Satan will laugh with delight once he has convinced your intellect that good is evil and evil is good.| Catholic Stand
Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz is credited with the phrase “Happiness is a warm puppy.” It was, perhaps, a foretaste of the internet meme. The phrase first appeared in a Peanuts comic strip published on April 25, 1960, and a book soon followed. The phrase was short, pithy, easy to remember, sentimental, and not nearly as […]| Catholic Stand
The media, pundits, and activists on the left and the right still cannot figure out the Catholic Church and its teaching. Each time a statement comes out from the Vatican or the Pope, each side seizes on what they see as reinforcing their point of view or attacking what they disagree with. This was apparent […]| Catholic Stand
Are all human beings biologically identical, or, is each person distinct – one from another? Are there not many shared similarities in terms of biological traits – while each individual remains exclusively unique and unrepeatable? Science attributes variation among living beings to (DNA), deoxyribonucleic acid: “a molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the […]| Catholic Stand
What is a pilgrimage? Many people may think of a pilgrimage as a journey to some celebrity destination. But for most Catholics, a pilgrimage is a spiritual journey to a sacred site as a way to express devotion to God and to their faith. And for Catholics, a pilgrimage can solve many personal issues: feeling […]| Catholic Stand
In 1209 St Francis of Assisi who the medievals called The Second Christ presented his first rule, totally based on the Gospel, to the great Pope Innocent III in Rome. No saint has ever had such an impact on the history of Christian Spirituality. He was born towards the end of 1181 or at the beginning of 1182. […]| Catholic Stand
St. Benedict, in his rule for monasteries tells monks, “Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way.” (RB 4: 20) That’s good advice for all Catholics to follow, whether living the monastic life or not. Written 1,500 years ago, it’s as relevant now as it ever was. The Call to Courageous Witness […]| Catholic Stand
Our daily prayer, even more important than our daily bread, is vital in maintaining our relationship with God and neighbor. The two great commandments that summarize the ten, to love God and others, were given to Moses on Mt. Sanai and apply every single day of human life on Earth. Persistence in prayer on a […]| Catholic Stand
Nowadays, many journalists and public school teachers, along with the entire woke culture, focus solely on the negativities surrounding Christopher Columbus and not his positive achievements. Our politically correct society has effectively “canceled” Columbus’s legacy. Instead of cancelling Columbus, we need to restore his reputation and resurrect his historical accomplishments. It is for his magnificent […]| Catholic Stand
In January, I attended my final session of the Alleluia School of Spiritual Direction. The topic of the two-week session was spiritual healing, and after Mass the first day, I ran into a friend who had already graduated from the school. When he heard the subject matter, he said, “Oh man. Get ready to be crushed. This is a hard one.” I laughed it off.| Catholic Stand
Not all of the thoughts in your head are yours. Some of them could be from the devil and if they’re not directly from him, they might be influenced by the devil. Understanding how to deal effectively with this can help you overcome anxiety, discouragement, sadness, agitation and more.| Catholic Stand
“What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.” This quote is the first line of Francis Bacon’s essay, Of Truth. Further on Bacon says truth is “the sovereign good of human nature.”| Catholic Stand
Celebrate St. Padre Pio With Rose Petal Cookies | catholicstand.com
Born in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, as Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio even as a child was devoutly religious. By the age of 5, he had decided to devote his life to serving God. His parents, who were local farmers, were also devout Catholics, and as a family they attended Mass daily. Francesco even served as an altar boy and often took on penances to help others. Apparently, even from his early days, he saw and spoke with his guardian angels.| Catholic Stand
In the wake of the horrific murders of Catholic school children at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, parents throughout the country are understandably concerned that a similar event could happen at their children’s schools.| Catholic Stand
September is traditionally the month dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. We remember the moments in Our Lady’s life when she lovingly and willingly united herself to her Son’s sacrifice on the Cross and shared in His self-giving for our redemption. Through this inspiring devotion and reflection, Mother Church guides us to pray and meditate on Mary’s deep sorrow experienced at the crucifixion of her Son.| Catholic Stand
It has been a while since I last wrote for Catholic Stand, I have missed you. Let me bring you up to date. Life has taken me through valleys I never imagined I would walk. On Christmas Day, my father passed away. Just thirty-three days later—the same age that Jesus gave His life for us—my beloved husband died suddenly as well.| Catholic Stand
The saints have no hatred, no bitterness; they forgive everything, and think they deserve much more for their offenses against God ( St. John Vianney).| Catholic Stand
A whopping 93 percent of Americans 30 years old or older remember exactly where they were on September 11, 2001. It’s not easy to forget the most devastating attack on American soil since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.| Catholic Stand
“They’re driving me nuts!” Haven’t we all thought this at one time or another? Just how do we deal with others—in our family, our circle of friends, the parish, the chapter, cenacle, deanery or other groups? Everyone is different. Each person has his or her own strengths and shortcomings, enduring traits and other peculiarities.| Catholic Stand
Received wisdom had taught me that virtue was its own reward, until my local supermarket taught me otherwise. A simple system of points per purchase enabled them to reward the virtue of loyalty with a two-for-the-price-of-one holiday break in Dorset at a hotel with a sauna, a Turkish bath, and an indoor pool. The short break was primarily designed to placate my body that had grumbled its way through the vigours of a three month diet imposed by my doctor. However its better half was ‘surpri...| Catholic Stand
Midlife crises can be downright stupid. Mine came in the form of an inspiration to try jiu-jitsu for the summer. I’m 47.| Catholic Stand
On a run this morning, many sights pass me, but one leaves an impression.| Catholic Stand
A common charge leveled against the Catholic Church is that it wrongfully teaches that Christians can “earn” grace. The critics say that this conflicts with the teaching that grace is a gift from God, which we can never earn. In this article, I will show why grace is indeed a gift from God that we do not “earn.” Rather, we cooperate with this gift to remain in it and further dispose ourselves to an increase of it. This is what the Catholic Church correctly calls merit.| Catholic Stand
Prudence is one of the four Cardinal Virtues first defined by Plato and refined by Aristotle. The ancient Greeks valued these virtues for secular as well as idealistic reasons. But Catholic teaching says Grace enhances and even perfects these virtues.| Catholic Stand
Have you heard the news? Mel Gibson’s sequel to The Passion of the Christ, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, is planned to be released in 2027. With Jim Caviezel reprising his role as Jesus, the first part is scheduled for Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and the second part for Ascension Day, May 6, 2027.| Catholic Stand
There is a unique satisfaction that comes from catching a fish on a lure you fashioned with your own hands. There’s nothing else quite like it.| Catholic Stand
August 24 is a special day for the universal church. But it is also special, in a particular way, for me.| Catholic Stand
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops (Matthew 10:27).| Catholic Stand
The Cardinal Virtues – justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude – are sometimes known as the pagan virtues. This is because before Christianity, the Greek and Roman civilizations saw them as the foundation of all other virtues, great and small.| Catholic Stand
Born in Poland when it was still a part of the Russian empire, Raymund Kolbe was the son of a German father and a Polish mother. As a youngster, locals knew him for both his astute intellect and his profound piety. He also seemed inclined to follow a religious vocation, which was certainly underscored by his devout love for the Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary. All that shaped his devotion to God and his decision to serve God.| Catholic Stand
In a small town on the South Dakota prairie, a monastery of Carmelite Nuns spend their lives being “prayer in the heart of the Church.” The Discalced Carmelites of the Monastery of Our Mother of Mercy and St. Joseph have blessed the Diocese of Sioux Falls for nearly 30 years, but their history goes much deeper, almost 3,000 years deeper.| Catholic Stand
Many people, including my past self, say the word grace without knowing exactly what it is or what it does. We sometimes think of it as a kind of nebulous thing that God gives us when we’re forgiven, but we cannot seem to put our fingers on a precise definition of it. So, this article| Catholic Stand - Living the Truth the Church Teaches
Have you ever had a conversation with a Protestant who rejects water baptism as necessary for salvation? This belief stems from the false faith-alone doctrine taught by some Protestant churches that nothing other than faith in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross is necessary. But shouldn’t faith in Jesus Christ include faith in all He| Catholic Stand - Living the Truth the Church Teaches
Have you ever heard someone say that it is hubris to believe that the Catholic Church is the only true church? The person who remarks in this way simply wants to end a discussion by reducing it to relativism. By saying essentially that your church is good for you and my church is good for| Catholic Stand - Living the Truth the Church Teaches
I recently discovered an anti-Catholic tract on the windshield of my Silverado. The tract stated that the Eucharist, Penance, Baptism, and performing works “of the law” cannot save me, because the Bible says that we are saved by faith alone. The tract also said, “But can you never sin again?,” which made absolutely no sense| Catholic Stand - Living the Truth the Church Teaches
