• 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
Maryland is already one of the most abortion-permissive states in the nation.

The world begins today

March 15, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It started as an ordinary enough day. I was just starting the workday at my office when my cell phone rang. It was my mother.

I knew why she must be calling, and I couldn’t answer quickly enough. My new nephew had been born!

My mother was full of news. The baby had arrived at 2:30 in the morning, he had a first name but not a middle one yet, he was 9 whole pounds, and mom and baby were both doing well.

As I listened to the proud grandmother giving me all the details, I looked out my office window and realized how brightly the sun was shining. The sky was a soft blue. The winter grass was taking on that green of a new spring.

Suddenly, the whole world looked different. Everything about this day seemed remarkable—and new.

A child had been born. A little life had begun. A brand-new baby boy was opening his eyes in this magnificent world, with a whole host of opportunities ahead for him.

It can be easy to get bogged down in the heaviness of life—here and far away from here. Watch the news unfolding around the world, and you can feel helpless and uncertain about the future. But there is something so special about the birth of a new baby. Today is a new beginning. Today, life is new. Today, the world begins again. Limitless opportunities await.

Who knows what this little one will accomplish or discover or experience? Who knows who he is and who he will become? I can only guess. I can only imagine. But God knows, and I feel so blessed that He chose our family to have a front-row seat to this child’s story. What joy! What hope! What love! What a beautiful reminder during Lent that each one of us has value and purpose, that each one of us is created for a reason, and that each of us is celebrated and loved.

And, so an ordinary day becomes extraordinary, and a new chapter begins.

Welcome, baby boy. We love you so much already.

Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels.

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Question Corner: Do Catholics give things up for Advent?

Books for Christmas 2025

The shadow of a crucifix is shown on the wall of a chapel

That’s No Coincidence

The time that has been given to us

The importance of ‘Gaudium et Spes,’ 60 years later

| Recent Local News |

Artist helps transform blight to beauty throughout Baltimore area 

Radio Interview: Advent and St. Nicholas

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor assignment and retirement

Calvert Hall holds off Loyola Blakefield to claim a 28-24 victory in the 105th Turkey Bowl

Tears and prayers greet St. Thérèse relics in Towson

| 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

  • Netflix’s ‘Train Dreams’ captures the beauty of an ordinary life
  • Ukraine’s religious leaders warn Russia will attack Europe if not halted, held accountable
  • Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace
  • Buffalo bishop calls nation, Christians to ‘do better’ in upholding migrants’ dignity
  • Question Corner: Do Catholics give things up for Advent?
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon
  • Books for Christmas 2025
  • Artist helps transform blight to beauty throughout Baltimore area 
  • Pope Leo is first pontiff to go to St. Charbel’s tomb; visit is source of ‘great joy’ for Lebanon

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED