Recently I attended a Baccalaureate Mass, and I couldn't help but feel the generally awkward vibe that tends to arise whenever Communion comes around, especially when the priest must explain that those who aren't Catholic may come forward and receive a blessing, but...
Dear Young Catholic, Just because you should be doing something doesn’t make it easy, nor does it mean you should have to do it alone and unsupported. There are times when being Catholic can be tough when you feel like you are the only person in the entire world who...
A few weeks ago during Mass the people in the pew behind me would not stop talking. They chatted away throughout the whole celebration. Needless to say, it was driving me crazy. I was getting more and more aggravated mostly because I was struggling to keep my own...
If you’ve read my post on taking children to Mass, you know that I’m constantly searching for tips, tricks, and strategies that will help keep my 5 kids engaged in the celebration of Mass. One of my #MomGoals is to help my kids learn to understand, appreciate and...
This article is for you, especially for you, if you have been thinking about going back to Mass this Christmas season. On the part of all of us at Catholic-Link, let me personally invite you back to mass (we even wrote a letter for you!): We want you back! Today's...
Sandwiched between the stark drama of Good Friday and the glory of the Easter Vigil, Holy Saturday is often in danger of being skipped over. For many of us, it will be a busy day- perhaps a typical Saturday, or perhaps hectic with preparation for the Easter Vigil. It...
Praying the Stations of the Cross is a devotion centered on the main events of the Passion of our Lord. If you have not yet done the Stations during the Fridays of Lent, we encourage you to take the opportunity on Good Friday. In fact, I dare say that we can...
One of the best ways to enrich your experience at Sunday Mass is to pray the gospel reading personally. A great way of doing this is using the “Lectio Divina”; this is a powerful method which we explain here. We hope that this reflection on the parable of...
Each time I hear the phrase “Holy Day of Obligation,” I cringe just a little. Not because I don’t want to go to Mass, just the opposite. The Mass is such a gift that I hate to hear it referred to as an obligation. It's time to change how we think and what we say about...
It can be difficult to extend the invitation to a neighbor or friend to join us at Mass for Christmas, but statistics show that 82% of people who do not go to Church are somewhat likely to attend if invited. This should give us the courage to be bold in our faith and...
Do you ever think about these words said to us by the priest at the end of Mass? Too often, I’m flicking through the hymn book to find the last hymn, and I miss their significance. Every phrase said in the Mass is there because it is important, so this isn’t just a...
This short video from Mark Hart, “Bored at Mass?”, will most likely speak to each and every one of us since it hits upon a very real struggle that many face – not only in the past, but also presently, and potentially in the future. But why? Why is it that we can...
'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the...
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...
In times when many world leaders seem to be indifferent or opposed to the Christian way of life, it is vital that we remember who truly is king, who truly reigns over our societies and our lives. This is an excellent moment to reflect on this, as we will be...
Today’s video invites us to reflect on an important and often forgotten about moment during Mass - the after Communion Meditation. Too often we may return to our pew after receiving Communion and sit and think. We may make a short prayer, the choir launches into a...
When someone wants to show you their affection and friendship, they invite you to their home. There are two important things which occur next: conversation and a meal. In the celebration of the Mass, it is Jesus who invites us to participate in his friendship, during...
Oftentimes our Wikipedia-mindset has taught us to read like robots. It's one thing to read a text looking to obtain information, it's another looking to undergo transformation. "Reading" the Bible isn't meant to merely offer certain ideas or reflections, it is meant...
We have all experienced the joy of sharing what we have with others, especially when we do so for those in need. When we share, we do not lose, rather we gain. Not only do we have more, we are more and our heart is filled with joy. How much greater would that joy be...
The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ. He offered Himself once and forever on the cross. The Mass is the center of our Christian life and the thanks offering we present to God for His great love toward us. It is not another sacrifice. It is not a repetition. It is the...
This could quite possibly be one of the cutest videos on the internet, as well as the goal of every Catholic parent of young children. Don’t we all wish our children could perform the Mass as beautifully as Isaiah does? Right now, it’s just a struggle to get my...
People have become more casual when dressing for mass. Jeans and t-shirts replace what had been the Sunday best - dresses, formal outfits, and suits complete with ties and nice shoes. Still, we learn, he makes it a point to put on a suit jacket, so he can show respect...
Are you smarter than a 2nd grader? It is amazing the information that we forget over time. Take our quiz to see if you are still as sharp as the day you received First Holy Communion. We did add a few more challenging questions to keep you on your toes! Good...
It's all too easy to find some reason not to go to Mass. All of us probably have at least one good excuse that we could use to try to justify skipping Mass, but the Mass is the greatest gift that God has given to us. Today’s post takes a look at some of the...
This beautiful glimpse into the life of St. Faustina is a clip from the award-winning movie Faustina: The Apostle of Divine Mercy, recently released by Ignatius Press. The film is based on St.Faustina’s “Diary” and tells the story of the Polish nun who...