Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God acknowledges and celebrates Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus Christ. This holy day of obligation is a liturgical celebration observed on…
Faith
Lenten Soup Suppers
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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a journey of spiritual growth, requiring fasting, the giving of alms and prayer. Although this is a solemn season more about self-denial…
Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is one of the oldest Christian feasts. The word epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning to appear or…
Advent
Our Daily Advent Prayer Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this Advent season, which is Christ himself, whom God our Father has revealed to…
Thanksgiving
In the United States, many of us learned about Thanksgiving in grade school. We were taught that the fifty-three pilgrims (the only colonists to survive the long voyage on…
All Saint’s Day & All Soul’s Day
In Italy and Sicily, nearly every small town has its own patron saint with their own celebratory feast day. The celebration known as La Festa Ognissante (All Saint’s Day),…
Jacob’s Lentil Soup
Referring to the lentil soup his brother was cooking, Esau said to Jacob, “Let me gulp down some of that red stuff, I am famished.” (Gen. 25:30) This biblical…
The Religion of Coffee
In Italy, il caffe, expertly prepared, is more than just a cup of coffee, it is a religious experience. In the neighborhood cafe, (called a bar) daily life begins…
Buon Ferragosto!
August 15 is one of the most important Catholic holidays. It celebrates the day that the Blessed Virgin Mary was “Assunta in Cielo” (Assumed body and soul into the…
A Garden of Gratitude
“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul” -Henry Ward Beecher Spring is my favorite time of the year! My roses and geraniums are in full bloom.…
The Miracle of Spring
Like magic, my yard awakens! Seemingly, overnight, tiny buds emerge where only dead limbs existed just a few short weeks ago. I am continually amazed at the vegetation in…
Feast of San Giuseppe (March 19th)
Saint Joseph, (San Giuseppe) was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. The…
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread …
Christians the world over recognize this line from the Lord’s prayer, a prayer I learned in catechism (the Gospel of Matthew version) when I was a child and continue…
Buona Pasqua!
Cari Amici, A few of my favorite dessert recipes for this special holiday include; Easter Bunny Cake, Crostata di Ricotta, Spring Cupcakes, Pignoli and of course anything with Cannoli…
Lent
Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, marks the first day of Lent. For Christians around the world, it is a time of prayer and penance, fasting and abstinence, reflection…
Mardi Gras (Carnevale)
Carnevale is celebrated in many places around the world and in cities throughout Italy, with Venice being the most well known. The coming of the wisemen bearing gifts to…