Feb 9, 2023 · By Kathleen Beckman. Kathleen Beckman is a international Catholic evangelist, a prolific author, and President of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests. For fifteen years she has served in the Church’s ministry of healing, deliverance, and exorcism as the diocesan administrator of cases, and serves on the exorcist's team. Loving Those Who Disagree with Us. Paul Chaloux. One of the greatest trials of love is dealing with people who disagree with us because it tests not only our faith, but our understanding of how the Beatitudes, Ten Commandments and the works of mercy apply toward these situations. One area that many find particularly vexing is children, spouses ...It might help you to address him trustfully. It is in line with what St. Josemaría tells us: “Have confidence in your Guardian Angel. Treat him as a very dear friend — that’s what he is — and he will do a thousand services for you in the ordinary affairs of each day.”. And he adds, “If you would remember the presence of your ...This was what the brokenhearted standing outside Simon’s door were hoping Jesus would do for them. “The LORD sustains the lowly; the wicked He casts to the ground.”. When Jesus did this in Capernaum, “everyone” looked for Him. All of us who find Him can sing with the psalmist: “Praise the LORD, who heals the brokenhearted.”.Oct 18, 2022 · Poetry is the avenue that I propose. By reading and pondering poetry, we can relate more fully to the God who deeply desires to relate to us and reveal beauty to us. We can plumb the depths and climb the heights that God has in store for us. This idea of making poetry into prayer has ancient roots, as far back as the choral chants of Greek theater. Truth has always been an important and inspiring idea, a difficult and dogmatic question, a contentious and provocative assertion. For the very idea of truth, by its inherent nature, is a bold claim about reality. About how things are. About the way things could or should be. And, when it comes to such truth claims, there …Recently, I came across another powerful prayer of Don Dolindo, called the Rosary of Abandonment, which focuses on the refrain, “Jesus, You take over.”. Since I learned this prayer, I have found great …Perhaps quiet times on the water gave them opportunities to mull over all that was happening. Into this setting steps Jesus, preaching in Galilee as the Baptist had once done at the Jordan River: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”. Such a startling …Contemplating God’s Creation. Fr. Ed Broom, OMV. Never should we forget our destiny and our dignity that flow from God’s loving kindness and abundant mercy. You were created in the image and likeness of God. Then, as a result of God’s infinite bounty, He endowed you with one of the greatest gifts: the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.Jun 10, 2022 · By Catholic Exchange. Catholic Exchange seeks to enable all to be enriched and strengthened in their Christian faith as proclaimed by the Catholic Church. By offering accessible articles and helpful tools for spiritual growth, we seek to make saints in our own time — especially among those who live busy lives but still seek to grow in friendship with Christ. The last form of wisdom is the kind that God gives. When Solomon prays for wisdom, he is not asking for the merely human, but for a gift of wisdom from God. God, of course, is infinitely wise, the perfect sage. God’s Wisdom is so powerful that it is personified in the Old Testament as “Lady Wisdom” (Prov 1–9) …By Michael J. Lichens. Michael J. Lichens is the former editor of Catholic Exchange, whose writing has appeared in both Catholic and mainstream sources. With an M.A. from the University of Chicago of Divinity School, Michael spends much of his days editing, writing, and researching great works in Catholic literature and also shares a …May 25, 2023 · Nine Proofs of the True Presence. Central to our faith is the Eucharistic celebration and our reception of Holy Communion. This act of unity is intended to convey a belief in, as St. Paul states, “a common faith, hope and Lord.”. Unfortunately, there are divergent views among Catholics as to what takes place at the Eucharistic celebration. Jan 5, 2023 · Humility: The Cornerstone of Holiness. In order for us to truly grow in holiness, the most important virtue is charity—an authentic love for God and for neighbor. But alongside the theological virtue of charity is that of humility. In a certain sense they are the two pillars or foundational stones for the person who is truly pursuing a life ... A contemporary of St. Ignatius of Loyola [July 31], the Portuguese St. John of God (1495-1550) was another soldier who underwent a profound conversion and later established a religious order. At the age of forty John wanted to give his life to God, perhaps by dying as a martyr; he was advised to seek God instead by the manner in which he …Contemplating God’s Creation. Fr. Ed Broom, OMV. Never should we forget our destiny and our dignity that flow from God’s loving kindness and abundant mercy. You were created in the image and likeness of God. Then, as a result of God’s infinite bounty, He endowed you with one of the greatest gifts: the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.Jul 3, 2023 · Welcome to our changing Church. This incident during a Sunday morning Mass in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. was likely a forerunner of other such incidents in days to come. Mild culture shock probably will spread as priests from parts of the world where there are still priests to spare—I mean Africa, the Philippines, and India—more ... 93. Prophecies Finally Fulfilled (Mark 1:1-6) “We must therefore get to work, and follow the Lord; we must break the chains which impede our following him.”. – St. Augustine. Mark 1:1-6: ‘The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my ...Saint Bernadette Soubirous is known for having had visions of the Blessed Mother and the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. She should also be known for the holiness of her life. From her childhood until her death at age thirty-five, Saint Bernadette underwent much suffering, caused by poverty, sickness, and the unkindness of some people.A contemporary of St. Ignatius of Loyola [July 31], the Portuguese St. John of God (1495-1550) was another soldier who underwent a profound conversion and later established a religious order. At the age of forty John wanted to give his life to God, perhaps by dying as a martyr; he was advised to seek God instead by the manner in which he …Catholic Exchange. @CatholicExchange ‧ 116 subscribers ‧ 6 videos. Catholic Exchange is your daily source for spiritual encouragement and information. Our goal is to help make …Catholic Exchange. @CatholicExchange ‧ 116 subscribers ‧ 6 videos. Catholic Exchange is your daily source for spiritual encouragement and information. Our goal is to help make …Children naturally trust and believe their grandparents. With the appropriate amount of collaboration with adult children, grandparents can enjoy an influence with their grandchildren second only to that of parents. Grandparents Matter! And they matter most to Christ and he is COUNTING on them to carry on a legacy of faith.May 18, 2023 · St. John I was a sixth-century pope and martyr. John was born in the Italian province of Tuscany, and was elected Bishop of Rome (that is, pope) in 523. The Mediterranean world was, by this time, divided into the Eastern and Western Empires, each having a separate emperor. Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the ... The word “Lent” itself derives from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning “spring,” and lenctentid, which literally means not only “springtide” but also was the word for “March,” the month in which the majority of Lent falls. Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter.We give ourselves to God by a life of love for God and for others for God’s sake. Our “labor of love” is our striving for the greater glory of God and the good of others in all that we do. We forget ourselves and seek to please God above all and in all things. We search for His will in all things and above all things.Today's Saint. March 15, 2024. Pope Saint Zachary. Zachary was born in Calabria to a Greek family in the eighth century. It is thought that he was a deacon in the Roman Church during the council of 732 because his signature is said to be on the decrees of that council. When Pope Gregory III died on November 29, 741, Zachary was unanimously ...Catholic Exchange. 375,966 likes · 53 talking about this. Catholic Exchange seeks to enable all to be enriched and strengthened in their Christian faith as proclaimed by the …Jan 8, 2024 · We Must Cultivate a Discerning Heart Today. King David had a brilliant idea to build a temple for the ark of the Lord. He knew it was not right for him to be in his palace while the ark of the Lord was in a tent. The timing also seemed right, “King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies on every side ... May 31, 2022 · Heaven Isn’t Guaranteed. JP Nunez. In my last article for Catholic Exchange, I looked at one of the key differences between Catholic and Protestant understandings of salvation, and this time, I want to look at another way that we differ from our separated brethren on this important issue. For us Catholics, salvation isn’t assured until we ... Scrooge’s Three-Dimensional, Last-Minute Advent. Advent is a penitential time for reflection, conversion of heart, kenosis (an emptying out of self), metanoia (spiritual conversion) and the preparation for the …Sep 20, 2021 · On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, 1846, two children — Maximin Guiraud (age 11) and Melanie Calvat (age 14) — were tending sheep for their employers near La Salette in the French Alps. The effects of the French Revolution which had terrorized the Church, the blood spilt during the reign of Napoleon, the increasing secularization of social ... November 12, 2014. 78. Talents in Trust (Matthew 25:14-30) Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction. “We preach not one coming only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the first. The first revealed the meaning of his patient endurance; the second brings with it the crown of the divine kingdom.”. – St. Cyril of Jerusalem.Temptation: The Ordinary Ways the Devil Attacks Us. Kathleen Beckman. Temptation is the devil’s ordinary mode of action (see 1 John 3:8– 10 ). Satan is the tempter (1 Thess. 3:5), and just as he incited the Fall, he still directly influences us to reject grace and commit sin. Temptation is common to all.Sep 23, 2019 · 2. Open ourselves to grace. As a sacramental, the Sign of the Cross prepares us for receiving God’s blessing and disposes us to cooperate with His grace, according to Ghezzi. 3. Sanctify the day. As an act repeated throughout the key moments of each day, the Sign of the Cross sanctifies our day. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus insists on the filial trust that cooperates with our Father’s providence. He is not inviting us to idleness, but wants to relieve us from nagging worry and preoccupation. Such is the filial surrender of the children of God” (2830). The Church has just celebrated the Solemnity of the …(The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Scroll Mass for the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher at the Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14.) Of all the signs and symbols connected with Christianity, what is the most known and visible? Is it not the cross? Indeed, […]Feb 6, 2023 · Why You Should Go to Confession This Lent. Lent is the time of year when God obligates us to prepare our hearts and to purify our souls so that we are ready to receive Our Lord in His glorious coming at Easter. There’s no time to delay. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Michele Chronister is a wife, and mother to three little girls and one little one in heaven. She received her BA and MA in theology from the University of Notre Dame (’09 and ’11). She is the author of a number of books, including Handbook for Adaptive Catechesis, the co-author of Faith Beginnings – Family Nurturing from Birth Through ...Poetry is the avenue that I propose. By reading and pondering poetry, we can relate more fully to the God who deeply desires to relate to us and reveal beauty to us. We can plumb the depths and climb the heights that God has in store for us. This idea of making poetry into prayer has ancient roots, as far back as the …By Michael J. Lichens. Michael J. Lichens is the former editor of Catholic Exchange, whose writing has appeared in both Catholic and mainstream sources. With an M.A. from the University of Chicago of Divinity School, Michael spends much of his days editing, writing, and researching great works in Catholic literature and also shares a …St. John Gualbert. John Gualbert (or Gualberto) was born in Florence around the year 993. Born into a noble family, John lived a life of leisure and amusement while he trained to be a soldier. Tragedy struck while he was still a young man: His older brother Hugo was murdered, and John made it his mission to avenge the murder.May 18, 2023 · St. John I was a sixth-century pope and martyr. John was born in the Italian province of Tuscany, and was elected Bishop of Rome (that is, pope) in 523. The Mediterranean world was, by this time, divided into the Eastern and Western Empires, each having a separate emperor. Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the ... Catholic Exchange. @CatholicExchange ‧ 116 subscribers ‧ 6 videos. Catholic Exchange is your daily source for spiritual encouragement and information. Our goal is to help make …Oct 9, 2015 · The last form of wisdom is the kind that God gives. When Solomon prays for wisdom, he is not asking for the merely human, but for a gift of wisdom from God. God, of course, is infinitely wise, the perfect sage. God’s Wisdom is so powerful that it is personified in the Old Testament as “Lady Wisdom” (Prov 1–9) and again in the New ... Sep 23, 2019 · 2. Open ourselves to grace. As a sacramental, the Sign of the Cross prepares us for receiving God’s blessing and disposes us to cooperate with His grace, according to Ghezzi. 3. Sanctify the day. As an act repeated throughout the key moments of each day, the Sign of the Cross sanctifies our day. Jun 10, 2022 · By Catholic Exchange. Catholic Exchange seeks to enable all to be enriched and strengthened in their Christian faith as proclaimed by the Catholic Church. By offering accessible articles and helpful tools for spiritual growth, we seek to make saints in our own time — especially among those who live busy lives but still seek to grow in friendship with Christ. Over the years, Catholic Exchange has published many articles to help you through the Lenten season. Many of these articles are from the classic Lenten writings of saints and scholars. But we’ve also recorded more than a few audio episodes to help you through Lent—and we’ll continue to do so in the …The O Antiphons: “O Key of David”. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a beautiful hymn that we hear frequently throughout Advent. It has seven verses, each of which come from one of the O Antiphons. These are seven antiphonal prayers specifically used during the Church’s evening prayer from December 17 to 23, leading up to the …Sep 23, 2019 · 2. Open ourselves to grace. As a sacramental, the Sign of the Cross prepares us for receiving God’s blessing and disposes us to cooperate with His grace, according to Ghezzi. 3. Sanctify the day. As an act repeated throughout the key moments of each day, the Sign of the Cross sanctifies our day. Constance T. Hull. Servant of God Frank Parater was a seminarian for the Diocese of Richmond, whose cause for beatification was opened in October 2001. He desired to lay down his life for Christ as a priest. He burned with an intense love for souls and wanted to see souls converted to Christ and His Church. In a time when fewer and …About. Ejaz Ali Shah is the Managing Director of Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited. He has over three decades of diversified experience in domestic and international financial …Recall that when Andrew first met Jesus, his immediate impulse was to go get his brother and bring him to “the Messiah.”. Andrew already gave evidence of wanting to be a “fisher of men.”. The Good News about Jesus was meant to be shared. In response to the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew “abandoned their nets and followed Him.”.May the prayer of Thy suppliant people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, benefit the souls of Thy departed servants and handmaids: that Thou mayest both deliver them from all their sins, and make them to be partakers of Thy redemption. Amen. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon …Oct 9, 2015 · The last form of wisdom is the kind that God gives. When Solomon prays for wisdom, he is not asking for the merely human, but for a gift of wisdom from God. God, of course, is infinitely wise, the perfect sage. God’s Wisdom is so powerful that it is personified in the Old Testament as “Lady Wisdom” (Prov 1–9) and again in the New ... By Constance T. Hull. Constance T. Hull is a wife, mother, homeschooler, and a graduate with an M.A. in Theology with an emphasis in philosophy. Her desire is to live the wonder so passionately preached in the works of G.K. Chesterton and to share that with her daughter and others.May 18, 2023 · St. John I was a sixth-century pope and martyr. John was born in the Italian province of Tuscany, and was elected Bishop of Rome (that is, pope) in 523. The Mediterranean world was, by this time, divided into the Eastern and Western Empires, each having a separate emperor. Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the ... Here are 15 pieces of leadership advice from St. Josemaria’s writings for those who seek to sanctify their work and be leaders in the Church and in the world. 1. Don’t compromise your principles. ‘One must compromise.’. Compromise is a word found only in the vocabulary of those who have no will to fight — the lazy, the cunning, the ...Step #1. Take the questioner’s logic and use it against them. The underlying assumption in the question is that if something is not found directly in Scripture, then we, as Christians, should not believe it. This kind of thinking is a result of the Protestant dogma of Sola Scriptura—the belief that the Bible alone is all the Christian needs ...Saint Anthony the Abbot. Anthony was born in Upper Egypt to wealthy Christian parents in the year 251. Around the year 269, his parents died and left him and his sister a sizable inheritance, including three hundred acres of land. One day when he was attending Mass he heard the Scripture reading from Matthew 19:21: “If you wish to be …Alfred Hitchcock’s I Confess. Emily Chaffins. It’s a dark night in Quebec. From the rectory window, Father Michael Logan notices a man in a dark coat enter the empty St. Marie Church. Puzzled, the priest investigates, grabbing a candle to move through murky shadows. As he approaches, the light reveals the haggard face of the handyman, Otto ...First, asking God to turn his face is another way of beseeching God to listen to him. Intriguingly, research has shown that for humans our inner ears move with our eardrums. Of course, God is a spirit, not a body, but the psalmist is speaking through metaphor. Second, the turning of the face is a sign of favor.Here are nine ways: 1. The whale and the descent to hell. In Scripture, the three days Jonah spent in the belly of the whale is seen as foreshadowing Christ’s descent to hell. In the Old Testament, the prophet himself uses the language of hell to describe his misery in his plea to God: From the womb of Sheol I cried …2. Open ourselves to grace. As a sacramental, the Sign of the Cross prepares us for receiving God’s blessing and disposes us to cooperate with His grace, according to Ghezzi. 3. Sanctify the day. As an act repeated throughout the key moments of each day, the Sign of the Cross sanctifies our day.Praising, worshipping, contemplating, serving God, and rejoicing in Him must begin here on earth if we are ever going to hope to experience the face-to-face glory and joy of heaven. St. Peter teaches us that Christ died and rose from the dead to bring us to share in His eternal worship of the Father in heaven, “For Christ also suffered for ...Nov 6, 2023 · Truth has always been an important and inspiring idea, a difficult and dogmatic question, a contentious and provocative assertion. For the very idea of truth, by its inherent nature, is a bold claim about reality. About how things are. About the way things could or should be. And, when it comes to such truth claims, there is never a short supply. In describing one of his visions, he refers to himself in the third person so as to avoid any of the glory going to him. Paul was being humble, but we cannot help but see the giant of faith and love that loomed behind those giant letters. The profile that emerges is surely one of the greatest—and surely the original mystic—of the Church. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. Advertise on Catholic Exchange Design by Perceptions Studio. About CE. Advertise. Contact Us. Donate. On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, 1846, two children — Maximin Guiraud (age 11) and Melanie Calvat (age 14) — were tending sheep for their employers near La Salette in the French Alps. The effects of the French Revolution which had terrorized the Church, the blood spilt during the reign of Napoleon, the …Today's Saint. March 15, 2024. Pope Saint Zachary. Zachary was born in Calabria to a Greek family in the eighth century. It is thought that he was a deacon in the Roman Church during the council of 732 because his signature is said to be on the decrees of that council. When Pope Gregory III died on November 29, 741, Zachary was unanimously ...Jan 25, 2023 · How We Can Give Thanks After Holy Communion. John A. Kane. In Holy Communion, we are alone with God. Blissful solitude, where the soul can rise above the world, and with mute wonder, with breathless adoration, bask in the eloquently solemn silence of the Divine Presence! In this solitude, where the voice of God is most articulate, we can ... According to numerous saints, one of the most effective ways of drawing close to Our Lady is to allow her to carry you through Marian Consecration. When you place your life in the Virgin Mary’s hands, she will help you open your heart to God’s will to grow in peace, joy, and holiness. Perhaps you’re wondering, “But, when I consecrate ...On the Virtue of Faith. “Be on guard, stand firm for the faith, be courageous, be strong. your every act should be done with love.” (I Cor. 16:13-14) What is the virtue of faith? It is a theological virtue that unites us with God in whom we believe, in who He is, and in what He says through the Word of God, through …Mar 4, 2021 · Redemptive Suffering in the Early Church. Shane Kapler. In P art One of our series we looked at the Epistle of James’s revolutionary teaching on the value of suffering upon our souls, and in Part 2 we saw how St. Paul expands upon this insight to show how our sufferings also benefit the souls of others. In this final article we want to ... May 18, 2023 · St. John I was a sixth-century pope and martyr. John was born in the Italian province of Tuscany, and was elected Bishop of Rome (that is, pope) in 523. The Mediterranean world was, by this time, divided into the Eastern and Western Empires, each having a separate emperor. Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the ... Saint Paul reminds us of the joys of Heaven: “ Eye has not seen; ear has not heard nor has it entered the mind of man the joys that God has prepared for those who love Him.”. How important it is for all to meditate often on Heaven and the joys of Heaven and the steps we should take to attain Heaven! 16. Monica’s Death.May 18, 2023 · St. John I was a sixth-century pope and martyr. John was born in the Italian province of Tuscany, and was elected Bishop of Rome (that is, pope) in 523. The Mediterranean world was, by this time, divided into the Eastern and Western Empires, each having a separate emperor. Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the ... O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! The third O Antiphon, prayed on December 19, calls us very specifically to remember that the Messiah, the Chosen One of God, is part of a royal family tree. Specifically, this Messiah will be descended from David, Israel’s great king, whose ...Many Christians were martyred, including Paul Miki, John Goto, and James Kisai of Japan; Peter Baptist, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco, and Francis-of-St. Michael of Spain; Philip de las Casas of Mexico; Gonsola Garcia of India, and seventeen Japanese lay people. These were all crucified and pierced with a lance.
Contemplating God’s Creation. Fr. Ed Broom, OMV. Never should we forget our destiny and our dignity that flow from God’s loving kindness and abundant mercy. You were created in the image and likeness of God. Then, as a result of God’s infinite bounty, He endowed you with one of the greatest gifts: the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.. Koffee ft gunna w
Faith, Works, & Lent. We are now two weeks into Lent. Hopefully, by this point, we have begun to realize that this blessed season is about much more than not eating …The last form of wisdom is the kind that God gives. When Solomon prays for wisdom, he is not asking for the merely human, but for a gift of wisdom from God. God, of course, is infinitely wise, the perfect sage. God’s Wisdom is so powerful that it is personified in the Old Testament as “Lady Wisdom” (Prov 1–9) …Mar 4, 2021 · Redemptive Suffering in the Early Church. Shane Kapler. In P art One of our series we looked at the Epistle of James’s revolutionary teaching on the value of suffering upon our souls, and in Part 2 we saw how St. Paul expands upon this insight to show how our sufferings also benefit the souls of others. In this final article we want to ... Saint Paul reminds us of the joys of Heaven: “ Eye has not seen; ear has not heard nor has it entered the mind of man the joys that God has prepared for those who love Him.”. How important it is for all to meditate often on Heaven and the joys of Heaven and the steps we should take to attain Heaven! 16. Monica’s Death.Now let us lift our gaze to Saint Teresa of Avila who will point us to Jesus, our Lord, God, Savior and Faithful Friend. 1. Prayer. One of the key hallmarks of the spiritual heights of Saint Teresa of Avila is the importance of prayer. Even though she struggled for many years she teaches us this basic but indispensable spiritual truth ...The O Antiphons: “O King of All Nations”. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a beautiful hymn that we hear frequently throughout Advent. It has seven verses, each of which come from one of the O Antiphons. These are seven antiphonal prayers specifically used during the Church’s evening prayer from December 17 to 23, leading up to the ...Perhaps quiet times on the water gave them opportunities to mull over all that was happening. Into this setting steps Jesus, preaching in Galilee as the Baptist had once done at the Jordan River: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”. Such a startling …The last form of wisdom is the kind that God gives. When Solomon prays for wisdom, he is not asking for the merely human, but for a gift of wisdom from God. God, of course, is infinitely wise, the perfect sage. God’s Wisdom is so powerful that it is personified in the Old Testament as “Lady Wisdom” (Prov 1–9) …Kathleen Beckman’s latest book, Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Strategies for Deliverance and Healing, is available from your local Catholic bookstore and Sophia Institute Press. Mrs. Beckman a long-time contributor to Catholic Exchange. Check out her archive here for some rich spiritual insights. We also discussed the following …The Ancient Call to Fasting. Scott Hahn. “Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:12–13). An Ancient Practice. Fasting wasn’t invented by Christians (or Jews, for that matter) but is a universal human practice ...Our vocation in this kingdom is spiritual growth to the glory of God who “Has called us out of darkness into His own wonderful light.” (1Pet 2:9) For us to grow spiritually, we need two things – God’s grace and our constant effort to correspond with this grace. God, who is “faithful throughout the night,” (Ps 92:3) will always act ...May 31, 2023 · Saintly Encouragement for When You Feel Like Giving Up. Fr. Joseph M. Esper. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4. This ultimately is the purpose of human sexuality—to be a “a genuine sign of and precious service to the love of communion and gift of self to others,” writes Blessed Pope John Paul II in Pastores Dabo Vobis. 5. Celibacy as angelic purity. Celibacy is not only a sacrificial act. It is also a mark of purity..