Browsing Category
Spirituality
The genius of Mary
Do we really get Mary? We know God made her perfectly sinless. She needed to be perfect, because Jesus would take his human nature from her. That’s why she was humble, meek, and so, so good. And that’s where we get stuck. Everybody focuses…
Ten saints every worrier should know
Worrying is a very common problem, which can be made worse by the belief that our problems our unique. Once we meet others who are dealing (or have dealt) with similar problems, we typically feel better. Even more comforting is when we…
St. Mark
St. Mark Feast Day: April 25 Represented by the winged lion, St. Mark the Evangelist has been an exceptionally popular subject for Venetian artists, ever since his remains were relocated to Venice. Once the patron saint of the adoptive city…
The spiritual veteran
There are two kinds of “veterans.” There is the traditional veteran who confronts fear with selfless abandon, facing a known enemy and fighting for others. And then there is the spiritual veteran who clings to faith, facing an unseen enemy…
The Mass: Psalms & hymns & spiritual songs
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third part of Fr. Longenecker’s series in which he explains the deeper significance of the elements of the Catholic Mass. Part one is "The Mass: Praising & Processing." Part two is "The Mass: The Living Word."…
KEY FIGURES OF THE REFORMATION — ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Five hundred years ago, the Church and the world plummeted into crisis. The Protestant Revolution split Europe into warring factions. In the wake of Martin Luther’s preaching, Germany erupted in a revolt among the peasants that…
Inspiration from St. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
St. Hilary of Poitiers was not only the bishop of Poitiers, but also a doctor of the Church. The title doctor of the Church is given to individuals who have provided important contributions to theology and doctrine. Sometimes called “the…
A consecrated virgin: A path less traveled
There are approximately 3,000 publicly consecrated virgins in the world, with France, Italy, Argentina, and the United States having the highest percentages (in that order). This tally does not include those women privately consecrated,…
A guide to growing in gratitude
If you are like me, it is easy to forget how “God provides” if you are too focused on others’ blessings. We live in a culture that incessantly prompts us to want more and more of what others have – and INSTANTLY! Temptations are thrown in…
Five ways to make waiting spiritually profitable
Every time I leave my house, I’m amazed at how impatient and frenzied the world has become. It seems as if most people are striving to stay busy with family activities, work, and pursuing the “perfect” life of health and wealth. As a whole,…
