October 5, 2021

Strange but True #PrayerStories

Has God ever done something extraordinary to get your attention? Some heavenly sign that changed the way you looked at life? On a cold winter’s day in January 1983 I woke up in the ICU. About a week had passed since my car accident — leg in traction, tubes coming out all over my body. My car had slid down a hillside road on a patch of black ice, and skidded into oncoming traffic. The impact was so hard, my seat belt broke. I had severe internal injuries, crushed pelvis and femur, and required a complete blood transfusion. I spent a month in the hospital, […]
August 20, 2021

What is #PrayAcrossAmerica? And how do I get involved?

This fall Ave Maria Press is going to be releasing The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, a beautiful, full-color collection of favorite prayers and #PrayerStories of more than 70 faith-filled, inspiring Catholic moms with children of all ages and stages. (Preorders go on sale September 1, 2021.) More about that later, except to say … As this book was in development, I got to thinking about the thousands of Catholic women across the country who needed this kind of encouragement, and I started praying about how I could connect with these sisters of mine in a very practical, personal way. During this “season of COVID” I […]
July 1, 2021

The Stations of Our Lives: A Visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help (Champion)

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin was a kind of “home away from home” for Father Ubald, who frequently visited this Marian site of visitation — the only approved apparition site in the U.S. — to conduct his healing prayer services and to recharge his spiritual batteries. And so when I had an opportunity to go and see this beautiful place, which was to be the site of Fr. Ubald’s memorial Mass, Craig and I leaped at the chance. And we are so glad we did! From the white marble Stations to the underground oratory, which contains relics from […]