Blog

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist

Bishop Wieslaw Mering of the diocese of Wlocawek in Poland is protesting the hiring of a Satanic rock musician by a national television station where he will be featured as an "outstanding Polish singer."

Read the rest

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist

A single young woman who recently converted to Catholicism is making headlines for publicly celebrating the life of her unborn conjoined twins who doctors advised her to abort.

Read the rest

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A diet doctor from North Carolina has created a Facebook page known as "Jesus Daily" with the goal of converting 50,000 people this year, and more than eight million fans are already on board.

Read the rest

"Purity? They ask. And they smile. They are the very people who approach marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned minds. How I wish your bearing and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say: this man reads the life of Jesus Christ." St. Josemaria Escriva For Reflection: Why does an unchaste life lead to "worn-out bodies" and "disillusioned minds?" Does my bearing and conversation speak of my relationship with Jesus Christ?

Read the rest

"Avoid those who in your presence are not ashamed to make use of scandalous words, and expressions of double meaning." St. John Bosco For Reflection: How can foul language, sexual jokes, and expressions of double meaning lead to sins against chastity? Am I guilty of these? Do I participate even by listening? What effect has it had on my desire to live a chaste life?  

Read the rest

"Nothing can be more dangerous than evil companions. They communicate the infection of their vices to all who associate with them." St. John Baptist de la Salle For Reflection: To what extent have I experienced relationships with others that have compromised my ability to live the virtue of chastity? Am I involved in any such relationships now? Am I willing to either change the nature of the relationship or break if off entirely to preserve my dignity and integrity with regard to this virtue? Why or why not?  

Read the rest

"Here was one lady talking about my pretty hair and another, just going out the door wanting to know who that very pretty girl was. The thrill of pleasure I felt made me realize that I was full of self-love. I am always ready to sympathize with the people who lose their souls - after all, it's so easy, once you begin to stray along the primrose path of worldliness." St. Therese of Lisieux For Reflection: Why can beauty and over attention to appearance lead to sins against chastity? What can I do to reasonably guard myself from it?

Read the rest

"Holy purity, the queen of virtues, the angelic virtue, is a jewel so precious that those who possess it become like the angels of God in heaven, even though clothed in mortal flesh." St. John Bosco For Reflection: What does the word "purity" mean to me? How do I demonstrate it? (Consider thoughts, words, and deeds.) With regard to purity, would someone describe me as an angel "clothed in mortal flesh?" Why or why not? What am I willing to do about it?

Read the rest

"Chastity - the virtue that regulates one's sexual thoughts, desires, and actions. Primarily a natural virtue, chastity helps one to see the dignity of other persons as children of God and not as sexual objects." Catholic Dictionary For Reflection: Chastity can be a difficult virtue to acquire. How does our current culture make it even more difficult? How have I personally experienced the difficulty? What am I willing to do about it? 

Read the rest

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being honored, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being praised, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, O Jesus. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Cardinal Raphael Merry Del Val For Reflection: Am I willing to pray this prayer? Why or why not?

Read the rest