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“To yourself you seem of little worth, but in reality you are precious. Insofar as you forsook Him whose image you are, you have taken on the colors of strange images. But when you begin to breathe in the atmosphere wherein you were created, if perchance you embrace discipline, you will quickly shake off and renounce this false make-up which is only superficial and not even skin-deep. Be wholly present… Read More »Giving Up The Self-Talk

“The Raising of Lazarus” (detail) by Carl Bloch The Final Journey to Jerusalem Begins The account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus is the seventh of the seven signs in St. John’s Gospel that announce the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New Covenant and the passing away of the old rites, replaced by the grace and sacraments of Jesus Christ. It is also the last of the… Read More »The Resurrection and the Life — Integrated Catholic Life™

There are so many souls who are in need of our prayers and are in need of the Mercy of God.  These are those souls who are stuck firm in their sin.  We may pray for them but it seems to have little effect.  What more can we do?  Sometimes, the greatest intercession we can make is a heart filled with the most generous love.  We must strive diligently to… Read More »Reflection 89: The Power of a Generous Love

ROME (CNS) — When Father Mario Carminati went to bless the remains of one of his parishioners, he called the deceased man’s daughter on WhatsApp so they could pray together. “One of his daughters is in Turin and couldn’t take part,” he said, the Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana reported March 26. “It was very emotional,” as she was able to pray with them through the messaging service, said the parish… Read More »During pandemic, priests work to bridge distance between deceased, family

Library of the Apostolic PalaceWednesday, 25 March 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters: Twenty-five years ago today, on the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Saint John Paul II issued his Encyclical Evangelium Vitae on the value and inviolability of human life. The Gospel of life lies at the heart of Christ’s message, and resonates in a particular way in the current context of a pandemic that threatens the human family. With gratitude I… Read More »General Audience

The Annunciation (St. Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin Mary) by Paolo de Matteis [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The Moment There is a singular moment which defines all history; a moment to which all that came before, all that has come after, and all that is yet to come points as supremely significant—the Incarnation. On March 25th of each Liturgical Year, we remember the event that took place—the moment when the Blessed Virgin… Read More »When All Creation Held its Breath — Integrated Catholic Life™

One of the greatest gifts we can give to our Divine Lord is our willfulness.  We often want what we want, when we want it.  Our will can become stubborn and obstinate and this can easily dominate our whole being.  As a result of this sinful tendency toward willfulness, one thing that delights our Lord greatly, and produces an abundance of grace in our lives, is an interior obedience to… Read More »Reflection 85: Interior Mortification – Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered prayers for everyone, particularly families, facing financial difficulties because of the pandemic. “Let us pray today for people who are beginning to experience economic problems because they cannot work due to the pandemic, and all of this falls on the family,” he said at the start of Mass March 23. Nearly 25 million jobs may be lost worldwide due to COVID-19, the International… Read More »Pope prays for people in financial difficulty because of pandemic

March 22, 2020 Nicholas was born on March 21, 1417, in Switzerland. He was the eldest son of peasant parents who were very devout Catholics. Nicholas later took his name, Flue, from the name of the Flueli River, which flowed near his birthplace. As a young man, Nicholas was very fond of praying and also practiced mortification. When he was twenty-one years old, he joined the army and was involved… Read More »St. Nicholas of Flue

This week’s poem in the Catholic Poetry Room is by John Liddy.                                                                                                   Woman Taken Out of Man Woman, taken out of… Read More »Woman Taken Out of Man by John Liddy — Catholic Poetry Room