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.
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?
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?
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.
I had coffee recently with my friend Frances. We were talking about the struggle all of us encounter at times when people fail to understand us. Frances then shared with me a beautiful image God planted in her mind regarding this difficulty.
In the midst of all of the solemnities the Church celebrates around the month of June, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart gets overlooked. Why does the Church ascribe so much importance to an internal organ of Our Lord? Isn’t that kind of strange?
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.
“Previously, I think I had a more individualistic perspective on the virtues. Prudence, fortitude, temperance, justice—these were noble qualities each person needed to be a good Christian. But the emphasis was on the self: one needs to grow in virtue for the sake of his own moral and spiritual progress” (The Art of Living, pg. 2).
“Do you know,” said Anne confidentially, “I’ve made up my mind to enjoy this drive. It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”
In this scene, eleven-year-old Anne is facing the prospect of being sent back to an orphan asylum because…
In the person of St. Joseph, the Church has a beautiful contradiction to the boastful nature of much of society. Strong, quiet, and gentle, Joseph stands out as a model that all people—men and women alike—can and should strive to follow.
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?
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…