Most Catholics are very familiar with the Rosary, but many are surprised when they discover the level of depth that is possible while “telling the beads.” An essential component of the Rosary is the association of one of the mysteries of Christ’s life with each decade. More »

At the first Pentecost, those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized, “and about three thousand persons were added that day” (Acts 2:41). The church was born that day, and it has been growing ever since. More »

In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells a number of stories about how unbelievers joined the early church. For the first few centuries, the typical process was threefold: evangelization, followed by conversion, and then baptism. More »

I was born on September 14, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Perhaps this is what drew me to reflect on the cross from an early age. More »

Who can forget the events of September 11, 2001? They are stamped into our memories, and like other major events, they have played a part in shaping the way we view the world today. The anniversary of these terrorist attacks—and of the many others that have taken place around the world since then—is an opportunity to reflect on our reactions and response to any kind of threat or danger that seems to loom large. More »

The events surrounding our trip home on that hot, humid August morning have become blurred over time. But while so many of the particulars have faded, our conversation during that thirty-minute car ride remains fixed in my mind and my heart. More »

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died on September 5, 1997, was one of the greatest spiritual “overachievers” of our time. She accomplished so much, that we might think she rarely took a break from tending to the human misery that surrounded her. More »

Mystics have a way of placing ancient truths in a new light. They present for us what we already believe but in a way that fills us with wonder and awe, as if we were seeing it for the first time. St. John of the Cross is one example, as he introduces us to what may be possible if we are truly in love with God. More »