Lent causes suffering. The small (perhaps large to us) sacrifices that we make are meant to bring us closer to the cross. They are meant
Ah, Lent! That time of year when we spend a little more time than usual reflecting on how much we have distanced ourselves from God
What is the point of the Lenten sacrifices [1]? Why do we fast on some days, abstain from meat on others, and then also give
It struck me the other day that these First Readings during Lent all have a common theme: they tell the story of Salvation History through
Spending 2.5 days in silence was certainly a new and enriching experience for me and my spiritual life. I wrote and read so much, it’s
By now, you’ve probably been asked, “What are you doing for Lent?” And, whether you’re willing to share, you likely have an answer. You probably
One Sunday morning I set out very early to go for a 7:00 a.m. Mass in a parish that was about 110 kilometers away. The
This is a lesson for which I will be forever in debt to Dr. Brant Pitre. He taught it to me, and I’m passing it
Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, an occasion that has been marked since approximately the fourth century. While
The last living visionary from Beauraing, Belgium died on February 10, 2015. I was not surprised Gilberte Degeimbre’s death elicited no coverage in the United
In Jesus’ day, the word “hypocrites” didn’t really have any bad connotations. Actually, it just meant an actor in a play. Hypocrite literally means “one
A Trio of Lenten Offerings from the Augustine Institute Invite the Faithful on a Unique Journey Well Before Ash Wednesday Three interconnected resources help Catholics
Winter is a restless time of year for me. The cold days and dark nights can be depressing. I long for the warm days of
“I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learnt the secret both to
Today is the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a woman of incredible strength and perseverance. Kidnapped at age seven from her home in Sudan and
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). In my previous column, I discussed justice and noted that it is not necessarily
There was corruption within the Church prior to the Protestant Reformation. A great deal of it had to be addressed by the Council of Trent
As Catholics, it is of grave importance that we recognize the danger involved when we take part in occult practices, such as playing with a
As Christians, we do go into a spiritual battle, and it’s anything but nostalgic if you’ve had to fight one. King David is an example
Are you a disciple? I would guess that in this church today, not everyone is a disciple. Some are here because they are forced to
I have a relative who is an avowed atheist, which makes for very interesting conversations when I go home for the holidays. Last year we
