Today is the fifth Sunday after Pentecost in the traditional liturgical calendar. During the time after Pentecost, the longest liturgical season of the year, the Church focuses on presenting Our Lord’s essential teachings as he expressed them during his public ministry and invites us to reflect more deeply on the meaning of our life as … More Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Our Calling to Greatness
Our modern culture is obsessed with self-gratification. We are constantly bombarded with the message that “wellness” is the ultimate goal of life, and that we should seek after it in everything we do. This excessive focus on the self is especially sneaky because it parades under the banner of necessary self-care. We all need to … More The Modern Wellness Cult and the Pitfall of Spiritual Gluttony
Some time ago I happened by chance on a YouTube video – I can’t remember the exact circumstances – in which a priest was talking about the nature of merit and our prejudices and misunderstandings on this topic. I found his points very interesting because I realized I too was laboring under some common misconceptions. … More Is Doing “Hard Things” Really the Secret to Gaining a Lot of Merit in This Life?
I recently had an encounter with an old friend that I hadn’t seen for nearly ten years. I had met her when I was in the thick of my New Age hippie phase and we had bonded over that type of spirituality. Needless to say, she found a very different person when she contacted me … More Should We Embrace the “Follow Your Heart” Mantra to Live a Fulfilling Life?
I try to dedicate a solid half hour to meditation every morning, right after I sing Lauds. I find that the quiet of the morning helps me to concentrate more deeply. I always start by taking inspiration from a book. Sometimes a quote is enough to enflame my heart with love of God, other times … More Why Joy and Suffering Coexisted in Christ’s Soul During the Passion
For many people, the phrase “ora et labora” is all they know about the Benedictine Order. It’s catchy and easy to remember, even for those who aren’t fluent in Latin. It means simply “pray and work”, and it’s supposed to describe the essence of the Benedictine life. In truth, St. Benedictine never uses the phrase … More The Wisdom of “Ora et Labora” and How To Apply It in Our Own Lives
I spent nearly a year living in a Benedictine monastery. It was an incredible experience that taught me many things, some of which I share on this blog. One of the most memorable lessons from that time was on the importance of silence. St. Benedict has a high regard for silence and dedicates an entire … More Why Silence Is So Important in the Spiritual Life
“Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke, 6:20); so begins the account of the Beatitudes in Luke’s gospel. The phrase itself seems to be a blatant contradiction. A kingdom is a mighty possession, a sign of prosperity and wealth. So how can it belong to those who are poor? What … More What It Really Means to Have a Spirit of Poverty: An Analysis
When I first embraced the Catholic Faith, I felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, I had a set of rules and guidelines to live by, instead of wading through life in moral darkness, constantly unsure of how to proceed. The commandments, the counsels, the many centuries of magisterial teaching; I … More What We Can Learn From Uncertainty in the Moral Life
Of the seven deadly sins, sloth is probably the most misunderstood and difficult to pin down. People commonly associate it with laziness, yet even a very active person can be slothful. In fact, hyperactivity may be a symptom we have fallen prey to this vice. So if sluggishness and hyperactivity can both be signs of … More The Vice of Sloth: What It Is and How to Avoid It
Tu Es Vita 