Notes from Nonna

Amy Morris-Young — who learned from both the Jesuits and her Nonna to view the world not only with her eyes, but with her heart and soul — shares that perspective in her monthly column.

The everyday miracle of calmness

by Amy Morris-Young

Dec 6, 2019

Notes from Nonna: When a friend told me about her son, I felt at once both isolated from those around me, and in the encompassing presence of God. And from that quiet stillness, I felt and heard this: "Just relax and let me love you."

Random joy is miraculous

by Amy Morris-Young

Nov 5, 2019

Notes from Nonna: Can we talk about how wonderful grandchildren are? I mean, really, who knew about the joy that was coming if we could only survive our kids' teenage years and early 20s?

Amid vitriol and polarization, how can we love one another?

by Amy Morris-Young

Oct 15, 2019

Some of my dearest family and friends embrace political positions that that fiercely contradict mine, but I still strive to love them. Being yanked between the ferocious ends of our current moral and political tug-of-war seems makes that difficult in the extreme.

Resisting the pity party

by Amy Morris-Young

Sep 16, 2019

When I'm in the middle of what feel like back-to-back catastrophes, I have learned that if I give in to even a bit of self-pity, I can rely on being thumped soundly on the head by God and the universe. And rightly so.

Columns ›

The everyday miracle of calmness

Random joy is miraculous

Amid vitriol and polarization, how can we love one another?

Resisting the pity party

Dear Mary, age 4: I'm sorry that our world is broken and dangerous

Far from Italy, living in American isolation, I pine for Lucca

Fashion notes from my nonna

Instead of rest in peace, run and play

Planning is overrated

The words of the Mass do matter

The life-changing magic of letting your hair go white

Parenting is always one day at a time