Hey there, Do you remember back in the 1990s when people were wearing those bracelets with the letters WWJD? It stood for “What Would Jesus Do.” And it was a constant reminder to emulate Jesus in your life. There was a follow-up movement called FROG, which stands for “Fully Rely on God.” Also a good one! Those WWJD bracelets and that phrase have disappeared from our culture. But it’s an …
Venerating The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Hey there, It’s hard to believe it’s already June 1st! June brings time to enjoy warmer weather, outdoor activities, vacations … And a few celebrations. Like two holidays we celebrate in the US … Flag Day and Father’s Day. Did you know that today is National Hazelnut Cake Day? There are also month-long celebrations in June. Like African-American Music Appreciation Month. ALS …
When Life Doesn’t Make Sense … Trust Divine Providence
Hey there, You can’t look at the news for long without learning about a senseless tragedy. It may be a natural disaster like last month’s tornadoes in Kansas, or the recent wildfires in New Mexico. Or even worse, it may be a man-made tragedy like yesterday’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas or the one in the Buffalo, New York grocery store a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, I could …
Continue Reading about When Life Doesn’t Make Sense … Trust Divine Providence
Joining Christ in His Passion
Hey there, Well, we have about a week-and-a-half to go to Easter. Whether it’s gone by fast for you … or dragged on and on … we’re coming down the home stretch. Up to this point we’ve been inwardly focused … with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But now our attention turns to Jesus Christ. Beginning with Palm Sunday and next week with the Triduum we will join in solidarity with our …
Reconciling With The Lord
Hey there, Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, almsgiving … and penance. Also known as reconciliation. And confession. Whatever you call it, it’s an important part of the Lenten season. I remember my mother dragging me to Confession a few days before Easter every year. Without fail. Parishes schedule more times to hear Confessions during Lent … especially during Holy Week. But …
Appreciating The Way of The Cross
Hey there, One of the oldest traditions in the Catholic Church is the Stations of the Cross ... or you may call it the Way of the Cross … also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis. Most churches pray the Stations on Fridays during Lent. Call me weird, but I love the Stations of the Cross. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s reliving the passion of Christ. Maybe it’s the routine, …
Observing Ash Wednesday
Hey there, It’s Ash Wednesday ... one of the most attended services of the year. And it’s not even a holy day of obligation. But there’s just something about getting ashes smeared on the forehead that attracts lots of people. I’m not complaining though. I love seeing the pews packed. It's been sad seeing so many empty pews since returning after Covid. I’m hoping lots of people …
Revisiting The Holy Mass
Hey there, When the Coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, our lives quickly changed. We self quarantined. We learned how to work from home. How to buy what we needed online. And even how to worship Mass online ... thanks to a dispensation from our Sunday Obligation. It’s been different for everyone, depending on what part of the country you live in. But everyone has adjusted to a …
Honoring The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Hey there, Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas (since it’s still Christmas)! The month of January is dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus … and we celebrated the feast day on Monday. We take great pains when naming our children. And our pets. And then there’s the all important “handle” we give ourselves in social media. We recognize some people by a single name. Like Madonna, …
Learn And Live The Precepts of The Church
Hey there, I’m sure you’re aware of practicing Catholics' obligation to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. And to go to Confession at least once per year. But did you know that we Catholics are also required to receive Holy Communion at least once during the Easter season? And we know we’re supposed to tithe, but did you know it’s a requirement? These are examples …
Continue Reading about Learn And Live The Precepts of The Church
How to be More Generous Every Day (And Why)
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 …
Continue Reading about How to be More Generous Every Day (And Why)
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 …
Continue Reading about The Road to Our Salvation Goes Through Reparation
