Welcome to February, our Month of The Glory of His Presence! As we step into this new month, let us hold onto Psalms 16:11:

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence, there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

God’s presence is life-changing—it brings joy, peace, strength, and direction. This month, let us seek Him intentionally through prayer, worship, and His Word. As we experience His glory, let’s share His love with those around us.

Matthew 5:16 reminds us to let our light shine, drawing others to Christ. Let February be a month of revival, boldness, and transformation. May His presence fill every area of your life!

Daily mass readings for Feb 1, 2025;

Reading I : Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

Gospel : Mark 4:35-41

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-feb-1-2025/

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Saint Teresa of Avila - Interior Castle- Fifth Dwelling Places - Losing Fire

And even when the soul has itself lost this fire, the inclination to benefit others will remain, and the soul delights in explaining the favors God grants to whoever loves and serves Him.

I know a person to whom this happened. Although she had gone far astray, she enjoyed helping others through the favors God had granted her and showing the way of prayer to those who didn’t understand it; and she did a great deal of good. Afterward the Lord again gave her light. It’s true that she still hadn’t experienced the effects that were mentioned; but how many there must be, like Judas, whom the Lord calls to the apostolate by communing with them, and like Saul, whom He calls to be kings, who afterward through their own fault go astray! Thus we can conclude, Sisters, that, in order to merit more and more and avoid getting lost like such persons, our security lies in obedience and refusal to deviate from God’s law. I’m speaking to those to whom He has granted similar favors, and even to everyone. 

I think this entry should be encouraging for a lot of Christians because all of us at various times in our walk with God become the soul which has “lost this fire” for God. I get this feeling sometimes when I'm in Church physically but not so much spiritually, or when I'm halfway into prayer with God and halfway distracted by some incident at work. Saint Teresa's entry reminds me that despite these spiritual annoyances which put distance between ourselves and God, we can still remain tethered to Him by just continuing to act on good changes He put upon us when we were more fresh in His Spirit. And more importantly, by continuing to act on those changes despite our spiritual dryness, we moisten the ground for renewed and greater spiritual growth in the day when the Lord will again give us light as He did with Saint Teresa's wayward friend

Saint Teresa speaks of a person not lost but distant from God, who despite her distance, still helped others spiritually, in the way of prayer, and “the Lord again gave her light.” Corporeal help for others would seem to be just as qualified though for folk who might be more inclined to do volunteer work or financial charity for the poor. Whatever gift or charism God gives us for our dealings with others, whether spiritual or corporeal, should not be thought of as only a gift for others. Saint Teresa’s friend helped others in their prayer life but that exercise helped her as well, maybe even more so for her than others. Exercising her gift of being able to help others in prayer kept her bound to God even during her wayward times. She’d become distant from God but never lost or adrift from God because the faithful practice of those gifts given by God acted as her own spiritual lifeline.

The effect which God has had on us in regards to our dealings with others is not a vapid, passing effect that just disappears at the first sign of spiritual stagnancy. Everything God does is at a supernatural level that is beyond our finite understanding and reverberates eternally in our lives and the lives of others. We usually don’t pick up on that effect because the spirit is subtle and we’re dense in the spiritual sense but as with Saint Teresa’s friend, God’s touch from above still bears ongoing results below. And when those results lead us to either spiritual or corporeal charity for others, especially amidst our spiritual dryness, our resiliency in God is strengthened going forward. God gives light to our darkness and then shines that light into the lives of others and to the fallen world at large.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible

Phillippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

I once was a fundamentalist, with a puritan-like streak; one of the major influences which got me out of it were the Inklings, especially C.S. Lewis, and the value they gave to myth: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/my-journey-from-fundamentalism-to-comparative-theology/

Daily mass readings : Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest;

Reading 1 : Hebrews 10:32-39

Gospel : Mark 4:26-34

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-jan-31-2025/

Given that the Church forbids the use of contraception, how is it that even in countries that still boast a high percentage of confirmed Catholics there is such a low birth rate? In the 2011 census, 88% of Poles identified themselves as Catholic. The Catholic Church forbids birth control and yet the birth rate in Poland is 1.26. I'm not sure how to reconcile this. Do people simply not care about the injunction against birth control? Has the Church made any statement on the fact that the mandate to always remain open to life seems to be being ignored?

My wife and I are both Catholic, 46 years old, two kids 15 and 9. I am the only one that goes to Mass as she is not interested. We have not had intimacy in 8 years. She informed me this week that she is never having intimacy with me again and has no interest. This devastated me and I’m heartbroken. I’ve lived the last 8 years depressed and hopeful she would change. How am I supposed to live the rest of my life depressed and celibate?

Daily mass readings for Jan 30, 2025;

Reading 1 : Hebrews 10:19-25

Gospel : Mark 4:21-25

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-jan-30-2025/

Recently I've become inspired to write a fictional novel that just popped into my head. The characters won't be Catholic or anything (I won't include religion), but I will likely include some sort of consequences for sin, redemption (such as slowly turning away from their bad habits, etc).

But I was wondering if it'd be okay to write fight scenes, not that I think violence is good, but because it might be needed for the plot + evil characters.

Hello everyone. So, I'm curious to know if sex should be pleasurable between married couples, and if oral sex is okay if both parties agree? Please this question is for catholic adults 18 and above. Thanks.

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The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives.

No video podcast this week. I have a cold that I’m recovering from. See you all next week!

Read more:
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time / 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Religious traditions, like Christianity, tend to have authorities which the faithful are expected to  listen to and  obey, however, those authorities have limited and not absolute authority (Christians are expected to follow their conscience). When those with authority demand total, absolute obedience, that tends to be the mark of someone engaging abuse, be it physical, spiritual, or psychological:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/navigating-the-tension-between-freedom-and-obedience/

Daily mass readings for Jan 29, 2025;

Reading I : Hebrews 10:11-18

Gospel : Mark 4:1-20

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-jan-29-2025/

My parents are 80 (dad) and 76 (mom) and live nearby. I have had to set boundaries as they will not get help. My dad is not as worse off as my mom and he is finally ready to no longer be a co-dependent. My mom is Catholic (hasn't practiced in 60 years) and my dad is Jewish. My mom has been hospitalized several times and at her last hospital stay a priest come by her room and she refused to confess or receive sacraments. The demons have a hold on her. I have offered to have a priest come by her house from time to time or take her to Mass. She always declines. I do not know what I can do to help her at this stage in her life. I worry she will die soon and will not have Sacraments before her death. I know what Al-Anon says but I want a Catholic perspective.

My 10 year old nephew was talking about ghosts recently and I tried telling him ghosts weren't real, which he disagreed with. However he says he isn't scared because ghosts are Protestant and we live in a Catholic country... he logic is that most really scary hauntings are in predominantly non-Catholic or sinful places like victorian England, the American midwest, devil worshipping spots, prisons, etc, and ghosts are essentially the spirits of heretics stuck here. He thinks he is safe because there historically aren't any places like that near us, and all the deceased Catholics are safe in heaven 😅

I found it very funny

My parents are selling our family home and it seems like I won't be able to obtain financing. Just need prayers for some type of miracle.

The true life in God books by Vassula have changed my relationship with God. I encourage all to read them. TLIG.org

Reading 1 : Hebrews 10:1-10

Gospel : Mark 3:31-35

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-jan-28-2025/

In Mississippi, there is a bill which will imprison every captured “illegal immigrant” for life. This will free the state to use them as a slave labor force. Christians must not stand and do nothing; they must fight against this evil: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/mississippis-bill-a-step-towards-modern-day-slavery/

Daily mass readings for Jan 27, 2025;

Reading 1 : Hebrews 9:15, 24-28

Gospel : Mark 3:22-30

https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-jan-27-2025/

I wanted to reshare this story because I often come online looking for testimonies to strengthen my faith but I never contribute. I actually posted this 6 months ago elsewhere but wanted to retell this because this story has often been the thing i lean on when im struggling to hold on to faith in tough moments. This is a true story of what happened when I prayed a simple prayer. I cut out some details because this took forever for a slow typer lol

Like many, I pray often for my own needs or needs of family and friends. A lot of times it seems that these prayers are not heard. Every morning in the shower I drop to my knees and pray. Its one of the few places I have quiet and undistracted time. One morning I prayed differently. I said, “God, I know I always pray for things for myself or those close to me. Today I ask you to give me someone I can help in your name. Even if its something small like helping them get something off the shelf at the market.” So, later that day I went into a Target store. While I was in the girls clothing area looking for things for my daughter, I overheard a supervisor in the greeting cards area really laying into another employee in a very unprofessional way. I was a manager in retail for about 20 years and what I was watching and hearing was very rude and should not be dealt with on the sales floor in front of customers, if at all. I realized this was my chance to help someone! I decided I was going to go over and talk to that manager and just let her know that I really wouldn’t be doing that on the sales floor because as a customer I felt it was not needed. I also didn’t want to make the manager feel threatened so I figured, let me wait until the manager is alone in an other aisle. I waited but the 2 of them remained in talks for some time. I figured, let me go for a walk and come back later. Well I went shopping and by the time I returned I lost my head of steam and chickened out. I paid for my items but as I left I could still see the employee who was being scolded and I felt like a coward. As I exited the store I said in my head, “God Im sorry. I asked for someone to help, you answered, and I ran off like a chicken”. Now I had parked at the far end of the side lot because I had been wanting to get extra steps in and wanted to walk further. When I parked there were no cars anywhere near me. As I walked out to my car I saw a lone white car parked in front of me and there was a girl in her 20s standing by it. As I got closer the girl said, “Excuse me sir, can you give me a jump? I think my battery is dead.” I said sure just let me put my stuff in my car and get my jumper. Well, ironically my battery jumper was sitting on my passenger seat already because I had used it days earlier on my moms car and never returned it to the trunk. I jumped her car and realizes she also had a girl around my daughters age in her car. 

As I drove off I realized, wow, God gave me ANOTHER person to help after I dropped the ball the 1^(st) time! I was soooo excited by this I called a friend and told him all about it. I spoke to him the whole 15 minute ride home but when I got off the phone I was still so pumped up that I went BACK to Target, bought a $15 Starbucks gift card, and found the employee who was being reprimanded earlier. I introduced myself and explained what I had witnessed earlier. I told this person how I used to be a manager at Wal Mart and I would’ve been happy to have her work there because what she was working on looked amazing. I left thinking that this story was over. 

The next day I picked up my daughter from the school bus. We decided to take a walk in the park at her bus stop because it was so nice out. After about 15 minutes we began walking back to the car. As we did I said, “God, thank you so much for yesterday. I know that was you, but if you want to give me another person to help today, I will take it! I know its late in the day (it was about 330pm) and I don’t know how youll put someone in my path, but Im here and willing”. About a minute later we got to our car and there was a blueish car parked next to me. There was a woman and a little boy in the car. The woman called over to me and said, “Excuse me sir, do you know anything about cars? My car wont start.” She turned the key and I could hear her battery was dead! You have to be kidding me! I told her not to worry, I knew what the problem was. I jumped her car and left with such a huge smile, just so excited! I knew this was not a coincidence. 

Now there were a few other stories in the months that followed where id ask for someone to help and there would be people who reached out and asked for help with stuff, but nothing that gave me the goosebumps that these did. So, about a year later I dropped my daughter off at school and was headed to do Eucharistic adoration at a shrine here in the city. On my way I prayed, “God, if you want to give me someone to help today, please do, but Ill say that all im doing is going to the shrine and then back to my childs school, so I have no idea who I will cross paths with, but regardless, Im here.” I went to the shrine and prayed. While I was in adoration, I felt the notification that I received a text message but I didn’t check it until I left. Imagine my surprise when I read this message from my sister. “Hey when you come by to get mom can you jump my car?”. I cannot ever remember being asked to jump so many cars, let alone right after I ask God to give me someone to help! 

I share this because I want to make it clear, I know God listens to us and I know he is with me.

We must destroy all the idols in our heart, all the ideologies which come out of hate, all the biases and prejudices which have us deny others their basic human dignity, as those idols get in the way of our relationship with God: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/idols-in-our-heart-jan-26/

Hi friends, hoping I can post this here. I lost my job about eight weeks ago and my husband about two weeks ago. We're both professionals and have a lovely home and two kids. We're getting by financially and we've both spoken to several companies. Two agencies told me they'd hire me as soon as they had a few more accounts later this year. Sadly, I'm not banking on promises as I need a job. Speaking to two more companies. Please pray something works out soon. I pray all the time but I'd appreciate a little help.

Thank you.

Hello,

While I’m waiting for a priest to come by and bless myself and my neighbors apartment. What is a good prayer along with blessing to pray over my entire place. I have holy water available now and would love some guidance. I usually just say an Our Father and use the holy water around my place but I’m wondering if there is more I can do.

For context, I’m dealing with some heavy anxiety brought on by sleep deprivation from a medication. It’s been brutal on my mind and I can’t say the how much I feel bad about some thoughts that came up during the anxiety. So I’d like to have that cleared out of my home.

Also, my neighbor is experiencing some other issues in the night hours and would like to have the priest come by her place as well.

We don’t know if it’s all related but we are trying to be proactive.

Thank you 🙏 and Gods peace be with you ❤️