Tag: Aleteia
The Secret to Praying Better
“Father, would you teach me how to pray better?” People are always surprised when I answer, “No,” so I have to offer an explanation. I tell them that, “Jesus never said, ‘Pray better.’ He never said, ‘Pray well.’ He didn’t even say, ‘Pray often.’ He did say, ‘Pray always’” (Luke 18:1). Rarely does anyone find… Read More ›
Three Tips For Getting More Out of the Homily
Let’s be honest: We’ve all attended Masses with less than stellar homilies, right? Not all priests (or deacons) are naturally gifted orators, but when their monotone, let’s-repeat-the-Gospel message emerges, we tend to tune out. By the time Mass ends, we realize we may have missed an important point from the homily, but is the homily really… Read More ›
Video: Top Doctor at Planned Parenthood Is Caught Discussing Its Fetal Body Parts Business
The Center for Medical Progress has released an undercover video showing Planned Parent Federation Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, discussing the harvesting and sale of fetal parts. In the video, Nucatola is having a business lunch with actors who are posing as buyers from a human biologics company. As head of PPFA’s Medical Services… Read More ›
Another Way to Look at Dressing for Mass
Jennifer Fulwiler: A few months ago when I was out of town visiting another church, I saw a sight that I won’t soon forget. I had just settled into the pew a few minutes before Mass when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I looked over to see a voluptuous woman in… Read More ›
The Islamic State’s Control Now Extends Over Half of Syria
Beirut — The Islamic State is taking advantage of “weakening” Syrian government forces and the international coalition sorties that are focused on striking the areas in Iraq where they are most concentrated in order to double its expansion in Syria. After gaining control of the city of Palmyra in central Syria the Islamic State’s influence now… Read More ›
New Gallup Poll: Americans’ Positions on Moral Issues Shifts to the Left
A new survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults has confirmed that Americans are more likely now than ever before to consider once taboo behaviors morally acceptable, especially when it comes to homosexuality. According to Gallup, which has been tracking statistics on Americans’ “values and beliefs” since the early 2000s, nearly two-thirds of Americans now say… Read More ›
Why My Generation Loves Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, better perhaps than any other writer of the 20th century, conveyed the romance of Christianity. If God can be known in this life, in a personal and transformative way, what other possibility could be as compelling? What other love affair as attractive? Thomas Merton readers the world over are celebrating the centennial of his… Read More ›
Francis, Fatima and the End of the World
At the end of April it was confirmed that Pope Francis will travel to Fatima for the one hundredth anniversary of the Marian apparitions, and it is rumored that he will use the occasion to canonize the two youngest seers, Jacinta and Francisco Marto. This week, on the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady… Read More ›
The Necessity of Contemplative Monasticism for the New Evangelization
When we discuss the “New Evangelization,” we tend to think of the many active ways in which the Church seeks to engage the world and to share the Gospel with it. From large-scale special events such as World Youth Day and the recently completed Year of Faith; to the everyday work at the diocesan and… Read More ›
Haunted by Thomas Merton
How he has opened my spiritual life to new dimensions J. K. Rowling was inspired by visions of St. John the Baptist as the saga of Harry Potter and friends percolated in her mind. He became the archetype for Professor Dumbledore – a wanderer in worlds earthly and spiritual – as well as a tutor,… Read More ›