by Dave Armstrong | The film Noah has made quite a splash. I have not yet seen it, as of this writing. I'm particularly interested in judging how true to the Bible it is. Most Catholic reviewers have given mixed reviews in that regard and also in the artistic sense, with various degrees of approval or disapproval.
Read More »How to Respond to Tragedy in a Spirit of Hope
by Emily Molitor | All that I offer, I give to Jesus. What does this entail? The cry of a widow over her murdered husband of one year? The agony of a mother by the bedside of her dying child? Opening the newspaper or checking my Facebook newsfeed reminds me daily: surely the world is one of suffering. Each way I turn I meet with a story of suffering, and I struggle not to become overwhelmed by fear and discouragement.
Read More »3 Things Confirmation Candidates Need to Know
by Marc Postiglione | How would you define the word irony? Might I propose a good working definition as: a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected. The same Peter, who out of fear for his own life three times denied that he ever knew Jesus, is now standing in front of the Christian community in Jerusalem boldly declaring the truth about Jesus Christ for the entire world to hear.
Read More »Purgatory and the Bible: God Purifying His People In the Here and Now
by Dave Armstrong | I've often used what I call the “nutshell” argument for Purgatory: we must be without sin to enter into God's presence (Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14; Rev 21:27; 22:3, 14-15). Therefore, God must purge or wash away our sin to make us fit to be in heaven with Him. All agree so far.
Read More »How To Organize Your Thoughts… Without Cramping Your Brain
by Lorraine Espenhain | Once a month, I host a book reading club for Catholic homeschooling moms in my home. I like to use these monthly meetings as an excuse to try out new recipes on those gathered under my roof. If the response is favorable, I then make the dish for my family.
Read More »‘The Passion & Resurrection’ Crossword
Kids' Corner | Download this ‘The Passion & Resurrection’ Crossword! A fun activity to challenge your knowledge of facts and trivia. For all ages! Answer these questions: 1) This is the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. 2) On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ ___.
Read More »The Divine Paradox: How I Learned to Hold On By Letting Go
by Lorraine Espenhain | A paradox is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself. For example, it has been said of the ocean: “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!” Those who take Christ at His Word, and are not afraid to put that Word into practice in their lives, eventually discover what I call the Divine Paradox of Christianity.
Read More »The Rights of Parents as Principal Educators
The primary role of parents in their children’s education, especially in their religious education, comes from the importance of children in Christian marriage. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says ...
Read More »Onward, Ever Onward! Lenten Advice for Homeschoolers
by Marlicia Fernandez | Lent is flying by and the pink vestments (or the rose, as many a priest has informed many a congregation) have made their appearance during the Mass, for Laetare Sunday. That means we are a little more than half-way through the Lenten season. Most of us find that exciting because we see the light at the end of the Lenten tunnel. Easter is right around the corner!
Read More »The Abundant Biblical Support for Lent
by Dave Armstrong | My specialty as an apologist is “biblical arguments for Catholicism.” I enjoy that aspect of my work a lot because the Bible is the great “common ground” that all Christians share (and I strive to be ecumenical). We all reverence Sacred Scripture and believe it is inspired revelation.
Read More »Saint Catherine of Siena: Patroness and Model of Homeschooling
by Dr Clark | Many years ago, a group of about forty Catholic homeschool state support group leaders gathered in Chicago for two or three consecutive years, in the month of April, to discuss the growing Catholic homeschooling movement. It was not an easy meeting to attend as we all had children and not much money for such trips.
Read More »Pope Francis on Families Sharing Faith
by Pope Francis | In the family, faith accompanies every age of life, beginning with childhood: children learn to trust in the love of their parents. This is why it is so important that within their families parents encourage shared expressions of faith which can help children gradually to mature in their own faith.
Read More »The Bible vs. Contraception: God Opens the Womb and Blesses Parents with Children
by Dave Armstrong | We can learn a lot from words: especially if we go back to the Latin roots of many of our English words. All Christians are familiar with the notion of God being the Creator. He made all things from nothing (theologians describe this with the wonderful Latin phrase, creatio ex nihilo).
Read More »St Joseph: Model for Fathers, Protector of Families
by Sarah Rose | The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph. Chosen by God to be the foster-father of Jesus, Saint Joseph is perhaps the greatest saint, the one person, after Mary, closest to the Heart of Jesus.
Read More »The Bible vs. Contraception: “Be Fruitful and Multiply”
by Dave Armstrong | Some things are so obvious that we take them for granted. We don't feel that we need to “argue” them because we casually assume that everyone “knows they are true.” The old Frank Sinatra song comes to my mind: “Love and marriage: go together like a horse and carriage . . .”
Read More »3 Apps Every Catholic Should Know About (And Get!)
Want the latest news from Pope Francis or the Vatican? Ever have a question about a prayer or response said in the liturgy or the significance or historical development of ...
Read More »Pope Francis on Preparing the Soil
by Pope Francis | Children are not capable of accepting the faith by a free act, nor are they yet able to profess that faith on their own; therefore the faith is professed by their parents and godparents in their name. Since faith is a reality lived within the community of the Church
Read More »Make a Lenten ‘Good Deed Beads’ Devotion in 6 Steps!
by Monica McConkey | Lent is a great opportunity to refocus our efforts to draw closer to Jesus. Although we can certainly give up a few of our favorite things, we can also add extra prayers and sacrifices. It’s easy to lose focus or momentum throughout the 40 days of Lent. We can get discouraged when we falter or fail our Lenten promises. Sometimes a tangible way of tracking our progress can motivate us to stay on track or even return to it!
Read More »8 Reflections on the Beloved Beatitudes
by Fr. Robert Skeris | The Gospel of the eight Beatitudes is surely one of the best-loved passages in all of Holy Writ, and deservedly so. For the fact is that men of all climes and times have regarded the Beatitudes as the ladder, so to speak, or the staircase by which the saints ascend to Heaven.
Read More »3 Essentials for Homeschool Education
One of the ends of marriage is the procreation and education of children. Procreation has gotten a good deal of attention in the recent history of the Church, but education is often of less interest.
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