Gospel of John 21: 1-19 At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.He revealed himself in this way.Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his...
If Success Is Unattainable, Why Even Try?
Gospel of Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”So to them Jesus addressed this parable:“A man had two sons, and the...
Are You Really Happy? A Question We Should Ask Ourselves
Would you describe yourself as perfectly happy? Perhaps you’d say you are somewhat happy or happy enough, but not especially so. We often get the general impression that lasting happiness is far-off, practically impossible, not to be hoped for in this life. When we...
What We Can Learn From How Jesus Handled Rejection
Gospel of Luke 4:21-30 Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”And all spoke highly of himand were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of...
5 Signs You’re Struggling With Scrupulosity
What is Scrupulosity? Scrupulosity is a disorder in which someone is pathologically obsessed with moral or religious issues, and it makes them act in a compulsive and often distressing way. Someone suffering from scrupulosity has obsessions, feels compulsions, has...
41 Resolutions From St. Gabriel Of Our Lady Of Sorrows
How are your New Year's resolutions holding up?! If you haven't been able to stick to your own goals or you just need some inspiration to try something different, take a look at this incredible list written by St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrow. If you don't think you...
Don’t Overlook The Importance Of A Child’s Imagination When Teaching The Faith
What if? Every movie, book, or play sees its genesis when someone somewhere utters those two words: what if? What if a mammoth shark terrorizes a beach community? What if a boy befriends a stranded extraterrestrial and works to help the being return home? What...
5 Things That Happen On A Silent Retreat
Are you feeling low? Tired? Empty? Perhaps God is asking you to go on a silent retreat. Retreats, particularly those done in silence, allow us to set time apart for God by disconnecting from the very connected world we live in. Retreats can be for as little as...
Virtue Is The Answer | TrueManhood’s Guide To Virtue
Everyone struggles with something. A root sin, a set of bad habits, some sort of fear, something that causes undue anxiety, etc. Many (most?) of us struggle with many such things. So what does a person do? Drew Taylor and I sat down recently to discuss this topic, and...
How To Make A Daily Spiritual Plan In 7 Steps
We know what a spiritual life is, but what’s a basic way that we can get a daily spiritual plan going? What does a daily prayer life look like? Fr. Hanley offers tips and basic practices that anyone can use to get started in living a life of prayer. Listen to Fr....
Better Than Happy: The Joy Of Your True Calling
I was a postulant with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity when I learned that there is a difference between being happy and being joyful. Up until then, I had thought the terms were interchangeable. Someone could be happy being able to see their friends. A...
Winter Blues: Spiritual Ways To Overcome Them And Why It’s Important To Try
Winter is a beautiful time of year, but it is often when the mundane daily life, cabin fever, and other “winter blues” so to speak, start to take their toll on us. Physically we tend to gain weight, too, and not just as a consequence of holiday feasting. We spend time...
Why I Remain Catholic: A Personal Testimony
I am, admittedly, a ‘cradle Catholic,’ who has experienced times of great closeness to the faith, and other times when I wandered, like a dog, who suddenly finds itself outside its familiar fence, and is anxious to sniff out what the world outside might be like. ...
7 Things To Do To Distract Yourself When You’re Tempted To Break Your Lenten Fast
I distinctly remember grade school lunches on Fridays. They were conveniently meatless. Then in high school, when Lent arrived, as I bit into my chicken sandwich, I looked up at my other Catholic friend at our table. We realized it was Lent, and we spit out our bite...
A Vocation Story: On The Path of Love
“And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) Growing up I had never been around religious sisters as my entire education was in the public schools, and it was not until I was an undergraduate in college that one...
An Examination Of Conscience Illustrated Guide
An Illustrated Guide To Examining Your Conscience 1. Open Yourself Up to God’s Presence Practical tip: find a quiet corner in your home or in a chapel. Having a sacred image in front of you is ideal. Light a candle. Take a few moments to breathe and relax. Start by...
How To Be A Better Person In The New Year
You can ask that this year is better or you can pray that it’s better, but you should also prepare for it to be better. It’s okay if you didn’t come out stronger from everything you may have gone through, but now is the time to make positive New Year's resolutions....
Say This, Not That: Catholic Conversations With LGBTQ Persons
We live in charged times for dialogue, particularly around sexuality. It can feel like “truth” and “charity” are in a tug of war for our attention and application. We know LGBTQ concerns are more than just “issues” that show up in our news feeds. Many of us have...
Top 3 Ways I Failed As A Catholic Father
I didn’t sign up to screw up my kids. Fatherhood was going to be GREAT - adventures, hugs, and giving better than I got. 27 years, 10 kids, 6 months of couple's counseling and 1 year of Catholic psychotherapy later, it's the...
All Are Called To Lead | Episode 4
Do you feel like a leader? Sometimes, we can see our daily actions or lives as a survival mode. We are trying to live out our faith, get the to-dos done, work requirements, and help our family. The word evangelization can be intimidating and counterculture. We...
Using Social Media As A Catholic
This past weekend I watched The Social Dilemma with my husband, and I have since removed all social media apps from my phone (and totally deleted others). Now, don't panic, this is not an article trying to convince you to abandon social media, we at Catholic-Link very...
Learn To Rely On God By Observing St. Michael’s Lent
Increased attacks on Catholic churches in Europe, the US, and South America; growing political tensions; and abortion still considered healthcare are enough to prove the spiritual battle is intensifying. And, when you add on a growing pandemic and horrific accidents...
Responding To The Other Virus: Unemployment
“After a lot of thought and it was a very hard decision, unfortunately, we have to make you redundant.” Those are words that rank up there with “you’ve tested positive for coronavirus” that no person wants to hear. A second virus is now raging a war on us and that is...
Three Thoughts From A Priest About Quarantine
You are missed. In his magnificent biography of Saint John Paul II, George Weigel writes that to Father Karol Wojtyła, “a priest without a parish was a vocational absurdity.” A priest is ordained to be a man for others, “to go from men to God and offer Him their...
5 Things To Do When Life Is Chaotic
It’s a running joke that since the pandemic started, our pairs of jeans haven’t seen the light of day. In fact, we may not even have gotten out of pajamas before schooling children, working remotely, and keeping up with a house when everyone is always home. It’s...