Are you ready for Lent? Check out our Lenten resources!
"The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger,
Read MoreOur culture has lost sight of the beauty and profundity of marriage as God intended. As Catholics we have the opportunity to witness and protect this sacrament instituted by Christ.
We invite you to celebrate and strengthen your bond of marriage as we observe National Marriage Week in the USA.
Read MoreAs wonderful as giving and receiving roses and sweets to mark St. Valentine's Day, there is far more as Christ Himself showed us and St. Valentine modeled.
"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:12-13
Read MoreCandlemas, which occurs 40 days after Christmas on February 2nd, celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. This was the day that, in keeping with Jewish law, Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple for the first time. When Holy Simeon saw the baby, he had a lot to say, but we’ll focus on the end part: “For my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a LIGHT for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
From these words comes the traditional Catholic practice for the day, which is the blessing of candles. Families would bring a supply of candles for the year to Mass, and the priest would bless all of them. Some churches do this still. And even if they don’t, there’s no reason why you can’t bring your candles and ask Father to bless them for you after Mass.
Read MoreAs a Church family, we’re witnesses to the beauty of life, even in the midst of life’s messiness: caring for sick family members, puzzling over our family budget, rushing to get to hockey practice, shushing our toddlers at Mass. (Go on, admit it - I’ve done my share of shushing.) God calls us to affirm life’s goodness in the midst of a skeptical culture. That sounds tough to do, when the skepticism takes the form of seeing abortion as a “right.”
We can do it.
Read MoreFirst, let’s take a look at the definition for the word Dignity.
1 the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect
origin Middle English: from Old French dignete, from Latin dignitas, from dignus 'worthy'.
And now, let’s look at the meaning of the word Manners.
Read MoreThis post is reprinted with permission from The Catholic Education Resource Center
The partridge in a pear tree is Christ. In nature, a mother partridge will feign injury to lure predators away from her defenseless nestlings. In the same way, our Lord protects us, vulnerable human beings, from Satan. The pear tree symbolizes the salvation of mankind, just as the apple tree symbolizes Adam and Eve's Fall from Grace.
Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments.
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Let’s talk about Hallowtide, shall we? All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1), and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) make up what is traditionally called Hallowtide.
Read MoreDon't worry about how "well" you pray the Rosary. Just pray it. As with anything new, you may stumble at first but it will soon become natural and you'll begin to miss it if you skip it! Give the Rosary a try and pray one decade today!
Happy October! In honor of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th, and the whole month of October, which is dedicated to the Rosary, this month’s Catholic All Year Liturgical Living video is about . . . saying a family Rosary. We know we should be doing it, but why is it so hard to actually, ya know, do it?
Read MoreGod is here. Now. In this moment. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves. Indeed, if he ceased to be present, we would cease to exist. How rarely we feel or experience this truth! Yet, holy men like Jean-Pierre de Caussade or Brother Lawrence, who both wrote wonderful books about finding God in the present moment, tell us with full conviction that we can learn to do so. How? We must train ourselves to see and perceive God’s presence.
Read MoreExemplary Mother of the Great Augustine,
you perseveringly pursued your wayward son,
not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven.
Intercede for all mothers in our day
so that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Read MorePray that your home may be a peaceful haven where the presence of Christ is felt.
Teach your children and model hospitality of the heart by being by being friendly and treating all those we come in contact with respect and dignity –especially those within our own families!
Read MoreGod, Our Father, from whom all life and authority comes from, help all fathers humbly realize that all they have comes from You.
You have entrusted Your precious life giving faculties to fathers, may they never abuse this great power.
Read MoreLet us venture into deep waters as we strive to get to know, to fall in love and establish a deep and dynamic rapport and relationship with the Holy Spirit. He desires to enter into deep communion and friendship with you as soon as you open your mind and heart to His Presence. Now is the time!
Read MoreA Catholic who seeks inner healing is similar to the traveler on a journey.The Holy Spirit helps him to become aware of his heart wound and mercifully sets him on the road of encounter with Jesus. The healing journey is comparable to the situation of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Read More“If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.” St. John Paul II
How appropriate this proclamation by St. John Paul II for Sunday, May 12, 2019 as we commemorate mothers and also observe World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Vocation, be it marriage and family or religious life, while calling us to heroic sacrifice also brings the great privilege of participating in the work of Christ.
Read MoreWe need all the help we can get in parenting in this digital culture. Please check out the many resources we have for educating, safeguarding and healing for families in this age of social media and internet accessibility.
Read MoreFor the past six months I have spoken with many parents, young people, and couples about the dangers of the internet and technology. More directly, I have been speaking to them about the danger of internet pornography. Pornography poses a grave threat to individuals, couples and families, and society.
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