Garrett Johnson
"The Science of Happiness- An Experiment in Gratitude" is a video produced by Soul Pancake. It looks to pose one of the most important questions we can ask: What makes you happy? How often, when asking someone what makes them happy, have you heard them list...
The eloquence of a gesture, the power of spontaneity, when we allow others to take center stage, the world watches. Today's video shows scenes from the young 6 year-old boy who "stole the stage" from Pope Francis. The occasion was the meeting of the families held in...
Every Catholic must realize that through their Baptism, they have been transformed. This transformation, however, has a meaning, a direction, a purpose. Through the grace and mercy of Christ, we are forgiven, transformed, and sent: we are called to be Apostles! Now,...
The decision of belief is, above all, one dealing with our existence. Between "yes" and "no" gapes an abyss. While taking place in the silence and shelter of our hearts, the entirety of the Heavens await, holding the breath, for that simple answer, that simple "yes",...
Bullying can be defined as the following: the unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. It can imply verbal (teasing,...
I have just recently returned from an annual 5-day silent retreat. It was a beautiful time of reflection, meditation, and encounter with the Lord. Out of all the beautiful and challenging elements, one has struck me: the power of prayer. No moment expresses my own...
What does it mean to live the Gospel? We are encouraged to do it all the time in sermons, but how does a person do this? It starts with looking away from ourselves, looking at others, looking with love. This video is a beautiful example of the power of looking at...
Today's video provides both an excellent explanation of some of the ideas behind the altar server together with practical tips on how to serve with reverence and understanding. As a reflexion, I would like to propose the idea that the liturgy, and above all the...
An impressive ad for their new game released, Chipotle’s Scarecrow depicts the story of a Scarecrow whose mission is to “rescue the City of Plenty from Crow Foods, the powerful industrial food corporation that has taken over the city. Tilt and tap your way through...
The first time I watched this video I thought “How cool, wheelchair basketball… but where is this going?” Towards the end, it appeared to me that all the guys got out of their chairs, and I thought this was a video about “walking a mile in another person's shoes (or...
Today's culture has a nagging obsession for concrete results produced with speed and efficiency. You've done something? Great, let me see it. I want to touch it, I want to share it on Facebook, I want to tweet about it... A digitized positivism that predicates the...
Whether this is a refresher or an introduction, this film creatively walks through the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a way that will stick with you. In his recent book, "The Name of God is Mercy", Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of going to confession,...
Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered Christ in breaking of the bread, so too are we invited to encounter the Resurrected Lord in the Eucharistic and to share this treasure with the entire world. On the Road to Emmaus This short film was produced...
When faced with temptations, do you run towards God or away from Him? "I fled him, down the nights and down the days. I fled him, down the arches of the years. I fled him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind and in the midst of tears. I hid from him..." This...
What is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and who can receive it? These four great videos will help you understand what is taking place in this beautiful Sacrament for those who are sick, suffering, and aging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrKiuKqTfSs...
In order to shine a bit of light on the parallel I want to make with this video, I will start out with the words of Christ: “The glory which thou hast given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, as we also are one… and the world may know that thou hast sent...
This short film, called “I Forgot My Phone,” depicts scenes with one jarring, all too familiar aspect: cell phones, which invariably eclipse the main events in life. And while not portraying anything that we haven't seen to date, for some reason, this theme has struck...
Many of us undergo moments in our lives that sting. They leave us furious, hurt, shocked by the absurdity and injustice of the situation. And, often, when that occurs it makes it incredibly difficult to forgive. Such a reaction is many times legitimate in itself, yet...
Do you remember the Gospel in which Jesus says, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword"? Many times it is difficult for us to hear and to understand this. And I imagine that I am not the only one...
After 17 years of education and training, Dr. Kathy E. Magliato is a "heart" expert. In this video produced by Soul Pancake, she shares a beautiful testimony of her life as a heart surgeon. A Deeper Look How many times have we as a people, as a society, as a...
The path towards Christ is one that passes necessarily through growth in self-knowledge and understanding. In drawing closer to Him, we discover more and more of who He has created us to be. The use of the masks: every barrier that we construct–whether we are...
Today's video is one of the most impressive and comprehensive videos that I have been able to find on today's greatest ailment: loneliness. It is the elephant in the room that no one speaks of... because they are all texting. We plug ourselves more and more into the...
A large part of the work of any apostle is helping others to make good decisions. Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that if we can give the youth all the right answers, they won't have trouble making good decisions. But in today's world, the availability...
"What is Love" is a video produced by CVCNow, a group that offers creative short films, designed to entertain and challenge your thinking about real life. They are hoping to bring a "much needed positive presence online and bring a fresh new perspective on real life...
One time, I was able to visit the Vatican Observatory and meet Brother Guy together with some of the other astronomers. One of those who were with us asked them,"Why does the Vatican have an observatory?" One of the priest astronomers replied: "That's what the Vatican...