Happy Catholic*

I've written three books that are often praised for their accessibility. They are often given as confirmation gifts, used for RCIA classes, and given to converts/reverts.
Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets - my latest! This is the one to make anyone less afraid of reading the Old Testament....

Although struck with an iron rod until one of his arms had to be amputated, the doctor would not be quieted. Finally, as DeMille's autobiography recounts, "one Gestapo officer beat the doctor's head against a stone wall until blood was streaming down...

Portrait of Catherine II before a Mirror (1762). Vigilius Eriksen.
I found this at Books and Art (link above) where there was this interesting info.
This Danish artist, who worked at the Russian court between 1757 and 1772, produced some 30 portraits of Catherine II with different programs, compositions, and purposes. He was the first in Russia to use this type of portrait with a mirror, making it...

It's a solemnity! No fasting!
Leonardo da Vinci. The Annunciation.
On today's feast the Church celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation and, at the same time, the vocation of Our Lady. It was her faithful response to the angel's message, her fiat, that began the work of redemption......