John F. Kennedy was the first sitting American president to visit Ireland. He arrived there to much fanfare in June of 1963. At the City Hall in Cork he said: “Most countries send out oil […]
Today is “Lá Fhéile Bríde, Brigid’s Day,” the liturgical feast and Irish national holiday in honor of the monastic foundress of Kildare, who along with Patrick and Columba, is the patron saint of Ireland. The […]
Recently, I had the opportunity to lead a pilgrimage to the major shrines of Portugal, Spain and France. The meaning of each stop was known to me prior to our journey: the Mother of God’s […]
In the midst of the carnage of two of the most seminal and tragic events in American history, God’s saving grace was made manifest by the presence of a Catholic priest. The Battle of Gettysburg […]
At the heart of the Christian life is taking up one’s cross daily to follow Jesus (cf Mt 16:24-26; Lk 9:23). As His disciples, we are not without hope in the midst of life’s trials. […]
Ireland is known as the “Land of Saints and Scholars” because of the vital role the island nation played in preserving the light of faith and learning in the midst of Europe’s dark age. 500 […]
I have always felt drawn to visit New Mexico ever since I read about its beautiful landscape and rich Catholic history in Willa Cather’s 1927 novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop. I finally made it […]
Only Ireland, on the outer fringe of Western Europe, was left unconquered by the mighty Roman Empire. The weather was too rough (the Romans referred to the island as “Hibernia, Land of Winter”), and its […]
The purpose of the Advent season is to arouse within ourselves the same spirit of longing the many holy souls of the Old Testament had in their hearts for the coming of the promised Redeemer. […]
The Feast of All Saints has its origins in the annual celebration in Rome of the transformation of the Pantheon, the famous temple dedicated to “all gods”, into a basilica dedicated to the Holy Virgin […]
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