America, God, and True Freedom
Freedom is not free. I saw these words on a wall at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. this past fall. I was there on a trip with...
Pentecost and the Mother of the Church
The past two years, I’ve prepared my 8th grade students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Our diocese always schedules this as close to Pentecost as possible. Working with my students,...
4 Things I Learned About Faith as a College Student
What do you think about when you hear the words “American college culture"? If you are anything like me as a high school student, this phrase brings to mind two...
What is an Indulgence?
The word “indulgence” always made me feel a little uncomfortable. Growing up Catholic, I knew it was something Martin Luther got upset about when he separated himself from Catholicism back...
5 Things Catholics Need to Know About Annulments (From a Canon Lawyer)
Annulments can be misunderstood. Even by well-formed Catholics. Believe it or not, I made it to the end of my undergraduate studies without ever having heard a comprehendible explanation of...
Making Holy Week New
Tomorrow, we enter into the holiest week of the Church’s year. If you experienced God’s love and mercy in a new and powerful way this Lent, Holy Week may be...
Loving God with Our Hearts, Souls, and Minds
We are all invited to be part of the world’s greatest love story. God’s ultimate desire is for us to become one with His complete and perfect love. And if...
MYSTERY: Discovering the Depth of the Rosary
Perhaps the best person to teach us about the life of Christ is His mother, Mary. After all, she was there with Him from the moment of the Incarnation to...
How the Church Can Support Single People
God has given us the gift of life! To live our lives well involves commitments and decisions that can be daunting and intimidating, even more so if you are trying...
How to Choose Songs for Mass: A Guide for Music Ministers
Music ministry is probably one of the most debated aspects of the Mass. Personally, as a very musical person, I find that music can either be the element that most...
Becoming the Palace of God
Most of the time when I receive Jesus in a tiny white host, I wish that I could just hold Him in the palm of my hands a little bit...
Scrupulosity: When Catholic Guilt Goes Wrong
The word scrupulous is usually used to describe someone who is extremely thorough and attentive to detail. It’s meant to be a compliment. However, for many Catholics, being scrupulous is...
