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Praying for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. May all those in pain today turn to the Lord Jesus Christ who is our great consoler.

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Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

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The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
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God's Perfect Design For Our Lives

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In his spiritual classic, " Abandonment to Divine Providence ," Jean-Pierre de Caussade offers profound insights into a path of surrender and trust in God's will. Written originally for a community of nuns, this timeless work transcends its initial audience, providing guidance for anyone seeking a deeper connection with the divine. De Caussade's central message revolves around finding God in the present moment, embracing whatever comes our way as an expression of His loving providence. It's a call to let go of our own desires and plans, and instead, to find peace and purpose in the unfolding of God's perfect design for our lives. Father de Caussade provides practical advice for cultivating this attitude of abandonment . Firstly, he encourages the nuns, and by extension all of us, to embrace the "sacrament of the present moment." This means recognizing that every event, every task, every person we encounter, is a divinely appointed opportunity for...
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Are Our Modern Problems Just Ancient Battles in New Guises?

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It’s easy to feel like the challenges we face today are utterly unique, products of our unprecedented technological advancements and rapidly shifting social landscapes. Yet, a closer look at history reveals a striking parallel between some of our most contemporary struggles and the ancient conflicts that have “plagued people for centuries.” Consider the ancient Gnostics , who believed the physical world was a wicked creation and salvation lay in escaping the material "prison" of the body to achieve a secret, higher knowledge. This echoes surprisingly with modern sentiments that prioritize self-definition and subjective truth, often seeking to transcend perceived biological or natural limitations through technology and personal will. The yearning for a " redeeming enlightenment " found through individual intellect or inclination is not new; it's a persistent human desire to make our own understanding supreme. In the second century, a towering figure named Irena...
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