Jesus commands to us to love our enemies. Why? How it sane and just to love someone who has hurt you gravely? What does loving such a person entail? How can we love them? Vir Christi answers these difficult questions and more.
Friendships & Relationships
Beyond Romance: Finding Love in a Loveless Society
Right like clockwork, every year on December 26th stores begin sweeping away their Christmas stock to put up Valentine’s Day gear. Candy, bouquets, cards, and other forms of goodies and romantic gifts can be found lining the shelves. As Catholics, we have a unique opportunity this time of year to teach others about the proper meaning of love. That’s what Valentine’s Day is supposed to be all about. But does our society recognize what love actually is?
True Treasures: What Money Cannot Buy
My mom and I went out to brunch with a number of older folks we see at daily Mass. Towards the end of our outing, the matter of payment came up. It was then that Jim, a new acquaintance, found out that Margaret had paid for everyone’s meals.
The Importance of Being Present
I’ve been musing on Joseph and how significant his presence is. It seems as if the whole point of Joseph’s life is just to be present to Jesus and Mary. Miracles, words of wisdom, grand gestures? Nope. Just be present wholeheartedly to God and those around you. That’s enough.
The Sweet Duty of Gratitude
A friend was thanking me for praying for him when he said something most striking. He remarked on how we ask people to pray for us, but forget to thank them later on.
What a profound thought. We say thank you to someone who’s done us some favor, and…
How to Practice Charity with Difficult People
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. Families are planning gatherings all around the country—hopefully, joyful ones. The reality, though, is that many are mentally cladding themselves in iron cloaks and adopting a survivor’s mentality in anticipation of dinner with their family members.
The Role of Friends in the Spiritual Life
The most concrete example of friendship in the Scriptures is the interaction between Jesus and the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12). Everyone rightfully pays attention to what Jesus does when the paralytic comes down through the roof. Less frequently discussed are the friends. Their conduct is a clear example of what authentic friendship…
Dealing with Sour Thoughts towards a Friend
The other week, I shot a friend of mine (let’s call her Rita) an email. The subject line: “10 Things I Like about You.” My intent was to give her spirits a boost. According to a mutual friend of ours, Rita had been struggling with handling a certain issue.
Secrets to Cultivating Good Conversation
People are starved for good conversation. Whether they know it or not, many are longing for something beyond the surface level encounters typical between modern people. Yet how to strike deeper?