Dear Father Joe: Sometimes, there are so many distractions at Mass that I can’t concentrate. It’s really frustrating – what can I do?

I’ve been praying, but sometimes I don’t know if what I’m thinking is actually God’s voice or if it is my own thoughts. Is there any way I can tell?

During the season of Advent, we seek to welcome Jesus into our hearts as Mary and Joseph welcomed him into their home.

Interview with Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., Dicastery for Divine Worship

In the spiritual life, virtues and vices compete

A Meditation on the Immaculate Conception

Filomena Giese first learned about Saint Joseph Naik Vaz, Sri Lanka’s only saint, “from my parents, who heard his heroic story from their parents.

A Holy Year of the forgiveness of sin, conversion and joyful celebration

The Church must focus on nurturing relationships with God and within society. It is through these relationships that faith is transmitted.

I’ve been noticing a verbal trend characterized by the increased usage of “honestly, truthfully or actually.” 

After placing each item in proper positions and lighting the two candles, he began his beachside celebration of the Eucharist.

This saint earned his “golden-mouthed” surname with his incredible preaching skills, which ultimately led to him falling out of favor with Church and political leaders because he called for reform.

Certain “worldly” attitudes, seasons of spiritual dryness, acedia (or sloth), distraction and lack of faith can all undermine our life of prayer.

To give as God gives includes our time, talent, treasure and, ultimately, our very selves.

Edith Stein was born in Poland in 1891 to a devout Jewish family. She gave up practicing the Jewish faith as a teenager and began to pursue a degree in philosophy.

Pilgrims from every corner of the nation gathered to celebrate what they know to their core – that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith.

Today we are grateful to be completing our studies at the Institute for Leadership in Ministry.

During his lifetime, Anthony encouraged the faithful to commit to 40 hours of continuous prayer before the Eucharist.

Prayer is a gift of God’s grace to us. It is not something we merit. Consequently, prayer calls for our response.

Isn’t it amazing how easily we human beings can take things for granted?

I am grateful that you asked this question. In fact, I’ve been pondering this for a number of years now: What do we “do” with “famous Catholics”?

 Their Pastoral Journey and Becoming Parents again, 20 years after their first child.

Ordinary time helps us appreciate and value extraordinary moments, and it’s no different in our lives as liturgical Catholics.

FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Missionaries at San José State University (SJSU)

Contemplative prayer is first and foremost a gift, a grace. Consequently, we must receive it in humility and a poverty of spirit.