It struck me as ironic that women use the "Handmaid's Tale" costume to protest the supposed oppression of women by a Church who reveres the most famous handmaid as Queen of Heaven and Earth. It also made me reflect on the accessory (if you will) that I wear day and night in honor of that handmaid.
Mary set outand traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And … Continue reading Pro-life Ministry: Lessons From the Visitation
When I was a kid, my favorite TV show was "Wishbone," and my favorite episode was about Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego (who was Blessed Juan Diego at the time the episode aired).
Day by day, bead by bead, the rosary bringing me closer to Jesus and his mother—and I'm bringing my daughter there with me.
“Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint, for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he … Continue reading Why You Should Cultivate a Devotion to St. Joseph
You consecrate yourself to Mary, and then you're done, right? You can coast through life and then be welcomed with open arms to those pearly white gates. Not exactly. And that's not what I expected when I consecrated myself to Mary earlier this year. But I think I did expect my journey to be a … Continue reading Marian Consecration: Not a One-Stop Shop
When I consecrated myself to Mary earlier this year, I received a brown scapular that had been blessed by a priest. I'd seen scapulars before and heard of the brown one in particular but didn't really know what it meant to wear one until my consecration. Now, I wear it every day. (And on a … Continue reading The Brown Scapular: A Carmelite Tradition
Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, creator of the "33 Days to Morning Glory" Marian consecration retreat and book, says that "the act of consecrating oneself to Jesus through Mary marks the beginning of a gloriously new day, a new dawn, a brand new morning in one's spiritual journey. It's a fresh start, and it changes everything." … Continue reading Totus Tuus: All Yours, Mary!
I attended the Raleigh Catholic Young Adult Total Consecration to Mary kickoff potluck on Saturday with almost no expectations beyond dinner and fellowship. I bought the book we're using for our retreat, "33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration" (Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC), skimmed the introduction and googled … Continue reading What Is Total Consecration?
Everyday Roses 