A gold ring, engraved with the words “Memento mori’ and inlaid with an enamel skull, was among the treasures discovered recently by amateur archaeologists near Carreghofa Castle in Wales. The ring dates between 1550 and 1650, and was probably owned by a wealthy Welshman, according to the National Museum of Wales, reported Archaeology-World.com. “This is Read More…

This September, fans of Italian poet Dante Alighieri will be marking the 700th anniversary of his death. There are many events and activities planned for the occasion: academic talks, new musical works, art exhibits, and even a special train in Italy. But there may be no better way to remember Dante than by reading his Read More…

The official image of the 10th World Meeting of Families, to be held in Rome from June 22 -26, 2022, was unveiled by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life in a press release dated July 28, 2021. This work bears witness to the close ties that unite the family and the Church. This Read More…

The Italian city of Padua’s 14th-century frescoes are one of the newest additions to the United Nations list of world heritage sites. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted this week to add 34 new places to its list of World Heritage Sites. They include the Colonies of Benevolence In Belgium/Netherlands, the Read More…

Seven years ago, Fr. Jim needed a way to connect with a boy from his parish. For whatever reason, the child did not want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with his class. While visiting the boy’s family, Fr. Jim noticed that he was playing Minecraft, and that’s when he saw in this decade-old game Read More…

The church of San Giuseppe in Molfetta, Italy, has already installed the first stained glass window depicting Blessed Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old beatified last year on October 10 by Pope Francis. His image—in jeans and sneakers—clashes with the traditional stained glass windows to which we are accustomed, and shows that holiness is closer to us Read More…

It’s rare for anything like media frenzy to surround medieval art. The discovery that some of the stained glass windows in Canterbury Cathedral are older than previously thought has caused considerable excitement. Much is now being written about the science of “spectrometry,” along with more wistful musings about these windows looking down on St. Thomas Read More…

Armand Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé (1626-1700), abbot of a Trappist monastery, refused to have his portrait painted, out of humility. The Duke of Saint-Simon and painter Hyacinthe Rigaud decided to use trickery in order to immortalize the monk’s face.  The story takes place at Soligny-La-Trappe, northwestern France, in 1696. A beautiful light illuminates Abbot Read More…

All eyes are on Japan as the summer Olympic Games officially begin today, after being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The attention will be on sporting and pandemic issues. rather than on the Japanese Christian community that was forced into hiding during the 17th century. The Martin Scorsese film Silence explores Read More…

“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” ― Michelangelo Cody Swanson is not quite what one expects when imagining a professional sculptor. Whereas some take a lifetime to master the intricate craft, Swanson, 36, has Read More…

Everybody is more or less familiar with the overused, almost cliched Renaissance image. Two chubby winged babies lean in at the bottom of the frame, holding their respective chins in their hands, looking at the upper frame as if they were up to something slightly mischievous. The image, which originally belonged to Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, Read More…

The Colombian Marian patron, Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, has officially come to the Vatican. A mosaic replica of the culturally important oil painting was installed in the Vatican Gardens on July 9.  Vatican News reports that the ceremony came as Colombia marked 102 years since the Blessed Mother was named Colombia’s patroness. Read More…