Children Are Not Obstacles Recently, someone learned that my husband and I have six children and told us, “Please just stop. There are too many children in this world.” We’ve heard similar comments from others, including relatives. This mentality has seeped deep into our culture. We are told children are obstacles—expensive and inconvenient. They interfere ... Read more

No canonized saint ever held a grudge upon their death. The martyrs even forgave their killers, imitating Jesus who said from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Exorcists report being blocked from helping victims of the demonic if they hold onto unforgiveness; forgiveness, on the other hand, unleashes the ... Read more

I have written extensively in this forum on the practice of visio divina, and on its benefits for a person’s spiritual life and growth. As the Solemnity of All Saints approaches, a visio divina exercise on Saint Augustine by Philippe de Champaigne offers a wonderful opportunity for any viewer. In the quest for sanctity this ... Read more

Empty Kettles When I reminisce about my Catholic grade school days, I recall a nun with a round face who was graced with more patience than I probably deserved. Mostly because I was overly chatty with my friends. Whenever we would talk too much, which was often, she would exclaim, “Girls! Empty kettles make a ... Read more

“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?” God used the Persian emperor, Cyrus, to liberate His people from Babylonian captivity and bring them back from exile. But Cyrus never knew who God was. Even so, God said about Cyrus, “For the sake of Jacob, my servant, I have called you by your name, giving you ... Read more

The litmus test for Catholics is “Do you believe in God?” This belief, however, is not adequately answered by a simple “yes” or “no” but by how a person practices his belief. A crucial test comes for married couples with the issue of contraception. Now that Bishop Sheen has been proclaimed “blessed,” his books may ... Read more

A few days ago, a friend shared with me that she and her husband will be traveling out-of-state to visit their adult daughter. This daughter went “no contact” with them five years ago, severing the relationship and causing many wounds within the family. The invitation to cautiously begin rebuilding the relationship fills my friend with ... Read more

As explored in a previous article, freedom of expression is deemed a basic human right by the Catholic Church. It is meant to be a safeguard for acting according to one’s conscience, which is very often based on religious convictions and moral certitude. A true democracy does not trample on people’s God-given rights of exercising ... Read more

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands ... Read more

As surprising as it may sound, play can be a virtuous activity. It can be morally good to have fun—play can be a meritorious act. According to Catholic theology, there is an entire virtue dedicated to playfulness, and it is called eutrapelia. Doing some activity solely for pleasure is not, in itself, immoral. Indeed, that ... Read more