When We Were Catholics - Chapter 2: Son of Thunder
Back when Fr John was quarterback of a Big Ten university’s football team, pregaming was for the sorority girls with fake tans and frat boys with red solo cups.
12 Christian Books That Will Deepen Your Faith and Transform Your Spiritual Life
Looking for the best Christian books to read? Discover 12 powerful books on faith, prayer, theology, and spiritual growth from Tim Keller, C.S. Lewis, and more.
When We Were Catholics: Chapter 1 - Thomas is Dead
Chapter 1. Thomas is Dead.
The probability of someone being dead while still alive and being alive while still dead, of existing in two opposite states while in a single state of being, is, well, to put it simply (adj. without complication)
Zero. And One.
At the same time.
Christian Morning Routine - 5 Ways to Start Your Day with God
Mornings have a huge significance in Scripture. It is the time of the day when you open your eyes for the first time to welcome the gift of a new day, that God has given you. However, in modern times, we often awake to a constant barrage of thoughts, emotions, anxiety, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Waking up is no longer something to look forward to, but instead something to dread. The thought of having to fulfill all your daily obligations in a limited span of time becomes a chore instead of a gift.
LENT: A 40 Day Devotional Journey
Lent is often described as a season of sacrifice.
But at its heart, it is a season of return.
Return to God.
Return to your own heart.
Return to what is steady and life-giving.
This devotional was created not to overwhelm you, but to restore you.
Faith, Productivity, and the Spiritual Brain in Modern Life
Contemporary life has quickly become one of the most neurological gambles in human history. With the advent of mobile apps such as Instagram and TikTok, every day our brains navigate nonstop notifications, infinite “doom” scrolling, algorithm-curated content, multitasking and a pace of information that our nervous systems were not designed to handle. The habits we have accumulated today are actively reshaping how our brains function— especially in how we pay attention, experience reward, and regulate emotion.
How to Achieve Your Dream Life
To be happy, start a practice of being proactive about protecting your life. Aristotle famously said, “Happiness is a habit.” Get in the habit of prioritizing you and your life. You will thank yourself for it, in the end.
A relentless, restless pursuit of God, with Thomas Aquinas
What does it mean to be happy? Ecclesiastes talks about the “chasing after the wind”, a lack of satisfaction with the worldly pursuits of money, pleasure, success, and material goods. How can you be happy in a world that is designed to make you exist in a constant state of want? We yearn for something more. But what is that thing we seek in the night?
Beyond Resolutions — Building Systems for the New Year That Actually Work
Tomorrow’s the start of the New Year. Today I grabbed a sheet of paper and listed down my top 10 goals for the new year. I don’t know about you, but the chances of my losing this piece of paper and forgetting all about my goals next week are pretty high. The problem with this method is that my goals seem so abstract, so intangible, and so unreachable without steps and systems in place to reach them. Writing “I want to lose 20 pounds by December 2026” solidifies your intention, but how do you exactly go from point A to point B? You need a system, a protocol of steps and solutions you put in place to actually reach your goal.
Practical Techniques to Manage Anxiety
Modern life is growing in complexity, and with it are our stress levels. With the constant attack of stimuli and tasks on our todo lists, as well as relationships and career goals and financial issues to juggle, we can quickly feel overwhelmed by the daily life.
Building HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Applications with Next.js
Healthcare technology is experiencing unprecedented growth, with digital health funding reaching record highs and hospitals rapidly adopting modern web applications. As a developer looking to break into this space, understanding how to build secure, compliant, and performant healthcare applications is essential.
In this post, I'll explore why Next.js has emerged as a compelling choice for healthcare applications and walk through key considerations when building for this highly regulated industry.
freedom with fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord begins with wisdom. - Proverbs 1:7
Someone once important to me talked to me about the importance of truth. He was a truth-seeker, and I saw a kindred spirit in him. Our mutual thirst for truth and knowledge connected us, grounding us in each other’s and God’s presence. He was my brother in Christ, but our paths diverged and we walked separate ways. We connected again, but sin separated us.
Christian Journaling — A Sacred Practice for Spiritual Growth, Healing, and Hearing God
I’ve been journaling since I was a kid, loving the practice of writing thoughts and revelations, whimsies and feelings down on paper. It helped me to regulate my emotions better, calming me in the midst of a storm and revealing to me my inner demons and insecurities. Slowing down and spending time by myself to process life and my days allowed me space between the world and me.
7 Cozy Games For Fall Therapy
I recently got Steam again, which is a game store filled with interesting, inexpensive games to play on PC or MacBook. I’m not a heavy gamer, but I’ve been wanting to find new ways to destress and alleviate negative feelings. I was browsing on Youtube and found some videos on top “cozy” games that help you unwind and destress, so I decided to give it a try.
The Journey of the Soul: Stages of Salvation
Being a Christian does not mean to live in a static state of belief but to journey continually on a path of transformation — a pilgrimage from sin to sanctity, from brokenness to divine union with God. Along the path of growing closer to God and reforming the self, the soul undergoes several profound stages: justification, affliction, mortification, vivification, glorification, and for some — the purifying fire of purgatory.
More Room for Hygge — Finding Joy in Simplicity and Comfort
Hygge, pronounce “hoo-gah”, is a Danish concept that describes a feeling of coziness, comfort, and contentment that comes from enjoying life’s simple pleasures. It’s less about materialism and more about creating an atmosphere of warmth and cherishing meaningful moments with loved ones, or alone. Think of curling on the couch with a blanket and a book on a rainy day, sipping tea after lighting up a scented candle, having a slow dinner with close friends, or feeling safe and at peace in your bed as you are watching Netflix. Hygge is the art of slowing down, being present, and finding joy in simplicity.
10 Ways to Pray
There are many ways to pray. Whether it’s talking to God conversationally to praying the Holy Rosary, there are both spontaneous and structural ways to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Here are 10 ways you can incorporate prayer into your daily life.
17 Rituals in Christianity - The Sacred Rhythms of Daily LIfe
In a world that never stops moving, the rhythm of daily rituals and routines in Christianity can anchor you in your faith. Rituals are not simply repetitions of habits you’ve acquired since childhood; they are sacred rhythms that help shape your soul and draw you closer to God through the ordinary patterns of life. In between the tasks of your todo list and assignments and errands, the Christian habits you perform will help you maintain your faith.
The Liturgy of the Hours
Something that I remembered recently from my childhood and that I have returned to is praying the Liturgy of the Hour. Most Catholics are familiar with Mass, Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. But there is also prayer called Liturgy of the Hour that is ancient, rhythmic and deeply transformative.
10 Study Techniques That Work
We all know about active recall. One does not just passively read a textbook and magically retain information. Even those special geniuses with photographic memories don’t just skim through a page and naturally absorb it and retain it. Nothing in life is THAT easy.
But it doesn’t have to be hard. Knowing the right methods to learn is the key to succeeding in school, life, and more.