Tag: Aleteia
Whatever happened to the Twelve Apostles?
Jesus told his apostles to “go” and that’s exactly what they did, taking the Gospel to different parts of the world. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven he said to his apostles, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Having a divine mandate to travel the world for the sake of the Gospel, the apostles didn’t… Read More ›
Three things you might not know about sacramentals
Wait. What’s a sacramental? I have always been drawn to sacramentals. I keep on hand holy water, medals, and many Lents’ worth of palm branches, not to mention a drawer full of miscellaneous holy cards and third-class relics (some of which are blessed, though I’ve mostly forgotten which ones). I often think to myself that… Read More ›
25 Helpful tips for overcoming anxiety
Overcoming fears and phobias is not a simple process, but these suggestions can help! Many of us struggle daily with fears and phobias. Some fears are simply inconvenient, like the fear of flying or spiders. But others are debilitating, such as social anxiety disorder, which can make any conversation with a stranger feel like torture…. Read More ›
1,600-year-old basilica found underwater in what was ancient Nicaea
Aleteia: Archaeologists in Turkey suspect the church may have been built in the year 325, following the First Council of Nicaea. The remains of a 1,600-year-old Byzantine basilica have been discovered at the site of the Councils of Nicaea, at the bottom of a lake in northwest Turkey. “We have found church remains. It is… Read More ›
Help! My pastor wants to make the church pretty, and I want to feed the poor!
Sound like any parishes you know? ——————————————- Aletetia: Why be either/or when we can be both/and? Katrina, At my parish the priest has started a fundraising campaign for church renovations. He’s trying to raise a hundred thousand dollars to purchase statues, install a mural, fix up the confessionals, and add an altar rail. He also… Read More ›
Five Titles for the Virgin Mary you wouldn’t expect
These names for Mary are not what you would normally call your Mother. The most ancient title for the Blessed Virgin Mary is simply that of “mother.” It was the name Jesus used and is the name Christians have been using ever since. The name “mother” describes Mary’s role in our lives as a spiritual… Read More ›
6 Good Reasons to Abstain from Meat on Fridays, Even Beyond Lent
Go on, be a “fish eater” on Fridays; it will help your whole week A Protestant friend who lived in Philadelphia once said, “You know why those Catholics eat fish on Friday? They’re all Italians, and the Italians have the fish market downtown. So they got the Italian pope to make that rule so they… Read More ›
When is Easter Sunday?
And why is Orthodox Easter on a different date than Catholic Easter? Easter Sunday, the greatest liturgical feast of the year, has been celebrated on various days throughout the Church’s 2,000 year history and the scheduling has provided more than its share of controversy. From the very beginning of the Church the feast of the… Read More ›
The 2 things you should do before Lent is over
Fr. James Martin, SJ, is best known as a Jesuit priest, as editor at large of America, and as the author of several books including the New York Times bestselling Jesus: A Pilgrimage and Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus. And yet, when it comes to Lenten practices, it appears Fr…. Read More ›
A simple daily reflection to put the brakes on our rush-hour lives
Fr. Albert Haase offers a 5-step Examen that anyone can do. Aleteia (March 22, 2017): Over a decade ago, Fr. Albert Haase, OM, a spiritual director, author of nine books on spiritual formation (Franciscan Media, InterVarsity Press, Paraclete Press) and the presenter on four bestselling DVDs (Paraclete Press), began practicing St. Ignatius of Loyola’s daily Examen,… Read More ›