Men today are facing a crisis. Each day we are faced with a culture that minimizes our roles as fathers. This does have to be the case however. We must learn to cast aside what society tells them they should be and instead, embrace their faith and become the fathers God wants them to be. “God has a plan to transform you into the father you are meant to be through his love and grace.” Greg Popcak has written a... Read more
St. Peter, says St. Augustine, denied Christ, stood in his way, and misunderstood the New Covenant—yet he will judge angels. What matters most to Christ is not the thistles we had to uproot from our souls, but the yield we give him once the gospel is planted. We see the same thing in the Gospel, where the devils confess that Christ is the Son of God in the words used by Peter, but with a very different heart. So, though the... Read more
When the rich man in Christ’s parable begs that Lazarus give him just a little water, Abraham tells him that there’s a great chasm between the righteous and the sinners. What does that mean? asks St. Asterius of Amasea. That the na– ture of our lives creates a vast separation between the righteous and unrighteous. It is also worthwhile to examine intelligently how each of these men when dead was carried forth. The poor man, when he fell asleep, had angels... Read more
The holy angels drink from the sweetness of God, says St. Ambrose—but the sweetness is hidden from you as long as you are captive to sin. As soon as all your hope is placed in the Lord, you taste what the angels taste. With good reason, then, is the sweetness of God hidden to you. The law placed in your members, resisting the law of your mind, brings you into captivity. The holy angels drink from that sweetness, but it is... Read more
St. Augustine points out that St. Cyprian was wrong about some things—but he was wrong in the right way. It is angelic to refrain from judging those who have different opinions on obscure things, but the presumption of the devil to divide the Church over those differences. It often happens that something is imperfectly revealed to the more learned, so that their patient and humble charity, from which comes the greater fruit, may be proved—either in the way in which they... Read more
Review by Laura Socks Patrick and the Fire: A Legend about St. Patrick is written by Cornelia Mary Bilinsky. This book is one of many wonderful little books for primary aged children telling tales of saints and legends from Pauline Books & Media. These books are always a favorite in my house! This particular story tells of one of the legends of St. Patrick – the fire that would not go out! It is the night of a great festival that... Read more
If we live the angelic life here on earth, says St. John Chrysostom, that will be our most powerful tool for evangelism. The people around us will see what the kingdom of Heaven looks like, and they’ll want to be part of it. Let’s show them all a new kind of life. Let’s make earth into Heaven, and by doing it show the Greeks what great blessings they’re missing. When they see how we treat each other, they’ll be looking at... Read more
This week one lucky winner will receive a copy of Father Benedict: The Spiritual and Intellectual Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI by James Day (you can read my review of the book here) sponsored by Sophia Institute Press. I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me. The contest begins now and ends next Wednesday 3/29 with a winner chosen later that day, enter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
St. John Chrysostom compares friendship to the music of a harp or orchestra, where different notes produce a single harmony. This is a wonderful thing to see: many in one, and one in many—just as the sounds are different in a harp, but the harmony is one, and all together they make one harmony and symphony But the musician is the power of love. This is what plays the sweet melody, singing a song in which no note is out of... Read more
The world was shocked when Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was abdicating the seat of Peter on February 11, 2013. The Catholic community and many outside of it took a collective breath wandering what this meant for the Church and the world. Four years later we now know that the beloved Pope Benedict has committed himself to prayer in service to the Church and her faithful. The story of this humble man who now simply wishes to be called... Read more
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