Who Wrote the Memorare?
I have read that St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091–1153) wrote the Memorare, but I have also read that it came later. Which is it?
The text ( “Remember, O most gracious virgin Mary, . . . “) is the shortened form of a longer prayer (Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes, dulcissima Virgo Maria) that comes from the 15th century. St. Francis de Sales (1567−1622) writes that he prayed it as a student in Paris.
Why Does God Make the Devil So Powerful?
If God created the angel Lucifer, who failed God through pride, why didn’t God simply dump him in hell instead of allowing him to torment and wreck so many human lives? Isn’t God more powerful than Satan?
I have heard this explained in terms of free will. When did that theory begin? It seems that our all-knowing and all-powerful God has been shoved aside. What am I missing here?
Editor’s Minute
People love this column so much that they’re asking for more. Oh, that it were true! Nonetheless, more is coming. Some people actually have said this kind of Backstory message from the St. Anthony Messenger editor in chief would be a good addition to our digital media. We’re always looking for ways to reach more people with the good news, in the spirit of St. Francis.
A Catholic Mom Speaks
The Blessings of Being Busy
The other day, someone looked at my planner and said, “Man, you’re busy. ” She was absolutely right. On Mondays and Wednesdays, my daughter Riley has dance practice. Every day after school, my son, Alex, has track practice. We’re responsible for picking up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Oh, and let’s not forget Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, play practice, and indoor soccer. Yeah, busy is a good word for my life.
Life Lessons along the Appalachian Trail
For some, it’s the call of adventure or the challenge of reaching a goal. For me, it’s the power of sacramentality that washes over me and refines itself with each spirit-testing trip.
Baseball’s Ed Lucas
The 1950s-era New York dailies, masters of hyperbole when it came to viewing their sports heroes through the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately lens of hero or goat, called it “the shot heard ’round the world. ”
Bobby Thomson’s three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on October 3, 1951, at the Polo Grounds lifted the New York Giants to an improbable 5‚Äì4 victory over their bitter rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers, giving them a ticket to the World Series as National League champs.
