We’ve had a lot of difficult news to absorb these last few weeks. It would be easy to look at the Church’s current situation and wonder if we’re not splitting apart at the seams. Some have called this the US Church’s worst crisis in history (see interview below). So before sharing my thoughts on… [Read More]
Feel Like You Failed Lent? I do!
I had the best of intentions. I really did. Despite the stress from recent major life changes (getting married, moving three times, having a baby, leaving a job, starting a business and buying a house, all within 18 months), I set myself up for a Lent of awesome fasting, prayer, and spiritual reconnection with my… [Read More]
How to Stay Motivated During Lent
If you’re anything like me, you get to Day 6 of Lent and you start amending your sacrifices, making them easier and less painful. You may even have a conversation with yourself that looks like this: Scene: I’m quietly engaged in a task. My brain is wandering in thought. Suddenly, Brain taps me on the… [Read More]
3 Ways for 3 Days: How to Grow Spiritually During the Easter Triduum
Easter Triduum 2014 is upon us. It begins this Thursday evening. Yes, THIS Thursday, April 17, 2014. Are you ready? Are you sure? Okay, Pop Quiz time! I promise, it’s not too hard. Pop Quiz 1. What does the word Triduum mean? Answer: Three days. 2. When does Lent officially end and the Easter Triduum… [Read More]
Almsgiving in Lent: Amplify Your 2014
During Lent, Catholics are asked to pray, fast and give alms. However, of the three, almsgiving is the most neglected. Prayer & Fasting We usually do pretty good on the prayer part. This is easy because our parishes help us with this one very well, providing increased opportunities for spiritual development at our parishes through… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast Ep 23 – What is the Purpose of Penance?
Ep 23 – What is the Purpose of Penance? Questions 1. How can prayer remedy sin? Penance: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Disordered relationships (attachment to creatures) 2. Didn’t Jesus pay for all of our sins on the cross? 3. How can giving up something we need be good for us? Catechetical Moment CCC #1459 … [Read More]
Do You Count Sundays in Lent?
I’ve been very amazed to see the amount of Catholics that haven’t been to mass in years yet still feel the need to give something up for Lent. I haven’t seen any official polls, but it seems that this group is even larger than the ones that go to mass on Ash Wednesday. It seems… [Read More]
5 Common Misconceptions About Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday not only marks the beginning of the season of Lent, it is also a time when Catholic new media takes center stage, albeit not in the most obvious ways. This is because Ash Wednesday masses are some of the most attended all year, and most of those mass goers rely upon church websites… [Read More]
The “Odd” Things of the Catholic Faith
I love our Catholic faith. There’s beauty in it, there’s wisdom in it, there’s love in it, there’s joy in it, there’s an acceptance and reason for pain and suffering, there’s forgiveness in it, there’s purpose in the rites and rituals in it and there’s so, so much more. There are also some very “odd”… [Read More]
Have You Cheated Yet?
Alright folks. One week down. How is everyone doing? Been perfect so far? I admit, I already had a Lenten slip-up. This year, for better or worse, I didn’t mention what I was offering up for Lent on my personal site. In retrospect, I usually fail at it, which not only means I’m unintentionally bragging… [Read More]
Catholic Bishops Respond to the Health and Human Services Mandate
This weekend the following message from Bishop Joe Vasquez was read at all Masses in the Austin Diocese. So if you missed it or went to Mass out of town give it a read… Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the… [Read More]
