Oh hey… I’m Christina, the new Web Content Editor for Life Teen. That means everything you see on the site, I’ve seen first to make sure you’ll like it – so I hope you do.
Jesus wanted to show us that His heart is constantly, forever, always, eternally loving and forgiving us. He loves you. He loves me. He loves every person so intensely that His heart burns with that love. Look into His eyes and you can’t see anything else.
I believe that abortion is a terrible evil. Because I believe that, for the past couple years I’ve gone to the March for Life held in Washington D.C. It’s a peaceful protest held in the middle of the city where an estimated 250,000-400,000 people gather to let the government know they’re not okay with the decision of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973.
There’s one scene that I’ll never forget from the March for Life…
The Church gives us feast days throughout the year so that we can look to the Saints who went before us, learn from their example, and ask their intercession. Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints – Saint Pio of Pietrelcina! Padre Pio was an amazing role model for every one of us.
Learn more about Padre Pio after the jump.
The words fun, freedom, and adulthood probably come to mind when you think about the adventure you’re about to embark on. For those just entering college, get ready. Dorm life is very different from living in an upstairs room at your parents’ – with your meals made and an early bedtime. We wouldn’t leave you stranded, so here’s some advice for both guys and girls on how to keep your integrity inside your residence hall. We asked Megan and Luke Reetz, a couple from Colorado who have both served on university campuses as Catholic missionaries, to share their wisdom for men and women.
The words of this year’s theme, “Behold the Mystery,” can be seen around every corner and heard from every mouth here at Life Teen. As I thought and prayed about it, I remembered learning that the word mystery comes from the Latin “mysterion.” It means something that is revealed while at the same time concealed.
This definition fits well with the virtue of modesty.
The English word “scandal” comes from the Greek root skandalon, which means “a stumbling block.” The sin of scandal is to cause someone else to turn away from good and do wrong. This is so serious that it’s a sin against the 5th Commandment. Yeah, that’s the one that says, “Thou shalt not kill.” To help someone else turn away from good and sin is to help them destroy their soul. God doesn’t take that lightly.
We couldn’t believe what she had worn, whom she had been seen with, what crazy thing she had done this time. There was always something to talk about when the subject was that girl from English class (no one ever remembers her name.) Exchanging shocked looks and harsh opinions of the juicy stories about her was good procrastination material before we focused again on the homework we were supposed to be doing. One of our friends cut in with, “Guys… she has a soul too you know.” Then, just as quick as the conversation had taken off, it came to a screeching halt.
We didn’t mean to objectify anyone, to only see their exterior. We didn’t mean to take away their dignity. We didn’t mean to be nasty. But talking together we got carried away and the truth was, we sinned against our sister in Christ.
I’m from a big family, and there are so many blessings that come with that. One of my favorite things is that our family is constantly changing and growing with each new marriage and birth. This past weekend I became an aunt again for the 6th time. I was so excited about this new addition to our family and I was thinking about how lucky that little girl is (and not only cause she has me as an aunt). When baby Hailey opened her eyes and stretched out her arms in this big new world, she was seeing and experiencing everything for the first time. She didn’t have to worry about a fight she had with her mom last week that was never resolved. She wasn’t heavy with the guilt from the mistakes of yesterday, last week, last month, or last year! Then, when she was baptized, all her original sin was washed away, she really started over with a clean slate. How amazing would that be for us?
Barbecues, family, friends, and fireworks…these are just a few of the things that Americans gear up for each July 4th . We dig out our red, white, and blue clothes and wave the flag with pride. We’re ready to celebrate – there’s such good reason after all! On July 4th, the Founding Fathers signed the Constitution because they were set free from injustice in order to choose what was best for their own country. They used their freedom to give us ours. Now what do we do with that freedom?
So I just moved from Buffalo, NY to Phoenix, AZ! Amidst dodging the sun, getting lost just driving around the corner, and meeting more new people than hairs on my head, it’s been pretty hectic. I think it’s common when you move to a new place to start wondering things like where you’ll fit in and how others will see you. And that’s what I was thinking, as well as stressing about where I was going to find employment, and how I could make things work out just the way I wanted them too. A couple days of those thoughts and I realized that I was getting way too consumed with myself, even though those are legitimate things to think about. I took it to prayer and I found the answer was, for once, really simple!
St. Paul tells us in Romans 14:7-8 that “…if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Simply put, we belong to God. What does that mean?
While trying to get used to the new city I’m living in, I’ve found myself spending lots of time in the car. As I’m driving, I love to blare Taio Cruz’s song “Break Your Heart”. If you haven’t heard it, it’s a hip hop song that’s rapidly climbing the Top 40 charts. I was frustrated, though, because while it’s so catchy and fun, the message is pretty sad.
