The first time I ever prayed a Hail Mary was during my miscarriage. With my own mother 1500 miles away, I needed to be mothered: particularly by someone who also experienced the pain of child loss. One year later, in active labor with my daughter for several days, every contraction felt like it would break… Continue reading There’s something about Mary
Tag: Virgin Mary
Give me blood and guts
I used to have a crucifix necklace that I purchased at the Vatican during my semester abroad. Upon returning home, I made the mistake of wearing it to a meeting at Campus Crusade for Christ, my alma mater’s campus ministry. People chastised me: “You don’t want to wear that, people will think you’re Catholic!” “Crucifixes… Continue reading Give me blood and guts
What Mary offers grieving mothers
For most of my Christian life, Holy Week and Good Friday have been emotionally difficult. It’s a season that brings up old memories of being called a “Christ killer” by the mother of a childhood friend. Hearing Gospel passages of the Jewish people demanding Christ’s death has always made me extremely uncomfortable. That’s still the… Continue reading What Mary offers grieving mothers