The daily examen is a spiritual practice derived from the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. A Basque nobleman, Ignatius underwent a series of religious conversions as a young man following a wound sustained in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521. His Spiritual Exercises were first published in…
Question: I accept on faith that God is a Trinity of Persons, and I know it’s something we can’t fully understand. Should I just accept that, or should I try to learn more? Answer: There’s a legend from the life of St. Augustine. As the early Church grappled with the identity of Christ and his…
Question: I accept on faith that God is a Trinity of Persons, and I know it’s something we can’t fully understand. Should I just accept that, or should I try to learn more? Answer: There’s a legend from the life of St. Augustine. As the early Church grappled with the identity of Christ and his…
Empathy describes our ability to connect emotionally with the suffering of others, as Christ connected emotionally with our suffering in original sin. This virtue flows directly from the virtue of charity, and growth in charity will enable growth in empathy.
Hello Families, It is not only individuals who need reassurance about God’s love and protection. Communities need this reassurance as well, including the community of the family. Children rely on the confidence of their parents for this assurance. Parents can help the entire family’s growth in trust and confidence in God by witnessing ways in…
Piety is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and is related to the virtue of justice. St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “Piety denotes the reverence which we give to our faith and to our country. And since God is the Father of all, the worship of God is also called piety…therefore the gift…
In the Roman Rite, bishops extend their hands over confirmandi, praying that they will be given “a spirit of right judgment and courage.” This invocation echoes countless passages of sacred Scripture extolling the virtue of courage. “Be strong and courageous in your hearts, all you who place your hope in the Lord,” says Psalm 31:25.…