Fasting is a powerful and beautiful way of living out penance and self-denial, both important aspects of the Christian life. Scripture affirms the importance of this form of sacrifice and prayer, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all...
In Holy Week, the Catholic Church invites us to experience the most critical moments in history. In the business of daily life, the repetitive nature of the liturgical calendar, and the extended season of Lent, it's easy to miss the power of these days. If you are...
We are in Lent – a season of renewal, a season of “leaning in,” a season of surrendering more and more. Lent is a sacred and beautiful season. What I’d like to propose is that Lent is a great time to focus on “living intentionally” – essentially “living on purpose.”...
Did you know that each month has a traditional Catholic devotion? This year, let’s focus on each devotion month-by-month to grow in our faith and traditions! Make yourself notes, write it on your calendar, and pray a specific prayer each day of the month to remember....
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...
Lent is less than a week away. Doesn't it feel like we just finished taking all the Christmas decorations down? Now it's already time to start preparing spiritually for the 40 days of Lent. It is important to set aside some time to pray, discern, and listen in order...
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...
Full of Grace In the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, we hear that the Blessed Virgin Mary is to be the Mother of God. The Angel Gabriel greets Mary with a strange greeting. The angel says, recorded in the Greek, “Chaire, Kecharitomene… (Lk. 1:38).” St. Jerome...
With all the evil and suffering in the world, how does the less than twenty hours of the Passion of our Lord atone for all of the evil of human history? Many new Christians hear the saving message that Christ died to save them upon the Cross. But, how exactly does...
As we navigate through the Coronavirus and the seemingly unending strain of directives and regulations released by the Church and government agencies, we pray for and await good health and healing in all the world. In most dioceses, the latest is: Closed and locked...
During this time of COVID19 we have to be careful with our fear. The cure cannot be worse than the disease. How do you develop strategies to live a healthy balanced life in the midst of the shutdown. Monastic rule is so important to learn in this time. We are to KNOW...
This week on the Podcast we talk about temptations. Specifically the first temptation of Adam and Eve and the temptations of Christ in the desert. Most of our sins fall into the three categories of sin, our base passions, our vanity and our pride. We discuss fasting...
The Best-Laid Plans The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. We layout the best plans for our Lenten journey. We seek to approach Easter having undergone a well thought out and executed routine of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. If you are like me, this...
Many of us are living a Lent we never expected. Let's take this gift of time and use it to grow in holiness. There is so much we can do to continue our journey to Easter! We've created a list of free resources to help you with your quarantined Lenten adventure....
This week on the podcast we talk about how Moses was able to be real with God. He prayed in a way that showed his frustration with the people of Israel. The people knew what they needed but they didn't ask God for it. In the Gospel we talk about the woman at the well,...
On this second Sunday in lent we talk about aversion to climbing the mountain. When we make it to the top, we also don't want to leave. We don't like the cross, nor do we like the climb of exercising virtue to get up the mountain. We are to go as the Lord directs us,...
Lent Resources https://catholic-link.org/what-should-you-give-up-for-lent-penance-fast-catholic/ https://catholic-link.org/discern-consolation-desolation-spiritual-exercises-gospel-reflection/...
These Bible Verses Will Help You Decide How To Spend Lent Catholic-Link Lent Resources https://catholic-link.org/confused-lent-take-quiz/ https://catholic-link.org/7-ways-lent-food/ https://catholic-link.org/wild-scary-interior-lent-gospel-reflection/...
Mardi Gras rolls around every year, and every year I think "Oh shoot. What am I going to give up for Lent this year?" Now, for starters, I suggest that you consider what your Lenten practices are going to be before Fat Tuesday, but hey, we've all been there and just...
Have you been fasting this Lent? Sure, it's a struggle, but this ancient, scriptural, necessary Christian discipline is something Jesus expected and which Catholics for hundreds of years took as a given. (Check out our Illustrated Guide to Fasting) You're not supposed...
This week on the podcast we go over the entrance into Jerusalem and the problem of suffering in our faith life. How our Baptism, or conversion, is a joyful entrance in to the life of faith, but it is the suffering of the cross that is our path to unity with God. In...
Use this Catholic Bible Study for your own personal spiritual growth or with the apostolate you are involved with. Matthew 20:17-28 Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time 17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to...
This week on the podcast we talk about the lenten practice of fasting. Fr Ian is fired up! The whole point of fasting during lent is to get our flesh in line with our spirit, since "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". To fast from good things for a time...
"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matthew 17:20 At the beginning of Lent, we often make the mistake of trying...
In the last few years, the Catholic scene has been exploding with new prayer journals. This trend is a good tracking point for the effectiveness of the New Evangelization. The need for these journals shows that more people are yearning to spend time in prayer and to...