When I was studying in Rome, each year all the religious (sisters, brothers, and priests) and consecrated persons would gather with the Holy Father for a special mass or vespers around the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Since 1997, Pope John Paul II had made this feast on February 2 a day dedicated to consecrated life, noting a parallel between the total self-giving of Jesus and the consecration lived out through the profession of the evangelical counsels of... Read more
If you’re bored, be bold. Some of you may know the story of The Phantom Tollbooth, a book by Norton Juster. In the story, Milo is a 10-year-old boy suffering boredom during his summer vacation. One day, he gets home and finds a huge surprise in his room. Unexpectedly, a huge box has arrived. Accordingly, he opens it and assembles the parts inside until he confronts a tollbooth. Unsure of what to do, he drives his toy electric car through... Read more
Temperament is part of who we are as people. Getting to know your own and your spouse’s temperament gives you tools to manage your marriage better and grow in your relationship. “What are you thinking about?” “Nothing.” How is that even possible? If you get a chance, and you want to gain a greater understanding of the differences between men and women, check out the video “A Tale of Two Brains.” A comedian speaking to couples explains the difference between... Read more
What would Augustine say about a trans-man being pregnant? How would he respond to gender ideology? I recently saw a video in which a “trans-man” was having a hard time coming to grips with the doctor’s announcement of her pregnancy. As much as the doctor and nurse tried to respect the individual’s feelings and efforts to identify as a man, they could not deny that the person’s female reproductive organs had indeed produced new life. The young person was distraught,... Read more
Jesus is more powerful than the Devil and we can trust Jesus always. One of the great debates between and my father during High School was whether I should have a job. The debate was actually about driving. My dad wanted me to learn to drive. I did not want to drive, but because I knew that it meant that I would have to get a job to pay for gas and insurance. As was to be expected, I got... Read more
“I’m done. I want a divorce.” His words came like a bucket of ice water. They cut like knives and blindsided her. She never imagined that he was unsatisfied in the marriage. Everything seemed to be going well. They both had good jobs. They had a romantic life. At least, she thought they did. They went out to dinner at least once every other week. What was happening? Could her marriage really be over? Same bed, different dreams The Chinese... Read more
The protégé effect is not a recent discovery. Saint Augustine taught it centuries ago. I am always amazed when I go to the greats of the past and discover something that we thought was new to our own century. Learning from the greats is one of the treats of existing later in the course of human history. If we were contemporaries of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, we could read about some interesting political factoids of the day, but we would... Read more
A saint at 24? One Italian young man is on his way to sainthood, even though he died at 24. Making Jesus the center of your life can make all the difference. If we want young adults in the Church, we need to foster a culture of encounter, discipleship, and apostolate. Young Adults Making a Difference Pier Giorgio Frassati lived 1901-1925. Recent generations of Catholic youth revere him because he feels close to them and attractive at the same time.... Read more
Contemplating your spouse with God’s eyes is one of the greatest keys to success in a marriage. “I am convinced that it is God’s intention that we each experience a divine gaze when we look into our partner’s eyes.” (Sanderfer & Johnson, Created for Connection, p. 16) Does looking at your spouse remind you of God? When people are first falling in love, it is easy to confuse the creature for the Creator. There can even be some idol-worship getting... Read more
Spiritual Direction wakes up a lot of feelings. If this is your first Spiritual Direction, there are a lot of feelings that may be surging up in your heart. You are about to embark on a journey that will hopefully help you gain clarity of what God is asking of you in this moment of your life. Set Expectations It is good to take some time to reflect on your initial expectations. These may change over time, but they are... Read more
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