I didn’t choose my patron saint, she choose me. It was a breezy spring afternoon at wrap up week for National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries. Hanging out in Amery, WI at Camp Wapo was a chance to connect with friends and prepare ourselves to ‘face the real world’. As the crowd was gathering in the [...]
I can hardly tell you how often I’ve had the following thoughts lately: “She’s married with three kids and she is only a year older than I am, what am I doing with my life?“ “She’s traveled to six different countries in the last three years, what on Earth have I been doing?“ “He’s got a great [...]
On April 15, two bombs went off at the Boston Marathon killing three people and injuring 264. This latest in terrorist attacks struck fear into the entire nation, especially the Boston area, for four days until one of the suspected bombers was killed in a shoot-out and the other was arrested. The arrested suspect, Dzokhar [...]
I’m tired. I can’t think of one area of my life that isn’t taxed nearly to the breaking point. Energy is gone, finances are three days from following suit, and my pool of creativity is being used by some kids on skateboards. As I write, one of my boys is sick on the couch, zoned [...]
Waiting on four pepperoni HARs (hot and readys) to be…well…ready (Little Ceasar’s was back-logged) I moseyed over to the bar next door to find a bar bathroom. I found and entered a small closet with two urinals and a stall and an older gentleman followed close behind and grabbed a urinal before I did. Now [...]
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four [...]
I had the blessing of growing up in an incredible parish. Holy Cross bore many of the hallmarks of what we as a Church are beginning to recognize as the program for rejuvenating parishes. A perpetual adoration chapel. Beautiful liturgies. Dynamic preaching. Discipleship programs and evangelization retreats. A Catholic grade school that begins each day [...]
The celebration of the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord has been transferred to the following Sunday in many dioceses, but the 40th day after the resurrection remains a Holy Day of Obligation. This allowance to transfer the celebration has confused many Catholics, and so it seems worthwhile to examine this phenomenon. On Facebook [...]
As Catholics, we should have the desire to be saints. But how do we do it? One may think that it’s extremely difficult to become a saint, but let us just follow St. Therese’s method, sanctifying each day in the little things. Here is a list of things to keep in mind to make becoming [...]
About 2 weeks ago, I had the welcome task of writing a paper on the vocations of priesthood and marriage in the writings of Gregory the Great, especially in his Regula Pastoralis. Like any good 21st century Catholic, I immediately wanted to bring JP2 in the conversation. When I realized that our beloved Blessed John [...]
After listening to a great talk issued by Lighthouse Catholic Media’s new young adult line, Truth be Told, I found myself greatly in need of an emotional chastity makeover. The talk, entitled “Why Do Women Do That?” and given by Lisa Cotter, examined the way a woman’s mind works, how men should best respond, and [...]
The spiritual life is sacred ground, but often times we tread clumsily and heavily as if it were not. My own experience is that those of us who spend their time studying religion, history, philosophy, literature, theology, etc… sometimes fail to manifest the same sensitivity and subtlety that they have in their own fields of [...]
My favourite kind of art explores the darkness. I don’t mean the sensational darkness of psychological trouble, of psychopaths and murders and crime. Nor do I mean the dark depths of addiction and vice and moral evil. That’s pop stuff. We project it away from ourselves, and our experience in our minds becomes all light. [...]
If all of America can agree on one thing, it is that the Boston bombing was a deeply evil act. And if all of America could agree on the one question that needs answering from those responsible for these depraved acts, it is, “Why?“I sat around a dinner table recently with a bunch of Catholic friends [...]
I did what many boys do. When I was young I used grab a shovel from the shed, find some soft dirt, and start digging a hole. The hole may have been used for finding China, making a water hole, or burying Hans Solo. The house I grew up in must be worth thousands more [...]
An article came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer where the author, a college sophomore, tries to justify why he is no longer a Catholic. To his credit, the author maintains a civil tone and seems to be sincerely searching for wisdom. But his thinking exemplifies a common malady of the modern mind: that of [...]
I haven’t been an adult that long – graduated college two years ago, married less than one year ago – but I’m already sick of it. When I was a kid, I thought it would be really cool to be an adult, because I could be in charge. Mom couldn’t make me clean my room, [...]
“…this book can be transformed from a silent instrument, like a valuable violin resting on a velvet cloth, into an instrument that sounds and rouses hearts.” Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa 1st Advent Sermon to the Papal Household So maybe you’re one of those Catholics hipsters – hip young adult devoutly committed to Orthodoxy, sworn ally to the pope, [...]
If there is one Catholic website out there that, in my opinion, more people should be following and reading, it is By Way of Beauty. Matthew generously agreed to allow me to pick his brain, and he provided some great insights on culture, beauty, and evangelization. The greatest part about ByWayofBeauty.com is that it is [...]
Earlier this week, it was reported that Archbishop Allen Vigneron made comments about supporters of “Gay-marriage” and their reception of Communion. The story originally broke in the Detroit Free Press, and was rather sketchy on quotes and sources, but the money-line was in there – supporters of “Gay-marriage” should not receive Communion. The original Free [...]
Yes, I was thinking again and I knew I had to write an article on an important question right away. The question was this, what is goodness? I thought about it for a while, and finding myself stuck I decided to turn to my trusty Summa Theologica. Msg. Paul J. Glenn in simplified words defines [...]
Never mind the circumstances; they are odd. I have recently begun teaching full-time at a high school (whereas previously I was only a part-time instructor). Spending all day in this environment has completely overturned the way in which I look at the relationship between God and Man. I spend a long time each evening drafting [...]
While writing her opinions of several C.S. Lewis books she had recently finished, a friend of mine remarked: “The more I learn, the more I want to love.” This sentence resonated with me because it reflected such an honest and beautiful desire of the soul to continue to learn more about her Divine Spouse. Here she [...]
Q. How do you pronounce “ignitum”? A. Well, you have some options. The Romans would have said ig-NEE-toom. In church, we’d say “in-YEE-toom.”
Why?
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