Hey there, Tomorrow, on August 6th, we'll celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration … one of the key events in Jesus’ life. Just to refresh your memory, this was when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain, and He was transfigured with His face shining bright like the sun and His robes a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared. Then the Father's voice came from the cloud, …
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Hey there, You can’t look at the news for long without learning about a senseless tragedy. It may be a natural disaster like the devastating flooding in Texas this summer or the deadly earthquakes that have shaken communities around the world. Or it may be the suffering caused by war, terrorism, or acts of senseless violence that seem to fill the headlines day after day. Unfortunately, …
Continue Reading about Trusting Divine Providence When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Hey there, Meekness is one of our Catholic Virtues that gets a bad rap. Probably because the meaning of the word has evolved. Merriam-Webster defines meek as: 1: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : MILD 2: deficient in spirit and courage : SUBMISSIVE 3: not violent or strong : MODERATE In today’s push-back, loud culture, being mild and submissive is considered a …
Continue Reading about How Jesus Teaches us to be Meek (Hint: It’s Not Weak)
Hey there, There’s a lifestyle movement that's been growing in popularity for several years called Minimalism. It’s the idea that less is more. Clean out those closets. Get rid of all the excess clutter. Own fewer possessions. You’ve probably seen the hype about the tiny house movement as well. People are moving into 100 to 400 square foot homes. Then there’s the occasional Smart Car you see …
Hey there, As we make our way through this life, doing our best to earn a place in heaven, we know to steer away from the 7 deadly sins: lust, greed, gluttony, envy, anger, pride, and sloth. To aid us in our efforts, the Holy Spirit has given us the 7 Capital Virtues: chastity, generosity, temperance, brotherly love, meekness, humility, and diligence. We’ve covered some of these virtues …
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Hey there, Have you noticed how elaborate birthday parties have become? There’s the theme on the invitations, the cake, the food, the games, the decor. It’s often held at some type of event venue. Even some adults get in on the birthday hubbub. I see people posting on Facebook about their “birthday week.” We’ve not always put so much emphasis on birthday celebrations. But there are …
Continue Reading about The Three Nativities we Celebrate And Why
Hey there, In August of 2019 the Pew Research Center published shocking results from a survey of Catholics stating that only one third believe that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.” This is a bleak outlook on what the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls “the source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC 1324) Fortunately, a survey …
Continue Reading about Discovering Why Corpus Christi Is More Than Just Another Feast Day
Hey there, We’re fascinated by rising up. Maybe it’s because it’s so easy to get knocked down. Coach Vince Lombardi famously said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” We love a good Cinderella story and root for the underdog. We all know the ancient story of the phoenix rising from the ashes. It reminds us that it’s possible to come back even stronger …
Hey there, In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, cynical weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) reluctantly travels to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual festivities. After being forced to stay overnight, he wakes up to discover he’s reliving the same day, February 2nd, again and again. At first, Connors uses the endless loop for selfish gain. But over time, as the repetition wears on …
Continue Reading about Your Happily Ever Afterlife Depends on The Works of Mercy
Hey there, “The devil made me do it.” “The devil is in the details.” “Playing devil’s advocate.” These familiar phrases roll easily off our tongues. They appear in our conversations, our entertainment, and our culture so often that the devil himself can seem more like a figure of speech than a real presence. Yet Catholic teaching has always been clear: the devil is not a symbol. He …
Hey there, Years ago, I found myself in a pro sports stadium (which shall remain nameless) with a coworker and a photographer, hoping to get permission to use the space for a client's photoshoot. Just as we were making our request, the decision-maker cut us off and announced very seriously that he believed one of us had been brought there to be saved. What followed was 45 painfully long …
Hi there, Have you ever watched a child step hesitantly into a swimming pool for the first time? The water seems both inviting and intimidating, full of unknown possibilities. That moment, when the child finally plunges in and emerges splashing and transformed, is a glimpse of what Baptism does in our spiritual lives. On Sunday we will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, when Jesus Himself …
