Live Your Catholic Life

Category Archives: Live Your Catholic Life

Video LifeTeen.com Blog

Finding Happiness Beyond Surfing: Pass the Bucket by Vans [Video]

By | March 12, 2012

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When this video started I quickly labeled Leila Hurst as “cool” and “popular” and “happy.” I saw a gorgeous, blond, teen surfer who was getting lots of money and fame for doing what she loved. What could be better? As the video went on I saw her close relationship with her sister who has spinal bifida, and how strong the bond of siblings can be if we don’t let our struggles or resentment get in the way. Then I listened more closely to what Leila was saying. This is what I heard: “When Read more [...]

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LifeTeen.com Blog

How to Persevere in Your Faith

By | March 9, 2012

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I remember one of my first retreats in high school. I came home Sunday night on fire and ready to be a new person. It was time to change. I was going to go to Confession every week, get to mass everyday, pray the rosary every night, and read my Bible every morning. I was going to be holy. No more making fun of people, bad language, or laziness. I knew I could do it. I was inspired.

And that lasted until Tuesday. Yep. Tuesday. I had so much to learn.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Saint Quotes: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati on Purity

By | March 3, 2012

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“With all the strength of my soul I urge you young people to approach the Communion table as often as you can. Feed on this bread of angels whence you will draw all the energy you need to fight inner battles. Because true happiness, dear friends, does not consist in the pleasures of the world or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we have only if we are pure in heart and mind.” – Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Read more [...]

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Video

Life Teen Interview with Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum

By | March 2, 2012

Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum interviewed by Life Teen

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Rick Santorum, a Catholic politician running for President of the United States. While Catholics have successfully and faithfully servered in all areas of society, the office of President has only been occupied by one Catholic, John F. Kennedy.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Catholic Advice for Every Girl

By | February 28, 2012

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It’s such an honor to be able to write just for you girls this time. I love being able to share with you some of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the past couple years about being a woman and being a Catholic. It took me a long time to learn these things! I hope you can put this advice to good use in your own life.

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Video

10 Ways to Get the Right Guy to Like You [Video]

By | February 27, 2012

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Hey girls, have you ever wondered if there’s a secret to getting a guy to like you? Well . . . there’s not just one, there’s 10!

They’re an easy 10, but there is a catch. This list isn’t just to get any guy to like you; it’s a list to get the right guy to like you. Why? Because you are awesome and beautiful and that’s what you deserve. You don’t deserve just anyone who’s going to take you for granted and mistreat you. You deserve the best.

I hope and pray you believe that too.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

You’ve Got to Have a Plan to Reach Your Goals

By | February 23, 2012

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No matter what, I stuck to this plan. When it got colder outside, I kept training. When this cold air, combined with the dryness of the desert caused me to gag on some of my morning runs, I kept training. When I was chased by a dog and was almost hit by several cars, I kept training. When I had to travel on 7 different weekends during those 18 weeks, I adjusted to make sure I didn’t miss a run.

Why? Because I had a goal and nothing was going to stop me from achieving it.

We all have goals in life, things we want to achieve with the gifts we’ve been given. But having a goal is simply not enough. We need to have a plan to get there.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

7 Catholic Dating Tips

By | February 22, 2012

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Whether single or in a relationship, dating can be a wonderful, exciting, intimidating, and sometimes bizarre event. The stress of just figuring out what to wear can send you over the edge. Then there are all the other details. Who is paying? Where do we go? Do we show affection? How do I flirt? Or more importantly, how do we just survive those crippling embarrassing moments. Maybe you are like me and awkward moments never seem to end. If so, here are some fun tips to help your dates go a Read more [...]

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Being a Catholic Man: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

By | February 21, 2012

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One of my favorite things about being a man is that we know everything. Or . . . no . . . wait a minute. We think we know everything. There, that sounds more like it.

But seriously, in high school I thought I had it all figured out. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it was because I got my driver’s license and drove a really cool beige minivan, or maybe it had to do with my ability to make sweet graphs on my TI-83 calculator. Perhaps my ever-increasing bench press played a role. (Ok, that last one may be a bit of a stretch.)

But yet, for some reason, I thought I knew it all. If you had a question, I had an answer. If you couldn’t figure something out, I could. And, armed with this array of knowledge, I was gonna teach the world a thing or two. That is until I started getting older and realized something: I didn’t know as much as I thought.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Dating Disasters: Confessions of a Catholic Single

By | February 14, 2012

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I always have the worst dates.

Seriously, the movie How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days has nothing on me. My dating disasters have been frequent and broad in their range of humiliation: I have been taken to the hospital, spilled my drink over my date’s new couch, called the guy by the wrong name, got lost and stuck in a ditch, and laughed so hard I choked on my meal nearly causing the waiter to perform the Heimlich.

And you wonder why I am still single?

But wait there’s more. Here are my top two worst date experiences.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Not Cool, Nicki Minaj

By | February 13, 2012

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Dear Nicki Minaj,

I want to begin by letting you know that I don’t know much about you. I don’t listen to your music. I don’t know your background, and I even had to look up how to spell your name. I think you performed at the Super Bowl this year, but last night, watching the Grammy’s, was probably my first real introduction to you. And if it’s important to make a good first impression, with me, you failed.

To say that I was offended by your performance is an understatement, and I really don’t want to go back and re-live it again, so I’m not going to get into any specifics. What I do want you to know is something all of us Catholics believe.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

What a Guy Really Wants in a Girl

By | February 13, 2012

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In high school, I played football and ran for track and field. As a young man just coming into my faith, it was tough to see and hear the guys talk about women in a way that was so degrading. It forced me to question what the truth was. I was learning about God and His plan for us, but what the other guys were saying was completely contradictory to what God was saying.

I got to a point where I looked at what society was telling me would make me happy regarding women: sex, popularity and partying; and I asked myself, “Is that it? Is this as good as it gets in life?”

There was something inside me that wasn’t satisfied with that. There was a burning in my heart for so much more. I knew that God had greater plans.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Don’t Be Boring: Creative Date Ideas

By | February 12, 2012

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Are you looking for some creative date ideas to do with a special someone this month? Valentines day is right around the corner and why not celebrate in a fun and creative way?

There is no reason why you cannot make this date the Best. Date. Ever.

Say “Goodbye” to boring because here are some ideas to help spark your imagination.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

I’m Lost: Understanding How Men and Women Communicate

By | February 10, 2012

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Also, eye contact is important. How many times does the person you’re speaking to feel they have your undivided attention? Turn off screens – get away from them. Eye contact is the quickest and simplest way to acknowledge Christ in the other.

Now, if you’re having a “conversation” through a screen, ask yourself if that’s the best medium to be using to have that conversation. Words can be misread and mistaken. Do you ever text just “because you don’t want to get into a long conversation?” Go the extra mile. Don’t text when you can call. Don’t call when you can sit face to face. Don’t sit face to face and have your mind in another area code. A huge part of authentic communication is emotional presence, not only physical presence.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

You’re Capable of More Than You Think

By | February 9, 2012

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And you know what was most amazing? On Sunday morning, January 15, 2012, when I got to the start line, do you know what I saw? Several thousand other people just like me. People of all ages, sizes, and body types were out there to see if they had what it takes. And, after a grueling 5 hours, 6 minutes, and 44 seconds, I crossed the finish line. I had what it took, and you do too.

I’m not saying that running a marathon is for everyone, but we all have “marathons” in our lives, and it’s time we put fear and excuses aside.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Don’t Sit So Close to Me

By | February 7, 2012

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One of the things I hate about flying is the discomfort and awkwardness of sitting very close to a stranger for 4 or more hours (the typical length of one of my flights).

I’m an introvert, but I’m not anti-social. I like talking, but I hate small talk – which is what plane conversations often are. (For me, at least)

It’s my luck to always get stuck next to: the creepy, flirty man, the smoker or perfume over-doser who gives me a headache, chatty Cathy who ignores the book in my lap, and many others who have left me with the opinion that I’d rather sit alone.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

To Hook Up or Not To Hook Up?: Is it a Big Deal?

By | February 6, 2012

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One night in high school, my ex-boyfriend’s best friend called me up. He told me that he and his girlfriend, and my ex-boyfriend, were all hanging out, and that I should come over. From the tone in his voice and slight innuendo in his words, I knew what this meant.

My ex-boyfriend and I had played the “friends with benefits” game before. Thus I wasn’t surprised and actually felt a bit flattered that this popular, talented, good-looking guy would beckon me to him, even if we weren’t still dating.

I excitedly rushed over to the best friend’s house, greeted everyone, and proceeded to “hang out” exclusively with my ex-boyfriend. I didn’t see anything wrong with making-out with my ex-boyfriend, because after all, I wasn’t having sex.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Why Are You So Different?: When God Made Man and Woman

By | February 4, 2012

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Man lives more in the external world, because made from the earth and closest to it; it is his mission to rule over it and subject it. Woman lives more in the internal world, because she was created from an inner, human life.

Man is more interested in the outer world; woman in the inner world. Man talks about things; woman more about persons. Man fashions products of the earth; woman fashions life, having come from life, both Divine and human. Man, more related to the earth, makes sacrifices for things that are in the future and are abstract; woman, more related to the human, is more inclined to make sacrifices for persons and for that which is immediate.

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Video LifeTeen.com Blog

It Still Hurts

By | February 1, 2012

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I want to share a video that has an powerful message of hope for those who’ve suffered through an abortion.

This is a video of a woman named Lisa who dealt with abuse, divorce, and had three abortions. She has an incredible witness about the healing she received. The beauty of being Catholic is that besides counseling, we have the Sacrament of Confession where Christ Himself forgives us. Lisa experiences peace when she stopped hiding her abortions in the dark. Her shame was wiped away.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

It’s My Body: How to Respond to the Pro-Choice Argument

By | January 31, 2012

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Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who said that a woman has a right to have an abortion because it’s her body? This is one of the most common ‘defenses’ of the pro-choice position; so more than likely, you’ve heard it.

It’s hard to respond to. Here are some ways you can talk about this argument.

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