When I ask you, “How many friends do you have?” what pops into your mind? Is it …
How many “true” friends?
How many Facebook friends?
How many friends in my whole lifetime? Actually, it’s far more than any of those numbers. In truth you have more friends than you can count. The saints in heaven are the best friends you could ask for – and they’re pulling for you.
“God’s plan is often wrought with suffering, and if we’re constantly trying to avoid suffering, if that’s our goal, then a lot of times we’re going to miss out on the trials and those things that God may place before us not because He doesn’t love us, but because He does.”
Part of being a Christian is accepting that we’re not perfect. How we respond to other people calling us out of sin says a lot about what kind of person we are.
We all have doubts about whether or not God hears our prayers. Today’s readings confirm for us once again that He always hears, He will act in His time, and His actions will always bring life. We just have to trust.
“Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied” (Luke 9:16-17).
You all know that what you eat affects your waistline. But did you know that it also affects your mood, your ability to concentrate, and therefore your ability to pray? Since we are not just a body, or just a soul, but a body and soul together, the choices we make with our bodies are reflected in our souls. In this excerpt from Mark’s radio show “Fired Up” from The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM, he and his wife Mel talk about the changes they’ve made to their diets in order to be healthier, Read more [...]
The Holy Trinity is a mystery that we can never understand. So instead of asking “how” the Trinity is possible, live out the “why” of the Trinity – which is love.
It’s the feast of Pentecost! Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful . . .
Happy feast of the Ascension! In this week’s readings, we’re reminded that the Jesus that’s in heaven, is the same Jesus who walked the earth. And we’re able to be united to Him through the Holy Spirit who He has given to us.
Use the summaries as an introduction for private study. Use them in a group study as you begin to discuss the various overarching themes of each work. The point is this: use them. There is no reason to avoid St. Paul’s writings. They are a beautiful gift from God and are meant to be explored. Prayerfully read through these sections in conjunction with the letters of St. Paul themselves, and watch how the second reading at Sunday Mass — and, most importantly, your soul — comes to life.
God’s desire is that all of His children be with Him in heaven. That’s why the Catholic Church isn’t exclusive but universal.
In those moments, I lamented my lot as St. Mark’s namesake. I mean, my older brothers could claim devil slayers like St. Michael, snake charmers like St. Patrick, or even St. Francis, whom animals spontaneously trusted. And there I was, stuck with good old, unexciting Mark. To my young, sarcastic mind, the only upside was that Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four, giving me hope that our school Mass might be shorter whenever Mark was read. (Alas, my liturgical arithmetic was off: a shorter gospel book never meant a shorter gospel proclamation . . . or homily.)
