Forty Days to Greatness
I have a love-hate relationship with Lent. Each year, I dread its coming, yet by the end of the season, I am renewed. The truth is, I know I need it. I know I rely on the world, material things, and comforts more than I should. Pope Benedict XVI said, “the world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” The only way to obtain the greatness for which we were made is by total reliance on God. Lent is necessary in order for me to decrease so that God can increase in my life.
St. Valentine’s Day
The Church teaches us that the saints are those who have modeled a life of holiness and we believe are now with the Father in heaven. St. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the 3rd century. He wrote letters from prison and entitled them “From your Valentine.” For this reason, we share Valentine’s cards and gifts with those we love in honor of his memory and the love he shared.
Answering Life’s Questions
It is in our nature as humans to want to know about and explore the world around us to find answers to life’s questions. There are some deep, common questions that people search for answers to: Who am I? What was I created to do? How do I make good choices? These questions must be answered through the lens of faith using a moral compass formed in Catholic teaching.
Living Out Baptism
As we reflect on the Baptism of our Lord this weekend, let it be more than a reminder of our own baptism as a time that we look back on. Living out our baptism means answering the call to greatness in our words and actions, so that every aspect of our lives points to Christ.
A Catholic Way to Begin the New Year
As the New Year begins, many people will commit to “New Year’s Resolutions.” Catholic Culture has an online Catholic Dictionary which describes a resolution in spiritual theology as implying “a conversion of one’s moral life, arrived at after due reflection and prayer.” Wow. THIS is how I want to enter a New Year!