I was once walking around the outside of an incredibly beautiful cathedral; I walked around it twice just gazing in marvel upon the architecture, and trying to work out, or glimpse an understanding of what must have gone through the architect’s mind as he designed and...
Music | A Selection Of Our Favorite Catholic And Christian Songs and Artists
Music | A Selection Of Our Favorite Catholic And Christian Songs and Artists
Should You Sing At Mass Even If You Can’t Carry A Tune?
Sometimes the choir sounds so beautiful at Mass that it's tempting to not join in singing. You're inclined to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. But, that's just it. This isn't a show. This is Mass. This is our highest form of worship and prayer and it is...
What Does Classical Music Have To Do With God?
What is the essence of music? As a philosopher, music fascinates me. As a Catholic, music does something much more – it brings me before the face of God. Josef Pieper, one of the great philosophical thinkers of the twentieth century, once gave an address during...
5 Works Of Art To Help You Pray the Rosary: The Luminous Mysteries
Did you know that these five mysteries were introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002? His Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae established a Year of the Rosary - somewhat akin to this past year's Year of Mercy. For those who try to pray five decades daily, these...
5 Works Of Art To Help You Pray The Glorious Mysteries Of The Rosary
Far from a distraction away from God or - even worse, as some claim - idolatry, sacred art makes sense. Whether as a teaching tool, a meditative window or - on the part of the artist - an act of human participation in the creative impulse of God, beauty in art speaks...
A Journey From Wild Youth To Anchored Catholic Manhood
The following is a companion piece to Part 3 of our Masculinity Series, "Becoming More Manly." The glory of God is man fully alive. - St Iranaeus Jason Momoa’s short film Canvas of my Life is an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful depiction of manhood, despite its...
How This Cynic Came to Appreciate Christian Music (even the cheesy kind)
Christian music lyrics seemed to be overly simplistic and unoriginal. It was odd to be a Christian that didn’t like Christian music. Or even understand it. But, honestly, I was a Christian music cynic. I wanted something more than just the same line over and over...
5 Things An Ancient Japanese Art Taught Me About Healing
Ever since I first heard about kintsugi a few years ago, it has been one of my favorite motifs for understanding healing and redemption. As is explained in this video, kintsugi is the is an ancient Japanese art of repair. Think of a cracked vase. Rather than throwing...
8 Things St. John Paul II Wanted All Artists to Know
One of my favorite texts of all time is Pope St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists. What I read in this beautiful letter presented me with a deep call to foster artistic talents in myself and to be confident in recognizing that to be an artist is an essential part of...
These 2 Images Powerfully Show The Stark Difference Between The Christian Who Prays And The One Who Doesn’t
As someone that tries to share the faith with others, I often find myself struggling to explain prayer. What difference does it really make? Isn't it enough that I simply help others, that I be a "good person"? Albeit convincing for many – sometimes I myself fall into...
A Christian Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Artist You Should Be Listening To!
When Lecrae released his album Anomaly back in 2014, he became the only artist in Billboard history to have the #1 spot in both Gospel Music and the top 200. It seems he is a master of being "in the world, but not of it". His music reaches both Christians...
5 Secular Songs Which Provide Key Insights Into The Meaning Of The “Stabat Mater”
I wouldn't be the first blogger to point out that a song like "Let it Be" has certain Marian overtones, but I may be the first one to point out a certain reoccurring Marian theme known as the Stabat Mater in popular music. May is the month of Mary, so usually we are...
The Explanation Of This Famous Icon Will Give You A Deeper Understanding Of The Trinity
A highly creative piece, Andrei Rublev's Troitsa (Russian for Triune or Trinity) hails from the summit of a more-than-thousand-year-old iconographic tradition. As you might have surmised, it is a Trinitarian interpretation of Gen 18:1-16, the episode in which "three...
7 Secular Musicians Who Accidentally Stumbled On The Sacraments
As a teacher, one of the primary things I try to instill in my students is the notion that whether one is a professed Catholic, or running away from the Faith, one cannot avoid talking about (and even glorifying) the Faith... if only accidentally. In other words, to...
Why Did Lady Gaga Reply To Catholic-Link On Instagram? Our Response
A few hours ago, Lady Gaga published a moving response on her Instagram account to an article that we recently published. The article was entitled: “From Lady Gaga to Steph Curry: 5 Things To Remember When Celebrities Share Their Faith.” We published it because Lady...
From Lady Gaga To Steph Curry: 5 Things To Remember When Celebrities Share Their Faith
It seems that it has become somewhat of a trend for celebrities to share their faith. In general, this is good news and is worth sharing (evidently without falling into some kind of celebrity idolization!). Still, it can also serve as an occasion to reflect on our...
10 Ways Prince Fans Taught Me About The Veneration of Saints
In a society that doesn't bat an eyelash when it comes to inaugurating "halls of fame" for the heroes of our age (musicians, actors, sports players, etc), why are Catholics looked upon with suspicion and ridicule when it comes to the veneration of the saints? Why is...
25 Secular Songs That Are Surprisingly Sacred
It is extremely Catholic to know how to redeem, enjoy, recognize, and utilize the good things which come from beyond the boundaries of the Church, even those things outside the Christian world. Christ is still very present outside of those things which are...
6 Worship Songs That You’ll Want To Add To Your Post-Easter Playlist
Everyone can name a Christmas carol or two, but what about Easter songs? Can you sing any that aren't cute children's songs about the Easter Bunny? We've found a few with powerful lyrics that will lead you in expressing your joyful worship of the risen Lord....
33 Catholic Artists That Will Rock Your Playlist (Updated Again!)
You don't hear a lot of Catholic music on the radio these days, but with the rise of the great artists we are featuring today, we're sure that will change in the future. I hope you will enjoy this diverse list of both established Catholic musicians and newcomers....
25 Christmas Songs You Don’t Have Memorized (Yet!)
Christmas songs often start playing the week before Thanksgiving and since for Catholics the Christmas season won't end until The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January, we need to get creative when it comes to listening to good Christmas music. Though so many of...
Matt Maher on Why The Pope Is (or Is Not) a Big Deal
Matt Maher (a Catholic artist) recently won two Dove Award wins, taking home the trophies for Songwriter of the Year (Artist) and Worship Song of the Year for "Because He Lives (Amen)." At one point he was asked what it was like to sing for the Holy Father. It is a...
Sometimes Pop Music Speaks Truth
Most of the time secular music will spread the lies of the culture, depicting women as objects and glorifying wealth and materialism. But every once in a while a pop song hits a chord of truth that moves us to see ourselves as we are. Even more than Christian...
I’m Alive Because Jesus Is Alive! | Matt Maher’s “Because He Lives”
Imagine thinking that there is nothing impossible in the world because you are walking with the Son of God, in the flesh. Then He dies! Imagine the feeling of endless possibility just drifting away because He died. Can you imagine what it must have been like for the...
Christmas Mall Flash Mob – So Beautiful!
The people in this food court are quietly enjoying their lunch when it is rudely interrupted by a shout of “Alleluia!” In the faces of the people, we see suspicion. But gradually they change, hostility vanishes, parents reassure their children, and instead, we see...