Lori Hadacek Chaplin

When I was 12, I came upon a funeral prayer card in a used book. For years —and occasionally still — I prayed for Rudy Larson’s soul. I never met him, but I felt called to pray for him. It was my mom who instilled in me the importance of…

Prisoners — especially those in maximum-security for committing terrible crimes — are the most forgotten members of society. We mistakenly assume that they have nothing to offer. Twelve Catholic inmates in Missouri showed that prisoners…

The Star is an animated Nativity story from the perspective of a donkey named Bo. Its producer, DeVon Franklin, has distinguished himself in Hollywood by being true to his Christian ideals. Best known for producing Miracles from Heaven,…

Faced with difficult situations, three sets of grandparents each welcomed a grandbaby into their home. These stories show how those decisions graced their lives and the lives of their grandchildren.

BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN Years ago, I heard Catholic psychologist Ray Guarendi on his radio show, The Doctor Is In, encouraging listeners to do something substantial for Lent. His words reminded me that I had felt God nudging me to attend…

Before Michelle Davis said goodbye to her 17-year-old son, Nathan, she tried to convince him to stay home. She’d didn’t like his bull riding, but until this moment, she had never asked Nathan not to ride. The mother of five had been…

Even though my four children spoil me on Mother’s Day, this day is always tinged with sadness for me because my mom, Sharon, passed away nearly seven years ago. She died from breast cancer two months shy of her 70th birthday. Mother’s Day…

There are approximately 3,000 publicly consecrated virgins in the world, with France, Italy, Argentina, and the United States having the highest percentages (in that order). This tally does not include those women privately consecrated,…

Mother Angelica, St. Teresa of Kolkata, and St. Padre Pio each had prayer lives to be admired. In the latter part of her life, a visit from baby Jesus gave Mother Angelica a new appreciation for the devotion to the Divine Infant; St. Teresa…