(Photo: Unsplash) I just read a study that started by saying, “Pre-marital sex predicts divorce, but we do not know why.” The study found that the odds of divorce for these couples are double to triple — increasing as the number of sexual partners increases — over those who saved sex for marriage. These results remained consistent even after adjusting for religiosity, beliefs and values. In other words, it isn’t just because the “savers” are religious and hence don’t believe

The story of America and Colorado is ultimately a story of God’s faithfulness, mercy and invitation to holiness. (Photo: Adobe Stock) Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and earth. That formula for an apostolic blessing, a benediction that bishops give, has a lot to teach us as we reflect on our country’s last 250 years and our state’s last 150 — years marked by courage, sacrifice and perseverance — and as we

Through Bouguereau’s Pietà, one mother reflects on Mary, suffering and the staggering beauty woven into love itself during the month of mothers and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pietà by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, c. 1876. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) “What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?” Venerable Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty As a mother, I can only answer, “nothing.” And while there are myriad paintings I could have chosen to hono

Venerable Emil Kapaun’s holy, courageous priesthood brought others to Christ amid great darkness and suffering

(Photo: Lightstock) By Jordan Langdon CEO + Marriage & Parenting Coach Families of Character During a recent Parenting Workshop at St. Thomas More Catholic School, I invited parents to reflect on their favorite childhood summer memories. “We rode bikes until the streetlights came on.” “My dad grilled every Sunday night.” “My cousins slept over for a week every summer.” “We caught fireflies.” “We went to the pool almost every day.” “There was always time.” As parents shared th

Amelie Lock and Michael Shepherd Jordan record a scene from Welcome to Hope Springs at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Adam Pane, courtesy of the Augustine Institute) By Madison Van Frank In our noisy, overstimulating, screen-centric world, many of us have tried to simplify our own relationships with technology. This is what we’re supposed to do as Catholics, right? Unplug from the world, disconnect and turn off our screens. Although we’re fighting the go

(Photo: Lightstock) By Randall Vette, PsyD St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities The most repeated phrase in all of Sacred Scripture is some variation of “Do not be afraid.” Apparently, the divine author knows what we need to hear because the most common mental health issue, by far, is anxiety — a fear-based emotion that becomes excessive. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 19.1% of U.S. adults experience clinical symptoms of anxiety annua

(Photo: Pixabay) By Sandra Morales Associate Director of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Archdiocese of Denver A Lot of Content, Little Presence A couple of years ago, in my work with couples, I began to notice a recurring theme. I found myself reflecting on marriage and technology: how strange it is that we have more resources, tools, podcasts, books and apps than any previous generation and yet communion between spouses can feel surprisingly fragile. Sitting with couple

The Tribute Money by Masaccio, c. 1424. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) Here’s a story for you. One day, I was worrying about money and taxes, and I shared my troubles with my brother over the phone. He told me he was on his way into Mass and would call me back when he got out — and he did. The Gospel reading that day? Matthew 17:27, the story of Jesus and his disciples needing to pay the temple tax. Jesus tells them to cast a line into the sea, and in the mouth

(Photo: Unsplash) On April 22, people across the United States and the rest of the world celebrates Earth Day. First officially held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has continually commemorated a commitment to conservation and ecological awareness, with many organizations encouraging water conservation, voluntary energy blackouts and calls for global climate education. Christians share a special dedication to these ideals, as we are called to care for our common home and to stew

What can the story of an all-powerful ring, a dark lord, a humble hobbit and his ragtag fellowship of companions teach us about the spiritual realities of the world and the ultimate meaning of life? Renowned J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Joseph Pearce unlocked the answer to this question and much more in a Feb. 24 private lecture given at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Pearce has written three books about Tolkien's life and works, in addition to many others that

John Allen with Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. (Photo: Thomas S. Major via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0) Early Sunday morning, July 28, 2002, things were looking grim for the closing papal Mass of World Youth Day in Toronto. The previous four days had been a tremendous success, symbolized by hundreds of thousands of young people making the Way of the Cross up Toronto’s great north-south boulevard, University Avenue: an act of Christian witness the likes of which had never been

Mary at the Foot of the Cross by Elizabeth Zelasko. ( Denver Catholic file photo) The Catholic Church is today in the early stages of a nine-year novena , moving towards the 2,000th anniversary of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. As we journey toward that anniversary, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila had the idea of gathering the faithful in prayer around one sacred image , an icon to help lead us, year after year, deeper into the mystery of the Cross. READ MOR

Choosing a spouse might be the most important decision that you will make in your life. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Mark Sanders, LPC, CAS Lisa Smith, LPCC Grace Cole, LPC, LIMHP, CPC St. Raphael Counseling In our work as couples therapists at St. Raphael Counseling, we have seen the extremes. On the one hand, we have had clients who struggled in their relationship and even recognized red flags before getting married that they didn’t acknowledge at the time. On the other hand, we

From nihilism to radical ideologies, many young men are searching for purpose — and not finding it. (Photo: Unsplash, edited) So, what is going on with young men these days? I know, every generation in recent memory has asked the same question. Those young hooligans with their leather jackets. The hippies with their psychedelic vans. The weirdos in the parachute pants. But those young men, for the most part, seemed to grow up to marry and become productive members of society.

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Micah Ellalasingham, MFT-C St. Raphael Counseling Communication Breakdown As a Marriage and Family Therapist, the most common concern couples bring into the therapy room is some variation of “We can’t communicate.” Spouses, feeling unheard, are seeking the “tools” to fix it. However, within the session, a deeper pattern usually emerges. When couples say, “We need to work on communication,” what they often mean is, “I want you to listen to me and fulfil

Entering the Special Year of St. Francis through poverty, death and joy in Christ St. Francis of Assisi in His Tomb , 1630/34 by Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664). Oil on canvas. Milwaukee Art Museum. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) With our coattails nearly brushing the closing Jubilee Doors, Pope Leo has proclaimed a Special Year of St. Francis of Assisi . From January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, the faithful who, along with the usual sacraments, unde

In this fourth installment of our series on sacred and religious artists, a local iconographer and Denver Catholic columnist reflects on the interplay between truth and beauty and how both can lead us to Heaven. (Photo provided) By Joe Donelson “I want more people to stop and look at art again,” said artist, iconographer and Denver Catholic columnist Elizabeth Zelasko. As a frequent collaborator with churches and religious institutions in the development of sacred art for s

In this third installment of our series, Casey Batt reflects on her journey, through job loss, prayer and parish life, to painting God's healing grace at All Souls Parish in Englewood. Casey Batt paints the Wedding at Cana in her home studio. The painting was installed at All Souls Parish in Englewood, as part of the parish's recent renovation and rededication. (Photo by Matt Walker) By Matt Walker After 18 years, Casey Batt lost her job when her company laid off thousands of

In the second installment of our series on sacred and religious artists, the Denver couple reflects on vocation, marriage and creating beauty for God. Nicole and Mark Thomason, pictured here with their five sons at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, are local artists that blend faith and contemporary art. (Photo provided) As a graduate student in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Mark Thomason bought himself some