The Rosary Box
Four years ago, when I had four children aged 10, 7, 5 and 2, I realized we didn’t have a good handle on the mysteries of the Rosary. My husband, having grown up in a Catholic family and having...
View ArticlePope Leo XIII’s Encyclical on The Devotion to the Holy Rosary
Pope Leo XIII has been called “The Rosary Pope” because he issued eleven encyclicals on the Rosary. For the next 11 days I’ll post a quote from each of these encyclicals, with the links to the full...
View ArticlePope Leo XIII’s “Superiore Anno: On the Recitation of the Rosary”
In his second encyclical on the Rosary, published in 1884, Pope Leo XIII instituted the daily prayer of the Rosary during the month of October, especially in parishes. Pope Leo XIII had been...
View ArticlePope Leo XIII: Days 3 & 4
Day 3 One-Minute Rosary Quote from Pope Leo XIII’s On the Rosary and Public Life Mindful that in moments of great trial, pastors and people have ever had recourse with entire confidence to the august...
View ArticleWatching God Work
“As Catholic parents, we aren’t simply called to find the parenting method that is the most gentle, the most effective, or the most in line with our beliefs. We are called to parent in a way that will...
View ArticlePope Leo XIII’s “ADIUTRICEM” (Day 8 of 1-Minute Rosary Quotes)
On this 8th day of our “1-Minute Rosary Quotes,” we offer this quote from the 8th encyclical from Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary: The power thus put into her hands is all but unlimited. How unerringly...
View ArticleWhen Your Preschooler Hits
Hitting is a common problem in the preschool years. Kids at this age are having more frequent interactions with other children and are increasingly interested in playing with others, but they lack the...
View ArticlePope Leo XIII’s “Fidentem Piumque Animum” (Day 9)
On this 9th day of our series of 1-minute Rosary Quotes, ponder this beautiful quote from Pope Leo XIII’s “Fidentem Piumque Animum”: The form of prayer We refer to has obtained the special name of...
View ArticleCradled in the Rosary
“What I needed was prayer. As to which prayer, I had no idea; I only knew that I yearned for a prayer that would quiet my mind, engage my heart, and speak for me words that could capture the love and...
View ArticleAn Honorific: To the Courage of Newborns
I had decided to write an article about someone who deserves to be commemorated when the first person to pop into my head was my five-week old granddaughter, not some famous person who has accomplished...
View ArticleWho Needs a Teddy Bear When You’ve Got a Teddy Baby?
”I would wrap the newborn tightly in a warm blanket and let each child cuddle up to a living and breathing teddy baby.” A newborn can see clearly for about eight inches, just far enough to focus...
View ArticleBut Jesus Is IN There!
As Joseph waited expectantly for my wise answer, I scrambled to think quickly but truthfully. I was preparing dinner one afternoon, when five-year old Joseph came running up to me with a serious look...
View ArticleHelping Our Children Encounter Christ During Advent
In his Monday homily last week, Pope Francis urged us to “encounter Christ” during Advent and to allow Christ to encounter us as well. I’ve been thinking about how I can help my children to this end....
View ArticleCreating a Yes Environment
It’s almost toddler time at our house again. Faith is nine months old and already exhibiting traits of a true Tierney toddler. I expect that very soon, no cabinet door will be left unopened, no...
View ArticlePregnancy and Depression: You Are NOT Alone
Our guest, Jana Thomas Coffman, writes with raw honesty about her pregnancy and post-partum depression, and how she found strength in her friendship with the saints. This is a hard article to write....
View ArticleDropping My Net for Jesus (and Claire)
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I...
View ArticleIf I Could Offer Only One Piece of Advice to Young Mothers
“I might have looked like a self-sacrificing mother but I was merely acting out of a sense of self-preservation when I put my kids’ needs first.” Melanie Jean Juneau What sort of behavior would you...
View ArticleThe Art of Being
I was up late the other night with my teething baby. We thought we had her asleep. She was snuggled with Daddy, her little body was limp, her lips puckered in anticipation of the first middle of the...
View ArticleReflections from “The Bathing Grandma”
“Don’t treat babies like objects or bath time like a chore. Relax, talk and relate to this new little person in a soothing, calm voice that reassures him that he is safe, loved and protected.” Yes, my...
View ArticleMy Body Given Up for You
I recently overheard a fellow pregnant woman comment to her husband words that saddened me. I chalked up my sadness to my hormones (the ones that have me constantly crying at television commercials). I...
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