Throughout the 19th and part of the 20th centuries, before the invention of corrugated fiberboard boxes, manufacturers built sturdy wooden crates to ship their products to retailers. During the decades leading up to World War I, such boxes (absent...
One day in 1863, during the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was making one his frequent trips to a hospital for soldiers wounded in battle. As he walked from ward to ward, he offered cheerful and sympathetic words to all the men...
There were diverse trials during this journey, but I do not talk about them to gain sympathy. I mention them because they were an integral part of the experience. They were the fodder for growth, for learning to trust, and for learning to accept...
The nine-hour flight to Frankfurt was pleasant and the time passed quickly. I slept through about half of it. While I was awake, I watched a couple of movies and I ate. I thought the meals were pretty decent for airlines food, and the attendants...
For years I’d wanted to work as a volunteer in Lourdes. I’d wanted to go there with an open heart and mind and to immerse myself in being a servant of Our Lady. I had even travelled to Lourdes with a pilgrimage group in order to explore the...
In the Gospel reading for this first Sunday of Advent, Jesus said, “Be watchful! Be alert!” (Mark 13:33) Those verses in the New American Bible are translated as, “Be Constantly on the watch! Stay Awake!” Jesus made this statement after outlining...
Advent begins with us looking at the eventual end of the world. The passage in today’s Gospel account is taken from St. Mark’s (13:33-37) report of Jesus speaking to His disciples about the end of the world, telling them (and us) to be watchful and...
What is the old saying “money talks.” For whatever reasons, and there are many, eleven of the country’s largest retailers will open on Thanksgiving. Some of these retailers will open as early as 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving and stay open continuously...
