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Praying
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Among the most universal and public of all Catholic prayers is the Sign of the Cross. Walk into a Catholic church anywhere in the world, and you will see all who enter signing themselves; sit down for a meal in a Catholic home, and the prayer before … read more
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How many words does it take to change your life? For most of us, it depends on which words we may be waiting for. “Marry me!” “I forgive you.” “You have talent, kid.” “The test results look good.” One thing… read more
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You’re more spiritual than you think
Incompletion“Is that all there is?” sang Peggy Lee in the 1960s. “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” sang Bono in the 1980s. Your wish for “something more” may be a sign of your desire for God… read more
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Five minutes before my children go to bed, I am not feeling very holy. They are tired, and I am exhausted. There are blue globs of toothpaste in the sink basin because Jamie, 5, isn’t tall enough to spit right into the drain. There is often a trail… read more
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A family blessing for a returning service member
Returning troops all have had different experiences. Some, like Emilio Sanchez, have served in combat. Others worked as medics, gunners, truck drivers, or on ships offshore. But all have been exposed … read more
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It is customary to assign each chaplet to a particular day of the week. Rosarium Virginis Mariae (RVM) suggests that the Joyful mysteries be prayed on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious … read more
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How the Rosary teaches us to pray
Like many Catholics, I grew up in a family that recited the Rosary every night. And we knew why we did; as Mom would often assure us, the most effective person to take our prayers to Jesus was his own mother. As a good son, how could He refuse her? … read more
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Years ago I listened to a friend speak earnestly about her prayer practices. She talked about the time of day at which she normally prays and the place in her home set aside for this purpose. She told me about the manner of prayer she prefers, how she got… read more
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Sometimes we mistakenly think that our faith is primarily about understanding the truths of our faith, or professing a particular creed of beliefs, or learning the Holy Scriptures. Our faith, at its core, is about our relationship with God, and with … read more
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Get closer to God in four simple steps
How do we allow the Scripture, in all its awesome power, to draw us closer to God? One important spiritual discipline that can help us is called lectio divina, which is Latin for “sacred reading.” It’s one of the oldest forms of Christian… read more
