By Amber Kinloch Not so long ago, picture taking was something reserved for special events like weddings, birthdays, and vacations. Now we take photos at any time, every day. Not only that, but we can share those photos—conveniently captured in digital...
Articles
Anointing of the Sick: Do You Know the Essentials about This Sacrament?
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament many Catholics are unfamiliar with. Who should be anointed? Why? When? How is the sacrament administered? What practical steps can we take to prepare for it?
Practical Ways to Cultivate Chastity in Body, Mind, and Heart
Lust is a brutal sin to combat. At times, the struggle against it can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many practical steps we can take to overcome it. Here are six suggestions for everyone regardless of their state of life.
We Rejoice in Creation—Meditating on the Wonder of the Physical World
Have you ever reflected on how precious the physical world is in God’s eyes?
We tend to think of our Faith in abstract, intellectual terms. But the Catholic Faith is not some mere philosophical theory. It is something real and alive, which we experience and express in our daily lives in tangible ways.
What the Simplicity of Bethlehem Signifies for Us
Too often, we view the Nativity in a sentimental way. Teresa Kidron reminds us of the earthliness that characterized the stable at Bethlehem and the significance of the humble, meager conditions amidst which Christ was born.
Silence: An Underrated Theme of Christmas
There’s a unique quality about Christmas, one often described as the “Christmas spirit” that seems to unite people from all walks of life together in a profound way, regardless of whether they are Christian or not. What is this special something that bonds people together? Vir Christi suggests that it is silence.
An Advent Meditation on the Angelus
Vir Christi reflects upon the verses of the Angelus and the variety and abundance of spiritual fruits to be reaped by praying this simple Catholic prayer.
Why We Need Silence—4 Lessons from the Life of St. Joseph
St. Joseph is a model par excellence of prayerful silence for the ordinary layperson. Why is he silent, though? What purpose(s) does his silence serve? How can we imitate him?
Do You Give Thanks No Matter What?
Gratitude is one of the easiest virtues to display. Anyone can say “thank you” and the occasions for doing so are innumerable.
Gratitude as a habitual disposition is rarer and far more radical.
What do you say “thank you” for? Do you mean it? Do you give thanks no matter what happens?
Prepare the Way! A Guide to a Holy Advent
Advent and Lent are both seasons of penance and preparation. Yet they are meant to be celebrated in unique ways. How? And what specifically might we do so that Advent isn’t merely a time-marking season leading up to Christmas?
Christ the King, Now and Forever
As Catholics, in our liturgical celebrations we frequently hear mentions of Christ’s kingship. It might seem redundant to have a whole solemnity identifying Jesus as King, when we have so many other feast days celebrating Jesus in other ways. So why have it?
Do You Appreciate the Gift of Yourself?
We often aspire to be like those we perceive as possessing desirable good qualities. But is this desire always healthy? How can we imitate the virtuous example of others while appreciating who and what we are?
The Mark Left By Depression: Hope
Sometimes, the struggle against sin, temptation, and human weakness seems overwhelming. At such times, looking to the past can be a source of hope.
Reclaiming Halloween as a Catholic Celebration
What is the significance of Halloween for Catholics? Why does this day matter for us? How can we celebrate this day and All Hallows Day (All Saints’ Day) in a holy way in our secular society?
How to Make a Better Confession: 3 Brief Tips from St. Francis de Sales
Do you go to Confession regularly and struggle with discerning what to confess? Mortal sins must always be confessed in kind and number, but what about venial sins? How much detail is it appropriate to give? How can we be clear and accurate, but also brief? How can we make a more devout confession without being scrupulous?