Did you ever think your high school or college relationship would result in marriage? I know I would be lying if I said that I did not think that myself. I might have said publicly, “Young relationships usually don’t last,” but in my heart of hearts, I would dream....
Of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ to make us holy, the Eucharist alone is called “the Most Blessed Sacrament”, for it not only conveys the graces that flow from Jesus, but gives to the recipient Jesus Himself – His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. At...
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves,...
A central doctrine of Catholicism is the belief that the bread and wine consumed at Mass become truly Christ: his body, blood, soul, and divinity. While this truth is celebrated every Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ offers a heightened...
Often, there are fires of destruction raging in our lives. These fires can be literal disasters, accidents, illnesses, deaths, relationship troubles, financial stress, and so much more. These raging fires can be frightening, especially when they seem to close in...
Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a series. Read part 1 here. This article was originally published HERE. My mom went to a local Catholic parish one day, where the priest was offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the back of the church, a woman was engaged in...
When I ask myself where the Mass is in the Bible, my mind goes to Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 24. On Easter Sunday, three days after Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, and before He appeared to the eleven, Jesus walked beside two disciples on the road to...
Yesterday, I drove on the interstate in “the city” to drop a friend off at the airport. I consider it a huge accomplishment. You may say, “So what? I drive to the city all the time.” For me, it is a big deal! When I was young, I had some negative experiences driving...
We live in a world where secularization and technology have rendered most people detached from organized religion of any sort. Science has, to some extent, been hostile or at least ambivalent to faith, often creating doubt in people’s minds. What better way is there...
We live in an age where truth has been softened into preference. “My truth” and “your truth” sound generous, almost enlightened, but beneath the language is a deeper confusion: truth has been reduced to feeling. It has become negotiable, therapeutic, and adjustable....
“The lawless one…the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of His presence” (2 Thess 2:8). This verse is full of loaded terms. The Word of God is potent here with a rich array of interrelated...
Their sounds, their wiggles, and their questions are signs of life in every parish family.Do not worry if they get fussy or distracted. You are doing holy work by bringing them close to Jesus. During the “Ecce Agnus Dei,” the priest lifts the Host and says, “Behold...
Lust is more than a personal weakness or a private struggle—it is a direct assault on the sacredness of the human person, on marriage, on family, and ultimately, on the very image of God. Among the seven deadly sins, lust uniquely wounds not only the soul of the...
You can find images of Mary throughout my day - tiny figurines on my bookshelves, a TinySaint keychain on my bag, a fun sticker on my laptop or Stanley cup, and even Marian images in my phone camera roll that I stumbled upon and loved. I’ve heard that many converts...
There are many things that I wish I knew when I was younger. One of those is that a man’s primary core need is to be respected. Women desire to be respected too, but men equate love with respect. To them, to be respected is to be loved. I have learned that I’m a...
“It didn’t come with a manual.”I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard a guy say that about marriage and fatherhood.But it is true…and it is a hard truth. The two most difficult “jobs” for a man—being a husband and a father—commence with little to no...
“It didn’t come with a manual.”I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard a guy say that about marriage and fatherhood.But it is true…and it is a hard truth. The two most difficult “jobs” for a man—being a husband and a father—commence with little to no...
Source of Life Your flesh dwells within me Your breath, my life now be My heart with one accord Receiveth Thy Holy Word Overabundant be Thy Grace In the Holy Eucharist I now face All contained within suffice To sustain me for this life And upon death’s calling The...
Happy is the soul that knows how to find Jesus in the Eucharist and the Eucharist in all things!St. Peter Julian Eymard
Do you desire to have a lifelong Catholic marriage? In the twenty-first century, that is a tall order. How can we be sure if we are dating someone that if we marry we will be able to persevere? How important is that perseverance thing? For a Catholic—indeed for any...
St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) is a remarkable and radiant figure among the pantheon of Catholic saints, who has inspired particular love and veneration since her own times until the present age. A mystic, visionary, and industrious helper of the poor and afflicted,...
There has been criticism of the Church’s implementation of a decades old papal document regarding Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion on the parish level. Critics feel that the over reliance on Eucharistic Ministers (EM) violates the Pope’s original intention....
Whether you are in a blissful period in your marriage where things are going smoothly and your love for each other is easily expressed, or you are in a more difficult period where the challenges are never-ending, do something special for your spouse today. Doing...
During our teenage years, our relationship with the Lord begins to change. As children, we typically love Him without caring about the details. We love Him with the love of a child with wonder, often praised in the Gospels. However, when we begin our teenage years, we...
C.S. Lewis once warned that “there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” (The Screwtape Letters, 9)....