The content discusses the distinction between freedom and license through the lens of Catholic faith, emphasizing that true freedom involves moral responsibility and serving others, rather than pursuing self-indulgent desires.
Lent
Why Should We Rejoice During Lent?
The Church celebrates Laetare Sunday, emphasizing the joy from Lent’s struggles, echoing Pope John Paul II’s teachings that self-mastery during hardships leads to greater love and readiness for Easter joy.
What God Asks of Us Tomorrow
The upcoming Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, emphasizing fasting as a spiritual practice. The Church encourages fasting for self-mastery, allowing individuals to deepen their relationship with God and resist temptation through discipline and love.
Connected to Christ’s Resurrected Body
One of the beautiful things about Catholicism is the Sacraments. When we receive the Sacraments, we recognize through visible signs that a spiritual reality is being effected in us. Most of us know that the sacraments provide a unique kind of grace. Through baptism,...
Beggars Before God
“The greatest sinner is the one who has the greatest right to my mercy.” Jesus said these words to Saint Faustina in her famous diary. The greatest sinner is the one to whom Jesus’ Heart is most opened. The thief on the cross. Those who mocked Jesus. It was to these...
Lent: A Time for Spiritual or Incarnational Renewal?
Pope Benedict, in continuity with Pope St. John Paul’s Theology of the Body (TOB), speaks of three main aspects of the human person: communal, historical, and bodily. Does this mean that these two great popes don’t believe in the spiritual dimension of the person? Of...
Victims of Love
So, Lent is here. Which means that many of us have prepped 50+ impossible commitments because we want to be holy. After all, Lent is about sacrifice. And sacrifice makes us more like Jesus. Which in turn makes us holy and helps us save souls. But is making so many...
But What If You Couldn’t Fail?
"I want to stick to my resolution. I know it's for the better. I want to persevere, but it's so hard, and, if I'm being honest...I'm scared." It's a phrase all too familiar with people who are struggling to get out of a bad habit or better themselves with a long-term...
Your Mama Knows Best
Do you remember your childhood days when your mom would guide you in moderating your helpings for a meal or dessert? “Only two pieces of candy.” “Only one helping of spaghetti.” “Only two helpings of ice cream.” (How good that two helpings of ice cream were allowed!)...
Lent: Making Sense of Sensing the Senses
Last week while giving a retreat to middle school students, I had them bring a notepad and pencil into the chapel. After some quiet and prayer, I asked them to notice everything in the chapel and to draw it, be it candles, stained glass, air conditioning vent, pews,...