Nine-year-old Lucia dos Santos looked into the angry face of her mother and wondered if this was what the Beautiful Lady meant when she said Lucia would suffer. Little Lucia had never experienced such fury from her mother, nor had her mother ever called her a liar before. Indeed, her heart was deeply saddened. Yet a warm glow filled her whenever she thought about the Lady from Heaven who had visited her and her younger cousins, Jacinta and Francisco. Read the rest…
I hope those of you who are women had a blessed and happy Mother’s Day. Each of us, as women, are called to be mother. Some have been called to be a biological mother or an adoptive mother, but each of us, by virtue of our femininity has been called to be “spiritual mother.” Perhaps that is why I spent a good portion of my Mother’s Day thinking about our Blessed Mother. She is the pre-eminent and most exalted icon of spiritual maternity. In her we see the realization of the feminine ideal, the perfect woman, who identifies every woman’s call and mission.
On this precious day do not forget to send flowers to your love ones, even if they are not in the same country, you can use this flower delivery to Mexico City and show them your truly love. Read the rest…
Have you heard of the Eucharistic Miracle approved in Poland? What does it have to do with our day in time? What does it tell us about God’s mercy? This is just what we discussed last week during a special Women of Grace Live radio program with our staff journalist, Sue Brinkmann, OCDS, to talk about a Eucharistic Miracle in Poland that was recently declared by the Catholic Church to be authentic. Read the rest…
Anthony and Simon
A friend recently shared that he had read this Catholic Exchange article about my husband that was written by Heidi Hess Saxton following my husband’s death in 2007. There is rarely a week that goes by that I am not asked to pray for a grieving mother or loved one who has lost someone dear to them. I am posting this article today for you to share with a friend or family member, parishioner or client, health care professional or co-worker, anyone you know about, who may need some words of encouragement. May it bless you and may it bless them. Thank you, Tony, for calling this article to my attention. It blessed me. You are a good man. Read the rest…
Richard Zeidler, my “Uncle Dick”
Ten years ago I went for a walk with Alice von Hildebrand. The lovely Catholic philosopher and theologian had come into Phoenix to give a talk on God’s love, and desiring to enjoy the weather and the views around Camelback mountain, she found me a willing companion. Our conversation turned to my uncle, who had recently died after a terribly painful battle with stomach cancer. I had described his life to her, and then she stopped me, looked into my eyes, and said in her beautiful accent, “You’ve got to write that.” Firmly. And I knew I should, not just because when Alice von Hildebrand tells you to do something, you probably should, but also because deep down I knew it was true. So…it took me nine years, but here goes, and intentionally in time for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1st. Read the rest…
On Easter Sunday, a very dear nun, Mother Angelica passed away. She has been in my living room off and on for years on her EWTN television show. Her words were often opportune. However since her death, she seems to have come in a whole new way. EWTN is running clips of her all day and she has been speaking directly into my world. Read the rest…
Photographer: JUAN BELTRAN | FC
Johnnette S. Benkovic, founder of Women of Grace, speaks to women during the one-day conference at St. Mark Church in Southwest Ranches. Read the rest…
Dear Friends,
On a recent Women of Grace Live radio program, we discussed the quote below, which came from one of my previous blog posts. It generated a spirit-filled conversation about overcoming fear when we are moving forward in what we believe to be God’s will for our lives. I am re-posting the blog below as well as the link to the radio program below. I hope that it provides you inspiration today if you are experiencing fear. Read the rest…
It’s only fitting that during this Lenten season, we have the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of St. Katharine Drexel, a woman who lived to the full the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
It is natural to express thanksgiving for being released from difficult trials and circumstances. But who would be grateful for those who cause such difficult trials or circumstances? This is the stuff of saints — the very stuff of which Saint Josephine Bakhita was made.
