Know the Real Enemy?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
It’s long, but if you read one thing today, let this be it: “The Winning Strategy” by Peter Kreeft.
I can’t summarize it as well as he wrote it, so don’t waste time here - go read now! Here’s a quote to draw you in:
“That’s what’s at stake in this war: not just whether America will become a banana republic, or whether we’ll forget Shakespeare, or even whether some nuclear terrorist will incinerate half of humanity, but whether our children and our children’s children will see God forever. That’s what’s at stake in ‘Hollywood versus America.’”
(Note: I’m pretty sure that the prayer of Pope Leo XIII to which Kreeft refers is the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, found here. Know it! Love it! It’s a wonderful prayer.)
The Prayer I HAVE to Pray
Posted by Sarah Reinhard in Faith on Wednesday, October 06, 2010
According to my confessor and spiritual director, we all have habitual sins. Each of us has an area of weakness, and that’s where our personal tempters and/or the devil attack first. In fact, when we’ve talked about my habitual sin, he used the word “addiction.”
I don’t know about you, but thinking of sin as an addiction took some getting used to. I mean, when I think of addiction, I think of drugs... READ MORE
How Big Is He?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Friday, August 20, 2010
We were waiting to go to confession before Mass, and it looked like the line was too long for everyone to make it through in time.
Then one of the parish’s deacons, already vested, came down the row, whispering to us. “Father has asked that when you go into the confessional, you just list your sins. Don’t waste time trying to explain them. Keeping it simple makes confession better, and quicker too.”... READ MORE
"Charity is Hard and Endures"
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Friday, August 06, 2010
In response to Anne Rice’s well-publicized resolve to “quit” Christianity, Rod Dreher quotes a letter by Flannery O’Connor.
Like all of O’Connor’s writing, it is well worth reading. And considering the current scandals going on the in the Church, I think it’s very applicable today.
Here’s my favorite thought from the letter:
“You don’t serve God by saying: the Church is ineffective, I’ll have none of it. Your pain at its lack of effectiveness is a sign of your nearness to God. We help overcome this lack of effectiveness simply by suffering on account of it.”
But you should read the whole article.
How to Love a Homosexual
Posted by AGroup in Family on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(Editor’s note: Fr. John is re-considering the advice he offers here. I am leaving this post intact as a point of reference, but please read the update from Fr. John here.)
(Editor’s note: We received the following letter from a Faith & Family magazine reader in response to Melinda’s Selmys’s article about homosexuality in our Summer issue.)
Q: I would like to respond with much disappointment to the... READ MORE
Making Sense of Purgatory and Indulgences
Posted by AGroup in Faith on Thursday, June 03, 2010
Q: Please explain Plenary Indulgences. If one confession fulfills the requirement of plenary indulgences 8 days before and 8 days after, it seems to me that if someone went to Communion everyday, prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father everyday and prayed the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament everyday, that she could release 17 souls from purgatory in 17 days. Is that right?
A: You are basically... READ MORE
Pope In Portugal
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Pope hadn’t even de-planed from his trip to Portugal before delivering on the promised “intense message” at Fatima.
Benedict’s remark that the deepest attacks on the Church today come not from without, but from sins within, made instant headlines.
When a reporter asked about the Third Secret of Fatima, the Pope in essence downplayed the specific meaning and focused on its general prophesy of suffering... READ MORE
How to Stay Strong Spiritually During Lent
Posted by AGroup in Faith on Thursday, February 25, 2010
Q: Every year I start out Lent with great ambition and hope for spiritual growth, but somewhere along the way I lose interest and let myself slide. I really want to avoid the slide this year ... any suggestions to help me stay strong?
A: Sure! The key thing to think about is why you tend to slide. If you can identify the cause, then you can easily find the solution. In general, three things tend... READ MORE
How Much Must I Believe?
Posted by AGroup in Faith on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Q: Do I have to believe “everything” to identify myself as Catholic?
A: I read the conversation that followed this question at Faith & Family Connect, and once again I was impressed by the honesty, wisdom, and compassion so evident in exchanges here at the Faith and Family online community. I had two thoughts that may be of use to those who are following this conversation.
The World around Us
First,... READ MORE
Friendly Reminder: Go to Confession!
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Friday, January 29, 2010
We all need spiritual nudges now and then.
And when it comes to the sacrament of reconciliation, some of us need a really big nudge (read: kick in the pants) to get ourselves there.
I used to aim for going to confession once a month. That meant that in reality, I got there every 2-3 months. No good.
So now I aim for every 2 weeks. And that means I do usually get there about once a month. Every once... READ MORE
