Tag: Aleteia
The spiritual dangers behind Reiki healing services
The US Catholic bishops laid out several reasons why Reiki can be spiritually harmful. Reiki is a popular alternative healing service that has its origin in Japanese-Buddhist culture and seeks to help individuals relax as well as heal. According to William Rand, founder and president of the International Center for Reiki Training, “Rei is the all-knowing… Read More ›
5 Symbols on gravestones with a Christian meaning
The next time you visit a cemetery, look for these symbols used throughout the centuries. When visiting a cemetery, especially one that has a rich history behind it, you will likely encounter various symbols etched on each gravestone. Some are obvious or related to the specific person buried there, but others are more general and… Read More ›
3 Steps to praying the Psalms, and finding hope in our darkness
Let’s try just Psalm 73 — summarized by “It’s not fair” — and allow God to restore us. Do you want proof that the human soul is rational and immortal, that God exists, created a moral universe and is a just judge? Do you want proof that our choices matter? Do you want (additional) proof… Read More ›
The surprisingly sophisticated diet of a medieval monk
14th-century recipes from a Benedictine monastery reveal a taste for rich, spicy food. Historian David Snowden, in his book Flans and Wine, has published recipes used by Benedictine monks in 14th-century England, revealing that those living in the abbey survived on far more than bread alone. The recipes, used by Benedictine monks from Evesham Abbey,… Read More ›
5 Surprising health benefits of church attendance
It makes sense … God doesn’t need us to attend Mass because it benefits Him. Aleteia: Going to church is good for your soul, sure, but did you know it may have other benefits, too? There are at least 5 surprising improvements you might experience in a few areas of your life if you attend… Read More ›
Here’s why Catholics don’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent
And why fish is on the menu instead You know you are in a Catholic town when, only during Lent, every single restaurant advertises one item on their menu: fish! I have even noticed how major fast-food chains point out on their fliers the date of Ash Wednesday! Suddenly everyone cares about the liturgical seasons of the Church!… Read More ›
Paulus the First Hermit
He went into the desert escaping persecution, but ended up loving it there. In the centuries following the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians sought new ways to live according to the Gospel message. One man in Egypt pioneered a radical way of living that was emulated by countless Christians after his death. His name… Read More ›
The oldest Christian prayer outside of the Bible
The prayer was written near the end of the first century. Scripture is full of prayers from front to cover, but after the final page of Revelation, how did the early Christians pray to God? The oldest known Christian prayer outside of the Bible can be found in the works of St. Clement of Rome,… Read More ›
Six Simple spiritual goals for a happier new year
Aleteia: Losing 20 pounds may be more dramatic, but other things will make a bigger impact on your life. It feels like I’m starting from scratch over and over again. At the start of almost every new year I recommit to daily study. It’s one of the few acts that truly makes a difference in… Read More ›
Struggling with Advent? Maybe you’re doing it wrong!
Advent is a complicated season of past and future, and of hope… and it’s the hope that can trip us up. “John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!… Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every… Read More ›