Today’s video is a sneak peek from a new series on the mystery and meaning of marriage called Beloved. Its message is clear enough, so I don’t feel the need to explain much.
As a simple note, I would like to point something that I think is fundamental if we truly want to change the cultural tide: The necessity of face-to-face testimony. This testimony can happen in a variety of ways. It might be a case where those who have been living the married life for a few years now have the courage and charity to speak to younger generations about marriage, sharing both their trials and joys. Or it could mean the smile and joy that married couples transmit in their day-to-day life.
Beloved: The Mystery and Meaning of Marriage
Check out this link:
Pope Francis speaks critically about how sometimes we seem to keep Jesus locked up in the sacristies, and how we fail to be a Church that takes him out the streets, to the existential boundaries. The same might be said for married couples too. Every Christian is called to be place, a heart, where others can find God. In today’s individualistic culture, seeing two people who live in true harmony necessarily raises some eyebrows. But that’s not enough! Take the next step to go and speak to your friends and co-workers about how you try to live your life. Be creative. Be respectful; but don’t keep your treasure locked away.
Let’s never forget: The Christian message, at its core, isn’t so much an institution to guard jealously as it is a love story to be shared. T
he political battle for the institution is certainly necessary and important, but it is not essential. It does not change hearts; only love can transform. Everyone, on the other hand, loves a story of love. Everyone is looking for love and if they see that you have it, they will want to know what’s different about you, where your joy and love come from. So go out and tell them!
Interested in learning more? Join us for a free online workshop!
Is An Annulment Just a Catholic Divorce?
6 Keys to Understanding Catholic Teaching In Our Upcoming Online Workshop!
What is the Challenge?
Annulments, some say it’s just “Catholic divorce.” Others believe that if you simply pay enough, the Church will “say” you were never married. But what is the truth? What, really, are annulments in the Catholic Church? What do they do? What’s the process? What did Pope Francis do a year or so ago that changed the process? And what effect does it have in my life?
What is the Online Workshop About?
In the Online Workshop we’re going to be discussing what for many people is a confusing topic: Marriage annulments. These are the points that Fr Bateman will explain:
• The Marriage bond – how it is contracted and what is required • What an annulment really says and does • Why the Church can “annul” non-Catholic marriages • What an annulment DOESN’T do • How the process works • How Pope Francis altered the process • Then we’ll have some time for your questions
- What Is The Altar Of Repose?One day each year – and one day only – there is no Catholic Mass celebrated throughout the world. One day. The Easter Triduum begins with Holy Thursday Mass. What many Catholics don’t realize is that Good Friday service not a Mass, but a liturgy, as no hosts are consecrated during the celebration of the… Read more: What Is The Altar Of Repose?
- Do Catholics Still Have Plenary Indulgences?What is an Indulgence? Do Catholics still practice indulgences? That stopped after Martin Luther pointed out that they are wrong, right? To be sure, the 16th Century was a confusing time. There was a Dominican preacher named Johann Tetzel who Luther claimed was “selling” indulgences to fund the building of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.… Read more: Do Catholics Still Have Plenary Indulgences?
- Following Jesus’s Development In The Womb: ConceptionCongratulations! Your Lord and Savior has been conceived! Due Date: December 25th Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the fiat of Mary, the Savior has been conceived. Not only is he fully God, He is now fully man as well. Our Lord has chosen to be incarnated as a human in its most… Read more: Following Jesus’s Development In The Womb: Conception
- Cultivating Community: 6 Elements Of Peak CommunicationThe longing for genuine connection and community has never been more pronounced. Building and nurturing community is an essential endeavor in response to Christ’s call to discipleship. The quality of a community is reflected in the quality of communication among its members. If we want better community, we must elevate our communication. We must move… Read more: Cultivating Community: 6 Elements Of Peak Communication
- A Heart For The PoorThe following is an excerpt from The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God. One of the rules of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is to live in an area noted for the poverty. If a neighborhood’s economic status improves too much—that is, becomes “gentrified,” to use a popular term—we… Read more: A Heart For The Poor