love speaking through him. He always stresses God’s infinite mercy.
Joan Rosenhauer’s appointment serves as a one-two punch of sorts, coming at a time in which more than 65 million refugees are currently displaced around the world, and also when the topic of women’s leadership within the Church continues to dominate conversation.
What a year this has been! First we have Ash Wednesday on St. Valentine’s Day. Now we have Easter Sunday on April Fools Day.
Spiritual writer, Kathleen Norris, in her book, “The Cloister Walk,” shares her Holy Week schedule. It includes morning prayers, choir rehearsal, evening liturgy services but what I really noticed, was right smack in the middle of her afternoons, she wrote “NAP!!!” Yes, in capital letters and extra exclamation points.
