Lots of people can’t spell dogma because they think it’s a four-letter word. When the word is mentioned, conversation stops. Tempers flare. Moods become icy. Why do words like “dogma” and “dogmatic” carry such a negative connotation? And, more importantly,…
Dogmas: Road Signs of Our Faith
Keeping Christ in Christmas: Our Family’s Approach
“Actions speak louder than words.” “One picture is worth a thousand words.” “Talk is cheap.” There are lots of different sayings in the English language that generally express the same thing–words alone don’t do the necessary job of communicating, especially…
For Every Teaching There is a Reason
Today, we welcome Patti Maguire Armstrong to the New Evangelizers blogging team! It is important to teach our children the reasons for the teachings of the Catholic faith, they may one day join the ranks of the thousands of lapsed…
Parents, Do You Know?
There is a Christmas song I’ve heard a few times entitled “Mary Did You Know?” It asks Mary, the Mother of Jesus if she knew who her Son was and what his life meant to the world and to her….
Evangelizing Christmas
WARNING: This article is meant as satire. While I am partially serious, please take no offense. Team, this is it. We’ve been waiting all year, and we only get one chance at Evangelizing Christmas! We’ll get another shot at Easter,…
What the Baptist Can Teach Us about Joy
Readings for December 16, 2012: Third Sunday in Advent On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw…
Blessed Are the Poor at Christmas
Amid all the bustle of cooking, shopping, and family visits, we need to find a time of quiet and peace, a peace the world does not give. While I was growing up, Christmas was a wonderful time with grand traditions. I…
Nothing Is Lost
Last night I was talking to my dear aunt on the phone and, after telling me that she’s been saying one rosary after another for a special intention, she told me that she thought “Blessed Mother had her earplugs in.” Since…
Forming Intentional Disciples
I read a whole lotta books, but most of them aren’t germane to Catholicism. And if you want a review of Neptune’s Inferno or Korsun Pocket, there are plenty out there that I can’t improve on. On the other hand,…
Fielding Hot Potatoes: Mothers as Evangelists
The time: A weekday morning The place: A parish church The scene: A young mother, holding her baby and leading several older children, is leaving the church after Mass. The mother’s name is Anne Marie. As soon as she exits…