I’ve often reflected on why the Lord Jesus, when He ascended to the Father, left behind His holy Mother at the start of the Church? Her presence, prayer, encouragement, wisdom, and exhortation; her feminine love must have strengthened the Apostles. Her maternal holiness and prayer helped to form the first clerg
Read MoreAs healthy, cohesive families go forth into the world as little platoons, they are a force for goodwill and real justice in society, broadcasting by example and by good works into the culture at large. They begin with mothers who cultivate virtue and a sense of uniqueness in their children.
Read MoreSeems like we women have a hard time with things.
Between agonizing over staying home with the kids and needing affirmation from the world, we’re just in a tough place.
I personally would never have made it this far without constant reminders from my friends that I can’t seek affirmation in “how things are going.”
Read MoreIt makes sense that this mercy begin at home. The hidden and sacrificial deeds of mercy performed in our homes both mundane and heroic not only serve to improve the lives of our family members but begin to mold and shape our own hearts to better resemble our Savior. As parents we can become models of mercy to our children along with helping them to see opportunities for mercy and to practice them.
Read MoreEvery year in early September there is a small spectacle that occurs for those to see between a small farming village outside of Vienna, Austria, to the ancient Cistercian Monastery of Heiligenkreuze (Holy Cross) some thirteen miles away. The International Theological Institute (ITI) makes a pilgrimage to that venerable monastery through harvested fields and vineyards laden with ripe grapes and through the famous wooded hills of Wienerwald, to venerate the largest relic of the true Cross north of the Alps, for the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross.
Read MoreMy daughter is 10 years old. She is completely boy crazy! She dreams about having a boyfriend, she dreams about getting married, she dreams about kissing a boy. She talks all the time along this theme. My husband and I are frequently reminding her that 10 is too young to consider having a boyfriend, never mind getting married!
Read MorePornography is now more popular than baseball. In fact, it has become America’s pastime, and we are awash in it. Porn is on our computers, our smartphones, and our cable or satellite TV. It’s common in our hotels and even in many retail stores and gas stations. For many men — and, increasingly, women — it is part of their daily lives.
Read MoreHarbor of Hope is a spiritual support group for family and friends that have a loved one who is experiencing same sex attraction. As family and friends, we meet with charity and compassion to seek understanding and support. We follow the teachings of the Church and choose to love and share the Truth with compassion as Jesus taught.
Read More“Know that the Lord is God! It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps 100:3). In many ways, this short verse sums up my – and every – vocation story. Whenever I consider how it is that I wound up entering the Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R. of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother, the answer is always the same: God made me for Himself, and has spent my whole life drawing me back to Him.
Read MoreO Holy One O Perfect Source and Cause of all life Open me to your will. You are great, and highly to be praised O Most High LORD, Father of all that is. You created my mouth to praise You, my heart to love You, my soul to sing in Your love. Do not look upon my many sins and faults, O LORD, but only see what good I bring today. The Yes and No of my first parents brings me here: Their Yes brought me to existence. Their No brought me to that inherited sinfulness, that also brings me here in supplication and repentance.
Read MoreMy vocation story is a story of my walk with the Lord. I grew up in a Catholic family, but it wasn’t until high school that I started really taking my faith seriously. In high school, I began to make prayer a regular part of my day, and my relationship with the Lord began to deepen. Prayer is nothing but communication with the Lord. The more I kept in touch with God throughout the day, the better I came to know Him. I also came to know myself more – who I am in God’s eyes.
Read MoreThe gift of presence is not easy to come by, you cannot pay for it, and few people have it naturally. When I say the gift of presence I do not mean personality - many people are 'personalities', rather, the 'gift of presence' is that amazing ability some people have, and foster, to really be present to another. We all know someone I hope who is really aware of others, who listens to others when they talk and remembers what they say, who looks others in the eye, who encourages with words and in their gestures, who wishes the best for them.
Read More“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.
This Scripture passage became my life source. Plagued by anxiety, worry, or doubt I recited this passage and remembered to pray—lifting my burdens up, I was assured I would be filled with peace transcending human comprehension.
Read MoreOur first goal in nurturing the theological gift of faith in our family is to teach our children the two greatest commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. Lessons in this school of love take place in every act of love we ourselves give to our God which our children witness. Likewise, they learn to love their neighbor by seeing how we love each other.
Read MoreNorm and Cindy Coutu, parents of five children, share why they believe building virtue is important in arming our children to face the challenges of the world.
If you enthrone your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and you really make Him the center of your family, you will be amazed at the results.
Jesus made twelve promises to St. Margaret Mary regarding the many blessings that He would pour out on those who honor His Sacred Heart. One of these promises is, “I will grant peace to their families.”
Read MoreDespite the busy life of having four active boys, Shannon McGinley, a resident of Bedford and parishioner of Ste. Marie in Manchester, makes time to engage in the culture war against those who would destroy the souls of our children, our marriages, and therefore, our families. Because the family is the cornerstone of a civil society, our very nation is at risk. It is our duty as faithful Catholics to engage in the challenging call to discipleship in the world of politics.
Read MoreIn sharing his thoughts on money and childrearing, Stan from Hawaii said philosophically, “It is more important to have a high level of living than a high standard of living.” Marilyn from Oregon agreed. “Buying things is no substitute for time and love. Kids can’t be fooled. They would much rather have us attend their school program, for example, than miss it because we are working late so they can wear a designer label on their clothes.”
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