Lori Ciccanti

Have you ever wondered what Jacob's stew tasted like? Most Bible scholars believe that it was made with lentils. Considering the nutritious quality of such a meal, I thought that it would be interesting to try to recreate this historical … Read more

During Advent season, I sometimes enjoy listening to the lovely plainsong music of Gregorian chants. One song in particular is known as the "Magnificat", Mary's wonderful hymn of praise recorded in Luke 1:46-55. In this lovely piece, … Read more

Recently, I watched a World War I film entitled Joyeux Noel, inspired by an unusual and true story which took place in 1914 on Christmas Eve. This film depicts the miraculous events which caused the two opposing sides to lay down their … Read more

Years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my sister gave me a book which included a number of traditional stories, poems, prayers, recipes, and games. Some of the games looked rather interesting, and I thought that it would be a great idea for … Read more

Ministries like Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors are working to raise awareness of the tremendous problems affecting the lives of thousands of Christians around the world. Image galleries, personal testimonies, and monthly … Read more

Over the past several weeks, my husband and I have been watching movies from the "Bible Collection" series. They present wonderful, true-to-life portrayals of many characters from the Old and New Testaments. Moreover, these productions provide a great basis for … Read more

My sister, who is in the process of moving, has given me a lovely set of dinnerware china. For years, I have been fond of its elegant design, featuring hand-painted rose blossoms with a twisted briarwood and leaf pattern around … Read more

In the little Pennsylvania town where I grew up, every Sunday morning, church bells could be heard from miles away, calling the faithful to worship. In addition, during the Roman Catholic mass, I recall the gentle ringing of altar bells … Read more

As a child, I remember walking with my parents through an old, abandoned house in the woods, not far from my aunt's residence. This property had been vandalized by neighbourhood kids, and there was broken glass and debris everywhere. Despite … Read more

Last fall, an MRI confirmed that my husband had a malignant growth on his kidney. The medical jargon on the lab report made my stomach turn into knots. The words, at the time, sounded like a horrific prophecy — like … Read more