The Power of Silence
When is the last time that you got away from everything? When is the last time that you turned off your phone, your TV, your computer, your car, left your house, left your job and the people around you, and spent time in real, true, pure silence? Do you remember going for a walk, accompanied... Continue reading→
Source and Summit: Why a Eucharistic Revival?
Sometimes as a bishop you feel the incredible weight of the need for a New Evangelization. One of those moments was when a 2019 study from the Pew Research Center revealed that as many as 70% of Catholics don’t believe in or understand the depth of Christ’s real presence and love in the Eucharist. The... Continue reading→
Learning Chastity and Self-Mastery
NOTE: This article features some sensitive topics that may not be suitable for younger readers. Please use discretion. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as the following: “Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances... Continue reading→
Dealing with Spiritual Doubt
We’ve seen the concept of doubt many times in scripture. When Abraham and Sarah are told that their descendants would number greater than the stars, they laughed, for both of them were old and past the age of bearing children. Similarly, when Zechariah is told that Elizabeth would have a son and he would be... Continue reading→
Practicing Spiritual Fitness
In the New Year, many people’s resolutions revolve around their desire to lead healthier lives. They may want to give up drinking or smoking or eating sweets. Others want to get to the gym more often or start going for walks or runs outside. There is an intrinsic recognition that to lead a better life,... Continue reading→
Spiritual Lessons from the Liturgy
Every New Year prompts a proliferation of self-improvement resolutions – diet, quit a vice, exercise more, spend less time on social media, etc. These can be good things, and indeed necessary things for our physical and emotional health. Quickly though, lists fade, self-control wains, and our attention moves to the next shiny thing (at least... Continue reading→
A Eucharistic New Year’s Resolution
We are beginning a new year, within the nationwide Eucharistic Revival initiated by the U.S. Catholic bishops that began on June 19, 2022, the Feast of Corpus Christi. As we consider our New Year’s Resolutions, perhaps we can make one of them Eucharistic, include an increase in our “diet” of the Bread From Heaven, Jesus... Continue reading→
The Fundamentals of Spiritual Freedom
In his 1941 State of the Union Address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed to the United States and to the whole world his belief that all people had a fundamental right to four freedoms as human beings. Echoing the words of the American Constitution, he explained that everyone deserved freedom of speech, freedom of religion,... Continue reading→
Contagious Gratitude for Holy Mass
We are well into Advent, as the coming of the Christ-child is near. What a good time to find ways to bring joy and happiness to our family, friends, neighbors, and to all of Chicago. Last week we considered how to draw others to make a good Confession in preparation for Christmas by sharing with... Continue reading→
Advent Resolutions
How do you feel about spoilers? Do they ruin a book or movie for you? Or does it not bother you at all? For some, they get more out of the journey or the story than they do out of the ending. Josh Raymond began a segment of The Inner Life by recalling one of... Continue reading→
Do you show gratitude to God?
It’s that time of year when gratitude and greed intersect. Have you ever reflected on the fact that during this season of Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas shopping, our culture is simultaneously telling us to be thankful while also pushing us to buy more stuff and want more gifts? The irony is not lost on me. I... Continue reading→
What is Hope?
Faith, hope and love. We see these words printed on t-shirts, home décor and coffee mugs. Did you know that they are more than just a nice phrase? They are the three theological virtues. The theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. (Catechism of... Continue reading→
Catechesis
Suffering for Truth and Justice (Commandment 8) - Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake for… ...Entertainment
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The Misguided Campaign for “Gender-Affirming” Care - NOTE: This article features some sensitive topics that may not… ...News & Culture
The Misguided Campaign for “Gender-Affirming” Care - NOTE: This article features some sensitive topics that may not… ...