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“YES Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!”
Celebrating the 128th Anniversary of Virginia O’Hanlon’s Santa Claus Letter By Larry Peterson I wrote this blog years ago and except for a few minor changes, I am re-blogging it for Christmas, 2025. The reason is simple. I believe in Santa Claus and I am sick of hearing these elitist-know-it-all-uppity-ups declaring that “lying” to your…
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Don’t Believe in Christmas Miracles? Maybe You Should Reconsider
By Larry Peterson I believe, without reservation, that the Christmas season is a time for miracles. I have, over the years, experienced more than one. This was my first. You can decide for yourself if it qualifies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was August of 1960 and our mom had just celebrated her fortieth birthday. I was the…
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The Greatest Christmas Gift ever Given was His LIFE to each of us
Blessed Mother and Her Son “It hits me harder at Christmas… knowing He always knew.” He knew the manger would lead to the cross. He knew the birth would lead to the sacrifice. He knew love would lead Him into pain. Still, He came. Not in a palace, but in a stable. Not with an army,…
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A Remarkable Woman My Grandma
MY GRANDMA by Marissa Peterson A Remarkable Person Today I write this poem, I write it just for you I promise I’ll remember you when you were happy And not so much when you were blue. I could tell you everything and you’d know just what to do Today I write this poem…
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Dad, Mom, and Seven Children; Executed together in 1944– Beatified together in 2025
Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma and Children public domain Over the years I have written about many saints. Most of them have been little known. The truth is, I have loved searching the treasure troves of stories and essays and autobiographies and biographies of Catholic heroes and heroines. But among them all there has only been…
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Praise the Lord—Jumbo Feeney attended Mass on Easter
JUMBO FEENEY’S EASTER MIRACLE By Larry Peterson Jumbo Feeney and I grew up together in the Bronx and have been best friends since first grade. We can go a year without talking to one another, and when we get on the phone together, it is just like we spoke ten minutes ago. I love…
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Halloween and the Legend of the Jack-O-Lantern
By Larry Peterson Long ago in Ireland, the land of shamrocks, leprechauns, soft winds and smiles, there lived a man named Jack. Jack was quite lazy and did not like to work. But he had the gift of “blarney” and could talk the peat off the moss. He would tell wondrous tales about his adventures…
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St. Vincent de Paul— (Feast day September 27) Some facts about his life you may not know
By Larry Peterson I was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for twenty-five years. At present I am not active but being part of this organization has allowed me to interact and work with the least and most marginalized of God’s people. My affiliation with the society has allowed me to experience…
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Pope St. Pius X: His motto was “Restore all things in Christ” and he did his best to do just that.
By Larry Peterson The two most beloved Popes of the twentieth century lived during the beginning and at the end of that century. We all know of Pope St. John Paul II who guided the Church from 1978 into the new millennium. However, not as many people know about the man who became pope during…
Cradling Catholic 