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→
The Ultimate Gift
The Christmas toy catalogs have already begun to show up in the mailbox. My children have been paging through them multiple times, circling items that meet their eyes and asking if they can put them on their Christmas lists. Toys, electronics, and decorations are beginning to fill store shelves and soon we will see ads...Continue reading→
Preparing for a Peaceful Death with St. Joseph
In this month of the Holy Souls, as we pray for the faithful departed, we would be remiss if we did not also consider our own death. We probably all agree that a peaceful death is the ideal situation. Who better to turn to for help than Saint Joseph, the patron of departing souls and...Continue reading→
Observing the Month of the Holy Souls
We kicked off this month with the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly known as All Souls Day, on November 2. But let’s not forget that the entire month of November is dedicated to remembering the Holy Souls. Who are the Holy Souls? I’m so glad you asked. The Holy Souls are all...Continue reading→
Should We Ask God for Signs to Direct Our Life?
Is it ever okay to ask God for a sign when discerning a serious decision that pertains to God’s will for our life? Cale tackled this question on a recent episode of The Cale Clarke Show and showed why it might not always be the best idea, even though there are scriptural precedents. In Chapter...Continue reading→
Why the saints can do great things
Note: This article was originally written by Archbishop José Gómez. In September, we celebrated two important events in the life of the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. We marked the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. We also offered the closing Mass for the jubilee...Continue reading→
Our Identity as Beloved
Josh Raymond, on a recent episode of The Inner Life, recalled a story from his freshman year of high school when he and his classmates were tasked with giving speeches for their public speaking class. Josh had chosen to speak about the assassination of JFK and his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. In preparation, Josh meticulously...Continue reading→
Fighting Sloth and Acedia
By his own admission, Josh Raymond can’t multitask. He finds it extremely difficult to fend off distractions when he’s trying to get work done, especially if those distractions are television or music. Television draws us in with its bright colors and lights, a moving picture that hasn’t ceased to amaze the human eye since its...Continue reading→
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The Truth Behind the DINK Lifestyle - In recent years, a noticeable shift in familial norms has… ...