By Molly McKenna

Faced with the daunting task of revitalizing the Church amidst the upheaval of the Protestant Reformation, leaders in Rome turned to art. They commissioned a profusion of altarpieces, frescoes, oil paintings, and sculptures intended to reestablish piety among the faithful. Saint Teresa of Avila became a prominent subject that resonated with the people.

By Molly McKenna

Virtuous women -- it is a lost theme in our own day, but not a neglected one in ages past, particularly 17th century Netherlands. Because virtue is neglected today, few of us know how to interpret the messages of these lovely paintings. A deeper look reveals a beautiful nobility and depth that these artists saw in the daily life of women.

By Carrie Gress

There are few places on earth that have been designated a "resort" for centuries, but the tiny island of Capri can boast that it has been a place for R&R for over two millennia. Dazzlingly beautiful, the gem of an island of Capri is generally associated with the well-heeled and pleasure seekers. Despite its resort status, Capri has had a significant religious presence that can still be witnessed today.

By Sofia Infante

Not everyone has heard of REGINA Magazine, but this relatively new Catholic periodical is enjoying a growing presence. The breadth of topics presented in REGINA is wide and diverse: “We’re interested in everything under the Catholic sun — from work and family to religious and eternal life,” says REGINA’s editor.

By Elizabeth Wise

Father's Day is a great time to think about the remarkable gifts that fathers impart to their children. Some of their wisdom and love comes down to us through letters that have been written back and forth between fathers and sons, or fathers and daughters.

By Carrie Gress

Much of my adult life was spent thinking architecture was impenetrable. There were just too many terms, too many elements, too many epochs of style; the thought of trying to figure them out was overwhelming. It would not have been so daunting, however, if I had had this little book.

By Amber VanVickle

There are certain poems that I’ve read over the years that have become an indispensible part of my prayer life. I have come to rely on them as a sure way to express my heart to God or to understand a road I’m traveling on by reading from one who has traveled it before. Sometimes a short poem has the power to say things concisely that can't be said in a thousand words. Here a few of my favorite poems and musings I have taken over and over to prayer.

By Carrie Gress

If you have stood in the piazza of the Pantheon before, you probably didn't know that you were in the vortex of a dueling coffee giants. Like prize fighters on either side of the ring, two companies have been locked in an Eternal-City battle for decades.

By Amber VanVickle

The first time I marveled at stained-glass and felt the depth of its theological significance, I was a 15-year-old teenager walking amid the ruins of a bombed out church in the former Yugoslavia. Beautiful sapphire blue and emerald bespeckled the ruins, peaking out among the twisted iron and broken stone.

By Amber VanVickle

One encounter with relics felt reminiscent of my “dinosaur bones” days, squinting through the glass at untouchable reliquaries with indecipherable names and Latin classifications. But what did strike me was the multitude whose remains must have been so fervently and painstakingly gathered and preserved to not only honor the blessed and holy individual, but to propagate the faith.