Archive for December 15, 2024

The interior of the Milk Grotto in Bethlehem. In the background, the most well-known depiction of Our Lady of the Milk. According to a Christian tradition dating back to the sixth century, the Virgin Mary was nursing the baby Jesus here, and when, in haste to flee to Egypt, she took him off her breast, a drop of milk fell to the ground, turning the stone completely white.?w=200&h=150

By Marinella Bandini

Bethlehem’s ‘Milk Grotto’: A pilgrimage site of hope for families seeking miracles

The Milk Grotto has long been a favored pilgrimage site for women and families seeking the blessing of a child... Read more

St. Benedict Church in Baltimore, Maryland (left) and St. Benedict Church in Richmond, Virginia.?w=200&h=150

By Daniel Payne

‘Reverently awe-inspiring’: The story behind twin Catholic parishes in Virginia, Maryland

St. Benedict Church in Baltimore and St. Benedict Church in Richmond were both constructed by Father Michael McInerney, a monk... Read more

Pope Francis presides over Mass on Gaudete Sunday on the island of Corsica, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.?w=200&h=150

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis praises faith of Catholics in French Corsica

During the Dec. 15 trip, the pontiff encouraged the island’s Catholic majority to continue to foster its traditional piety as... Read more