A proposal for Lent 2018
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). In a society in which everyone feels called to transform the world or the Church, this word of God breaks in inviting people to transform themselves: “Do not be conformed to this world.” After these words we would expect to hear, “but transform it!” Instead it tells us, “Transform yourselves!” Transform the world, yes, but the world that is within you before thinking you can transform the world outside of you. This word of God, taken from the Letter to the Romans, introduces us to ...

Mary and the Youth
Devotion to the Blessed Mother is important for the salvation and sanctification of everyone, but it is especially crucial for the youth to be accustomed to giving her their love, honor and service, and to learn how to imitate her virtues. Children, teenagers and young adults alike, should be taught the significance that Marian devotion should have in every aspect of their lives. St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote in his treatise, True Devotion to Mary, “All true children of God have God for their father and Mary for their mother.” Children, even more so than adults, find it natural to look with confidence to their mother, to entrust themselves to her, and to confide all their cares, worries and ...

Jesus was not laid in a manger by accident
When the child Jesus was born, his mother Mary laid him in a manger (Lk 2:7). The word “manger” comes from the Latin word munducare which means “to eat.” A manger or crib is a wooden or stone feeding trough or food box that holds hay for larger farm animals like cattle, horses, and donkeys. Mangers were located wherever livestock were kept, places like stables, corrals, or caves. Farmers were sure to keep their mangers well-supplied with fodder at all times so the animals would never go hungry. The cattle can walk up to a manger at any time, and then spend long, leisure hours chomping away, chewing and slowly re-chewing their cud.

Church, mission, poverty and Evangelization through the world, the topics of Shalom International Youth Congress in Rome
During the Shalom International Youth Congress, the talk in the afternoon received special guests to speak about very important topics in today’s young people lives. Vitor Aragão, Life Community missionary and responsible for the Youth Advisory of Shalom Community, and Teresa Maria from the Mission of Toulon, France, were leading the moment. To talk about the Youth Synod that the Church is going to live in 2018, Father João Wilkes, life community missionary and responsible of the Youth section of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, has been invited to speak about the importance of this moment as Church. Confirming how this synodal path was important, Vitor Aragão asked how young people could give a contribution to the event. The ...

Friendship Love in a Relationship
  Once a couple has developed a deep level of romantic love, they usually move onto friendship love.  This is also very important for a happy marriage.  Often when people who have been married for 50 years are interviewed, they are asked what is their secret to a long and happy marriage.  A common answer to that question is “I married my best friend.”  While romance is important, you can’t always be romantic in a successful relationship.  You won’t feel romantic when you’re paying bills, disciplining children, or fixing that leaky faucet.  However, you can be best friends even in the challenging times.  In fact, it’s that close friendship that helps you get through the challenging times in marriage.   ...

Why is the Holy Mass SO Powerful?
At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you. By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor. By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. … Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligences and omissions. He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished. ...