Learning to be Quick to Listen

In his landmark encyclical Fides et Ratio and throughout his " Theology of the Body, " Pope Saint John Paul II frequently addressed the fundamental restlessness of the human heart. He proposed that our feelings of emptiness are not actually "malfunctions," but rather a "divine nostalgia." Because we were created by God and for God, we possess an infinite capacity for love and truth that no finite, earthly thing—be it career success, physical pleasure, or material wealth—can ever truly satisfy. As the Saint often reminded us, we are "the only creature on earth which God willed for itself," and we cannot find ourselves except through a sincere gift of self. When we live only for our own ego, we feel empty because we are starving our soul of its primary purpose: self-sacrificial love. Bridging this spiritual theology with modern social science, Fr. Mike Schmitz and Dr. Arthur Brooks explored the "satisfaction trap" in their recent discussi...

Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, is an authentically Catholic holiday—the vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1st). The word "hallow" literally means holy. As Fr. John Wauck explains, it's a celebration with deeply Christian roots, not a pagan import. However, in our modern culture, the focus has shifted to the macabre, with an emphasis on darkness, blood, and gore that can make Catholic parents uneasy. Rather than retreating from the day, we can reclaim its true meaning for our children by focusing on the victory of Christ over death and the triumph of the saints. The key is intentionality: by steering clear of costumes and decorations that glorify evil, superstition, or the occult, and instead focusing on the beauty and power of our faith. One of the most powerful ways to observe the day is to transform it into a celebration of the saints. Encourage your children to dress up as a saint or a heroic figure, a practice that allows them to become a "liv...