NCR: The Hidden Connection Between Mary and Divine Mercy

For many years I’ve marveled about the “coincidence” of three highly influential saints living in Krakow at roughly the same moment in history: St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Pope St. John Paul II. While working on my book, The Marian Option, it occurred to me that there does seem to be a missing link, however, between Sts. Faustina and Maximilian. What is the connection between Divine Mercy and Mary? I was intrigued by this seemingly missing piece and thought there might be something worth investigating. I had a hunch that there had to be a deeper link between Mercy and Mary somewhere in the mix.

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

ALETEIA: 5 timeless truths about the heart you’ll find in ‘Moana’

I had heard good things about Moana, I wasn’t quite sure what we would find wading into it. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised. An island chief-in-training, Moana is aware of a sense of mission. She is tasked with saving her civilization by returning a stolen “heart” to the goddess of life. Although a tale based upon the ancient myths of Polynesia, Moana does not stray far from timeless truths of the human heart that make for great storytelling and Catholic wisdom.

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

NCR: The Beauty of Women Will Save the World

Lovingly pouring ourselves out for others may not always be glamorous, but it is always beautiful.

Dante and Beatrice

There is a well-known Dostoevsky trope that says, “beauty will save the world.” The famous Russian is usually taken to mean the beauty found in the material arts. Music, architecture, and sculpture are rightfully being plumbed for their world-saving abilities, particularly how they lead a soul back to God. But there is one stone that has yet to be unturned when considering the role beauty plays in saving the world: women.

The desire to be beautiful is deeply embedded in a woman’s soul. Each year, American women spend roughly $11 billion on cosmetic surgery, $24 billion on skin care, $18 billion on makeup, $38 billion on hair care, $15 billion on perfume, and somewhere between $20-45 billion on weight loss. The average woman spends 17 years of her life on a diet. While we can scoff at all of this with Qoheleth and say, “Vanity of vanities!” (Ecc 1:2), perhaps there is something to this that goes deeper than vanity. What if God has put that desire into our hearts for a reason? For even the smallest girl will tell you she wants to be as beautiful as a princess. This isn’t just cultural conditioning, but something universal that sits squarely in the feminine heart.

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Posted on March 23, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

NCR: Tucker Carlson Schools Planned Parenthood VP in the Art of Plain English

You have to hand it to Planned Parenthood: No matter how far science advances or how precise ultrasounds become, they are wholly committed to Latin. Like a dog with a bone, you cannot shake the Latin word fetus from their talking points.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson about proposed cuts of half a billion dollars to the abortion giant in the American Healthcare Act, Planned Parenthood executive vice president, Dawn Laguens, made it clear again just how important fetus is to their success.

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

NCR: The Hidden Legacy of Michael Novak (1933-2017)

As the tributes to Michael Novak pour in from around the world, citing his accolades, accomplishments, and awards, there is one significant but largely unknown part of his legacy that deserves a special spotlight.

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

NCR: If There Is an Antichrist, What About an Antimary?

What, then, would an antimary movement look like, exactly? Well, these women would not value children. They would be bawdy, vulgar, and angry. They would rage against the idea of anything resembling humble obedience or self-sacrifice for others. They would be petulant, shallow, catty, and overly sensuous. They would also be self-absorbed, manipulative, gossipy, anxious, and ambitious. In short, it would be everything that Mary is not.

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Carrie Gress.

NCR: Stay-At-Home Moms Have 4 Tough Tasks

There are many reasons why it looks like the deck is stacked against moms, but these four stand out.

By Carrie Gress, Ph.D.

For decades, devoting one’s life to being a stay-at-home mom was considered socially backward. Now, however, more and more women with lucrative careers and ample opportunities are leaving it all to stay at home with their children. Some are taking advantage of the internet or part-time options and still working, while others are simply content just being “mom.”

There has been a cost, however, to all the decades of denigrating motherhood to second-class status. Although mothers today have every convenience, from washers and dryers, dishwashers and microwaves, to advances in health care, minivans and groceries delivered to our doorsteps, it is arguable that motherhood is perhaps harder than ever. There are many reasons why it looks like the deck is stacked against moms, but four stand out.

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Posted on January 18, 2017 by Carrie Gress.