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 …
Your Happily Ever Afterlife Depends on The Works of Mercy
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 …
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Defeating The Devil
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 …
Bringing The Good News to Others
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 …
Witnessing the Baptism of the Lord
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 …
Getting to Know (And Celebrate) Our Lady of Loreto
Hey there, One way we record history is by marking the places where memorable events happened. Drive the highways of the United States and you’ll see those roadside markers ... birthplaces, homesteads, battlegrounds, sites where something extraordinary once took place. The National Register of Historic Places lists more than 90,000 properties recognized for their importance to American …
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Making The Most of Catholic Advent And Christmas Seasons
Hey there, When I was growing up, our Christmas decorations never appeared before December 13th. I remember the date so vividly because it’s my birthday. Only after that day would we pick out our live tree, string lights on the house, and hang our stockings. As a kid, the first half of December was all about my birthday, and the second half shifted to Christmas. And honestly … most families …
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Recognizing Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of The Universe
Hey there, The signs of the season are already everywhere ... full grocery carts, early Christmas displays, and the steady buzz of people getting ready for next week’s Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. Before long, the pace will quicken even more with Christmas planning and the arrival of Advent on Sunday, November 30th, when we begin a new Liturgical year and return to Cycle A. But before …
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Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound
Hey there, Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind but now I see I’m sure those words are familiar ... they open one of the most beloved hymns of all time, Amazing Grace. It’s estimated to be performed more than 10 million times every year and appears on over 11,000 albums ... a testament to its universal message of …
Understanding Purgatory And Our Relationship With The Holy Souls
Hey there, As Catholics we share a common goal to go to heaven. And we understand that when our time on Earth is finished, we likely will spend time in an interim transition called purgatory before we enter heaven. This is a good time to look at purgatory because November is four days away. It’s the month the Catholic Church dedicates to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. We will celebrate All …
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Following Your Guardian Angel’s Lead
Hey there, When someone tells you to “Follow my lead,” you understand they want you to do what they do … or do what they tell you to do. And if you trust that person, you’ll follow their lead. And expect the best outcome. So if I were to tell you that God has given you your own personal angel whose sole job is to lead you to heaven … wouldn’t you want to follow his lead? The trick of …
The Road to Our Salvation Goes Through Reparation
Hey there, There is so much we work on as Catholics to try to ensure our salvation. Prayer, attending Mass, Reconciliation, good deeds, and trying to keep the Commandments. We have the lives of the Saints we can model, the teachings in Scripture, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But one often overlooked and rarely discussed subject is reparation. Merriam-Webster defines …
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