Tag: Kosloski
How to make a special consecration to St. Raphael the Archangel
The consecration prayer calls on St. Raphael’s assistance in the “struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Within the Catholic Church, there are various devotional traditions with which you can consecrate yourself and your family to God, invoking the special intercession of a saint. One of the most popular consecration prayers is that… Read More ›
St. Teresa of Avila’s horrifying encounters with the devil
And how she was able to easily chase him away. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthinas 10:13). Such was the… Read More ›
A forgotten prayer to St. Michael against the assaults of evil
The prayer dates to the 9th century and invokes the Archangel’s protection from the enemy of our souls. While many are familiar with the traditional “St. Michael Prayer” of Pope Leo XIII, it is not the only prayer of the Church to the Holy Archangel. In the Raccolta, a collection of prayers that dates to the early… Read More ›
How St. Anthony the Abbot defeated the devil
He lived in solitude in the desert, but he wasn’t alone. St. Anthony the Abbot (sometimes called St. Anthony of Egypt or St. Anthony the Great), was inspired by the Gospels to sell all his possessions and live a life of solitude in the Egyptian desert. He established for himself a quiet hermitage away from… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›