You’ve heard of Easter eggs and Peeps and bunnies. But chances are you do not really know the story of the lilum longiflorum – the Easter lily. This majestic white flower, with its trumpet-like shape and sweet scent, is as much a symbol of Easter as any other. But why, and how? The Easter lily Read More…

Born into a noble family in the late 8th century, Meinrad of Hohenzollern (better known as Meinrad of Einsiedeln) chose a path of monastic solitude and devotion. Educated at the Benedictine abbey of Reichenau, he went on to serve as a monk and priest before seeking a life as a hermit, driven by a call Read More…

One of the joys of the Catholic religion is that the various feasts often inspire some very wonderful celebrations all over the Christian world. And this is just the case for Palm Sunday, which marks the first day of Holy Week. If you take a look below, you can see some rather beautiful traditions adopted Read More…

There are a variety of schools of prayer that suggest different ways to pray to God. One of them is the “spontaneous” school of prayer, where only prayers that are formed on the spot are considered authentic. The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not dismiss this type of prayer entirely, but it does explain Read More…

Last Sunday, an Argentinian friend invited me to an asado. No way on earth I was going to say no to that – even if we had to take the train for a bit more than an hour. If you have never been to an Argentine asado, you have been missing out on something big. Read More…

Whenever we speak of the Passion of the Christ, a particular understanding of the word “passion” is at play. It seems to refer to profound suffering on the one hand and unwavering love on the other. But the word itself might be somewhat problematic, as its use and implications depend on the contexts in which Read More…

Since the very early days of Christianity, monasteries have stood as steadfast guardians of knowledge and culture, carefully preserving and transmitting the intellectual and artistic treasures of our predecessors in the faith. These quiet institutions, often settled in serene landscapes, have been zealous incubators of learning and innovation, fostering a tradition of scholarship and artistic Read More…

Within the rich tradition of Irish Gaelic literature, a unique genre stands out. It is a seamless blend of adventure, mythology, and spiritual exploration – the immrama. These ancient, epic tales, resembling the Nordic sagas, compile the extraordinary journeys of courageous individuals in search of a mystical realm often depicted as a paradise of eternal Read More…

To say that everyone should read the Bible is not an unreasonable demand. But it isn’t necessarily an easy task. Certainly, it needs to be read with proper guidance, in a good translation, preferably in an annotated edition, with an acute awareness of the many literary genres it contains and the contexts in which these Read More…

Barquisimeto is a city in central-western Venezuela. Since colonial times, music and literature have flourished there. Considered the countries’ musical capital (the Venezuelan Nashville, if you will), it is also the birthplace of the poet and 2022 Cervantes Award winner Rafael Cadenas. Beyond that, it is also the cradle of a captivating spectacle of devotion: Read More…

In the heart of Extremadura (Spain) there is a sanctuary that has long held a special place in the hearts and souls of pilgrims: the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And yes, while the Virgin of Guadalupe is known in Mexico as the country’s patron saint and Empress of the Americas, the Spanish Guadalupe Read More…

The Artisan Guild of Florists of the Valencian Community has set its sights on a new Guinness World Record with the floral mantle of the offering to the Virgen de los Desamparados, which is traditionally made after the Fallas festivities in Valencia. As read in Valencia Plaza, the president of the guild, Juan Lluesma, believes Read More…