The abbot asked his favourite pupil how his spiritual progress was coming along. The pupil answered that he was managing to dedicate to God each and every moment of the day. “Then…
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The stories of the desert priests
During the early part of the Christian era, the monastery at Scete became a centre where many people gathered. After renouncing everything they had, they went to live in the desert surrounding…
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Christmas tale: The pine tree in St. Martin
A village boy sets out to buy a standard holiday tree, but ends up emptying his pockets to help a string of desperate strangers on Christmas Eve. Though he returns home with…
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If I had only one year to live, how would I live differently?
Anthony Burgess was 40 when he learned that he had only one year to live. He had a brain tumor that would kill him within a year. He knew he had a…
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Grandma and Santa Claus
When a child’s belief in Santa Claus is suddenly shattered by an older sibling, a wise grandmother steps in to prove the cynics wrong. This moving anonymous memoir reveals how a simple…
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The ugly duckling
A rejected barnyard outcast endures severe winter hardships and relentless teasing before making a stunning discovery about his true identity. Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved masterpiece stands out as a unique piece of…
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Snow White and the seven dwarfs
The timeless tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remains one of the world’s most cherished fables, but its journey to becoming a global classic reveals a fascinating history of how…
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The Beauty and the Beast
The timeless narrative of Beauty and the Beast remains a foundational cornerstone of children’s literature, yet its history reveals a highly practical purpose behind the magic. Originally penned by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne…
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Cinderella
The legendary folklore of Cinderella stands as the world’s most enduring archetype for overcoming obscurity, mapping out a timeless framework of unjust oppression met with triumphant reward. Historically tracing its earliest roots…
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Couple buys a piece of rain-forest and transforms it into a paradise
Pamela Malhotra and her husband Anil have found a special calling in life: together they run the Sai Sanctuary, the only private wildlife reserve and conservation area in India. When they bought the piece of…
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The happy prince
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright…
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“What are you reading, old man?”
A century ago, an old man was travelling alone in France by train. A much younger man, who was sitting next to him, watched as the old man reached into his travelling…