Tag Archives: religion

Married Couples Are an Icon of God’s Love 2

by • New Evangelization • Tags: , , , , ,
Christian spouses receive a special consecration and a special mission.

Christian spouses receive a special consecration and a special mission.

From the Pope’s General Audience on April 2:

“Married couples carry out this vocation in a full and definitive communion of life. As ‘one flesh,’ they become living icons of God’s love in our world, building up the Church in unity and fidelity.” — Pope Francis

Yesterday, the Pope concluded his Catechesis on the Sacraments with a reflection on marriage as a unique vocation and noble sign of God’s love in the world. Here is the full text available on vatican.va.  More…

Praying When We’re Busy (And We’re All Busy) 10

by • Lent, Spiritual Lights (Fr Jason Smith) • Tags: ,
Fr Jason Smith

Fr Jason Smith

I went to Manhattan yesterday to get a wisdom tooth pulled. Thankfully the dentist was so adroit I was left with an hour or two of leisure to snap pictures of the city and Grand Central as I waited for the train.

As I snapped shots here and there I couldn’t help but observe the energy of the city. I kept thinking to myself, “No wonder it is so hard to stop and pray.” On the train ride home I put down the camera and picked up the pen to jot down a few notes–both to remind myself and to help others–on how to pray amid our busy life. More…

Are People Fundamentally Good? 5

by • Cultural Conversion • Tags: , , , , , ,

Here’s a good one for April Fool’s Day. How do you answer this question: Are people fundamentally good or are they naturally bad?

Why do we pity the fool?

Why do we pity the fool?

I’m going to play the naïve Rousseauean, instead of the devil’s advocate, and say people are good, society corrupts. You are probably going to disagree with me, but I think there is a case to be made here. I won’t simply embrace the noble savage in the end, because I really don’t think the answer to this question is all black and white. It certainly isn’t as simple as the following video makes it out to be. Or is it? You be the judge… More…

From Atheism to Priesthood 5

by • New Evangelization • Tags: , , , ,

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Remove All Obstacles to Find Your Joy 6

by • Lent • Tags: , , ,
"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

One of the reasons this Sunday’s Gospel reading is my favorite is all the little quirks you find in the original Greek text. This passage is full of them (John chapter 9).

Now people tend to get intimidated and annoyed when I start doing Greek on them, so I’m going to spare you that this time. I’ll just explain a couple of those issues without getting philological (i.e., getting geeky over nitty-gritty language details).

The first quirky Greek thing that strikes me when I read this passage is the repetition of the verb “open.” More…

Laetare Sunday Challenge, Rejoice in Your Brother’s Triumph 8

by • Lent • Tags: , , , ,

This Sunday’s Gospel (John Chapter 9), Jesus’ healing of the man born blind, is my favorite passage of the whole Bible. I love the way this scene in Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth captures the story’s full  range of emotions and contrasts the self-absorbed pharisees with the exuberant joy everyone else feels, and should be feeling, over the blind man’s miraculous healing. This scene highlights the essence of Laetare Sunday Joy by juxtaposing it with the type of attitude we must overcome to experience the joy Christ wants for us.  More…

The Annunciation, a Window into God-Time 12

by • New Evangelization • Tags: , , ,

Today’s Solemnity, commemorating the Incarnation of God the Son, falls on a specifically chosen date, March 25th, because it is exactly 9 months before December 25, when we celebrate our Savior’s birth. Since this event marks a crucial moment in Salvation History, we should think of it as being a window during Lent. Today we can freeze time, peer into eternity, and contemplate the mysteries of Christ, together with the Church and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Bono: Who Is Jesus Christ? 10

by • New Evangelization • Tags: , ,

As more and more public figures speak out against Christianity and promote values that go against Christian faith and morals, I always find it refreshing when celebrities talk candidly about their faith in Christ on camera.

U2 front man Bono has always been upfront on 2 things about himself. He’s not perfect and he’s a follower of Christ. More…

Conversion at the Well 6

by • Lent • Tags: , , , , ,

People have one track minds, God wants us to see the big picture. 

As I was reading the part about “Living Water” in today’s Gospel reading (John 4:5-42), I was reminded of something interesting. When I teach Baptism preparation classes, at one point I address the topic of the symbolism of water. I ask them, More…

The Penitent Magdalene and True Conversion of Heart 4

by • Art and Culture, Lent, Spiritual Lights (Fr Jason Smith) • Tags: , , , ,

By Fr Jason Smith

I have found no better representation of conversion and penance in art than The Penitent Magdalene, by George de la Tour. Though simple, it expresses the essential elements behind every conversion, and we can find in it powerful lessons to apply to our own life. Let’s take a closer look.

The Penitent Magdalen, George de la Tour

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