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To Jesus through Mary
sourceOn the Feast of St. Luke I was blessed to attend a most reverent daily Mass with Fr. Cliff Ermatinger of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as the presider. Fr. Cliff had not ever presided at daily...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Florence
Florence as viewed from Piazzale MichelangeloI never in my wildest dreams imagined that one day my husband, Paul, and I would travel to Italy, yet there we were for an amazing ten-day pilgrimage filled...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Assisi
mountain mists of AssisiAssisi was instant love. Â Who wouldn't love it? Â Not only were its churches magnificent and it's religious history profound but the city had an old-world charm with winding and...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Siena
Siena city wall that now surrounds a soccer fieldOutside Sienna's City WallWhen we arrived in Siena our first stop was at The Basilica of San Domenico where St. Catherine of Siena's relics of her head...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Loreto
Our first view of the Basilica della Santa Casa in LoretoBasilica della Santa Casa in LoretoIn preparing for this Italian Pilgrimage, I spent some time researching our destinations and the lives of the...
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Italian Pilgrimage: The Adriatic Sea
Could it be that our guide, Patrizia, suspected that we might be getting weary of the long bus rides and non-stop visits to churches on our pilgrimage and might be ready to enjoy a brief respite with a...
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Italian Pilgrimage: The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Of all of the locations on our itinerary, seeing the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano was the one I most looked forward to and was most excited about. Â The Eucharistic Miracle happened in the year 750...
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Italian Pilgrimage: The Veil of Manopello
"Seek the Lord and his strength: Â seek his face evermore." ~Psalms 105:4"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!'"Â Your face, Lord, I will seek."Â ~Psalm 27:8The altar of the Church of Volto Santo di...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Subiaco
St. Benedict's MonasterySt. Benedict's MonasterySt. Benedict's Monastery in Subiaco felt like heaven, literally. Â Spending time here was truly a mountaintop experience! Â Just as we suffer and struggle...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Rome, Day 1
Tiber River Art by William Kentridge (source)When we arrived in Rome it was already dark outside and our first glimpse of the city took us past the train station in a neighborhood riddled with...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Rome, Day 2
Fountain outside the Vatican Museum-the pine cone represents eternal life. Our second day in Rome was filled with excursions to view exquisite art work.  We began bright and early with a stop at the...
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Italian Pilgrimage: Rome, Day 3
Waiting for the PopeSo here we are, we've come to the last day of this amazing pilgrimage. Â We had to be ready to go extra early for our big audience with Pope Francis. Â Once again Patrizia warned us...
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Fr. Cliff Ermatinger's Homilies on Purgatory
sourceIt's been a great blessing to have Fr. Cliff Ermatinger presiding at some of the early morning Masses at Old St. Mary. Â He is a powerful homilist and so very reverent. Â Attending Mass when he is...
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Beguine Spirituality
"Anyone who has waded through Love's turbulent waters, now feeling hunger and now satiety is untouched by the seasons of withering or blooming. Â For in the deepest and most dangerous waters, on the...
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A Year of Daily Offerings by Fr. James Kubicki, SJ
 Would you like to grow in your faith but feel that you can't make time for one more activity in your busy day?  Do you want to gain a greater understanding of the church but feel that most of what's...
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Ex Votos
Ex votos at the Basilica of San Domenico in Sienna.When Paul and I went to Italy last summer I was so impressed by the silver Sacred Hearts that I saw displayed in so many of the churches that we...
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Year of St. Mark the Evangelist
sourceEach January for the past few years I have enjoyed participating in Jennifer Fulwiler's Saint Name Generator where, after saying a short prayer I click a button and a saint comes forward to...
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Mother and Child in Sea Glass
Working on this sea glass mosaic under the guidance of St. Mark and Our Lady brought me peaceful memories of warm and quiet days walking the beach to collect the bits of glass. Â I'm pleased with how...
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St. Joseph, My Hero
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and...
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Holy Fire
I recently heard of an astonishing religious experience that has been occurring regularly for thousands of years. Â I'm still scratching my head over how I Â had never before heard of this astounding...
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Abandoned St. Ambrose Church in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin
St. Ambrose church and monastery in St. Nazianz, WisconsinThere's something mysteriously romantic about old, abandoned buildings, and when that building happens to be a Catholic Church, the mystery and...
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Patroness for a Priest
"Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him,"Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take...
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South Dakota Spiritual Wonders
Fr. Jim, Paul, Mary and me at Mount RushmoreWhen Fr. Jim Kubicki told us that he would be moving from Milwaukee to South Dakota to work at St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, Paul...
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Blessed Solanus Casey
Blessed Solanus Casey emojiHow rare and difficult it is to be holy! How wonderful when we discover someone who really stands out in a crowd of faithful and is so well known for their spiritual...
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St. Dunstan
lighthouse mosaic made under the patronage of St. DunstanLately I've been feeling a little guilty about the extent to which my sea glass obsession has taken over my life. At the end of 2017 more often...
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