Life is a great journey that constantly calls us to leave ourselves behind in order to follow that uncertain desire that drives us. “It’s very difficult, in geography as in morality, to understand the world without leaving your own house.” - Voltaire And the...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page! Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live! Questions for reflection: Did you know who...
Liturgy Live discussion for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Discussion questions: Do you see the typological connection to the Baptism of Jesus in the first reflection? Have you had an experience of divine energy? What experiences have you had where suffering has...
When my mother notices that I’m trying to hide something from her or that I’m trying, good-naturedly, to tease her, she always reminds me quite colorfully that she is the one who made me! She knows me so well that she perceives my mood from the tone of my voice....
Gospel Reflection for Mark (5:21-43) When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he...
Liturgy Live questions for reflection on the 13th Sunday in Ordinary time. Looking back on past sins, can you see when you have courted death with your choices? Have you encountered envy in the blessings of grace in others? Do you "bump up" against Jesus in the...
Fr Ian VanHeusen and Alanna Burg talk about the readings for The Nativity of St John the Baptist. Questions for reflection. Do you think that names can have a hand in your destiny? What would draw you to someone? What type of magnetism would you respond to? Are you...
Catholic Bible Study for the Solemnity of the birth of Saint John the Baptist: Our lives are made of broken promises, promises that we make to ourselves and are unable to keep. And yet, somehow, these promises help us live because they spur us on and give us a goal....
Welcome to the new weekly Facebook live session where Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. You can catch us during the weekly live sessions on Mondays at 3pm EST on Facebook from our Catholic-Link page. Reflection Questions ...
“Living is the infinite patience of always starting over.” Ermines Ronchi A few days ago, I was listening to my friend Massimo and his mother discuss their gardens and vineyard. Much of it was lost on me but I was struck by one detail: they had to wait for the...
“If God has created all things, where does evil come from?” - Saint Augustine When we feel inadequate, fragile, or guilty, we immediately look for something to hide behind. We are ashamed of our nudity. We don’t want to be seen. It’s a recurring sensation throughout...
Welcome to the new weekly Facebook live session where Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. You can catch us during the weekly live sessions on Mondays at 3pm EST on Facebook from our Catholic-Link page. We welcome questions...
A Catholic Bible Study on the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 28:16-20 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to...
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (16:15-20) Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will...
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in...
“He lost himself in dreams of what could have been had he just left; left without saying anything; left forever, without ever returning home again.” ~ Pirandello Who among us has not felt the urge to just run away and leave everything? This was the case with...
What is servant leadership? As leaders, we should be oriented towards service, self gift. It's a simple principle, but it has to be renewed constantly. We also have to take care of ourselves in order to be able to give of ourselves to others. In this week's Catholic...
“We love only that which is beautiful.” ~ Augustine Freedom has a price, but does love? How much does love cost? Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Joseph, in the book of Genesis, was sold into slavery by his brothers. And Orpheus had to make a bargain with...
Are you afraid of death? Imagine just how much your fears hold you back from God's awesome plan for your life! In this week's Gospel reflection, Father Ian VanHeusen examines Lk. 24:35-48. Much like Jesus' plan for his disciples, it's hard for us to imagine what...
Gospel Reflection “Tell us, Mary: say / what thou didst see / upon the way.” ~ from the Easter Sequence They say that Homer was blind. We can’t be sure, but we can imagine that when we are looking for the right words within us, when we are immersed in the inner...
“What is your aim in philosophy?” “To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.” ~ Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost Paraphrasing Wittgenstein, we can say that the aim of the Resurrection is to show us the way out of the places in which we are trapped, from the...
Are you holding back in your faith? Cowering in the locked upper room like the Disciples? Father Ian VanHeusen leads us in a Catholic Bible Study on John 20:19-31, and the awesome trustworthiness of God to catch us when we step out, risk big, and shed our fears in...
Fr. Ian presents a gospel reflection and spiritual exercises on the Gospel reading options for Easter ( 20:1-9, Mk. 16:1-7, and Lk. 24:13-35). Using the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, we examine how to discern between authentic feelings of consolation and the ego traps...
Fr. Ian VanHeusen presents a gospel reflection and spiritual exercise on the Gospel reading for Palm Sunday, Mk. 14:1-15:47. Throughout the Lenten season, Father encourages us to invest in prayer of self-examination, and he provides practical assistance in the method...
Fr. Ian VanHeusen presents a gospel reflection and spiritual exercise on the Gospel reading of John 12:20-33, Jesus' startling statement about hating life in this world in order to gain eternal life in heaven. Throughout the Lenten season, Father encourages us to...