The Life of Virtue

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates one of its best examples of the winding path toward holiness; one of its most learned men; one of its most revered teachers; and my patron saint. Few, if any, have had more influence on the doctrine of the Church over its existence of two millennia. None have had a greater impact on this author's search for sanctity, and his work in the area of Church History. Because St. Augustine has been devoted to praying for this sinner in search of redemption, it is appropriate to offer a devotion to God through him. I pray that each of you will receive multiple blessings by praying for St. Augustine's intercession. Great Augustine, our father and teacher, knowledgeable in the luminous ways of God and also in the tortuous paths of men; we admire the wonders that divine grace wrought in you, making you a passionate witness of truth and goodness, at the service of brothers. At the beginning of the new millennium marked by the cross of Christ, teach u...

Mother Teresa, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity and one of Pope John Paul II's numerous beati, was one of the most charitable women who has ever lived. Her work on behalf of the "poorest of the poor" earned her a monumental reputation among people throughout the world, and people of every faith. Despite all of that, she was a human being, who doubtlessly struggled agains sin and despair; and she was a Catholic, who was taught that faith and life are exercises in hope and perseverance. Apparently, the reporters and editors at NBC Nightly News do not understand Catholic teaching about spiritual aridity. In a story that aired last night on the show , the reporter claimed that Mother Teresa "suffered from profound, persistent spiritual pain," and that she "doubted the existence of heaven or God." Yet again, America received an inaccurate picture of the Catholic Faith and its teachings on prayer, spiritual aridity, and the corporal and spiritual...

The Catholic Church teaches that pride is one of the seven capital vices (things that lead to sin). Indeed, some theologians might argue that pride is the most capital of vices, since those who fall victim to it deem their own will more important than God's. Forgetting Whose will is most important will quite often lead to indifference, lukewarmness, envy, and hatred of God (CCC 2094, 2540). Additionally, pride has serious consequences! The wisdom books of the Old Testament teach us why we should avoid such a grave evil. The Book of Sirach states: "The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord; his heart has forsaken his Maker. For the beginning of pride is sin, and the man who clings to it pours out abominations." Thus, faithful Christians must work to combat pride, primarily through cultivation of the virtue of humility. Like so many other people throughout human history, this author has struggled (and continues to struggle) to overcome pride, to rid ...

At a young age, St. Bernard was appointed abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of Clairvaux, and thus began exercising his enormous influence over Christendom. Even into the modern age, the works of St. Bernard remain a prime example of what it means to strive toward holiness. Because of his reputation, the abbot had been popularly proclaimed a Doctor of the Church since his death in A.D. 1153. Pope Pius VIII made those popular and historical sentiments official in A.D. 1830. At the center of all of the wonderful stories that recount St. Bernard's life, and all of his poignant teachings are two things: humility and an intense desire to be united with God in pure Love. The following passage, then, illustrates this point most appropriately. In his treatise, On Loving God , the monk wrote: "Admit that God deserves to be loved very much, yea, boundlessly, because He loved us first, He infinite and we nothing, love us, miserable sinners, with a love so great and so free. This is...

My son is no longer a pagan! He was welcomed into God's family this past Saturday through the Sacrament of Baptism. For a few short years, he is as holy as can be since he has not the opportunity or the capacity to sin. Hooray! The Baptism was absolutely beautiful, and the godparents, my wife, and I were joined by dozens of family and friends. The celebration was overwhelming and inspiring for this first-time father. I am anxious to celebrate with my son as he receives other sacraments in the future.

This month's word was chosen in light of the beginning of my son's sacramental life in the Church, which will take place in just over a week. The Catholic Word of the Month is BAPTISM . Don't make the mistake of thinking that Baptism is too elementary to discuss. More importantly, don't make the mistake of thinking that Baptism is mundane or unnecessary. One who thinks and believes these things ought to reconsider. Baptism is the very beginning of our relationship with God. It is the sacrament of primary importance because it allows us access to the rest of the sacraments. Without Baptism, we have no access to sanctifying grace, which helps us fulfill our eternal destiny, eternity with God in Heaven. Finally, Baptism makes the one who receives it a new creation: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). (See also I Pe...

Our modern Church is marred by scandal (in the moral sense, not political) and sin. One does not have to look far to find an example of how our culture and our humanity has been torn down. It is quite deplorable and disheartening. However, we need not live in anguish or despair. Great hope abounds, primarily in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In that setting, God grants penitents an abundance of grace to overcome enslavement to sin. Confession has the potential to heal broken individuals, and thereby heal a broken Church and culture. There is one problem, though. Not enough people are availing themselves of the sacrament. It is sad, but there are a few primary reasons. One of the most prevalent of those reasons is that a confessor was rude, judgmental, uncaring, or all three. Thereby, many people have been traumatized by "bad" confessions. Thus, the words of St. Alphonsus Liguori ought to be proclaimed to all sinners, penitents, and confessors. "If all preacher...