This time of year, throughout the holiday season, we tend to hear a lot about the importance of being thankful. Some of us may ask, though, what about those moments or seasons in life when we just don’t feel like we have anything to be grateful for? Often our trials...
This past November my wife and I celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary. Seventeen blissful years that I would not trade with any other stage in my life. Today, I can say these have been years of conjugal peace and harmony, and I’m not talking about a...
We are called to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy (and as Catholics we have a moral obligation to attend Sunday Mass). For many of us, however, our job or station in life may mean that Sundays are just as busy as every other day of the week, maybe even more...
Do any of these words describe your family : Aggravating, Irritating, Dysfunctional, Crazy, Weird? I'm betting that most of us can circle one that fits at least some of the time. "We put the 'fun' in dysfunctional" is a popular saying around this time of year....
More often than not, it seems time flies by. We constantly complain about lack of time, yet we spend an incredible amount of time sitting in front of computer and telephone screens. Surfing the web, social media and online shopping have left us static and ironically...
"We can try to limit suffering, to fight against it, but we cannot eliminate it. It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness,...
This is a great short film which is described simply as being about ‘the magic of free parking,’ but you soon realize that this is about much more than free parking. It follows the character of Hugh Newman as he sets about giving compliments to people, one by one,...
As men living in the world today, we can feel isolated in our faith. We look around in search of inspiration, but the state of the world can leave us uninspired, dry, and alone. Why? Because, “every guy needs a brother.” Our culture today almost seems opposed to this,...
It has probably not escaped your notice in the last few days that a highly popular teenage internet personality has decided to quit social media and this has been a big deal. If this is news to you, here’s the lowdown. Essena O’Neill is an nineteen year old from...
"What can a Pope teach me about family and married life?" This is a remark I frequently hear from those who have not read any of the Papal teachings on family. Some of the most insightful advice and life changing words of wisdom on marriage have come to me through...
Evil. What is the source of evil? For some, the answer is simple: the source of evil is the devil. For others, the answer focuses on the human being: we are evil by nature. Is our flesh what makes us sin? Deepening a little bit, it would be a mistake to think that our...
The Good Lie is an eye opening, inspiring and heartwarming film based on the true stories of some of "The Lost Boys" of Sudan. From the years 1983 to 2005 over 20,000 boys were orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War. This film does an excellent job of...
To celebrate Halloween or not to celebrate Halloween? There’s nothing heretical or sinful about wearing a costume - assuming that it is modest and doesn’t incite imprudent behavior, of course. Having a couple of drinks if you are of drinking age or carving pumpkins...
Praying with your child is a vital part of their faith journey. Whether you are a parent, godparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling, introducing a child to a life of prayer is arguably the most significant gift you can give them, because you are teaching them how to...
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have...
What can a Pope teach us about family life? Pope Francis took the opportunity to share about the hope provided to all families through Christ Jesus while he was visiting Ecuador this past summer. Drawing wisdom from the Wedding at Cana in which Jesus preformed...
I recently had the privilege of reviewing the magazine ‘Radiant’, a publication that describes itself as “covering traditional topics of the Catholic Church and applying them to the modern lives of young, Catholic women who are searching, learning and living out their...
In his apostolic visit to the United States, Pope Francis mentioned several people who, through hard work and sacrifice, have been able to build a better future. People who, “shaped fundamental values which will endure forever in the spirit of the American people.”...
Ask anyone why they have not yet achieved a goal and you will usually get fear as their reason for not attempting to pursue their desire. I’m afraid I will fail. I’m afraid my life will have to change. I’m afraid I’m not prepared. The list of fears that hold us...
Do you remember February 13, 2015? On this day, 21 Coptic Christians were martyred for their faith by ISIS. This event has been depicted in a sacred icon by the artist Nikola Sarić . Our experience of icons can often be synonymous with historic events that seem...
Stephen Colbert hilariously captures the world of ‘lifestyle brands’ in this clip from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This is the world where your favorite celebrity builds up their own brand, allowing you to see the clothing and household items that they have...
Torn. The feeling of contradiction within yourself. This video shows the possibilities between two different choices that this mother can make. A young single mother struggling between abandoning her baby child or not is faced with an intensely difficult decision. As...
During an ultrasound done at thirty weeks, parents Erika and Stephen Jones were given the heart-wrenching news that their baby girl would be born with a massive brain tumor. They had already been aware that the baby would be born with Down Syndrome, but the tumor came...
McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner, is a funny and inspiring movie based on the real story of Jim White, a football coach who, looking for new opportunities, moves with his wife and two daughters to a poor neighborhood in the County of McFarland in the state of...
If it is not already clear to everyone: the devil exists, and he is not fond of human beings. Furthermore, he is a great coward. Since he is not able to hurt God directly, he decided to hurt God through the creatures whom He loves most: us. No one should be shocked,...