Why the Church Celebrates the Sacred Heart (Not a Brain)

Every June, the Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus — and this Sunday's Gospel shows us Jesus moved with compassion for the crowds, like sheep without a shepherd. But why the heart? Why not the Sacred Intellect or the Sacred Will? In this Sunday reflection, we unpack why the Church's devotion to the Sacred Heart isn't sentimentalism; it's a profound invitation to be fully human and fully alive...

Msgr. James Shea on the One Thing You Need to Overcome Mediocrity

“I was the translator for the last surviving priest of Dachau, who died last year at the age of 102. I asked him, ‘What do you think of your life?’ And he said, ‘Well, I’m grateful, of course, but I’m also ashamed. ... Part of it’s just survivor’s guilt. I lived and my brothers died. But there’s this other thing. I was a mediocre priest and it took Dow to get the mediocrity out of my priesthood. I was a mediocre priest.’”

Take Back Your Identity

Who told you who you are? Because if it’s not God, you’ve been listening to the wrong voice. The devil has a very thin playbook. His first move? Attack your identity. He did it in Genesis. He tried it on Jesus in the desert — every single temptation starting with the words, "If you are the Son of God..." He was trying to shake Jesus’ sense of who he was. Because here’s the thing...

Vatican Moves Forward on $85 Million Swiss Guard Barracks Project

Their uniform is easily recognizable and unique, and they are known for being part of the smallest army in the world. The Pontifical Swiss Guard has lived in the barracks located next to the entrance of St. Anne’s Gate, just within the Vatican walls, since 1929, when the Lateran Pacts were signed.

Your Faithfulness Is Changing the World (Even From Your Living Room)

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” And if you’re like most of us, you hear that and think, “Jesus, I love you, but ... really? I’m just trying to keep my kids alive today. I’m the light of my living room on a good day. That’s about it.” Here's the truth: When you're faithful right where you are...

A Reflection the Readings for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Salt is a preservative. So we are called to be preservatives of the goodness that we have received from God. Moms and dads, do that with your family. Preserve the goodness of your family. Stay close to the Church. Stay close to the celebration and reception of the sacraments. All of that preserves the life of God that is in us already. We must be active to do that. If you just let culture take you away, then it's not preserved. You’re going to lose it. We must be preservatives.

Making a Waterfall for My Climbing Fish

Waterfalls are cool. Having a mini ecosystem containing a mini waterfall in your room is almost as cool. With a lot more aquascaping than expected, this project turned out to be more than a regular planted aquarium. With just a pump to simulate a water source, the climbing fish and shrimp were happy to commute up and down all day.

Christians, Stop Saying This About Jesus

In this episode Trent shows how one claim about Jesus' historical status backfires on Christians...

Pope Leo XIV accepts the resignation of the bishop who refused to become a cardinal

Pope Francis convened his last consistory on October 6, 2024. Two months later, the Pope announced the list of those who would become cardinals. Among them was this name…

You’re Not Abandoned in the Hardest Moments

When most people think about where God is, they look to the sky or point to a mountaintop. God is ON HIGH. But the reality of the incarnation flips that vision upside down. Christ dwelt among us. God came to the lowest of places to meet us in our brokenness and heal our sin. Did you know the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River is literally one of the lowest places on earth? That can't be an accident...