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?
Every day, Jesus passes through our lives and calls us to follow Him in ways both big and small. Where do we meet Him? In what ways does He call to us? How do we respond?
Praying before bed can be a challenge. We tend to feel worn down after a long day. Perhaps we’re distracted, restless, frustrated, or discouraged. We look forward to unwinding and falling asleep.
Yet prayer before bed, though it takes effort, can refresh our souls in a unique way. Here’s how along with practical tips on how to approach it.
Driving is one of the most common human activities. A lot of us spend a great deal of time behind the wheel. During this time, we confront a number of dangers and temptations as well as opportunities to grow in virtue.
Given all this, it’s worthwhile to consider how we might sanctify this activity.
Do you know how to live Sunday as the Lord’s Day?
Attending Mass is only one part—albeit the most important one—of keeping Sunday holy. But the commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day doesn’t stop there. Rather, we should strive to sanctify the whole day. Here are four ways we do that.
Do you prepare for Mass?
We prepare for so many things—work, school, a birthday party, a vacation—so as to do or enjoy those things as best we can.
Likewise, we need to prepare to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass. It is…
There are a number of pamphlets and such discussing how to spend a Holy Hour. The problem is, these writings tend to focus on how to fill up your time during Adoration. But how do you go beyond formal devotions like the Rosary and enter into a deeper communion with God?
When I recently began praying the Divine Office, something significant leapt out to me. In prayer, it is easy to focus on ourselves. We ask for favors, thank God for things He’s done, and beg His pardon for our sins. How much time, though, do we devote to praising Him?
Vir Christi delves into mental prayer: what it is, why it matters, and how to do it. He also answers the question of how we know whether our time spent in mental prayer is bearing fruit or not. This is a must-read!
If you’ve never been in the habit of praying the Rosary, it can seem dull or intimidating. Or perhaps you feel in need of a “refresh” regarding your devotion to Mary. Or maybe you want to branch out and connect with her in other ways. Here are several little suggestions.
Sloth can be a difficult sin to identify. The other capital sins are “active” sins: we consciously choose to do something evil. Sloth is a sin of omission: we fail to do something good. It is easy to dismiss because we’re not actively doing any harm—or so we think.
We humans are heavily influenced by our surroundings. That’s why we’re always encouraged to keep good company and put ourselves in places where we can build good habits. In the winter, a sense of dreariness can overcome us. People are tired of the cold and the snow. They’re ready for….
Even if I have what I deem a “successful” Advent or Lent, I don’t want to stop there. I want to keep growing in my spiritual life throughout the rest of the year. But how?
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.
What are you afraid of? What is the thing in your life that makes you so afraid that you aren’t happy, the family drama that you worry about all the time, or the world issue that seems apocalyptic in magnitude?