August 03, 2007
NFP: The Natural Choice for Couples
One thing I love about the Church’s doctrines is how natural they are. The more perfect we become in living the truth, the more harmonious we are with all of creation. The Church’s teaching on contraception is an excellent example...Posted by jay at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 01, 2007
Making Family Life First
I recently read an article in the Summer 2006 issue of Faith and Family entitled "Your Overextended Family" by Fr. Richard Gill, LC. Father Gill had received a question from a concerned mother about the her family's active lifestyle. She...Posted by jay at 08:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2007
Morality and the Family: the Bedrock of Social Justice
Good families, but especially stay-at-home mothers, need to be reminded of the awesome work they are doing for society, even though, ironically, society generally does not think so. The documents of the Church have shown us this truth time...Posted by jay at 04:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 07, 2007
What did you do for your marriage today?
The USCCB (Catholic Bishops) have launched a new campaign that I can really get behind: What did you do for your marriage today? It's a campaign to encourage married couples by giving them tips and advice on strengthening their marriage....Posted by jay at 10:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 04, 2007
Prayers for our Country
As a family, we haven't done our best to instill our children to pray for our country. However, we're trying to change that - and the 4th of July is a wonderful place to start. And why not start with...Posted by jay at 08:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 01, 2007
Modesty and Catholic Girls
1 Timothy 2:9 . . . [W]omen should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire but by good deeds as befits women who profess religion. Sex sells....Posted by jay at 09:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 13, 2007
May the Queen of Heaven bless you this Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there. May the perfect Mother guide you as you guide your children! Also see the Prayers for Mothers on Mother's Day God bless, Jay...Posted by jay at 12:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 26, 2007
This just in: Religious Parents = Better Kids
Thought I would point out this article about a new study that shows: The children of parents who regularly attended church services and talked with their child about religion were rated by both parents and teachers as showing better behavior,...Posted by jay at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 26, 2007
Family Fun Night!
One tradition that my family has mantained for two generations now is what we like to call "family fun night". It's simply a time to be together. Usually we will gather for a meal and then play a game. Usually,...Posted by jay at 02:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 02, 2006
Missing the Big Picture: Online Rent-A-Priests
Frankly, I can't tell you how disappointing it was to see this article about online rent-a-priests (I won't link directly to their website because it would help them gain visibility). To sum up, a website offers the services of priests...Posted by jay at 02:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 19, 2006
Want a better marriage? Marriage Encounter is for you
This weekend my wife and attended a Marriage Encounter weekend for the first time. We went in, frankly, without a real understanding of what the weekend was all about. I think everyone wants a “better marriage” and we’ve felt we...Posted by jay at 09:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 12, 2006
Activism and the Family
We live in a busy world. Things are constantly changing in business, education, politics...and dare I say the family. In our busy times it seems that the family has suffered the most from our need to be "doing". Activism is...Posted by jay at 11:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 27, 2006
Book Review: Amazing Grace for Married Couples
Think you have marriage problems? This fascinating read might open your eyes. The book is Amazing Grace for Married Couples by Jeff Cavins, Matthew Pinto, and Patti Armstrong – three excellent Catholic authors. In essence, this book contains 12 stories...Posted by jay at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2006
Withholding Funds: Christian Activism in the Modern World
We live in an odd world – particularly those of us in the U.S. Our culture is primarily (and overwhelmingly) Christian, yet the institutions around us spend lots of time and money attempting to be secular and unambiguously non-Christian. This...Posted by jay at 02:05 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 02, 2006
What makes a Catholic home truly “Catholic”?
I think this is one of the bigger questions of our modern lives. We want a home that brings up faithful Catholic children. We want a home that strengthens our faith and builds habits that lead toward heaven. I believe...Posted by jay at 10:59 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 19, 2005
Happy Holidays, Holiday Trees....What?!
In an overly sensitive society that strives to be ever more inclusive we continue to witness the destruction of all Christian identity. Christians become paranoid about wishing others a Merry Christmas because, God forbid, it might force us to evangelize...Posted by jay at 02:11 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 17, 2005
Parenthood: A Sacrificial Life
In our day and time, you constantly hear parents complaining about the sacrifices they have to make for their children. It often centers on the lifestyle they want to live, rather than the one they currently have. But inevitably, if...Posted by jay at 10:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 21, 2005
Saying What Needs To Be Said
Several months ago my grandfather passed away. I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to see him before he died and say many of the things I had always wanted to. Death causes us to pause...to reflect. Life is...Posted by jay at 04:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 10, 2005
What Marriage and Parenthood Teach Us About Selfishness
As a father and a husband, if there is anything I have learned about myself it is that I am selfish. As a single, unattached man I often thought of myself as being very generous. I tithed, I helped out...Posted by jay at 10:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 04, 2005
Remembering God on the 4th of July
National holidays are great times of family and fun; I’ve personally always enjoyed the uniqueness of each holiday – from fireworks on the 4th to the rememberances on Memorial day. But I think it’s important that we remember God during...Posted by jay at 10:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 06, 2005
What Catholic Dads want for Father’s Day
Here’s my list of great Gift ideas for fathers this Father’s Day – and it has a certain legitimacy, since I am a Catholic dad! Books are the obvious choice for me – I’m personally a voracious reader, so I’ll...Posted by jay at 12:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 26, 2005
An Interesting Question about the Local Parish
My family has recently moved from one part of Atlanta to another. In our new home, we actually have two local parish churches pretty much the same distance away. However, we’re now in an apartment waiting for our house to...Posted by jay at 04:49 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
April 18, 2005
A Letter From Pope John Paul II to Families, part 2
Here is the second part from our late Holy Father's Letter to Families: The Year of the Family 3. For these very reasons the Church joyfully welcomes the decision of the United Nations Organization to declare 1994 the International Year...Posted by HolyFamily at 01:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 16, 2005
A Letter From Pope John Paul II to Families
As I reflect on the life and death of Pope John Paul II, I have found myself revisiting many of his writings. I wanted to share with each of you our late Holy Father's Letter to Families. It is a...Posted by HolyFamily at 12:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 02, 2005
Simple Ways to "Preach the Gospel Always"
Many of us have heard, at one point or another, the phrase: "Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words". Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, this phrase captures the essence of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Our...Posted by HolyFamily at 07:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 01, 2005
Sex, God and Marriage
In our day and age, Sex and Marriage are terribly misunderstood. There was a very popular book on the subject named A Plea for Purity that has been recently renamed Sex, God, and Marriage and released in pdf format for...Posted by jay at 08:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2005
The Power to Change Lives
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is interesting because it offers families a real way to explain suffering and doing good works to their children. More than just provide financial improvements, the show now works to improve the lives of those who need it.Posted by HolyFamily at 09:30 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 01, 2005
Happy and Holy New Year to you and yours
May you and your family grow closer to God in 2005! Thank you for visiting LivingCatholicism.com and we hope it helps your spiritual journey. God bless, Jay...Posted by HolyFamily at 03:14 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 31, 2004
Book Review: The Catholic Family Handbook
A book review of The Catholic Family Handbook by Father Lawrence Lovasik. The book explains both how to strengthen and improve your marriage as well as how to develop good Catholic children.Posted by HolyFamily at 10:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2004
A Plan for Life: Excerpt from Scripture and Catholic Tradition
Just wanted to point everyone in the direction of Scripture and Catholic Tradition - a blog by Dr. Philip Blosser. He recently posted correspondence between himself and a lapsed Catholic. His approach and thought in the letters is excellent. Here’s...Posted by HolyFamily at 03:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 02, 2004
Advent: A Time of Preparation
522 The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries. He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the...Posted by HolyFamily at 09:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 25, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving!
All of us, here at Living Catholicism, would like to wish each and every one of you, and yours, a very Happy Thanksgiving. May your Thanksgiving be a time for family and friends, a time for enjoying good food and...Posted by HolyFamily at 12:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 12, 2004
"Husbands, Love Your Wives..."
Husbands, love you wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself...Posted by HolyFamily at 03:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 05, 2004
Preparing for the Holiday Season
It's that time of the year when we begin focusing our attention on the holiday season...planning menus, inviting family and friends over, buying gifts, etc. In our modern world, the holidays have become a very materialistic and secular time. We...Posted by HolyFamily at 11:54 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 29, 2004
Friday Night, Family Night
It's finally here...Friday, the day of the week many of us eagerly await. We normally leave the office a little early, have plans for a night out on the town, or pizza and a movie, or an early start on...Posted by HolyFamily at 10:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 27, 2004
Household Chores and the Spiritual Value of Work
There isn't a lot out there on the importance of household chores from a spiritual angle. We all have heard or read about it being good for our children to have chores in order to earn an allowance, that it...Posted by HolyFamily at 12:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 07, 2004
A Family of Faith
How should parents teach their children faith? I think this is a critical question for parents in our time, when sociological forces push all of us to disbelieve miracles and take a cynical view of anything or anyone that relies...Posted by HolyFamily at 05:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 30, 2004
"Yes, I'll take a Happy Meal, please..."
In our busy world it is often easy to forget the value of eating together as a family. We want to watch TV, we are working on a report for work, we are working on homework, or we would rather...Posted by HolyFamily at 11:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
