 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.” *This blog is reposted and was originally posted on September 17, 2020.* AuthorTaylor Kemp is an instructor for the Denver Catholic Biblical School as part of the St. John Vianney Seminary Lay Division in the Archdiocese of Denver. He is a former professional soccer player, amassing over 100 appearances over six-years in Major League Soccer (MLS) for D.C. United, and playing for both the youth and full United States Men’s National Team. Taylor holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and BS in Business Management from the University of Maryland, College Park.
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 "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 Author 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).
 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. Author
 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. Author Andrew DiPietre is a summer associate at the Catholic Apostolate Center. He attends CUA with a double major in History and Theology while also minoring in Philosophy. Andrew is involved in the Knights of Columbus, Student Government Association, Campus Ministry, and Club Baseball. While not in DC, Andrew resides in Peachtree City Georgia.  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:
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 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.* Author
 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: 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. Author
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