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CONFIRMATION. “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit!” With these words spoken by the Bishop at the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. This sacrament enlightens our understanding of our faith in God; it calls us to increased charity toward our neighbor; and it fills our souls with sanctifying grace.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS, PART 2. We continue our meditation and reflection on the stations, our spiritual mini-pilgrimage along the "sorrowful way" with Jesus.  “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world." Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS, PART 1. This beautiful Catholic devotion can be meditated upon on any day of the year, because it prayerfully aligns us with the suffering Christ, and draws us closer to understanding His love for us, and our love for Him.  Here are our reflections on the first seven Stations.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

THE WILL. It is the faculty of the mind by which we determine how we will act. We need a strong will to survive all of life’s challenges, and to truly love we must "will the good of another."  A person who is "in Christ" chooses and desires what God desires, so that he or she can pray with sincere determination "Thy Will Be Done." Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

HAPPINESS: THE NEW PANACEA. There is a desire in all of us to be happy, and it has become the new measure of a successful life. But as we pursue happiness, we learn that it does not come from physical stimulation, or a temporary satisfaction of the ego. Only when we place God above all things can we find the stability and calm that lead to true joy, and the peace of the Risen Christ.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

STEP TOWARD HEAVEN. We don’t need to completely overhaul our lives to do God’s will. But as we measure the steps we take, we must realize that each small act of charity we do gives glory to God, and is another step toward Heaven.    Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

THE POWER OF SANCTIFYING GRACE. Sanctifying Grace is a repeated gift which returns us to our original holiness, and enables us to live with God, and share in the divine nature of His Only Son.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

WHY EMBRACE SUFFERING? Once we are able to accept, and then embrace our own suffering, we align ourselves with the suffering Christ, who through the Cross, leads us into eternal life with God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. Jesus often used parables to reveal hidden lessons. And since a parable requires reflection for understanding, only those who are prepared to explore its meaning can come to know it.  This one delves into four different reactions to the Word of God.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

LUKEWARM CATHOLICISM. God invites us into a life of holiness through His Son, Jesus Christ.  And Jesus expresses God’s love for us through His own Passion and Death on the Cross.  If the warmth and fervor of our response to this great love is tepid or lukewarm, our faith is at risk of deteriorating into indifference, or worse.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

HOLY WATER AND ITS BENEFITS. Since it was removed from founts in churches during the pandemic, holy water has become almost a forgotten sacramental to many Catholics.  When we reflect on its rich spiritual meaning and traditions, we rediscover the effects that benefit us all.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

SACRED SCRIPTURE. We read scripture to draw closer to God, and reading the Bible is itself an act of prayer. We encounter Jesus Christ is the gospels, and we can never exhaust the Word of God, for in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3.) Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

OVERCOMING SELF. The two greatest commandments are to love God above all things, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Yet when we are continually preoccupied with our own thoughts, desires, and needs, the Word of God can become obscured, and seem distant.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

POPE BENEDICT XVI. With the passing of Joseph Ratzinger on the last day of 2022, many theologians and scholars have weighed in on the influence of his papacy, and on his impact on the Church. Here’s our take on what he meant to us, and to our fellow Catholics in the pews.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

ARE WE GIVING OUR ALL TO JESUS? In our faith journey, we must not hold anything back, because Our Lord wants us to love Him with all our hearts, and with all our souls, and with all our strength. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

WHY WE NEED THE CHURCH. Christ came into the world so that the world might be saved through Him, and He built His Church on the rock of Peter, the Apostles, and on those of us who have come to believe in Him. We need the Church because it is the vehicle through which God shepherds and accompanies us into eternal life.   Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

THE VALUE OF SILENCE. Whether embracing an interior silence for enhanced prayer, or simply biting one’s tongue to avoid sin, we are so often reminded of the power and importance of silence.  It is another window into wisdom and grace.    Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

HOW WE USE OUR TIME. Time is valuable, and it’s not unlimited. Jesus reminds us that “at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." So we must be vigilant, and careful not waste it, or let it slip away.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

TRIBULATIONS. Afflictions, hardships, and trials – we all face them, sooner or later in life.  While we may cry out and say why me, why now, the endurance of tribulations often cause us to deepen our spiritual lives, and draw us closer to God.  Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com 

TIME FOR PRAYER. We must be intentional about our need to set aside time for prayer. Outer distractions constantly interfere with our interior lives, which need protection and nurturing. Our focus is on God, and our objective is Heaven. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com