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The Feast of the Archangels is upon us, a time to reflect on these often mysterious messengers of God, and the help they never cease to provide to us in our spiritual struggle. While there are innumerable “bodiless powers” in heaven, the Church celebrates three in particular for the integral roles they have played throughout […]
9 Fascinating Facts About the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Read More »
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You’ve rejoiced in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Puritan-bashing in “Young Goodman Brown.” You’ve reveled in his rejection of scientism and perfectionism in “The Birthmark.” You may even have shared some of Hester’s redemptive suffering in The Scarlet Letter. One of Hawthorne’s lesser-known works, however, takes on a whole different problem, one uncannily appropriate to our day. “The Procession
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Lessons on the Works of Mercy Read More »
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What exactly is a “Doctor of the Church” you might ask? The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere”, which means to teach or instruct. The Church sees these great doctors of the Church are some of the greatest teachers and instructors of the faith. When the Church recognizes someone as a doctor, this
Who Were the First 4 Doctors of the Catholic Church? Read More »
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The Catholic Church traditionally celebrates the feast of Mary Stella Maris or Mary, Star of the Sea, on September 27. Seafarers have invoked her for centuries, but did you know this title originally arose due to a transcription error? Here are 5 facts about the Stella Maris you may not have known. 1. This
Do You Know Why Catholics Call Mary ‘Stella Maris’? Read More »
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The Catholic Church celebrates St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day on September 27th. Most of us know his common life: He was born poor in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. He founded the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac. He died September 27,
6 Amazing Facts About St. Vincent de Paul Read More »
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Sean Bryan, the Papal Ninja, was one of only 95 competitors on American Ninja Warrior this season to take on stage one of the national finals in Las Vegas. Out of those 95, he was one of 41 that advanced to stage two. And of those 41, he was one of only three to advance
Purpose, Providence, and the Papal Ninja Read More »
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Little is known of Saint Matthew, the Gospel writer, outside of what was recorded in the New Testament. Still, we can glean some very important facts about him and his relationship with Christ. Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans. His job was to solicit taxes from his fellow Jews – a practice that
11 Awe-Inspiring Art Pieces That Celebrate Saint Matthew Read More »
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If you love a well-crafted beer, you need to thank a monk. There is a long, historical connection between monasteries and finely crafted beer. Starting all the way back in the sixth century, Benedict of Nursa created a formula for monastic life that we know today as The Rule of Saint Benedict. In the rule, Benedict required monks
4 American Catholic Beers You Need to Try Read More »
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I have a naturally curious brain. When there are things I do not know that I want to know, an irresistible urge to find the answer wells up within me. I will not be satisfied until I find an answer. This can be frustrating when knowing the answer is impossible which occurs surprisingly often in Bible
What Went Unrecorded in the Bible? Read More »
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In the Catholic Church, the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office) is the daily prayer of the Church. The prayers are prayed five times a day: Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer. Canon law requires priests in the Catholic Church to pray the entire Liturgy
Which Marian Hymn Do I Sing After Night Prayer? Read More »
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You may recognize Sean Bryan from the television show American Ninja Warrior where he competes as the Papal Ninja and wears shirts designed after the Vatican Flag (with a nod to the Dominicans, too!). But here are ten things you may not know about Sean. 1. He discerned with the Salesians for four years
10 Things to Know About Papal Ninja Sean Bryan Read More »
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Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on August 25, 2017. Since that day, more than forty inches of water have flooded southeast Texas – and weather forecasters predict that fifty inches of rain will fall before the storm is finished. At least thirty people have died in the wake of the tropical storm, and many more are
A Prayer for Those Threatened by Hurricane Harvey Read More »
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40 years ago, and before he was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Arlington, VA, Father Aitcheson was a member of the KKK. In what can be described as a radical conversion to Christ, Fr. Aitcheson left the KKK and pursued God’s calling: to become a priest in God’s Church, sharing in the one
Catholic Priest Opens up About His Conversion and Past in the KKK Read More »
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Are you one of those people who enjoy learning about your faith in a more academic setting but don’t have the time or the resources to stop everything and uproot your family so that you can further your education? Do you love learning about God so much that it hurts because you’re pretty sure that
8 Incredible Catholic Online Programs You Should Know About Read More »
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Known for their good habits, sweet dispositions, and effervescent beauty, religious sisters and nuns are a remarkable gift to our Church. Their love of Jesus and their passion for sharing the Gospel (in whatever way their particular order does) is always a beautiful reminder of how the Lord works through ordinary, simple people to do
Five Reasons You Should Be Friends with Religious Sisters Read More »
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In light of the eclipse (see what I did there?) I got to thinking about what some of the Saints would have said about the event in the sky that captivated America. So many of our great saints had much to say on the topic of darkness – particularly spiritual darkness. Pope St. John Paul
What the Saints Would Have Said About the Epic Solar Eclipse Read More »
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When Katharine Drexel was born to a wealthy Philadelphia couple in 1858, it was expected that she would someday marry a suitably wealthy husband, inherit a slice of her father’s $400 million estate, and perhaps engage in some quiet and respectable philanthropy. Few could predict that she would become a religious sister; no one thought
5 Times St. Katharine Drexel Won Against Racism Read More »
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When you think of someone sharing the Gospel, what kind of person comes to mind? For most of us, we think of someone who is comfortable in a crowd. We may think of someone who doesn’t know a stranger and is chock full of intelligent yet accessible responses to questions about the faith. The person
An Introvert’s Guide to Evangelization Read More »
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Times are troubling. That’s not a political statement or thought, just a fact. There seems to be nothing but division, vitriol, spite, anger, and frustration – from every side of every aisle on every topic these days. Whether it’s rallies, Twitter wars, a 24 hour news cycle with no clear message, Facebook comment box debates
Strength in Troubled Times: 5 Quotes from St. Faustina’s Diary Read More »
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It all started when one of my Facebook friends shared this picture from Catholic Memes: I tried to be cute and typed up 8 bars in the comment section. Then one of the priests in my diocese dropped a verse, and I conceded his verse was better than mine. He responded with excellent
That Time a Bishop Barron Meme Sparked Internet Greatness Read More »
