An examination of conscience is a tool that is used when preparing for making a good Confession. This tool can also be used at any time of day, but can be especially fruitful at nighttime, looking back over the day. The father is the priest of his domestic Church. He is the head of the […]

Once upon a time, there was a horrible dragon who lived in a pond near a village called Silene. The dragon was terribly large with a pointed head and a flickering forked tongue like a snake. He had sharp curved claws bigger and sharper than any sword. Deadly, though he was, the dragon was also […]

An Illustrated Guide To Make An Examination Of 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 making the sign […]

Priest, Prophet, and King A Baptized man shares in the offices of Christ of priest, prophet, and king. A Baptized man who is the father of children is a priest, prophet, and king in a particular way. His house is his domestic church and his children are the flock that he shepherds. So, what does […]

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 invest in prayer of self-examination, and he provides practical assistance in the method […]

3 Spiritual Exercises to Help Discern Your Vocation 3 Spiritual Exercises to help discern your vocation. 1. Think about Courage: “Here I am Lord” In Sunday’s first reading, the prophet is ready and willing to surrender to the Holy Spirit. “Lord, I am ready to do your will.” St. Ignatius encouraged his spiritual advisees think […]

Are you bearing fruit? Seeing our own limitations, forming and examining our conscience, and connecting with God’s mercy is something that takes deliberate and intentional work, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and thanks to the insights of the saints who’ve gone before us. Father Ian VanHeusen presents an examination of conscience and spiritual exercises […]

It seems that movies these days are no longer merely for entertainment purposes. The majority have an underlying social message that they are trying to get across to viewers. Is The LEGO Batman Movie one of these films? Well, probably not, but you will find several Catholic teaching moments in The LEGO Batman Movie. It […]

I was an English major in college. Unfortunately, I never learned to type my papers until I was faced with a terrible dilemma (this was before everyone had a computer). I had three papers due by the end of the week, and no one available to type my papers. I offered all kinds of financial […]

A common answer to the question, “How are you?”, is often “Busy.”  Yet, many times we don’t have to be quite as busy as we schedule ourselves to be.  Though there is great importance and dignity in the work we do, we often forget that there is also value in rest. Our on-the-go culture makes […]

Have you ever found yourself in a prayer rut? Perhaps you’ve been saying the same prayers for so long you no longer pay attention to the meaning behind the words.   Your prayer routine has become just that, routine.  Though it is good to be in the habit of prayer, we must not lose the […]

In recent years, some have noted a widespread crisis in the Church regarding the practice of the examination of conscience. On the one hand, for many it has become a legalistic examination (basically putting oneself in the courtroom), done exclusively within the context of confession, which can produce side effects such as scrupulosity, depression and […]