The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain” (CCC 2562). Discover how prayer shapes our desires, draws us closer to God, and leads us toward the happy life our hearts are created to seek.
Christian joy is a deep, abiding state of the soul that comes from living in communion with God. It is not merely a transient emotion, but rather a profound state of being that aligns us with our highest purpose and equips us to experience the richness of life by living fully, loving deeply, and engaging meaningfully with the world around us.
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it” (attributed to Mark Twain). Because we are forgiven first through Divine Mercy, bitterness does not have the final word. Like the gentle violet, we can refuse to allow harm to harden our hearts.
All Christians are universally qualified and individually called to proclaim the Kingdom of God. By living well and sharing our personal encounters with the Lord, we can help others experience the healing love of Jesus Christ.
Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of reverent devotion to and worship of the Blessed Sacrament, which is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It is there, says Pope Saint John Paul II, that “we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.”
While every celebration of the Eucharist is itself a miracle, the term “Eucharistic miracle” refers to an extraordinary phenomenon involving the Blessed Sacrament that cannot be explained naturally and is attributed to divine power. When such events are carefully examined and approved by the Church for devotion, they stand as special reminders inviting us to renew our wonder, reverence, and belief in Christ’s Real Presence.
Temptations that incite us toward evil originate from our fallen nature, our fallen world, and the devil. As a necessary consequence of free will, they have the potential to cause spiritual death by inviting us to sin. Trials, on the other hand, can lead us to spiritual life by strengthening our faith and virtue. When we turn lovingly toward God, He provides us with sufficient grace to endure all of our struggles.
Every February, the health and fitness industry celebrates American Heart Month to remind us to examine the physical health of our hearts. As we enter into Lent this month and reflect upon God’s great love for us, it is important to also check the spiritual health of our hearts.
The new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our past and envision how we would like to shape our future. When we rely only upon ourselves for improvement, we overlook the one thing that guides us toward true contentment and success. That, of course, is turning toward God to elevate our good works into great works.
We recognize that death can be an end, but it does not have to be the end. For those who have gone before us, our bonds of charity need not be destroyed by death. Through the providential love of God, our connection with the dearly departed is strengthened by the power of intercessory prayer.
Christian stewardship is typically associated with giving time, talent, and treasure in service to God with gratitude for His bounty. Yet full participation as a Christian steward is not simply about what we give but also about how we live.
The corporal works of mercy are seven charitable deeds that address the physical needs of our neighbors and allow us to express our compassion for the marginalized through concrete actions. When we perform the corporal works of mercy, we are transformed into instruments of God’s grace by bringing comfort, healing, hope, and love to those in need.
