Mary

My mother had a love for things that were simply beautiful. Our family home had touches of Japanese artwork, and the backyard was laid out more like an Asian garden than a typical New England landscape. Reflecting back, I think my mom had a…

“Miss LaTassa, during recess today I’d like you to stay in the classroom and work on our May altar.” It was the spring of 1973, and I was delighted to have been selected by Sr. Gemma to assemble the May altar for grade 4-1. Altar-building…

What we do know about Mary comes to us from the Gospel evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the early centuries of the Church, many traditions arose around Mary and her life. Some have no foundation in Scripture, such as her…

During my high school years, I believed the Immaculate Conception was the conception of Jesus. I was taking instruction in religion from a teacher who had a master’s degree in Catholic theology. On Dec. 8, he stood up in front of the class…

Advent is the perfect time to learn more about the Gospel stories of Jesus’ conception, birth, and infancy. We call these stories the “infancy narratives.” We are already quite familiar with these stories, but you may find something new or…

By Christina Mayeux Anxiety and depression are on the rise.  Even people who are faith-filled, devoted Christians often face difficulties with anxiety, fear, and sadness.  However, we are not alone when we experience the inner anguish of…

When my wife and I moved to the Bay Area from southern California, we were stressed. I was starting a brand new job, our first child was less than 18 months old and not sleeping at all, and we were staying at my wife’s parents’ home while…

There’s more than one way to pray the Rosary. If you have a special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate on Oct. 4, or if you’d simply like to explore a different angle on a familiar form of prayer, the Franciscan…

When the weather starts to turn warmer, a great event typically takes place in my house — spring cleaning. With the windows wide open to let the fresh air blow through the house, I clean, scrub, organize, donate, and simplify my home where…

The painting, Annunciazione di Cestello by Sandro Botticelli, or the Cestello Annunciation, has always struck me. I first saw it in 2014 at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, as a sophomore in college spending my spring semester…