As we begin this month of August, we trudge into another month of Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. That doesn’t mean, however, that we don’t have much to look forward to with feast days this month. August is filled with feast days from saints who lived less than a century ago, all the way to saints from the early Church—from religious to laity, from saints I’ve learned about my whole life, to saints I had never heard of before. Let us take time throughout this month of August to learn about the Christ-filled lives of these powerful saints.

Saints who Founded Religious Communities:

There are many saints this month who founded religious communities—all of which have had a great impact on the Church. St. Dominic founded the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers, which is a religious order known for their preaching and rich intellectual history. St. Clare of Assisi worked with St. Francis of Assisi and helped found the Poor Clares, a group of contemplative nuns and the second branch of the Franciscans to be founded, just after the Order of Friars Minor. Back in the time of the early church, St. Augustine wrote the Rule of St. Augustine, which became the foundation for the Augustinians. In the 12th century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux helped spread the Cistercian Order, an order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and remains strong today. St. Cajetan helped found the Theatines which became a religious order with many bishops and intellectuals in the Church. With the help of St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Visitation Order which was a religious order open to women who had been turned down from other orders for poor health or similar reasons. The French mystic St. John Eudes founded two religious orders in the 1600s, both following St. John Eudes’ special devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. More recently, in the 18th century, St. Alphonsus Liguori founded the Redemptorists, a religious community with a special devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In the 19th century, French priest St. Peter Julian Eymard helped found two religious orders, both with a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

At first, I found this list quite overwhelming. These saints founded and/or helped spread their religious orders, something I can’t even fathom, especially in our pandemic-affected world today. But then I recognized the beauty that comes to the Church as a result of this wide range of religious communities. Each community is called to follow their own unique charism, all while growing closer to Christ and bringing Him to others. After sitting with this, I realized that there is beauty in the lives of each of these saints and in how the Church works in many ways, through many charisms, to help lead everyone to a life of holiness.

Martyrs in the Month:

In a six day stretch next week, we will celebrate three well-known martyrs in the Church. Back in the early Church, St. Lawrence was killed and is famous for his quips as he was being grilled to his death—showing his faith in Christ to the end. Much more recently, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a Discalced Carmelite nun who was killed at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II because of her Jewish heritage. Similarly, St. Maximillian Kolbe was martyred at Auschwitz, giving his life in place of another prisoner, and was thus bestowed the title “martyr of charity”. While we may not face martyrdom like these saints, we can learn from how they trusted Christ and pray for their intercession in our lives.

Saints and Their Country:
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Later this month, we will celebrate the feast days of three saints who are known by their primary locations: St. Stephen of Hungary, St. Louis of France, and St. Rose of Lima. These saints all lived incredible lives, all very authentic to the community in which they lived. As we progress through this month, these saints can serve as role models for us in how we can follow Christ and bring others to Him in whatever region we find ourselves.
 
As we walk through this August, let us look to the lives of the saints to learn to be saints right where God has called us to be through whatever charism He calls us to.
 
To learn more about the saints, visit our Catholic Feast Days Website by clicking here. 
To view a calendar of the feast days in August, and each month, click here. 

*This blog is reposted and was originally published on August 3, 2021.*

​During my fifth year with D.C. United, the team brought in a nutrition specialist. The specialist gave his presentation and then looked toward a table in the middle of the locker room that held about 40 pill bottles of vitamins, supplements, mild pain relievers, gels, powders, and who knows what else. The nutritionist then walked over to the table, looked back to us, and said, “you know, if you just eat well you can throw all of these out. In fact, you’d be better off doing that.” He left the locker room five minutes later and never came back.
 
For my first five years at DCU, I had been taking those vitamins and supplements at the recommendation of our strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers. Now a certified nutritionist deemed the whole thing a waste of time and had even said they could hinder our performance—I wondered what exactly to do. Who should I listen to?
 
This memory has stayed with me because it matters a lot for an athlete what you do with your body. It matters how you train, eat, sleep, relax, and recover. You need to know what is helpful for your athletic development and what is unhelpful. I wanted to know if the pills and supplements helped me or hindered me.
 
This all applies to athletic prudence in the natural realm. Prudence is the ability to judge rightly and act according to that knowledge. It is being able to think through things correctly and then make the right choice. Thus, athletic prudence is the ability to choose and act rightly in the realm of an athletic pursuit.
 
We make decisions and then act based upon what we have concluded is actually helpful or unhelpful in relation to our goal.
 
I would like to apply this same line of thinking to the virtue of prudence in the supernatural realm. We should be asking what is helpful or unhelpful in terms of our spiritual lives. Just like the nutritionist condemning our pill vault and making me wonder what was actually helpful for my soccer career, we should ask what in our lives helps or hinders us from going to God. In order for us to do this, of course, we must acknowledge that God is both our goal and a worthy (the most worthy!) goal at that.
 
When I got to the height of my playing career I was devastatingly depressed for a very concentrated span of time (only several days). For months I pondered why I hit such a low point amidst more success than I had ever expected. Eventually, through the help of the Holy Spirit, I realized that God allowed me to feel the weight of my success without Him. It was an incredible grace—but also one that was difficult to really learn. Over time the truth that my soul was more important than my sport sunk in. I realized that much of what I had made my life about was, in the end, unhelpful for reaching the ultimate Goal who is God.
 
I started applying my athletic thinking to my spiritual life. I started asking the right questions—is this helpful or unhelpful for my spiritual life? Should I be hanging out with this group of friends so much? Are my weekend habits really bringing joy to my life? Am I living as the person I want to be? Do I know who I want to be?
 
These questions led—and continue to lead—me to Jesus, and I find myself needing to ask them again and again. Do the decisions I make help me become who I want to be? Or are my decisions hindering me from being that person?
 
Athletic prudence helps athletes maximize their potential and use their God-given gifts to the best of their ability. This same principle can—and should—be applied to our spiritual lives. Are the decisions, actions, and principles that guide my life helpful? Are they leading me in a good direction?
 
Prudence, says St. Thomas Aquinas, is the mother of the virtues. You cannot possess any virtue without the virtue of prudence because prudence is what enables us to recognize what is truly good (helpful) and then act according to that good. No athlete can become great apart from athletic prudence because athletic prudence enables the athlete to recognize and act upon what helps him or her become a good athlete. Far more important, however, is the realization that no person can become who they were created to be apart from supernatural prudence. It is not possible to follow Christ without first asking yourself what exactly it is you’re already following—what is it that shapes your decisions? It may be a desire for comfort, power, status, honor, wealth, success, popularity, or any number of things. But they all fall short. To be prudent you must know the end goal. You cannot attain the virtue of prudence in the whole of life without knowing that “it is Jesus in fact that you seek when you dream of happiness.”
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*This blog is reposted and was originally posted on September 17, 2020.*

"Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 159).

While it may come as a surprise, this quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church is taken from the dogmatic constitution Dei Filius of the First Vatican Council in 1870. For centuries, the Church has clearly taught that faith and reason are not opposed to one another. We can come to understand more deeply human life and truth through both. 

Those on mission for Christ need to use both. Simply presenting faith in a world that values reason, particularly scientific reason, is not enough. The person of reason wants to be sure of things. Faith is seen as something that is far from sure. Pope Leo offers a critique to this view in Magnifica Humanitas when he says, “The light of faith offers a perspective on reality that helps us recognize what we call the ‘contingency’ of the things of this world” (118).

What he means is that this side of life is fleeting, and eternal life is just that, eternal. Those on mission for Christ recognize well this both/and. We are on mission in the world and also live for the world to come. We use our reason to understand the things of this world and hopefully change them for the good. Our faith helps us recognize that all things in this life will eventually pass away. 

Faith and reason equip us well for doing the mission of Christ in the world.

May the charity of Christ urge us on!

​In God, the Infinite Love, 
Fr. Frank 

As a college student, I am familiar with the fluctuation between being at home with my family and then apart from them at school. This pattern of separation and reunion leads me to make the most of the time I have with them. As I read of Jesus’ ministry, I can’t help but reflect on his experience of family. I can hardly imagine what it would have been like for Jesus to spend thirty years in Nazareth and then to leave his home to begin his mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Based on my experience of being away from my parents and siblings, I would expect Him to take every chance to visit his mother and extended family, but, surprisingly, Scripture gives us a different story.

Today’s gospel reading comes from the Gospel according to Matthew. It recounts the scene in which Jesus’ relatives try to speak with him, and Jesus provides a puzzling response. Seemingly rejecting his ties with his family, Jesus says, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?...For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Mt 12:48b, 50). Wouldn’t Jesus be eager to talk to his mother and cousins? However, we must notice that Jesus doesn’t tell his family to leave. Instead, he expands his “family.” Rather than diminishing the role of our blood relatives, Jesus widens our horizons. We learn that while our relationships with our immediate family are important, it is the bond of faith that connects us the most closely.

In this passage, we are reminded that God gives us a family of faith: the Church. This unity is especially seen in the sacraments. For example, by our baptism, we become children of the Father and members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Because of this, we refer to one another as brothers and sisters. By our shared commitment to the mission of Christ, the baptized faithful work together to accomplish the will of our Father. In the Eucharist, we are united to Christ and his Church. We receive Communion to grow in communion! Further, this union persists not only despite physical distance, but even despite death. The Eucharist connects all the faithful from Earth to Purgatory to Heaven. In another instance, when we don’t follow the Father’s will, we turn to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to repair our relationship not only between ourselves and God, but with the entire Body.

These are all aspects of the liturgy, the communal work of the Church to worship God and grow in sanctity through participation in Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Whenever we participate in Mass or receive the sacraments, we do not complete an isolated act. What is more, we are actually nearer to our brothers and sisters through these actions. This communal celebration of the liturgy leads us to live with love not just for the members of the Body, but for all mankind. Just as we do not limit our love to our families but embrace the Church as our family, so too do we set our sights on serving those beyond the pews with the intent of drawing them into God’s family. Grounded in the depth of familial love and the breadth of the Church’s unity, the charity of Christ urges us on to reach out to our neighbor.

​The next time you find yourself feeling lonely or missing a friend or family member, remember that, through the celebration of the liturgy, we are all united to each other in Christ. Our vocations may lead us far and wide, and although this distance may prove challenging, we will never truly be far from our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I want to start by talking about the Gospel reading for this inspiration. In Matthew 10:26-33, Jesus preaches to the disciples and says, “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” This passage alone brings up two things that humans often struggle with: fear and death. It’s interesting that fear and death go hand and hand with each other because we humans are fearful of death because of what lies beyond death. 

Once we die, we are faced with the judgement of God. This is the moment in our faith that we are judged to either spend eternity in the netherworld or with God in Heaven. This is a scary thought for many reasons, but the biggest is that we are left completely and utterly defenseless. There’s no talking back, no excuses, and no second chances. It’s similar to the parable of the rich man and poor man. As the rich man refused to feed the poor, he beckoned to Heaven from the netherworld to let his brothers have warning about what would happen, to which Abraham refused saying “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31)

So how do we avoid a fate like this? Well, it’s quite simple. To prepare for the moment of moments on Earth, we must embrace humility. A great way that I have been able to express humility is by going to adoration. In the presence of the Holy Eucharist, with Jesus looking right at me, I get no gain or victory by saying I’m perfect. I have my own faults, but the Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross has given all of us the ability to join him in Heaven, we just have to accept it. By embracing humility, we admit our own faults and we reject the sin of pride. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can be made pure again. My parents always say that we are saints after confession because our souls are now clean. 

Through humility, we are able to shed the cloak of pride, but another way we can prepare to be judged by God when we die is by not being attached to the things of this world. Now, this does not mean that you need to go sell everything and be homeless forever, but what it means is to unchain yourself from temptations like selfishness, greed, and lust. Unlike in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus stated above, we must not allow ourselves to succumb to greed. Catholicism doesn't condemn being rich, but it’s what you do with that money that God sees. Giving to the poor is a good start, but allowing the mind to be twisted and only focus on personal gains with money and wealth is being just like the rich man who was cast into the netherworld. 

I wanted to thank Fr. Mike Schmitz for this inspiration where he talks about the moment of moments, which you can listen to here. This was a wake up call for me, being that I have no idea when I can be called back to the Father, but through letting go and humility, it eradicates fear and the fear of death because if we all do these things, then we have nothing to fear when we die, for God will look upon us with proud and humble eyes and allow us to join him forever in Paradise. 

My Grammy’s name was Pauline and she was fearless, loved loudly, and cared endlessly for her family and friends. Something remarkable about her that I remember from an early age was her impact on senior citizens and how hard she fought for them. A large community of seniors got together frequently, and their space in a church basement was nearing an end, so she as the director knew what to do: get a building built so the elderly in the community could come together in a space of their own. She fought and worked with the town, raised money, ground was broken, and the building was built. I remember being so very proud of her and wanting to be generous and fearless like her when I grew up.

Another fearless woman named Pauline was from Brazil, who is known for her selfless work in her community and beyond and lived from 1865-1942. As a young person, Pauline worked to build up healthcare to places in Brazil that were rural and poor. As time and efforts continued, she discovered a need for care which the government couldn’t provide, so she formed a new community called The Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. The care that was provided by this new order included: schools for children, former enslaved workers, and immigrants; hospitals in rural areas where healthcare outreach failed; and assistance to orphans and the elderly who had been left to suffer in the wake of industrialization in Brazil. In her final years, St. Pauline was removed from her position as Superior General, and she existed in the shadows of laundry work with absolute humility, but her institutionalized hospitals and schools set the framework for future initiatives and charity work in her country and many others.

St. Pauline died doing work in her community for a developing nation, and her order still proudly exists today.  Her love of Christ set forth a whole mission of caring for those in your own community, not seeking people in far away places, but the poor just outside her door. Her legacy calls us to look at our own communities and in our own cities and towns to do the work in our own backyards. My Grammy made strides in these efforts in her own way, building up a space to grow a loving and welcoming home for the elderly to spend quality time together in a safe, clean, and joyful way. She was determined to make space for those who were so often overlooked and who deserved the dignity to exist in a place to call their own. Both of these women stood for their communities and proved that you don’t even have to do a whole lot to make a whole world of a difference, you just have to try.

We don’t have to be canonized Saints to serve those around us, we just have to have the courage to smile, say hello, and ask, “How are you?” and often that is enough to change a person’s whole day! 

To get started, here are some ways to support your community:

• Elderly and homebound:
  
  • Go on grocery runs to get essential items 
    
  • Provide tech support
    
  • Do yard work when you can
    
  • Check-in with them and offer company and conversation
    
  • Write letters and messages to show you thought of them
    
• Improve Healthcare and Comfort:
  
  • Donate gently used comforts like blankets, puzzles, and fuzzy socks to elder care centers
    
  • Pack caregiver kits
    
  • Drive them to appointments to encourage healthy habits
    
  • Donate blood and plasma often
    
• Build-Up Community Safety Nets:
  
  • Support the food pantries in your area
    
  • Make a meal and deliver it to a lonely neighbor
    
  • Donate clothing basics when you have a surplus
    
  • Support literacy efforts at a senior center or library hour
    

At some point during my time as a college student, I encountered the great saint and medieval theologian St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), and began to realize just how truly important and vast was his intellectual impact in history. As a witness to the profound and enduring quality of Thomas’ theological insight and teaching, the Catholic Church honors him with the title “Doctor of the Church.” Thomas certainly spent much of his life in a classroom teaching and debating on the most relevant questions of his day. But when it came to his primary vocation as a Christian, the soft-spoken saint would be quick to point out that he was first and foremost a student.

The word disciple literally means “learner” or “student.” In the Bible, a disciple is,

“A student or follower who emulates the example set by a master and seeks to identify with the master’s teachings.” (Catholic Bible Dictionary, ed. Scott Hahn)

For Thomas, discipleship meant being an entirely devoted student of Jesus Christ. One of Thomas’ theological principles was that everything Jesus said and did was meant for our imitation and instruction. In the time of Jesus, a disciple did not just learn from, but learned to be like their teacher. We see this, for example, at the Sermon on the Mount, which is an extended lesson about a radically new vision for life received at the feet of their teacher (“Rabbi”), Jesus. Today, the Church’s emphasis on the New Evangelization to make and grow as disciples also means we are to become in every way students of Jesus. Here are three important ways Aquinas modeled being a student of Jesus, a disciple, worthy of our imitation.

A Student of Scripture
For Thomas, Sacred Scripture makes known “that heart of Christ” (see CCC 112), and we acquire that heart gradually by reading and studying the Bible. In addition to composing many commentaries on individual books of the Bible, all of Thomas’ writings demonstrate a life soaked in a love and knowledge of Holy Scripture. Thomas realized the impossibility of growing as disciples of Jesus apart from familiarity with the living Word of God.

A Student of Prayer
Even with a multitude of followers and demands, Jesus was frequently found in personal prayer with the Father. Similarly, as prolific a writer as Thomas was, Thomas never sacrificed his time of prayer and contemplation for the sake of work or greater productivity. As a result, aside from his dense technical writings in theology, Thomas composed captivating prayers that the Church uses in liturgy and devotions even today. Thomas loved to pray through song, and among his most well known prayers include the famous Eucharistic hymns “O Salutaris,” “Tantum Ergo,” and “Adoro Te Devote.”

A Student of Truth
Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). In a culture saturated with opinion and often biased news, we can learn from Thomas’ unceasing search for truth. A love of the truth compelled Thomas to devote himself to understanding the world around him (even where he disagreed), to be slow to judge, quick to learn, but steadfast in his convictions and trust in Jesus.

Whether you are in school or beyond, Thomas models what it means for a disciple to seek the truth. That could mean doing more research about our opinions, being more willing to have our perspective challenged, or just trying to learn something new every day. Thomas even has a great Prayer for Students that we can all apply to whatever situation Jesus is calling us to keep learning about.

To learn more about prayer, please click here.

*This blog is reposted and was originally published January 25, 2017.*

With the nation’s 250th anniversary approaching, many of us are remembering our country’s past starting with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While American Catholicism arguably began before 1776, the semiquincentennial of our nation is a great time to remember what makes American Catholicism unique. From the founding of American religious orders to the election of Pope Leo XIV last year, we Catholics in the United States have a beautiful tradition of our own to both celebrate and carry with us for the next generation.

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, let us offer prayers of gratitude and intercession for our nation. Here are 3 American saints we can turn to with our prayers:
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1. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
If you’ve gone to a Catholic school, then you’ve got Elizabeth Ann Seton to thank. Born in New York City in 1774, Elizabeth grew up Episcopalian. She married William Magee Seton in 1794, but he died of tuberculosis just nine years later. After her husband passed, Elizabeth converted to the Church and became a Catholic in 1805. Her family disowned her because of her conversion. Eventually, Elizabeth moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland. There, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s and St. Joseph’s school, which paved the way for other Catholic schools. She died in 1821 and was canonized in 1975, becoming the first native-born U.S. citizen to become a Saint.

When Elizabeth converted to the Church, being a Catholic in America was very unpopular, and she lost her family and wealth because of her decision to follow Christ. Today, being Catholic in America, where many of the values of the Church are unpopular in society, is still not easy. Speaking out for what we believe in may cost us our reputation in the eyes of others. Elizabeth shows us how we can still live for Christ even when it’s hard and be brave, for the Gospel can plant seeds for the next generation.

2. Blessed Solanus Casey
When you think of famous priests, you usually imagine eloquent preachers or cardinals – not a porter. But Blessed Solanus Casey touched thousands of people’s lives in this simple job. Born in Wisconsin in 1875, Solanus tried various trades before entering St. Francis Seminary when he was 21. He left and eventually joined the Capuchins in 1896 and was ordained a priest in 1904. Because his studies were difficult for him and his superiors did not believe his theology to be developed enough, Solanus wasn’t allowed to preach or hear confessions. Most of his ministry was spent as a porter or sacristan, but it was through these small roles he touched the hearts of so many people and shared his wisdom with them. When Solanus died in 1957, over 20,000 mourners paid their respects to his coffin.

In the middle of everyday life, especially in a secular country, witnessing to the Gospel is difficult. If we live ordinary lives, it can feel nearly impossible. Solanus shows us that even if our voices are small, God can echo them further than we can imagine. Even when his superiors stacked the deck against him, Solanus used the small moments to carry God’s light to others. We can do the same, no matter what our vocation might be.

3. Venerable Fulton Sheen
Venerable Fulton Sheen (soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen) was a theologian, bishop, and evangelist, using radio and TV to spread the Gospel during the 20th century. Born in Illinois in 1895, he was raised in a Catholic family and was ordained to the priesthood in 1919. Throughout his vocation, Sheen wore many hats: professor, theologian, philosopher, and bishop. What he is most known for was for evangelizing through countless books, radio hours, and TV broadcasts. He even won an Emmy for his show Life is Worth Living and pulled in more viewers than the popular variety shows that aired at the same time. In his writings and preaching, Sheen covered a variety of topics, from education to the sacraments to reflections on Scripture, with a clear and kind voice. JPII even said to him, “"You have written and spoken well of the  Lord Jesus. You are a loyal son of the Church."  Sheen died in 1979, but his influence still reaches to the present day.

Like us, Sheen was living in an age defined by its technological advancements. He used these resources to boldly spread the Gospel to millions of people. Even after Sheen adapted to the radio for his show The Catholic Hour, he wasn’t afraid to rise to the challenge of using television to teach everyday people about the Church. In times of change, we can look to the saint as an example of how to adapt to share the Gospel.

​There are others as well, including St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Neumann, St. Katherine Drexel, Blessed Michael McGivney, Venerable Augustus Tolton, and more. This Independence Day, learn more about one of these American saints or even the history of your local diocese. Our country has so much history to celebrate this year – including the people that helped shape the Catholic faith in the United States.

Reviving faith, rekindling charity, and forming apostles are not simply the mission of the Catholic Apostolate Center, they are central to the spirituality of St. Vincent Pallotti. Too often our faith is rote, our charity is routine, and we may not see ourselves as apostles. Pallottine spirituality offers a way to revive and rekindle our faith and charity so as to go forth as apostles of Christ.

The Catholic Apostolate Center since its founding almost fifteen years ago roots itself in this spirituality of apostolic action. The baptized are called to go forth for Christ, assisting people in not only coming to faith, but also helping those whose faith and charity have dimmed to revive and rekindle them! St. Vincent Pallotti saw faith and charity as intrinsically connected with one another. To him, you cannot have one without the other. His insight is a very Catholic one. We Catholics believe that faith and works matter for our salvation. They are connected with one another. What we believe and what we do matter.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “Living faith works through charity” (1814). As we go forth as apostles of Christ, let us be witnesses of faith and charity drawing others to him in and through his Church.

May the charity of Christ urge us on!

In God, the Infinite Love, 
​Fr. Frank 

​Fr. Frank S. Donio, S.A.C., D.Min. is Founding Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center and a member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers). He is also concurrently Provincial Rector of the Pallottines of the Immaculate Conception Province and Executive Director of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men of the United States (CMSM).

Contemporary Western culture seems to promote nothing but pride these days; it insists that only those who are proud, selfish, and disobedient can effect change or succeed in life. But salvation history and the lives of the saints tell us a different story—namely, that pride is the downfall of mankind, and that humility is what ultimately exalts us.

Humility is a difficult virtue to embrace because it is such a quiet one and is often mistaken for what it is not. In his Summa Contra Gentiles, St. Thomas Aquinas describes humility thus: “Truly, the virtue of humility consists in this, that one keep himself within his own limits; he does not stretch himself to what is above him, but he subjects himself to his superior.” Being humble does not mean debasing yourself and refusing to acknowledge that you have any gifts or talents whatsoever—and some would argue that in fact, such an attitude is actually hidden pride! The truly humble man understands that he is not the greatest at anything, and that while he is better at something than others might be, his gift ultimately comes from God and is to be used for the glory of God, not for personal accolades. The prime example of this is the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was a young woman without wealth or powerful connections, and yet her submission to the will of God altered the course of human history and opened the door for the divine Messiah to enter the world He would one day redeem. She did not attempt to argue that she was utterly unworthy of the grace bestowed on her, but rather submitted with her humble fiat, “May it be done unto me according to your word.”

The truly humble man knows his own limitations—he submits to the authority not only of God and of the Church, but also to the legitimate authority of the government and the workplace. A humble man does not go looking for opportunities to gain power and prestige. He dies to himself for the sake of others—he harbors no resentment when others’ work is extolled while his goes unnoticed, and he uses those moments of humiliation to draw closer to Christ. The humble man continues to use his gifts even if no one but God is going to see or acknowledge them. And when his gifts and accomplishments are acknowledged by the world, the humble man turns that praise back to God instead of focusing it on himself. The humble man does not need to project an Instagram-perfect image of his life to the rest of the world: he accepts that he is a work in progress, can admit when he is wrong, and can accept criticism with grace.

Sometimes true humility seems impossible to achieve. Because we are fallen creatures wrapped up in ourselves, we have to constantly work toward selflessness. One method of doing this is by praying The Litany of Humility. This prayer asks Jesus to deliver us from desires and fears fueled by pride—from the desire of praise, to the fear of being wronged. But the beauty of this litany is that it not only asks that we be freed from our pride, but it also asks for the grace to desire that others may be better than we are, loved more than we are, holier than we are. True humility is not downplaying our own roles, but is setting aside our own desires so that others can rise higher and do more for Christ than we ever could. It’s being the Andrew to someone else’s Peter and the Barnabas to someone else’s Paul—calling forth someone to the good or encouraging their potential, even if means that person becomes greater than ourselves.

Matt Maher has his own take on the Litany of Humility in his song “Every Little Prison.” What I like about Maher’s version is that he adapts the prayer to be more recognizable for the modern Christian. Pride takes many forms in this era of Instagram followers, Facebook “likes,” and the 24-hour news cycle—we spend time “wondering if I am relevant and liked” and “wanting to be seen.” Ultimately, humility requires us to turn to God instead of other things and to trust in him, in his mercy and his wisdom, rather than becoming slaves to our fears of being judged, or of not being loved, or of having to let go. By praying for freedom from the prisons created by pride, may we live more confidently in the love of God and in doing his will.

*This blog is reposted and was originally published July 16, 2019.*

As the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Catholic bishops of our country – through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) – are inviting Catholics into a profound spiritual moment: the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

This act of consecration is more than a symbolic gesture or patriotic observance. It is a reminder that every nation ultimately stands under God and needs His mercy, guidance, and love.

The practice of consecrating nations to the Sacred Heart has a long history in the life of the Church. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, calling it “the great act” of his pontificate. Over the years, many countries, dioceses, and communities have followed this example during moments of challenge, transition, or renewal. These acts of consecration are not political statements. Rather, they are spiritual acts of trust, placing people and nations under the care of Christ and asking for His protection and guidance.

At a time marked by division, anxiety, violence, and distrust, the Church is once again calling us back to the Heart of Christ. The Sacred Heart of Jesus represents the deep and personal love that Christ has for humanity, a love poured out completely on the Cross.

To consecrate something means to dedicate it entirely to God. By consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart, the bishops are entrusting the United States to the care and mercy of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that our nation is perfect or favored. Rather, it is a humble acknowledgment that we need God now more than ever.

This anniversary also gives us an opportunity to reflect on freedom itself. Our nation was founded on ideals of liberty and human dignity, but as Christians, we know that true freedom is not found simply in independence or self-determination. Jesus reminds us, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Authentic freedom is found in living as sons and daughters of God.

The bishops are encouraging not only a national consecration, but also personal and family consecrations to the Sacred Heart. Renewal in our country begins first with renewal in our homes and hearts.

So how can we participate?

We can begin with prayer and time spent with the Lord in the Eucharist. We can place an image of the Sacred Heart in our homes as a reminder that Christ is at the center of family life. We can practice works of mercy and charity, especially toward those who are poor, suffering, or forgotten. We can pray for our nation with hope instead of despair.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is ultimately about trusting in the love of Jesus and allowing that love to transform us. As St. John writes, “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action” (1 John 3:18).

As our country enters its next 250 years, this consecration offers an invitation to renewal. Not merely political renewal or cultural renewal, but spiritual renewal rooted in Christ. 

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless our nation, strengthen our families, and draw all people closer to Him. 

The roar of the ginormous trash truck chugging down our street and the repetitive screech as it stops in front of each house pierces the air of our house and makes my toddler and I lock eyes with joyful anticipation. We run out the front door hoping to catch a glimpse of this mechanical dinosaur and gleefully celebrate the clenching of trash cans and tossing of waste into the back of the truck before it eventually departs down the next block.

A weekly occurrence at my house, this trash truck ritual had me thinking about its similarities to the sacrament of Confession, or more properly called, Reconciliation. For years, my understanding of this sacrament was much like my experience of trash day - a celebration of the spiritual waste removal. My sins are gone, the trash can empty, my soul is clean, and I’m inspired to start over again with a fresh conscience.

While my trash day metaphor is not entirely inaccurate, our Catechism takes my understanding a step further explaining “the whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship. Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament” (CCC 1468). More than just confessing our sins or taking out the spiritual trash, the sacrament restores what we have broken by sinning - our relationship with our Beloved God. This is why Reconciliation is, in my opinion, the most appropriate name for the sacrament; we are going to God to reconcile ourselves with him.

And while our relationship with God is mended and healed in the sacrament of Reconciliation, there is still work to be done on our parts. While our sins are forgiven, absolution “does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused” (CCC 1459); there may still be apologies to be made to the people we’ve hurt or penance to do. Even though we’ve been forgiven, our “unhealthy attachment[s] to” sin and things in this world that would lead us away from our right relationship with God remain (CCC 1472). Looking back to my trash day metaphor, even though this week’s trash is gone, there are still things in my house that will become trash over the next week.; Certain habits are in place in my house that will continue to create trash week after week - whether it’s packaging, food waste, paper products, or my baby’s diapers.

We are called to continue, even after exiting the Confessional, “by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the ‘old man’ and to put on the ‘new man’ (CCC 1473). Imagine if I went back into my house after the trash truck took away my garbage and thought seriously about how to make less trash in the next week. Okay, enough of the trash truck metaphor. Even after receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation, we’re called to spiritually strive for improvement, exchanging sinful habits for holy ones and striving to avoid or conquer temptations when they come. Thankfully, Reconciliation gives us “an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle” moving forward, and we need it (CCC 1496). Undertaking the tasks of uprooting whatever leads us to sin is no small mission. We can’t do it alone; thankfully, both our Church community and Christ himself walk by our side, encouraging us and cheering us on as we forge ahead towards Heaven. 

Recently, I attended a marriage preparation weekend with my fiancé. We learned a lot about each other and grew in love and appreciation for one another, but something we discovered over the weekend was the difference in how we pray. We are both faith-filled people who serve the Church in a variety of ways, but we had never really thought about the ways we pray. We had especially never considered praying together as a couple…or so I thought. Over the weekend, the couples who shared their stories kept talking about prayer together, and it made me want to have that in our relationship, too. I thought about how my prayer life is full of journaling, talking with other faith-filled gal pals, reflection, song, and giving thanks. I learned that my fiancé’s prayer life was found primarily in the Mass and when he truly needed something. Then I thought about how we go to Mass together each week and make it the high point of the day. Turns out, we have been praying together this whole time—in the Mass! For us, going to Mass is not just something “to do” on Sundays, it’s the beginning of a new week with Christ in the Eucharist, living out His love for others through prayer and witness.

All this thinking about prayer got me asking: how many other ways are there to pray? Prayer is a funny thing. It’s not like math with a specific algorithm to follow in order to get the answer. Prayer is done by adults and children, men and women, healthy and sick, in good times and in bad, all across the world. Prayer is so diverse and can actually be simple to do. Our Catholic faith has provided us with prayers to say to God, songs to sing and listen to, quiet to listen for God’s voice, and a chance to meet him in the Eucharist at Mass. Jesus himself taught his disciples to pray when they asked him, and he left us the Our Father as a result (Matthew 6: 9-13). He wanted us to teach others these words because they cover everything you might need to say. Jesus said, “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.” Through these few words, we can become closer to God and more dedicated to living the Gospel each day.

Jesus also left us with the Mass. Mass is the place where my fiancé and I first began our relationship, the place we will continue to go on a regular basis together, and where our future children will experience the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. For those who may not be familiar with the structure of the Mass, it is separated into two major parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Within these two parts, there are various prayers and belief statements like the Responsorial Psalm and the Nicene Creed. The “source and summit of Christian life” is the Eucharist, and it comes after we have heard the Word, or the scripture readings (Lumen Gentium, 11). Together, these two parts help us become witnesses of the faith and of God’s love for others.

For some, Mass is not where they experience deep prayer and closeness to Christ like my fiancé does. Some feel close to Christ in nature and through wonder and awe. Some find God in the quiet reflection of their day. Others pray each day with a Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, or other conventional prayers. Personally, I like to switch up my prayer routine and experience different forms of prayer. Prayer is amazing because we have so many ways we could pray and yet, no matter which way we choose in that special moment, we are still opening our hearts to God. In prayer, we are creating a connection with God. This is such a complex concept, talking with our Creator, but so simple to do! Let us close in a simple but powerful prayer: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the Beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Question for Reflection: What are a few ways to incorporate communal prayer into your spiritual routine?  If you are in a relationship with a significant other, reflect upon what ways you pray together. 

Click here for more resources on Prayer and Catechesis. 

*This blog is reposted and was originally published March 28, 2017.*