If you need a Catholic speaker, you have come to the right place! Maria V. Gallagher is a member of the Catholic Speakers Organization! I am so proud to announce that I have joined this prestigious group, which proclaims the truth of the Gospel in a variety of venues. Please consider checking them out at https://catholicspeakers.com/ .

I need to begin by mentioning that I am a huge fan of author Peggy Stanton. An incredible role model, Peggy served as ABC-TV's first female news correspondent in Washington, D.C. Talk about a trailblazer! Peggy has just released an exceptional resource entitled The United "Saints" of America: On Pilgrimage with Our Mother Mary from Sea to Shining Sea. This beautiful book combines Peggy's personal reflections, inspirational quotes, information about significant churches and sh

I am thoroughly captivated by the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I often pray that my heart and my daughter's heart will be one in His. It is comforting to know that the heart of our Savior beats with love for me and those I cherish. So I was excited to delve into Dr. Robert Stackpole's latest Marian Press book, Our Light in the Darkness: The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Dr. Stackpole is a foremost expert on the Sacred Heart, and his vast knowledge shines through on every p

I believe it is never too early to teach children about the virtues and graces of our Blessed Mother. She is an intercessor extraordinaire, someone we can count on to seek the help of her son Jesus whenever difficulties come our way. Our Lady's Love for Little Ones is a lovely introduction to Mary and to the apparitions that have gained her followers around the globe. I was happy to see the book covered two of my favorite Marian titles: Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fat

I had the opportunity once to visit Knock in County Mayo, Ireland. I was struck by the fact that I felt as if I were walking on hallowed ground. I could feel the sanctity of the place and became fascinated with the vision of Our Lady which had occurred there. I wish I had known about the apparition when I was a child. Children today will have the opportunity to learn about this amazing phenomenon, thanks to a new book by Marian Press, The Lamb of God: The Story of Our Lady of

What a treat it was to read Talking of Michelangelo: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell in the Burgundy Region by Peter A. Giersch. I will have a more detailed review soon at CatholicMom.com. But in the meantime, let me just say that this is a treasure of a book. It is so insightful and renewed my love affair with the Catholic faith. It is also an exquisite homage to France. Part spiritual memoir, part travelogue, Talking of Michelangelo is as delicious as a croissant on a Par

I vividly recall the day I learned how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I was living in Columbus, Ohio, working as a journalist, and a kindly couple from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gave me a quick tutorial. Ever since that day so long ago, I have been devoted to the Chaplet and to the concept of Divine Mercy. I don't know where I would be today had it not been for the showering of Christ's Mercy upon me. So I was so excited to learn of the new book, Get on Board the "Mercy T

I had had my eye on this title for quite some time. Then, a bit miraculously, it appeared in my parish literature rack. I was overjoyed to see it there! Praying with the Popes is a delightful devotional. It offers words of hope and peace from Pope Leo XIII to our newly-minted Leo XIV. The chapters contain biographical information about the pontiffs, passages from encyclicals and other writings, and prompts for reflection and prayer. I found the book to be quite inspiring and

A Year with Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn and Erin Flynn is an absolute treasure. The book includes reflections for each day, based on the important concept of God's infinite love for us. The work serves as a key catalyst to prayer and pondering. I have found daily devotionals to be especially helpful to me in my spiritual journey. Knowing that I have a resource to turn to each day gives me greater confidence to face the day ahead. I would have to say that this particular devot

Few things scare me more in this life than human trafficking. To think of young people being kidnapped and sold into sex slavery is such a disturbing stain upon humanity. But we cannot fight human trafficking if we ignore it. Cinema can be a powerful weapon against this societal scourge. Still Hope offers a raw but necessary glimpse into the world of human trafficking. The absorbing film tells the story of Hope, a 16-year-old girl whose texting obsession leads her into an atm

It's one of the most important events in a Catholic child's spiritual life--the day he or she marks First Holy Communion. For the most meaningful reception of our Lord's Body and Blood, the child should receive top-notch preparation. It is especially helpful when that preparation comes in the context of the family. The new book First Communion and Beyond: A Family's Guide to Eucharistic Joy is a terrific resource for young Communicants and their parents. Authors Tommy and Kat

There is no doubt that a turning point in my life came when I consecrated myself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. My entire world changed. I no longer had to face life alone--I knew Mary was in my corner. I had entrusted her with all my goods, temporal and spiritual, and had given over to her my very self. In turn, I trusted Mary to help me get to heaven. I have now learned of an additional consecration, one in which I have entrusted myself to not only Mary, but to Joseph and

Hallmark Channel movies carry a Christmas theme...holiday parades celebrate the upcoming arrival of Santa Claus...and stores are bustling with pre-Christmas sales. I do believe that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but sometimes I get ahead of myself. I go "all in" on the Christmas celebration without proper preparation. As a result, my Christmas is less meaningful than it should be. Thankfully, this year can be different, thanks to a wonderful program called

Life seems so much sweeter when I have a devotional to begin my day. I love drinking in the words with my breakfast, finding delight in precious moments spent pondering a spiritual work. Undoubtedly one of the best devotionals I have discovered this year is Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way by gifted author and CatholicMom.com founder Lisa Hendey. Lisa has a true gift for making spiritual truths come alive. Whether she is musing about movies or relishing road trips, Lisa find

With Christmas just around the corner, you might want to check out a new title by esteemed author Emily Stimpson Chapman that would be especially appropriate for the wine enthusiast in your life. Sacred Wine: The Holy History and Heritage of Catholic Vintners is a new coffee table book that is an absolute delight to read and ponder. The book contains breathtakingly beautiful photos of vineyards in Italy, France, and Spain. But this is more than just a picture book for adults

True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort is a spiritual classic which draws readers closer to the Lord by connecting them with the Blessed Mother. I have read the work several times and have always been fascinated with the beauty with which de Montfort writes of Mary. But this edition by Marian Press surpassed all my expectations. The book is part of a new series called Marian Fathers' Classics. It includes fascinating insights and commenta

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I am so thrilled to announce that my newest book, Healing Encounters with Mary, has just been released by Marian Press. This labor of...