Some readers are intimidated by its apparent intensity. But Kempis knew the weakness of men and the resolve and perseverance necessary to reorder our lives for Christ. Though he wrote it for his brothers, who lived in community and withdrawn from the world, much of The Imitation of Christ is also applicable to us.
St. Gertrude is one of the most remarkable mystics of the Catholic Church. Her life, her writings, and her experiences of the Heart of Christ through prayer have had a significant impact on Catholic thought and spirituality. Through the prayers and writings of this holy saint, the Church came to know the incredible depths of God[...]
We are all going to die. Every single one of us. And, over time, so will all those whom we know and love. Fear is a natural part of our humanity, but it is not the better part. The better part is to rejoice in the gift of our immortal souls, and to embrace the hope and the promise implicit in bodily death. This is a grace of the[...]
St. Jude traveled, preached, instructed, and encouraged the persecuted in the first century Christians. Until he was martyred in Persia, around 65 A.D., he exhorted believers to stand strong in their faith. Many began praying at his tomb and experiencing the gift of his intercession and healing. This further confirmed his presen[...]
Ours is a happily-Catholic home. You don’t have to get much further than the threshold of the front door to realize it. Like many Catholics, we display statues, holy pictures, and other tangible reminders of our faith. These serve as inspiration for our devotional life and sometimes mark the current liturgical season. [...]
The saying “Go big or go home” sounds so much more impressive than “Go little. Trust God.” We are not told to “grow down” but to “grow up.” Those who are small go unnoticed and merit no rewards. Or do they? In St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who lived in the late 1800s, we have a saintly companion whose “Little Way” is a[...]
The most extraordinary and staggering conflict that ever took place happened not between men, but in the heavens, before the dawn of man on earth. Sacred Scripture gives us this history in Revelation 12:7-9: “Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought[...]
St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stands before the throne of God. He is also one of only three angels whose names have been revealed through Sacred Scripture. His name in various translations means “God heals,” “Divine Healer,” or “Medicine of God,” for he has received his healin[...]
One of the aspects of the Catholic faith that Protestants struggle with the most is the honor that Catholics give Our Lady. In particular, the "Hail Mary" seems to be a particular point of contention. Some Protestants point to that prayer and say, “That is proof of Catholics’ idolatry of[...]
Las novena de Tres Avemarías es una oración bella recitada para honrar las tres dones especiales de María dados por Dios: su poder, su sabiduría, y su misericordia. En esta novena le pedimos a Nuestra Señora que use sus dones para nuestro bien y para que Dios nos conceda nuestras peticiones, y sobre todo, la gracia para vivir un[...]