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What do two Catholic men who believe in God and love the Church sound like when they have a conversation? Listen to ‘”A New York Catholic Conversation” to hear for yourself. For several years every Thursday morning, Frank Alagia and Deacon John Catalano would have breakfast after the 7am Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and they would talk about things they cared about; the daily Gospel message, the Sacraments, Holy Days, forgiveness, and any number of topics of interest to Catholic people. ...
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THE RIGHT TO LIFE. As Catholics, we believe in the sanctity of human life, and we take a moral position on abortion based on God's law and Church teaching. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and we are all called to defend life from conception until natural death. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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THE ROSARY. It’s not for everyone, but many people who say the Rosary find it to be a spiritually engaging and enriching prayer. If you are less familiar with it, you may be surprised to learn of its depth and its power. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE. Saint Paul says that love is patient, love is kind; it endures all things; and love never fails. But to "will the good of another" is a constant challenge, and a very difficult thing to do. It requires us to break free from the ego and self-absorption, so that we can really see the heart and needs of others. Join the conver…
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WINDOWS OF THE SOUL. It is with our eyes that we perceive all of the beauty of creation, but it is also with our eyes that we see temptation. We are greatly blessed with our ability to see, so we must take custody of our eyes and fix them on Christ, who guides us from darkness into the light. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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HOW THE DEVIL DECEIVES US. The Devil is more alive today than ever, and has worked his way into every aspect of our lives, without us realizing it. How do we ward off the enemy's blows and defend ourselves in this ongoing spiritual battle? Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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Practical Guidelines for Order in Your Life
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PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR ORDER IN YOUR LIFE. There are numerous self-help guides online and in books that offer ways to improve any and all aspects of one's life. We check in with St. Francis de Sales, who provides some practical ways to help us strengthen our own personal commitment to our faith and to discipleship. Join the conversation: anycatho…
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REDEMPTION AND SALVATION. Redemption is understood as "deliverance from sin," but Salvation requires our cooperation and participation. For eternal salvation we need grace from God, and we must make our Redeemer the center of our lives. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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A LETTER FROM BEYOND. We pray for the souls in Purgatory because we believe that one day they will be joined with God in Heaven. But what of those souls who have turned away from God and who now exist in eternal damnation? Listen to the voice of one who calls out from a place in which there is no love, no faith, and no hope. Join the conversation: …
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DIFFICULTY & HOLINESS. We all strive to be good Christians, but the path to holiness seems filled with obstacles and difficulties. When we accept these challenges as God's will for us, we are able to accept the grace that feeds us and enables us to overcome, and give glory to God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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MEDITATIVE PRAYER. Our greatest prayer as Catholics is the Mass itself, in which we express our thoughts and beliefs externally, through words proclaimed aloud. The other kind of prayer is Meditative, which is a quest to listen and talk to God. Through silence and stillness, we go deeper into our heart and soul, which is the dwelling place of Our L…
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AM I WASTING THE GIFT OF TIME? Many of us are obsessed with time, and yet we don't seem ready, or prepare ourselves for the time when we will be held to account for our lives. Jesus warns us that the day will come, and we must use this gift of time on earth to be prepared. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE. When we gaze into the Holy Face of Jesus in prayer, we enter into His passion and humbly align ourselves with the suffering Christ. And Jesus Himself told Sister Mary of St. Peter, "Those on earth who contemplate the wounds of My Face, shall in Heaven behold it radiant with glory, and they themselves shall shine with part…
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MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY. Jesus uses the word "meek" in the Beatitudes - it represents a quality of the heart with which a person is willing to accept and submit to the will and desire of someone else - so necessary in marriage. And by embracing the virtue of humility, we can more readily love God above all things, and love our neighbor as ourselves. …
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GROWTH, TRANSFORMATION, & THE JOY OF GOD. We are called to be saints, and we must keep striving for growth and transformation in our spiritual lives. A Benedictine nun, Sister Mary David, offers reflections on spirituality that are steeped in simple wisdom and practical advice. Her collected writings are in a book called The Joy of God. Join the co…
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GRUMBLING. It's been called "faithless complaining." It's moaning and growling about everything and everyone around us, but it is dangerous because it can easily turn to bitterness and harden our hearts. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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TURNING BACK TO WORLDLINESS. Many of us make only a tepid effort at practicing our faith, and grow frustrated when the going gets tough. In our frustration, we turn back to the things of the world. Worldliness seems the easier path. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE 7 SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY. Are you looking for ways to enrich and strengthen your prayer life this Lent? Consider practicing the Spiritual Works of Mercy. They draw us into a deeper relationship with God and make us instruments of God's peace. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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REFUSALS. It is God's will to enter into our lives, and abide in us. He does not force us, He calls us. But we ourselves often block this from happening. We sometimes intentionally stand in the way of a fuller life with God. Let's talk about these impediments, these "refusals" to make room for God in our hearts. Join the conversation: anycatholicco…
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RELICS. We preserve and venerate these bones and fragments because they give a connectedness to the sacred, to the holy people of God – the Saints! Relics are not magic, but they prayerfully draw us closer to God, and they can be a channel through which God answers our prayers. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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INDULGENCES. Yes, they still exist, and they are a wonderful incentive to pray! Any act of prayer expressed devoutly provides a way to reduce the amount of punishment one must undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. God is merciful! Not only does He offer us freedom from eternal punishment, but also from the consequence or punishment requ…
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ARE YOU PLEASING TO GOD? As Catholics, our ultimate objective and goal is to join in everlasting life with God, by loving God above all things, and loving neighbor as ourselves. But are we doing our best to become more pleasing to God? Do we pursue the natural desires of this world, or the interior joy that Jesus promises us? Join the conversation:…
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WHAT THE SOULS IN PURGATORY TELL US. We don't talk about it much these days, but it's real -- a state of purification "so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." Many Saints have heard from the souls in Purgatory, and have shared with us their requests. So, what is Purgatory like, and how can we benefit from what these sou…
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A WALK THROUGH A CATHOLIC CHURCH. When you enter a Catholic Church, you are met with a variety of symbolic and real expressions of our faith. Everything that we touch and see is there to help us give honor and praise to God. Let's walk in and remind ourselves of the beauty and wonder that surround us. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@…
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THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY. When we say the Rosary, we ask our Blessed Mother to "pray for us, now and at the hour of our death." In the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, we are invited through prayer to console her sorrowful heart and unite our suffering to hers, and by doing so receive beautiful graces of peace, consolation, and strength. Join the …
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THE PARTICULAR GOOD. The Evil One is at work when we are encouraged to become attached to our Particular Goods, even if they are not what is best for us. Whatever we desire is most important, not what God wants for us. Then the attachments that are particular to each one of us, lead us away from God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@g…
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GOSSIP. It's something we all know we should not do, yet it seems to appear in so many of our conversations. It's harmful to ourselves, to those we talk about, and even to those who hear it. Let's discuss how we can identify gossip, and how we can stop doing it. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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SMALL SACRIFICES. The greatest penances most of us must deal with come in the small obstacles and frustrations of everyday life. If we can confront them and turn them into small sacrifices, we will achieve small victories which will strengthen our will, and draw us closer to God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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PRIVATE REVELATIONS. We accept that God reveals Himself through Sacred Scripture, and is present in the Eucharist at Mass. But private revelations are messages or inspirations that come to all of us, in many different ways. When we breathe prayer to God, sincerely from the heart, we know that God reveals His love and mercy, for each and every one o…
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THE 12 APOSTLES. Jesus picked these 12 ordinary men to follow Him and witness to His ministry on earth. After the Resurrection, He visited them to reassure them of His love, and to strengthen their faith. And when they were filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they became the foundation of the Church, which even the gates of hell …
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THE BEATITUDES. Through the Beatitudes, Jesus deepens our commitment to the 10 Commandments and offers us a way of living on earth that promises eternal life with God in Heaven. They point to a true Christian way of life, and demonstrate what kinds of human lives are "Blessed" by God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmail.com…
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The Incredible Life of St. Catherine of Siena
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THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. This 14th-century mystic, author, and saint is a Doctor of the Church, known for bringing about the union of the Papacy, and for her writings, prayers, and "Dialogues." She teaches us to try and bring the peace and reverence of Our Lord to every situation, and reminds us that when we attach ourselves t…
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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 …
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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…
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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@gma…
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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 conversat…
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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…
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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…
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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: …
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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: anycath…
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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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.comBy anewyorkcatholicconversation
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