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Bishop Jorge Rodríguez celebrates Mass at Cure d'Ars Parish in Denver. (Photo by Ryan Brady) Good news! This holiday season, the Church is giving us a great gift: the chance to go to Mass TWICE in one weekend! That might not seem like a “gift” to some, with all the demands of the holiday season pressing down. But this weekend, we celebrate a few fantastic feasts that you won’t want to miss. First, on Sunday, December 7, we gather to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. We’l

Why prayer isn’t supposed to look like panic — and how to rediscover its peace. La Religieuse (The Nun) by Henriette Browne. 1859 Oil on canvas. Height: 92.4 cm (36.3 in), width: 73.6 cm (28.9 in). National Inventory of Continental European Paintings. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) It was several years ago, so I couldn’t tell you now what I was working on when I went searching for reference photos of someone in prayer. I only remembe

A missionary tradition can become a powerful way to cultivate gratitude and recognize God’s presence in your daily life. (Photo courtesy of Christ in the City) “Lord, thank you for 36 pounds of honey …” “Jesus, thank you for getting to see Michael on street ministry today…” “Father, thank you for your calm in the storm…”   When I was a missionary with Christ in the City in Denver, the “Thanksgiving Rosary” was a staple of community life. At the end of each day, we’d gather as

(Photo: Lightstock) As Thanksgiving draws near, families across the archdiocese are preparing their tables for Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. For some of those families, the preparations take on a holy hue through the rich and beautiful practice of bringing food to church to be blessed before it is shared. Roots in the Eucharist and Harvest Feasts The Church’s call to give thanks is ancient. In fact, the very word Eucharist comes from t

In the footsteps of Jesus’ Passion, Archbishop Aquila, Bishop Rodriguez and the faithful lift up the cries, sorrows, and hopes of immigrant families. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) You could hear the crunch of the dry Denver grass underfoot — that’s how quiet it was in the north-east Metro on Saturday morning.  Led by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Bishop Jorge Rodriguez and sponsored by the Committee for Pastoral Care for Migrants, several hundred from more than 36 local p

What if our best leadership this Advent came not from achieving more, but from being more present to Christ? (Photo: Unsplash) Advent doesn’t just invite leaders to slow down — it demands something more profound within us. It’s ironic that year-end pressure, crowded calendars and relentless noise also dominate the season of Advent. Advent, a time of repentance, calls leaders to quiet the cultural rush and noise and tend to their interior life. The season challenges us to live

(Photo: Lightstock) It's that time of year again, and you might be prepared to be put on the spot another year in a row. "You're Catholic, right? Why don't you pray before dinner?" "You go to Mass all the time, right? You pray!" But what do we even begin to say?? Do we do the simple "Bless us, O Lord..." and head to the culinary races? Or do we seize the opportunity of spiritual openness and give a little more? No matter where your family is spiritually, those moments before

A simple question posed in a quiet chapel led to a 31-day Mass streak, a series of powerful spiritual lessons and a deep peace that only Jesus can give. (Photo: Unsplash) It was a quiet Saturday afternoon. I found myself in my parish’s chapel, yelling at God, angry  at him for calling a dear friend to move away. Between tirades came a reply that echoed in the silence: “What if you loved me this much?” Now, I wish I could say I piously realized the error of my ways, repented,

(Photo: Unsplash) Throughout November, the Church reflects on the mystery we will all one day face: the passage from this life to our eternal home in Heaven. Locally, in the Archdiocese of Denver, we observe End-of-Life Month, inviting the faithful to reflect on the hope of the Resurrection, to accompany loved ones with dignity, and to learn from the wisdom of the ministries uniting to form the newly established Catholic End-of-Life Network.  Comprising the Catholic Foundatio

(Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 Jesus’ question to Martha is personal. But it is not simply addressed to Martha; it is addressed to us. Do we believe this? Do we trust that Christ truly has power over death, and that our loved ones live in him? For the times when

While searching for control and connection, those who practice New Age spirituality — from tarot to Reiki, from manifestation to astrology — are led astray, into anxiety, depression and conflict. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Cecilia Dietzler Across the Western world, New Age spirituality has seen a dramatic rise. From meditation apps to hair salons offering Reiki treatments, it seems to be a constant in our society. Yet, beneath the aesthetic appeal and trendy buzzwords, these pra

Her two-word theory promises peace through detachment, yet Christ alone brings healing that no self-help formula can provide. (Photo courtesy of Mel Robbins' Facebook page) You know the feeling. One moment, life is great, and the next, you are free-falling into despair. Why? Because you opened Instagram and saw your friends hanging out without you. You start to spiral as you ask incessantly: Why didn’t they invite me? What did I do? What is wrong with me? Seven hours later, y

(Photo: Ivon19/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0) By Francesca Pollio Fenton/CNA Catholics across the United States are encouraged to participate in the national Respect Life Novena beginning Oct. 22 in an effort to unite in prayer for the protection of the unborn and all those affected by abortion. The Respect Life Novena is offered annually by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and consists of nine days of prayers, Scripture readings, and suggested acts o

Faith is not just an idea but a relationship — a lived encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ. (Photo: Lightstock) “Do you know Jesus?” I let the question hang in the air, my go-to whenever I walk with someone in discipleship. A blank stare. “…I mean, I guess?” “You guess ?”  A smile. “Let me ask you a different question. Do you know me ?” “Yes.” “Do you ‘guess’ that you know me?” “No.” “Ok, then why do you guess that you know Jesus?” “Hm. Well, I guess I know about  Jesus

Beginning October 22, Catholics are encouraged to join the national Respect Life Novena and unite their prayers for the unborn, the vulnerable and all those affected by abortion. (Photo: Unsplash) In a state where abortion remains heartbreakingly prevalent, Catholics in Colorado are being called once again to stand in prayerful witness for the sanctity of every human life. Beginning Wednesday, October 22, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) invites the fa

(Photo: Lightstock) By Alli Kalina In the depths of grieving yet another miscarriage, my husband gently posed a question that shook things up in my spiritual life. After expressing to him that I felt hopeless and like God had abandoned me, he delicately asked me, “What’s your hope in?”  I slumped into our old, sunken couch and thought to myself: “ What was my hope in? What even is hope?”   I’m a convert, and the Lord brought me home to the Church my freshman year of college.

These reflections from Scripture reveal how Jesus meets us in our worries and brings lasting peace. (Photo: Lightstock) I have been an anxious person for most of my life, but it definitely ramped up when I became a mom. Over the last fourteen years of motherhood, I’ve learned a lot about where my anxiety comes from, and I’ve learned tools to help deal with it. In particular, God has spoken to me through his Word to show me a path forward through my mental struggles. I will sh

Before the flicker of a sanctuary candle, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque beheld the Heart of Christ — and the world has never been the same. (Photo: Nheyob / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0) A young woman prays quietly, kneeling at a wooden pew in a cool stone chapel. It’s a night like many others. A cold breeze squeezes through the wooden window panes. The chapel is quiet, with the warm, sweet smell of candle wax and incense from recent feast days. She turns the pages of a small

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila leads the annual Eucharistic procession around Planned Parenthood in Denver mere days before the 2024 elections. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) On the morning of Saturday, October 25, Catholics from across Northern Colorado will gather at an unlikely place: outside the largest abortion provider in the state. There, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila will lead the faithful in a Eucharistic procession around Planned Parenthood in Denver’s Park Hill neighbo

From lost remotes to deeper faith, my son is teaching me to let go of control and find God’s peace in even the most unexpected places — like the ice dispenser. (Photo provided) By Meg Stout Like all parents, my husband and I have learned a great deal from our children about life. But Paul, having Down Syndrome and Autism, has been my best teacher. Paul cycles through different quirky habits. Imagine pouring yourself a nice drink. You take a sip, place it on the counter and wa