Learn About Your Faith

Category Archives: Learn About Your Faith

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Saintly Minute: Saint Francis of Assisi [Video]

By | October 4, 2011

Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most well known and beloved Catholic saints. His life of poverty and humility has captivated millions of people throughout the centuries and led to establishing an order devoted to a life of poverty for the love of God. He also well known for his love of nature and for creating the Nativity Creche seen at Christmas. His feast day is October 4.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

To Protect and Serve: The Truth About Guardian Angels

By | October 2, 2011

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Yes, guardian angels really do exist! In fact, every year on October 2nd the Church celebrates a Feast Day in honor of Guardian Angels. Your guardian angel is one of God’s greatest gifts to you. They are a source of His power. They never leave your side yet they are constantly looking upon the face of God, too. Guardian angels are not only real they are very active. You should invite yours into your day. Invite your angel to pray with you, to protect you, to help keep you focused on God and to protect you from evil and from harm.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Happy Feast Day: St. Therese of Lisieux

By | October 1, 2011

When I was ten years old, I asked Saint Therese for a kitten.

It makes me laugh now, but back then I desperately wanted one. My aunt, who knew more about Saint Therese than I did, had told me that she promised a shower of roses to whoever invoked her aid.

So I begged for that kitten. After all, it had to be easier than sending a torrential downpour of roses.

Years later, my youth minister gave me a book about her spirituality called “I Believe in Love.” I started reading it – no, I raced through it. I could relate to her so much more than any other saint I’d yet encountered.

She fell asleep while praying, messed up her daily chores …

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Where Did Jesus Go To High School?

By | September 19, 2011

I once had a very observant teen lean over (in the middle of Mass) and ask me, “Hey Mark, what does the “IHS” stand for on the gold box up there?”

The gold box he was referring to was the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament (Jesus, fully present in the Eucharist) is reserved. While the middle of Mass wasn’t the best time to stop and give a lesson on Greek or Church history, I have to say I was proud of him for asking.

Most of us see things like I.H.S. all over our churches and sacred vessels, but don’t really stop to ask what it means.

I.H.S. stands for Incarnation High School … it’s the high school prep academy where Jesus went, just outside of Nazareth. Their mascot is the fightin’ footwashers …

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Lost and Found in Medjugorie

By | August 31, 2011

The cheers exploded! There was singing and dancing. The outdoor arena was packed with 50,000 teens and the energy was tangible in the air because of their excitement. No, we weren’t at a Lady Gaga concert. We came for the greatest “Lady”—Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. It was the 22nd annual Medjugorje Youth Festival, and I was there to experience the pilgrimage of a lifetime!

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Move: What Will You Do For Your Friends?

By | August 30, 2011

You have a responsibility. A responsibility for the souls of your friends according to 1 Peter 1:9. What would you do for them? Will you make sure they know the Lord? Check out this video of Mark Hart! He’s teaching about what we can learn about friendship from the Bible.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

More Friends Than You Can Count: Why Catholics Pray With the Saints

By | August 29, 2011

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.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Missing – Jesus’ Mom: The Assumption Explained

By | August 15, 2011

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About twelve years ago a teen named Billy asked me this question, “Why do you Catholics believe that Mary ascended into heaven, when it’s not even in the Bible?” “Well, first…” I replied, “Mary did not ascend into heaven; the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven. Jesus ascended by His own power. Mary was taken up into heaven by God.” That little difference is a big difference, so I wanted to be sure he understood it.

Billy then replied, “Okay, fine…but it’s still not in the Bible. The Church made it up.”

This is where the conversation got really interesting.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

I witnessed the Beatification of JPII

By | June 28, 2011

I knew as soon as this Beatification was announced I couldn’t miss it. The opportunity to witness one of the great Saints of our time become blessed was something of a lifetime achievement.

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Video

Salvation History Bible Saga

By | June 22, 2011

Watch and hear Salvation History like you’ve never seen it before! Mark Hart, aka the Bible Geek, and Derek Natzke, Life Teen’s Video Producer, bridge music and text to take you through the greatest story ever told in this epic Bible saga.

*Performance took place at the 2011 Life Teen and Edge Training Convention.

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Video

Video: Pentecost Bible Study with Mark Hart

By | June 10, 2011

Mark Hart sits down with Ryan Miller to do a live video bible study for the feast of Pentecost. Discover the meaning behind this important feast day in the Church, including the foundations of the Jewish feast, the Tower of Babel, the early Church, and how the Spirit’s love flows in today’s world.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Falling in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus

By | June 10, 2011

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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.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Three Misconceptions of Confirmation

By | May 25, 2011

Confirmation is probably the most misunderstood Sacrament out of the seven. Let’s take a quick look at the misconceptions, shall we?

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LifeTeen.com Blog

The End is Coming…at some point: Rapture and Catholicism

By | May 19, 2011

A few months ago, I first heard the news that the world would come to an end on May 21st, 2011. It really bummed me out because I had big plans this year for Memorial Day. But since then, I’ve heard it more and more and I bet you have too. It seems this idea started a while back, when a small Christian group from Oakland, CA stated that May 21st, 2011 would be the end of the world. The prediction was based on their founder, Harold Camping, and his creative Biblical mathematics in which he Read more [...]

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Reflection, Not Rejoicing

By | May 2, 2011

“In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.” – Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican Spokesman, May 2, 2011

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Family Reunion: When "Chreaster" Catholics Come Home

By | April 23, 2011

Why is it that Christmas and Easter are the only two times during the year that you have to leave for church an hour early to get a seat? It’s sad but true. What is even sadder is the reaction that regular Mass-goers give on Easter and Christmas to others who don’t come the rest of the year.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Good Thief, Bad Thief: Why We Need to be Penitents Desiring Salvation

By | April 19, 2011

I think most of the time I’m the thief on the left cross. I’m tempting Jesus. I’m yelling at Him. I’m talking to Him like he’s my equal. “Hey if you’re really God do this. Hey Jesus, if you really love me, get me out of (insert impossible situation here). And if you do, (insert impossible promise here that I’ll break in a week).” I’m the thief on the left.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

On Fasting (John Paul II Lenten Reflections)

By | April 8, 2011

“Why do your disciples not fast?” Jesus answered: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Mt 9:15) Why fasting? It is necessary to give this question a wider and deeper answer, in order to clarify the relationship between fasting and “metanoia”, that is, that spiritual change which brings man closer to God. Food and drink are indispensable for man to live, he uses them and Read more [...]

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Video LifeTeen.com Blog

What Do You Believe? Video: The Apostles' Creed

By | March 24, 2011

We dug into our Life Teen video archives and pulled out this video on the Apostle’s creed. Give it a watch!

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Pornography: The Truth behind the Lie

By | February 22, 2011

Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry. Internet sales alone reach over $5 billion per year. More than half of its viewers online are men (72%), but in recent years more and more women are viewing pornography (28%). Pornography is everywhere and easily accessible to anyone of any age at any time. With a culture that has become obsessed with self-gratification and instantaneous satisfaction, it is no surprise that the pornography industry continues to make money. But, what are they really selling?

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