Faith & Spirituality

'He Will Lord It Over You': Understanding the Fall of Adam and Eve’s Impact on Marriage

What Genesis really teaches about sin, power and marriage (Photo: Lightstock) “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he will lord it over you.” Genesis 3:16 I think of all the beautiful aspects of the Genesis account of paradise, the one I perhaps envy most is the perfect relationship between man and woman. (I know, walking with God in the cool of the afternoon seems like a pretty good gig, too.) We have talked about how God created them specifically for each other , and how Adam’s...

The Art of Surrender in 'I Do'

(Photo provided) There are few words that a person will say in their lifetime that carry as much eternal weight as the two simple words couples say at the altar on their wedding day: "I do." In uttering these two words, a man and his wife are doing much more than merely promising to lay down their lives for one another — though, to be sure, they are doing that too. "I do" is a mutual assent that a man and his wife will give themselves completely and totally to one another in a sacred covenant...

Marriage in an Apostolic Age

(Photo: Adobe Stock) We are living in what many have described as an “apostolic age,” like the first centuries of the Church, when Christians proclaimed the Gospel in a world that did not share their assumptions about God, truth or the purpose of human life. In that time, Christians lived, loved and worshipped differently than the world. And in doing so, they drew others to the beauty of Christ. In our own time, the cultural foundations that once supported Christian life have weakened, and...

Making Disciples: Be a Disciple First.

Part Two: Why evangelization begins with personal conversion and encounter with Jesus Christ. (Photo: Lightstock) Editor's Note: This column is part of a yearlong series on evangelization, breaking down what often feels like a tall order into real, practical, actionable steps towards intentional accompaniment. Part One: A Practical Guide for Everyday Catholics Part Three: Discern Who to Accompany Part Four: Build Authentic Friendships Part Five: Build Zones of Freedom My dad loved baseball,...

Meet 10 patron saints of Catholic education, students and teachers

Newman joined a list of several other Catholic saints considered patrons of other aspects of education. Get to know them here. A portrait of a young St. John Henry Newman hangs in Cathedral High School, part of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, in Houston. (Photo: Amira Abuzeid/CNA) By Francesca Pollio-Fenton/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV named St. John Henry Newman a patron saint of Catholic education in a document published on Oct. 28 for the 60th anniversary of Gravissimum Educationis ,...

A Taste of Heaven: Encountering Pier Giorgio Frassati at His Canonization

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) By Father Sean Conroy When the Church canonizes a saint, it isn’t merely adding another name to the litany; it’s affirming that holiness can blossom in our own time. I had the immense gift of attending the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati this Jubilee Year, and I can only describe the experience as a taste of Heaven. He was canonized a saint on the centenary of his death, yet to me, he is a friend whom I often talk to and seek his intercession....

What are plenary indulgences and how can I get TWO this New Year’s?

(Photo: Lightstock) Looking for a way to go into the new year with some extra grace? Did you know the Church offers TWO chances for plenary indulgences as we ring in the New Year? New Year’s Eve The first opportunity comes on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, as we reflect on all God has done in 2025 and prepare for a new year — a Jubilee Year! For those who publicly recite the Te Deum , a plenary indulgence is granted under the normal conditions detailed below. The Te Deum is a traditional prayer of...

When does Christmas really end?

(Photo: Lightstock) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have come and gone, but the celebrations continue! “After the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas time,” read the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar (32). The ancient commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior resounds through the...

O Come Emmanuel: The Four Masses of Christmas

Gustavus III Attending Christmas Mass in 1783, in St Peter's, Rome, Louis Jean Dezprez. (Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons) By Hung Pham Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Denver While most liturgical celebrations have one Mass, certain solemnities may have two different Masses: a Vigil Mass and a Mass for the Day. However, the celebration of Christmas is unique. For the Nativity of the Lord, the Church gives us four different Masses to celebrate: the Vigil Mass and the three...

The Electric Presence of God: The Shocking Meaning Behind Mary Being ‘Overshadowed’ By Love

A powerful meditation on divine overshadowing, the Trinity’s indwelling and Emmanuel at Christmas. Annunciation by Giambattista Pittoni, c. 1757. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) I’ve always found the Scripture passage in Luke 1 about the Annunciation fascinating and mysterious. After Mary gives her fiat, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, and then voilà! She is pregnant with the Lord. I’m not sure exactly how that works, though I’ve had some insights lately. The idea of overshadowing...

Our Lady of the New Advent: Denver’s Unique Marian Devotion Prepares Us for Christ

(Photo: Denver Catholic file photo) Every December, just as Advent reaches its final stretch and Christmas draws near, the Archdiocese of Denver turns its gaze toward a uniquely local Marian devotion: Our Lady of the New Advent, celebrated on December 16. While many Marian titles are celebrated throughout the universal Church, this one belongs especially to us. Rooted in Colorado’s landscape, crafted for our archdiocese and embraced by generations of faithful, Our Lady of the New Advent has...

Christmas Joy is Found in the Moment

When plans fell apart, peace entered in, and the season of joy became real for the first time. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Forest Barnette I expected last Christmas to be really hard. It was the first time my husband, kids and I didn’t travel to see extended family. The estrangement that caused these circumstances was painful enough on its own, not to mention the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the traditions lost and the grieving for what I’d imagined holidays with kids, cousins and chaos would look...