On May 13, 1917 "a Lady all white, more brilliant than the sun" appeared to three young children tending sheep in the Cova da lria in Portugal. It was just eighteen months before the end of World War I which had been the bloodiest and most violent war to date.
This was not the first time a supernatural visitor had appeared to the children. Some time earlier an angel called the "Angel of Peace" had come three times. He had given them Holy Communion and had exhorted them to pray and make sacrifices.
Tenderly, the beautiful woman told the children not to be afraid; she would not hurt them. Lucia, the oldest of the three children, asked the woman where she had come from and what was it she wanted. The lovely Lady told her that she had come from Heaven and that she wanted the children to return to this same spot on the 13th of the month for the next six months. At the last visit, she would tell them what she wanted.
And so began the famous and incredible apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.
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When I was a little girl, one of my favorite afternoon programs on television was
House Party , hosted by television icon, Art Linkletter. I would watch and wait with anticipation for that one segment that kept me tuning in all through the long summer months.
It came near the end of the program and featured four young school children, seated on child-sized chairs elevated on a platform. The host, Mr. Linkletter himself, would interview the children one-by-one and ply from them honest, humorous, often unexpected answers laced with wisdom.
This popular segment of his program led to his best-selling book,
Kids Say
the Darndest Things, illustrated by Charles Schultz and printed well over 50 years ago.
Last evening as I sung "goodnight songs" to my four year old granddaughter, I had an "Art Linkletter" moment.
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Today I am going to San Antonio to speak at a luncheon tomorrow hosted by Guadalupe Radio Network. I have had the privilege of being a Catholic communicator via Catholic radio since 1987. I was asked to produce and host a show on the radio station owned by my own diocese, the Diocese of St. Petersburg. At that time the call letters were its name -- WBVM -- in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today it is known as Spirit FM. Sadly, our program is no longer heard locally here due to format changes.
Given the fact that when I began in Catholic radio there were only 7 Catholic radio stations in the United States, it makes me a bit of a pioneer in using the airwaves to present the teachings of Sacred Scripture and the Holy Catholic Church. Of the 7 stations, only 2 were used for evangelization purposes. The other 5, though owned by dioceses, were "easy listening" stations and acquired revenue for the dioceses via advertising dollars.
One short year later after our radio program's debut, I began to do programming for EWTN and have been on the air through EWTN since. Our radio program has been on EWTN's radio network since the radio network began and we now enjoy listeners hearing the program through over 200 Catholic radio stations in the US, and also via Sirius Satellite Radio and EWTN's short wave radio which take the signal worldwide.
I support Catholic radio. I believe in the benefit of Catholic radio. And I seek to be of service to Catholic radio. I consider it to be one of the most effective means of evangelization today, and hope to see Catholic radio reach even more deeply into the minds, hearts, and ears of people throughout the US and the world.
If you have Catholic radio in your area, consider sending a few dollars its way. Catholic stations are on the air because of your donations and contributions. And, so are Catholic radio program providers like ourselves. We need your help, too. We depend on your support to keep our program on the air. All of us are seeking one goal and one goal only -- to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of our country and the world. If we do that, we will solve our cultural, social, and political issues according to the mind of God. And we will experience a day and time of peace, a peace that surpasses understanding no matter the circumstance.
Johnnette's radio program, Women of Grace Live can be heard Monday through Friday at 11 AM (ET) via EWTN Radio and its affiliates, on channel 160 Sirius Satellite, and short wave radio. The program is also podcast and is available for download or listening at www.womenofgrace.com.
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A few listeners have called in to our radio broadcast, Women of Grace® Live, heard Monday through Friday at 11 AM (ET) and available via podcast on our website, www.womenofgrace.com, expressing fear about the direction our current president is taking the nation. Not only is there concern about violations regarding the dignity and worth of the human person from the moment of conception to natural death, but there is a great fear mounting with regard to the vilification of Catholics and Christians in the press and in potential policy. Recent statements identifying pro-life individuals and Catholics as “national terrorists” has frightened many.
In light of these calls, I am offering to you again a blog I wrote following the November, 2008 elections. It deals with fear and trust. I do hope it is of value to you. As always, I welcome your comments.
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On April 19 I was one of four speakers at the Boston Women's Conference, an outreach in the Archdiocese of Boston and held at Boston College. An attendee approached me through the course of the day and commented on my scapular. It is a bit of a dainty affair and features a picture of Our Lady and the Sacred Heart. She asked me if the Women of Grace website contained any information about the scapular. I expressed to her that it did not, but that I would consider adding information about this devotional and sacramental to the site. In the meantime, however, I offer the following article that I wrote about the scapular for an issue of
Canticle Magazine: The Voice of Women of Grace. I hope you find it useful and beneficial, that it clears up any questions you might have regarding the scapular, and that it creates a desire in your own heart to be invested in this holy way of life.
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I love this time of the liturgical year. The readings are filled with the many surprise "visits" Jesus made after His resurrection. Though I can't quite picture Our Lord as a practical joker, it is clear from the Gospel accounts He enjoys the element of surprise.
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After a busy day at pre-school, an hour at the kid's gym, and a T-ball game back at school, my four-year-old granddaughter made her way to the porch where I was busy with a writing project.
She plopped down beside me with the decorum of a ballyard princess and we soon involved ourselves in the very important business of drawing bunnies, rectangular shaped houses, stick-figured children, and various other cartoon delights.
The breeze played with palm fronds, the sky's golden orb began its descent, and my little lady thrust her head into my lap encouraging me for a tickle or two.
"Time for a bath," called Mommy from the kitchen, to which my grandgirl replied in a voice barely audible and muffled still more by a thumb and balled up fist, "I am sleeping in my grandma's lap."
My lips widened to a smile, a tear wet my eye, the horizon lit up in an explosion of orange -- and I experienced sheer joy! Ah, does it get any better than this? The gift of life...
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Recently on Women of Grace® Live, I received a call from a woman we’ll call Sandy. She shared that not long ago she “did something” she deeply regretted. She told us that she had confessed this “something” several times but could not forgive herself. She was sick of heart and this disposition was clearly evidenced in her voice.
First, I asked my listening audience to join me in prayer for Sandy and then I offered her some thoughts to ponder. Shortly thereafter, I received an email from someone who was listening that day. He expressed that he found the advice helpful in his life as well.
The fact is many have suffered, are suffering, or will suffer with the guilt of a sin. How do we look at the mistakes we have made? Can they be stepping stones to a deeper relationship with God rather than chains that bind us to bad decisions? Let me share with you some of the insights I offered Sandy.
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Many traditions have accompanied the celebration of Easter which lasts for fifty days (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday) and is called the "great Sunday." Following are some of the ones I have found most interesting to discover. See what you think.
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Today is the 2nd anniversary of my husband Anthony's death. It hasn't gotten much easier. Oh, the mind-numbing grief has waned, but I haven't gotten used to him being gone. No way. Does that ever happen I wonder? Just last week while in New Jersey presenting at a women's conference, I had the overwhelming urge to call him and share with him about the events of the day. ZING!
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