For some reason, family prayer can be difficult. Carving out time in a day and gathering everyone into the same room seems particularly hard. It was hard when my wife Ashley and I had only three kids. It seems perfectly impossible now with sixteen. But even in the...
Does God Really Hear My Prayers? We might sometimes wonder if God really listens to our prayers. Some even stop praying because they think their prayers are not heard. The Catechism makes a few important points on this topic. First, we should consider the image of God...
The Early Bird Finds SerenityThe first step in fostering improved mental health with prayer is to have a regular time and place for prayer. For years I was a night owl. I stayed up late and slept in whenever I could. During the work week, I would get up, shower, grab...
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast, Fr. Rob talks about how one can pray the Rosary better. The Rosary at its heart is a meditative prayer, focuses on the life of Jesus and Mary based in scripture. Fr. Rob suggests that all those who pray the Rosary should...
I’ve been praying novenas for almost twelve years now and I’ve found they’re a great option for when you don’t know what to say, when you have a specific intention you’re praying for, and when you’re trying to “pray always.” Novenas are a traditional prayer that dates...
Is there something wrong with your life? Maybe something is missing. Maybe you’re depressed. Maybe you’re overwhelmed. Maybe you’re trapped by compulsive behavior. Maybe there’s a particular sin you haven’t been able to overcome no matter how hard you’ve tried? Maybe...
What is the Liturgy of the Hours? The Liturgy of the Hours is also called the Divine Office or the Breviary. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, but it is not the only daily prayer of the Church. The Liturgy of the...
Matthew 5: 38-48 Catholic Bible Study Jesus said to his disciples:"You have heard that it was said,An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.When someone strikes you on your right cheek,turn the other one as...
The first thing to realize about prayer is that it can be boring. Just about everything else we do gives us results within a relatively short period of time. Not so in prayer. I began praying the rosary daily as a freshman in high school. My motive was to pray for...
I don’t have time to pray I have almost always struggled to feel like I pray “enough.” Believe it or not, the last time that I could definitively say that I didn’t struggle with that was before I had kids. I have 5 kids now and we also have some neurodiversity in the...
Who is St. John of the Cross? St. John of the Cross was a Spanish Catholic who was born in 1542 amidst the throws of the Protestant Reformation. He was a major figure in the Catholic Counter-Reformation and would later be named a Doctor of the Church. He was a priest,...
The Bible says to pray without ceasing, yet how many of us go hours without so much as giving a thought to prayer? In today’s world, it is hard for us to even fathom how it could be possible for us to follow this command. Saint Basil tells us how: “This is how you...
Gospel of Luke 14:25-33 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,and he turned and addressed them,“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,wife and children, brothers and sisters,and even his own life,he cannot be my disciple.Whoever does not carry...
Gospel of Luke 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”He replied to him,“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”Then he said to the crowd,“Take care to guard against all greed,for though...
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to sacred art. I used to buy books as a kid about the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo. Ironically, I had no idea of their Catholic ties, nor would the term “sacred art” have been in my vocabulary. I was simply mesmerized...
Gospel of Luke 22:14-23 When the hour came,Jesus took his place at table with the apostles.He said to them,“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,for, I tell you, I shall not eat it againuntil there is fulfillment in the kingdom of...
THE LITANY OF THE HOLY FAMILY Lord, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.Christ, hear us.Christ, graciously hear us.God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.Holy...
My grandmother says that in times past in her city people would take a break at noon and wherever they were, whether in the fields or doing any other work, and they would begin to pray the Angelus. Her city was small and she remembers that it was something...
(Special Thanks to Adoremus and Dr. Denis McNamara) The heavy lifting and much of the inspiration for this article is offered by Dr. Denis McNamara’s fantastic article “Altar as Alter Christus: Ontology and Sacramentality” from Adoremus. The Church is deeply indebted...
The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books teach us facts about Jesus’ life and share valuable lessons we can learn from the true stories of Christ's life here on earth. To really understand the faith,...
Ever found a resource that you know is going to make a huge difference in your family life? Some of our Catholic-Link team members received a review copy of Kendra Tierney's newest book, The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion: The Liturgical Year in Practice and we...
Whether you prefer morning, afternoon, or evening prayer time, keeping a journal along with your spiritual reading offers many benefits. Drew and Katie Taylor recently sat down with Kelly Wahlquist and Allison Gingras from WINE: Women in the New Evangelization to...
What happens when we enter into the desert of prayer? While some of us easily walk in the hope and solace of Christ in the sacrifices of the season, others of us wonder whether we’ve wandered from our Guide and question His ongoing Presence. The saints often...
If you've not yet had the opportunity to watch PRAY: The Story of Patrick Peyton, I highly encourage you to make the time to see this inspiring documentary. Before watching this film I, sadly, had never heard of Fr. Peyton. I had no idea of the incredibly innovative...
This promotional film for the March for Life produced by Blackstone Films is sure to build your passion and enthusiasm for the annual event held in Washington, D.C. each year near the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. This year, due to the pandemic, the March for Life...