• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Thank you, God, for the snow

January 31, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Maybe it’s the fact that we never go anywhere anymore and rarely do much that is different.

But this snowstorm is especially magical.

It’s been snowing steadily all day. How much will we get? We don’t know. What will tomorrow bring? It’s unclear.

We’re just so happy about the snow.

It’s elegant and beautiful, covering the trees, spreading across the grass, and changing everything.

Just yesterday we had a dreary old yard that was totally boring to children who were forced outside to play. There was nothing to do. It was too cold. They would have to put on pants and shoes.

Today? We have a winter wonderland. The sleds are racing down the backyard hill, the snowballs are flying, and children are collapsing into the white stuff to make snow angels or just to fall and see what it feels like.

What joy.

And what a gift that it came on a Sunday when we have less work and no school.

Even the snow itself is different. When we look at it closely, we see it’s shaped in tiny white stars that have fallen from the sky, little crystallized jewels that formed who knows how. A meteorologist might be able to explain, but the science doesn’t really matter to us as we peer at the flakes. The fact that we discovered them in our very own backyard on a quiet wintry day just adds to the magnificence.

To think, snow is just water in one of its forms.

Water is essential for life. It can be transportation and sustenance. It can be spiritual and sacramental.

Today, water—in this frozen state—feels magical. And part of the joy of this snowfall is that it is breaking the monotony of daily life and changing our little stay-at-home world.

This snow, in this moment, feels heaven-sent.

And I feel so grateful for this wintry miracle of the ordinary turned extraordinary.

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Practice the ‘BeDADitudes’

Comfort my people: Unexpected surprises in life

A father’s gift 

Question Corner: Is the parish administrator the same thing as a pastor?

Yes, it’s our war, too

| Recent Local News |

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts

Incoming superior general of Oblate Sisters of Providence outlines priorities

Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

Oblate Sister Trinita Baeza, teacher and pastoral associate in Baltimore, dies at 98

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Vatican can take 3 key steps to bring Ukrainian kids back from Russia, says child advocate
  • Practice the ‘BeDADitudes’
  • Delaware garden of plenty provides food to needy, thanks to Vincentians, parishes
  • Pope sets Sept. 7 for joint canonization of Blesseds Acutis and Frassati
  • Texas prisoners’ witness of faith makes prison visit ‘a highlight’ of eucharistic pilgrimage
  • As revival’s Year of Mission draws to close, organizers look back — and ahead
  • Amid unrest in LA over ICE raids, faithful urged to pray for peace in streets, city
  • Pew: Christianity up in sub-Saharan Africa, down worldwide due to those leaving the faith
  • Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en