The movie The Ultimate Gift tells the story of a young man who inherits a tremendous amount of wealth–at least that was what he expected upon the death of his grandfather. To receive the money, however, he has to change himself dramatically from the self-centered playboy we see at the beginning of the movie who wastes money with abandon. Upon the death of his grandfather, his supply of money is cut off and he experiences financial limitations for the first... Read more
Have you ever thought about where the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary come from? Would you believe that they were originally from someone who was once a satanic priest? This is not some anti-Vatican II conspiracy story since the Luminous Mysteries were introduced recently but it is entirely true. St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae in 2002, introduced us to Blessed Bartolo Longo, the man behind these mysteries. The story of his conversion could easily... Read more
Lent is upon us once again, with its three areas of focus comprising, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Since the Holy Father has announced the theme of this year to be prayer, it makes sense to place it at the top of our priority list this Lenten season. I enjoy the practice of following one of the Old Testament figures each Lent, as a preparation for celebrating the Passion and Death of Jesus. If we hone in on just one figure... Read more
Ash Wednesday begins a long journey of Lent. This liturgical season is a great opportunity to seek conversion of heart. Lent makes me think of my junior year in High School. I had returned to public school after being out of the system for five years. It was a very secular atmosphere. Generally speaking, I spent more time with the evangelical Christians as I could count on them being decent people, which was more than I came to expect from... Read more
If you ask people why they go to Mass, you are sure to get a lot of answers. “I go because I want to receive the Eucharist.” “I go to spend time with family.” Others will remark “I want to hear the Word of God.” Someone else will say “I like the preaching,” Ok, maybe I just hope someone would answer that. However, all these answers fall short: Catholic Mass is about perpetuating the Paschal mystery. Mass is a sacrifice,... Read more
The United Nations has declared February 11 to be the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This caught my attention and made me think of several talented young Catholic women scientists at Caltech in Pasadena, California. I was inspired to learn a little about the life of the “mother of chemistry,” who was also a Catholic and an example of a woman in science. If we ask a high school student to tell us who the father of... Read more
We are celebrating World Marriage Sunday, an international celebration promoted particularly well by the Catholic Church. We are also coming up on the secular holiday of Valentine’s Day, which coincides with Ash Wednesday this year. This is perhaps more fitting than not, since every successful marriage requires sacrifice, penance, and hard work. This sacrament is how relationships develop into vocations for both men and women, but the road is not always easy. In this context, I would like to share... Read more
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
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