Moral Life in Christ
Original Sin
In the Beginning, it was Good. No, it was Good-Good (the way the Hebrew people said very good). Not only was earth a paradise, but humanity enjoyed all possible sources of happiness. Happiness came most of all from their relationships. Primarily, their relationship with God provided them with the eternal and perfect source of happiness. …
Read MoreSeven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues
The Seven Deadly Sins are not particular sins at all. Rather, they are vices – or patterns of immoral choices. Most of them are the abuse of something that is otherwise good. They are defined by the phrase “inordinate desire,” meaning a desire that is “out of order” with human health, happiness and holiness. The…
Read MoreHow to Change Your Life – Understanding Personality (Who Are You)?
So you want to know how to change your life? The place to start is to recognize that any real change we make in our personality is made possible only through grace. However, grace is a real relationship with God and that means that God wants you to participate in the process. We need to…
Read MoreWhy Virtues are the Secret to Transforming Your Life
Could the secret to the life transformation you seek lie in the depths of ancient Catholic teaching? Yes! The ancient Catholic teaching on good moral habits can be life-changing! Character development is a very important part of Catholic spiritual growth – becoming who God created us to be. None of us are really satisfied with…
Read MoreMoral Principle the Ends Do Not Justify the Means
Definition We cannot reach a good goal (“ends”) by doing evil to get it (the “means” to the goal). Explanation We’ve all heard someone justifying doing something evil by saying, “but I meant well,” or, “I did what I had to do.” Euthanasia is often justified by claiming it is done to relieve suffering. Movie…
Read MoreJesus Fulfills Salvation History
People of the Jewish faith who become Catholic (or part of a Christian ecclesial community) often claim that they are not changing religions, but living the fullness of their Jewish faith. Indeed, as Catholics we see it very much the same way. As Saint Paul tells us, we Gentile Christians are grafted onto the tree…
Read MoreThousands of Catholic Saints – How Do You Choose?
One piece of advice I’ve given in previous articles about having a solid saintly devotion is to choose specific saints to build a relationship with rather than holding a general devotion to all of them. When I suggest this, some people get immediately overwhelmed. There are so many to choose from! How can you choose…
Read MoreQuick Tips for Maximizing Your Relationship with the Catholic Saints
Having a closer relationship with the saints is a central part of Catholic spirituality. Sacred Scripture makes it clear that we are not only saved from sin, but we are saved into a Covenant. That means that we are made members of a family – the Family of God. Here are some quick tips for…
Read MoreThe Three Biggest Myths About Catholic Saints
If you want to grow in holiness and to avoid a shallow spiritual life then you need to avoid these myths about the Catholic saints. Let’s talk about theses myths and discover the TRUTH.
Read MoreLean Into Joy
Emotional happiness is like a rabbit. If you have ever observed one, you can relate to this story. Rabbits are fluffy and cute while they sit and munch on their food. Their outward appearance is content and happy. But, if they hear an unexpected noise they quickly change their demeanor. They hop high in the…
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