In a poignant reflection, John Clark reminds us to turn to Our Lady in our darkest hour, she loves us and offers a consolation greater than we can imagine.

Some of the best adventures for family field trips are the Catholic shrines located all around the country. These shrines are sometimes tucked into the smallest slivers of land in the middle of cities, surrounded on all sides by soaring skyscrapers. Sometimes they are just off the main highway and millions pass by unknowing each day. And sometimes they are so far down abandoned and forgotten roads that having but a quarter tank of gas seems a potential hazard.

Two great ancient philosophers, Marcus Aurelius in Meditations and Boethius in The Consolation of Philosophy — two works renowned for their great wisdom and moral power — teach the importance of the virtue of self-possession. Both writers observe that no persons can control the outside events that surround them.

Certain things in life seem common to all men.  The physical things are the most obvious: we all need to eat and to sleep, and we all need shelter.  But ...