Hey there, If you’re like me, you’ll take all the help you can get to get to heaven. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources at our fingertips. We have Scripture, and we have the lives of the Saints to emulate. The Blessed Virgin Mary told us through Blessed Alan de la Roche that we’ll “obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.” And we've talked about the value of …
Continue Reading about Receiving The Graces of The Miraculous Medal
Hey there, October 31st is quickly approaching and that means pumpkins, candy, and ghosts. Oh my! What is it about being scared that attracts us to scary movies and haunted houses? According to Christopher Dwyer, PhD it has partly to do with our body’s physiological response. Fear generates a rush of adrenaline that releases endorphins and dopamine … it can create a state of …
Hey there, A couple of months ago over dinner with family, the Shroud of Turin came up in conversation. One relative quickly dismissed it, insisting carbon dating had already “debunked” it as a medieval forgery. At the time, I wasn’t sure what to think … I’d heard conflicting claims about its authenticity. Then, just weeks ago, I listened to an interview between Tucker Carlson and Jeremiah …
Hey there, I’m pretty sure you know what that means. And this: We use emojis like this all the time in our text messages, social media posts, and our emails. These symbols express a thought quickly and easily. There are lots of other places where we see and use symbols. Like on road signs … outside doors to tell us what a room is for … and in advertising. Symbols are a …
Hey there, Did you know that the largest sporting event in the world based on viewership is the FIFA World Cup? Followed by the Tour de France. Other big events include the Superbowl, the Wimbledon Championships, The Olympic Games, and The Masters, which was played last week. This week is another big event. It’s like the FIFA World Cup, Tour de France, Superbowl, and all the other big …
Hey there, Palm Sunday is always a popular Mass. Who doesn’t want to get some palms to wave around at Mass and take home? Or to weave into a cross? We celebrate the triumphant arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. We usually focus on Jesus’ experience. Or maybe the crowd of people welcoming him with palms in the air. But there’s another unexpected character in the …
Continue Reading about Reflecting on Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord
Hey there, Someone recently asked me what heaven is like. After a little contemplation I came up with an answer, though it was mostly what heaven is not. But it did get me thinking. As Catholics we want to go to heaven one day. And here we’re always talking about how to get to heaven. But what is heaven? Or at least, what does the Catholic Church say that heaven is? This issue of …
Continue Reading about Exploring the Catholic Vision of Heaven
Hey there, Preparation is important for any task or undertaking. Jock, the painter, often would thin his paint so it would go further. So when the Church decided to do some deferred maintenance, Jock was able to put in the low bid, and got the job. As always, he thinned his paint way down with turpentine. One day while he was up on the scaffolding -- the job almost finished -- he heard a …
Hey there, The first thing that comes to mind when I think about holiness is Jesus Christ. Then Mary and Joseph. The Apostles and disciples. The Saints. Even Priests, Deacons, and others in religious life. I don’t think about “ordinary people” like me. But that’s not right. We are all called to holiness. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “All Christians in any …
Hey there, It’s been 86 years since the original “Wizard of Oz” movie was released. It’s one of the most popular movies ever and is still just as enjoyable today as it was back then. Though I was not around when the movie first came out, one of my favorite memories growing up was the anticipation and excitement of watching the movie when it aired on TV every year. And later I loved sharing …
Hey there, As the song goes: It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s a time of hope, faith, joy, and peace as we prepare for the coming of our Lord. We spread our holiday spirit with our loved ones … our neighbors … and even with complete strangers. There’s no shortage of traditions. Baking, decorating, praying, volunteering, and more. Growing up, I loved our annual trip to …
Hey there, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States when we pause to reflect on all the things we’re thankful for. Merrium-Webster defines thankful as “conscious of benefit received.” It’s great to recognize the blessings in our life. But is being thankful enough? I propose that we should take it a step further. To go beyond thankful to grateful. Gratitude encompasses the …
