There seems to be a huge stereotype about the way that God speaks to us. Many times, we think back to the conversion of Saul (who became Paul) who heard God’s voice booming through the clouds above him asking “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Other times, we are...
The novena is a Catholic practice of prayer that’s done over the course of nine days. Its practice goes back to the time of the apostles. The first novena can be attributed to when they got together to pray, after the Ascension waiting for the coming of the Holy...
There is much in society to worry us, both at home and abroad. We can easily fall into despair at the many overwhelming and insurmountable issues. But we are called as Christians never ever to despair and never to lose hope. Which is why I love this latest initiative...
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...
The first time I visited the Blessed Sacrament, I was eight years old. I did it in the context of the preparation for my First Communion. The sister who was preparing us told us with much reverence and passion that inside the tabernacle was the door to Heaven. At...
We invite you to watch Father's video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection, and work your way through the Exercises. We pray that this might help you in your apostolate, your family, your classroom, or personally... to prepare for and more deeply...
For whatever reason, the gift of tongues has become one of the most controversial gifts of the Holy Spirit. So, before you dismiss this post because of something you may have previously heard or experienced relating to the gift of tongues, I encourage you to read on....
I’ve been a Catholic for almost thirty years, and I find that one of the most moving experiences I have to this day is sitting in an adoration chapel with college students. I had the opportunity to attend the SLS18 Conference put on by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic...
3 Spiritual Exercises to Help Discern Your Vocation https://youtu.be/jf7xcQRY05g 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....
Looking for a New Year’s Resolution that could change the world? This idea is simple, effective, and is guaranteed to save souls. The tradition, known as a Living Rosary, began in France during the 1700s, but it was St. John Paul II that made this devotion...
How to Pray with Your Imagination on Epiphany https://youtu.be/yq4yxxEBGyo 2 Spiritual Exercises to let the light of Christ shine and break into our darkness 1. Imagine the vivid scene of clouds and darkness, pierced by light. Using especially this week's first Mass...
One of the wonderful things about both the Advent and Christmas seasons is the abundance of beautiful hymns and carols. They’re made more special by the fact that they can only be sung once a year! But even so, we can still be overly familiar with some of the more...
Relations between the sexes: Have they ever been worse? It's enough to tempt one to despair. Thankfully, the Church is a bulwark of sanity in every human realm, not least of all in matters of sex and sexuality, on the deepest, primordial realities of Male and Female....
Advent is a wonderful time to examine your heart and your prayer life, and to make small changes that can set you on a new trajectory of hope in the year ahead. We invite you to watch Father's video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection. We pray that this...
I frequently get mad at God (maybe more than I should?... I don’t know whether there's a reasonable limit to these things). The thing is, I used to think it wasn’t okay, that it meant my faith and love were weak. Little by little, with the Holy Spirit’s help, I’ve...
It's very often not the case that we simply don’t care about our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters across the world. The problem is often that we feel helpless and overwhelmed by the terrible situations they are in, and we don’t know what we can do to help...
You might not be the type of person who prays every day, but I'm willing to bet that you've called out to God in a few of these situations. 10 Times Even People Who Aren't Religious Start Praying 10 Times Even People Who Aren't Religious Start Praying Some...
For those who have had the experience of keeping watch over a sick person through the night, especially if it was a very close loved one, you know what it means to fight off sleep. You do everything in your power to stay awake; you use every ounce of strength; you...
There are treasures hidden in plain sight in the world and in our faith. The Our Father is one such storehouse of awe that is so familiar, so up-close to Catholics that - perhaps - we seldom pause and behold it for what it truly is. Non-Christians know the words of...
In the last few months I’ve really tried to embrace silence more often. To put my headphones down, turn off Netflix, logout of Instagram, and just be still. To pray more often, without distractions. To my surprise, it is not that easy. I don’t think I’m the only one...
We frequently complain about our lack of time, especially when it comes to having time to read. Usually, the problem is not time, but the way we organize our priorities throughout the day. Spiritual readings are an excellent way to take advantage of time and nourish...
If you ever find the rosary hard to pray, or hard to commit to regularly, read on to find out our seven most surprising things that happen in your life when you start to pray the rosary more often! When you’re finished with this article, don’t forget to check out our...
When I struggle or become frustrated with my prayer life, I know it is often because I've become self-absorbed and preoccupied with my own worries, failings, or grievances. It is a cycle that is difficult to break out of, because what, when we are self-absorbed,...
In my journey back to the faith I had spent much time researching, listening, and learning about what it meant to be a daughter of God, what it meant to be a follower of Christ, and to clumsily pick up my cross and carry it. All of this seemed like an overwhelming...
St. Ignatius of Loyola explains, “By the term “Spiritual Exercises” is meant every method of examination of conscience, of meditation, of contemplation, of vocal and mental prayer, and of other spiritual activities. “For just as taking a walk, journeying on foot, and...