Spiritual Experience & Disciplines

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the doctrine that God the Father chose and prepared a Mother for his only-begotten Son who was “ever absolutely free of all stain of sin, all fair and perfect” and who “would possess that fullness of holy... Read more

There is no saint that has a greater impact upon my spiritual life than St. Maximilian Kolbe. This fact is ironic as early on in my conversion to Catholicism I did not like him at all. I thought he looked too stern in his pictures, and that he talked too much about the Immaculata, a title for... Read more

The recovery in priestly vocations seems to be over. Between 1978 and 2012, after the great crisis of the 1970s following Vatican II, seminaries around the world enjoyed a season of growth. The growth was not constant, nor was it uniform across countries and continents. But the trend was clear.... Read more

When did we last reflect on the sacrifice of Christ?  Last Good Friday? Generally, we meditate on Christ’s Passion during Lent and Holy Week.  That is logical, of course, since Lent (and Holy Week in particular) helps focus our attention on Christ’s gift of His body for us on the cross... Read more

What children read, what they see on the screen, can inspire them toward greater faithfulness. Conversely, Father Robert warns, it can lead them into the sordid world of the occult, even opening them to demonic possession. Father Robert is not exaggerating. A priest for more than ten years... Read more

What is temptation? It is the work of Satan to drag you to Hell. He can read you like a book, play you like piano. Do not exaggerate his power—but do not underestimate it either. Some of Satan’s subtlest work is done in the area of religious observance. There, he can cloak himself in the... Read more

ATCHISON, Kan. — It isn’t every day that the sun completely disappears from sight. And from coast-to-coast, America is throwing a party. For one hour and 40 minutes on Aug. 21, a total eclipse will be visible in a narrow band running southeast over the American heartland, from the coast... Read more

I can still remember with perfect clarity the moment I read the news about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. I was out for a walk with my young daughter. I felt physically sick to my stomach and immediately began weeping, thinking of all those families that had just lost a little one like... Read more

Ever heard the saying, "I'm too blessed to be stressed"? Well, it appears that many adults who belong to spiritual communities are living by those words — and it's having tangible rewards for their health. According to a recent study by Marino Bruce, a Vanderbilt University professor... Read more

Today the Church remembers the witness of St. John Vianney, the “Cure of Ars”, who is the patron saint of parish priests. John Vianney was born in 1786, just two years before revolutionary fervor swept through France. The French Revolution would mean the end of Catholic culture that had... Read more