How to find time for a daily rosary
Twenty minutes, each day. That’s all the Mother of God asks of us. So why is it so hard to find those 20 minutes? Where are my priorities!? As I looked for tips on making time for this important calling, it’s clear that I’m not the only one who often finds it challenging to stop…
The donkey’s role in Christianity
To listen to this post, click below. I have a thing for donkeys. I really like them. They have a maturity and a thoughtfulness that I find admirable, as well as a playfulness that I think is adorable. I’m even to the point of considering getting a rescue donkey and stabling him at a local…
The empty grotto
To listen to this post, click below. I woke up this morning and went downstairs to start a pot of coffee. Once I pushed the “brew” button on my coffee maker, I followed my usual routine and began opening the window blinds to let in the day. Still a little sleepy, when I opened the…
Reflecting on Our Lady of Sorrows
To listen to this post, click below. Today, September 15, is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The gospel reading for today recounts the last act of Jesus, just before he gave up his spirit. He said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And…
The Apocryphal Roots of Virgin Mary’s Birth Story
To listen to this post, click below. Today, September 8, is the date that the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary. Had it not been for Mary accepting the invitation to bear the son of God, the trajectory of man would be quite different. So her birth is indeed cause for…
What did the Virgin Mary Wear?
To listen to this post, click below. As I write this post it is 94 degrees outside, and I’m hot. I look at the image of the Virgin Mary that hangs in my home office and I wonder how she survived the desert heat, wearing the clothing of the era. Summer heat can reach 110…
Validating the miracles of Our Lady of Lourdes
To listen to this post, click below. We often wonder if a so-called miracle is, in fact, a miracle. As hundreds of thousands of the faithful (and even those with little faith) have made the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, there have been more than 7,000 claims of…
Understanding the Assumption of Mary
To listen to this post, click below. I attended Mass this weekday morning, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, celebrated annually on August 15. What a beautiful Mass it was, with a nearly full church, music, a procession and a wonderful homily by our church’s pastor. Our pastor…
The Role of Mary in the Birth of the Catholic Church
To listen to this post, click below. Today marks the feast day dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church, among the most recent feast days decreed by the Holy See. Pope Francis wanted to memorialize Our Lady’s role in establishing the Catholic Church, so in 2018 he decreed the annual day of celebration that will…
Dementia and the Rosary
As dementia took over and my mother’s memory faded, the rosary helped keep us connected. To listen to this post, click below. My mother, like so many elderly, had forgotten many things in her last years as she suffered from dementia. My brother and I were lucky that she still recognized us as family, though…
Rosary ID tags are links to past
I have three very special rosaries. The first was given to me by my dear cousin Jennifer when she learned of a medical issue my then-6-month-old son was having. It was blessed at Medjugorje. The second belonged to my mother. It’s a wonder there are any beads left, because she prayed it constantly. The third…
“Assumption” vs. “Ascension”
August 15th is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation for Catholics. Many believe Mary “ascended” into Heaven on this day. They would be incorrect. Watch the video below for the explanation. I am hoping to bring more knowledge about the Virgin Mary to the world, especially during…
What is the Scriptural Rosary?
In the midst of praying the rosary, distractions often interrupt my focus. To remedy this, I’ve embraced the scriptural rosary, which involves reading related scripture before each Hail Mary. This method has deepened my prayer experience, and I’m grateful to have discovered it in my mother’s collection of prayer books.
Relics and faith
I am a doubter. I need proof. I am “Thomas.” Someone once told me that doubt is the thing that keeps us on the road, looking around the corner for the truth. In other words, doubt leads to truth. Therefore faith does not require the absence of doubt. Still, I have found great value in…
Our heavenly mother, Mary
As Mother’s Day approaches I am missing my own mother, who is now in heaven with my father. This will be the fourth Mother’s Day holiday without her. I can’t help feel an ache as I see all the special cards and gifts dedicated to mothers during every shopping excursion I’ve been on for the…
The ‘Path of Totality’: a preview of the Second Coming?
As I write this post from my home on the West Coast, I am watching national television coverage of the total solar eclipse. Here, we experienced only a partial eclipse (about 50 percent, according to the Orange County Register), so not much changed. The world looked pretty much the same to us. But now, as…
Eucharistic miracles, DNA, and the birth of Christ
As stated on the home page of this website, I have more questions than answers about Mary. This post recaps a lecture I attended, followed by further research on the subject of Eucharistic miracles and the DNA of Jesus Christ. There are so many theories and opinions. This post doesn’t offer any conclusions, but rather…
On ‘Jeopardy,’ Mary is the question
My brother sent me this screen shot of a recent question featured on “Jeopardy.” The answer is what appears on the screen. The question, in “Jeopardy” fashion, would be Who is the Virgin Mary? Alex Muhler, a policy analyst from Oakland, CA offered up the correct answer. (Muhler took second place in this particular game.)…
The Assumption of Mary
This blog was launched four years ago (2019) on the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. I hope to continue to post what I find during my search to learn more about the Virgin Mary until I am no longer able to do so. Here’s a look back at where it all started. I am hoping…
Pizzelles and the Hail Mary
I used to pride myself on my multi-tasking abilities. Not anymore. I am now retired and my goal in life is to single-task as often as possible. And at the top of my list of single-tasking priorities is prayer. Old habits are hard to break, though, and I still find my mind wandering when I…
searchingforthevirginmary.com 