Thank You Lisa Hendey

Just a short note of thanks to Lisa Hendey at Catholic Mom for the book review on Visiting Mary. You can read it here:

Visiting Mary

Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica

Busy weeks with my children finishing the school year, traveling for the bookstore and taking time to promote my new book, Visiting Mary: Her U.S. Shrines and their Graces has left me with little time to just sit and write. I truly miss the time but hanging with the kids and traveling and talking about our visits to the Shrines all over the U.S. has reminded me of the wonderful times we spent together over the past two years. One such time was our visit to upstate New York including the shrines and Niagara Falls. Ya know, when ya sit around and talk about driving from Nashville to Niagara Falls, ya never really think it's gonna happen. This was one of those trips where even my husband said, "Not going" and then found himself behind the wheel and pointed North. Again, we had no hotels and it was crazy crowded everywhere we went but we landed on our feet, found places to stay and had an amazing trip.

The work that Fr. Nelson Baker has accomplished in Lackawanna, NY is something to behold. The man mailed out Miraculous medals requesting donations and it was nothing short of a miracle of what all he built through those requests. If you think that the Falls are amazing, please do not miss visiting Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica along with the Museum of Fr. Nelson Baker underneath the Basilica.

Our Lady of Fatima

As we drove through vineyard after vineyard approaching upstate New York, we marveled at the beauty of this part of our country. It's funny to think that when we speak of New York as a family, we think of big cities, busy streets and large businesses. This part of our journey took us to peaceful countrysides, quaint neighborhoods and Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston where for years people have gathered from Canada and the U.S. and other parts of the world to honor Our Mother.

On this day, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the celebration of Our Mother's appearance to three young shepherd children in a small village in Portugal, we remember Her requests that on the first Saturday of five consecutive months we confess our sins, receive Communion and pray the Rosary. We remember her promises of grace.

This Crucifix begins the Rosary where the lights make up each bead.

Our Lady on top of the Basilica

Tile Mosaic of Our Lady

The Bell Tower

Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - Washington, DC

Honoring Mary from all over the world at the National Shrine

National Shrine

Our Lady of La Vang

Our Lady of Siluva

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of the Rosary

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Brezie

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Mary, Queen of Missions

Our Lady of Charity

We Pray Together:

Mary, Mother of all Nations, help us to live as one in peace. Give us the grace we need to go out and to spread truth. Give us the grace to spread the love of your Son. In this massive place, we find hope. Help us to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation so we may be more like you, pure and holy. 

from"Visiting Mary: Her U.S. Shrines and their Graces"

I'm Tough as Nails, Until...

I love the Month of May. I love to attend May Crowning. I went to one last week at St. Cecilia, where my daughter is a Sophomore and one yesterday at St. Henry, where my son is in 8th grade and my youngest is in 6th grade. Yesterday the First Communicants processed down the aisle first and took their seats in the front followed by the 8th graders who processed down, the girls leaving roses in the vases at Mary's feet and the boys removing their boutonnières and placing them around the vases. We participated in the all school Mass, sang beautiful Marian Hymns with all the school children, prayed a decade of the Rosary and then these lovely eight graders crowned Our Lady with the wreath of flowers blessed by Fr. Mike and carried by these two sweet 2nd graders. Gets me every time. I cannot seem to contain the tears. They just well up and flow over despite where I sit or who is involved. I just cannot help but believe that Our Lady fills this place where she is honored with gifts of grace. I can feel the warmth of her presence amongst our children. All eyes are on Her as she is crowned Beautiful Mother, Queen of the Angels. Oh how she loves them as they honor Her!