I’ll be lighting a candle to St Jude all week and seeking his intercession. 

If you are in need of St. Jude’s intercession, and would like me to pray for you, let me know. Please know that if I don’t respond, I have still seen your comment and prayed for you.

Happened on a Sunday, where Christians and Muslims stop fasting together. Why not, but inside a church ?

https://x.com/RafaelSereti/status/1904225972687094000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1904225972687094000%7Ctwgr%5E7b095c6202548e78c5b0ef5c9a75573a9656e621%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffr.le360.ma%2Flifestyle%2Fa-bruxelles-un-ftour-multiconfessionnel-organise-dans-une-eglise-catholique_Z2LQ2AALDVFQNI5JOSR2EIHAFE%2F

Excerpt from my autobiography

One of the memories that has stayed with me is visiting my Aunt Virginia’s house with my mother. At the foot of the stairs, there was a large image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

As a child, that image made me feel uneasy—not because it was scary, but because of the deep sadness in Jesus’ eyes. I could almost feel His sorrow, and it affected me more than I could explain. I’ve always been sensitive to the emotions of others, and even in a picture, I didn’t like seeing anyone sad—not even Him. The feeling was so strong that I couldn’t go up the stairs alone.

Looking back now, I believe that may have been the moment God first planted a seed in my heart. I didn’t understand it then, but today I see it as the beginning of my calling.

The words of Jeremiah 1:5 have become deeply personal to me:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

When I was young, I wanted to avoid the sadness I saw in Christ’s eyes. I never imagined that, as I got older, I would want to join Him—in His self-offering for the good of His people and for His glory.

We're blessed to have a 24-hour adoration chapel in my town and this morning after Mass I dropped in for some prayer time. I do music ministry and today was a bit chaotic, and the extra quiet time with the Lord was needed. It's always a gift to be in His presence!

Hope you all have a place to pray and be still with Jesus when life feels a little messy.

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!

Please tell me if I'm being dramatic or this is not an appropriate post.

I was changing into my pajamas today and my crucifix flew off my neck and put a dent into my tv stand, breaking in the process. I'm being confirmed this Easter vigil and I don't know if this is satan trying to scare me.

I have been making rosarys for a bit now just as something fun to so the stay busy in the evenings. But today was my first time trying to make one with wire instead of cord and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out even tho the wraps got a bit longer at the end.

I was working hard at lent. My prayer life had improved with Daily Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Angelus. I’d been to confession each week of lent. Then something terrible happened. I was involved in an accident riding my motorbike on Friday. I went over the handle bars and had a high impact incident with my head and the tarmac. I was taken to hospital given a CTscan and released after observations about 9 hours later. All clear. Just bruisings. As I lay on the trolley in the hospital. I realised how isolated I am from my family. A family rift that’s gone on too long. In a moment of utter weakness I contacted my ex wife who kindly scooped me up and drove me home. But in the midst of her consolations and kindness we spent the night together. Now am so distraught I’ve let myself down. Let my weakness compromise my closeness to Christ and my love for Our Holy Mother. I can’t face going to mass today. I can’t take communion having committed a sin and now I feel as bad as I did immediately after the accident. My weakness made me betray myself and I feel I’ve let Christ and my faith down. Such a terrible place to be in. I feel so far from faith.

To clarify, I am a practicing Catholic not a gnostic, atheist, agnostic like that.

The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” -Matthew 26:24

This verse is confusing for me. Because why would God created a man that He Himself said its better for Judas to not be born. It makes me question more about Judas. Because does he have free will? Or is he just created to betray Jesus and go to hell?

I’m (31m) returning to faith and want to follow Church teaching by abstaining until a sacramental marriage. But my wife (32, civil marriage) isn’t ready yet. She was raised Catholic, but she's not religious. She's open to getting married, baptizing our infant son and exploring her faith, but she needs more time.

Last night we had a difficult conversation about it and my wife helped me realize how self centered I was:

I was fine with having sex until I became ready to abstain (4-5 months of hesitating). But now I'm not giving that option to my wife, I'm deciding for her. I know God's will is to not have sex outside of marriage, but I'm shocked how self absorbed I am about it.

Any thoughts about it? Just to be clear, I don't want permission to keep sinning, just some words of wisdom and encouragement.

Is there anything wrong with SpongeBob?. Because my parents allowed me to watch any Nickelodeon or Disney Jr show even SpongeBob . Not all some just wondering

This was in the mid 90s, and I didn't drink or do drugs, never have. When the local bishop placed oil on my forehead when I bowed my head, I felt something I could only describe as a electrical shock or brain zap. What was it? Anyone else ever felt something similar?

Someone in a local forum (asking for recommendations for Catholic Churches in the area) reccomended their church saying its "Old Catholic not Roman Catholic".

The church's website lists multiple quotes from the Vatican that seem to legitimize them, but they dont seem to be submissive to the Pope?

On their website, I didn't find them listing themselves as a specific rite of Catholicism.. just saying "Old Catholic"

Are these valid masses according to the traditional Catholic Church (that's submissive to Rome)?

https://saintmatthias.net/are-we-really-catholic/

We got married last year. The first months were really fantastic, even though we were forced by my parents to cohabitate and you know that it can generate friction, but we were extremely happy.

We have or at least I still have all these plans to move away from this shitplace we live in (shit city, small flat), have children, and spend the rest of our lives together.

Last month my boss told me I can't move to another city and my wife told me that she needed to leave because she was getting depressed in this place, only wanted to sleep, won't have kids in this shitplace, and then comes the next part:

The day of our marriage, the priest forced us to confess, because he said otherwise he will not do the mass. He took her and cajoled her into confession in a room and gave her absolution before she even had a chance to finish confessing the sins, only so he could give us communion.

Now she thinks that the marriage has been cursed because she communed before saying her sins properly and therefore she communed in sin. Now our marriage is doomed from the start and can't be saved. She's also been saying she doesn't understand "why we follow a 2000 year old book that is not aligned with modern age", all the priests are bastards, the commandments are stupid...

She has a maladaptive tendency to blame everyone but herself. She told me she needed time to be alone, I gave it to her. Some weeks later, she tells me she wants to end the marriage because what kind of a shit husband does not take care of his wife (I have nothing but doting on her, I have constantly put her needs above me, given her love, hugs, kisses, I have put her above family and friends every time, taken care of her when she was ill)

I'm not the most organized guy, and that's my fault and I'm changing for her. I'm a forgetful guy sometimes, but I'm changing as well. I can postpone things I don't like to do and I'm trying to change.

But it's never enough, which is aggravated by the fact that she will do exactly the things she complains I do. She's always been loving to me except when she starts blaming and can't stand to be told what she does wrong.

She has a history of screwing up and I clean after her, which she takes for granted. I have never ever told her off on this because I believe as a husband I should lay down my life for my wife without complaints and without comments. Maybe I'm stupid and I should have, who knows.

Lately she just wants to get separated, but is not willing to do any paperwork or actually leave our house, which leaves me the slightest sliver of hope. Or maybe that's because her relationship with her parents is shit and she wouldn't go back to them. She's also a stay at home wife, I provide for us both, which is what she wanted.

She categorically opposes going to confession again because the priests are evil and bastards. She doesn't want to go to counseling, or a shrink. She also has endometriosis, which made it so hard to engage in relations, the marriage is not consummated technically. She refuses to see a gyno.

Hey, I've messed up as well. I'm the worst sinner. I go to confession frequently for the same sins. She's been telling me to load weight of 1 year and I can't do it no matter how hard I try. Doesn't help that she makes dinner for 2, eats 10% of hers, and tells me to eat that or she throws it away. But that's my fault anyway.

I just don't understand, man. She tells me to leave her alone to do what she wants. I leave her. She says I'm a shit husband for leaving her alone. I don't get it. God please help me I don't want our marriage to end, and I suspect it's just another of her shit decisions that will go wrong for her like every other time. But it's us, man. We're made for each other like no one else, and we have a life ahead of us.

Can't believe I'm writing this, I would never. But that's just how bad things are and I hope and pray for a miracle.

Im 14, you probably know from my last post. All i want to say that is thank you for everyone who tryna help me to overcome the fear. Now im feel very good. Thank you God Bless you guys

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when I was very young (high functioning autism for those that don’t know). I’m a lot better than I was when I was first diagnosed (I still have issues with limited interests, understanding the emotions of others, and really don’t laugh or have facial expressions), but I still feel like I shouldn’t marry or have kids because of this diagnosis. How one gets what I have isn’t fully understood, but there is probably a genetic component to it meaning if I have kids there is a chance they will also have Asperger’s.

Maybe I’m just looking for excuses to give up dating because of how frustrated I’m getting, but is it morally right for me to have kids knowing I could pass on Asperger’s to them? Is there anything in the Bible or in church teaching that offers insight into my issue?

Does modern iconography exist? My works combine classical motifs with contemporary concepts, offering a fresh perspective on the sacred. If you’re interested, take a look at my page on Etsy.

Obviously Tolkien and Lewis are real and deserve all the credit they get but do you have another “favorite” Catholic fiction writer?

For me it’s Gene Wolfe who wrote the Solar cycle.

This is just a thought. I'm technically still Protestant, but I'm looking to go to mass and partake in OCIA when I can drive(or RCIA idk). I've always been confused by the church I go to currently. It says it's an evangelical church, so idk if that's a solid denomination or not(cut me some slack I'm kinda stupid sometimes). The people there are nice, but kinda weird me out. I'm not saying they have to be quiet, but it's like they have to respond with a "yeah!" Or a "hallelujah, thank you LORD!" After the pastor said the most basic sentence ever dude😭. I'm too young, and my parents won't take me to mass so I do it online when I can, but I still go to this church every Sunday. The pastor(s) also feel a need to scream in your ears to make a point, and if you're a youth, if you get anywhere NEAR the youth center, the worship team will try to grab your arm and take you to youth choir. Keep in mind, some of the sermons (more like TED talks tbh) can help, but I feel like I don't get a whole lot out of it. The people there I feel like are more focused on crying, raising their hands, and singing(on the rare occasion "speaking in tounges" which is basically unintelligible gibberish) more than anything, though my mom seems to be surprisingly wise compared to some people there(thanks be to God).

I still can't enter OCIA until the fall, so I have to wait another year to be in communion. My gf has been gently pushing me to just go get a blessing instead of sitting in the pew. She goes to a different church, but does come to mine every other week.

So today, I did go up for the blessing. I also got my rosary blessed by the same priest that blessed me when I had my arms crossed for the Eucharist. We have had two lately at the same time. He was patient and non-judgemental with me, and I appreciate that more than anything. I listen to the rosary almost daily and I have a 1.5 hr drive to work. I'm came back for me, not to impress her or anyone. It's just what my heart tells me what I need to do.

I just wanted to tell my story a bit, I think maybe others here are in my position or are thinking about being in it. All I know is that there are so many things going on in my life and have been the last few years and they aren't coincidence. I know I am on the right path. The closer I got to Him, the worst my life got, but I need all the help and prayers I can get so that I can be in communion with Him and the true church. It's only through fire I feel like I can be purified. I can never have my old life back. I probably won't see my kids much as they are a long way away. I just need to trust in Him and know he has a plan for me.

hello, im 13 and want to get back into Catholicism. i havent been to church since i was about 8, and i just got a new bible and i already have Rosary beads. i started in the new testament because that is where my family and friends told me to start, other than that, i have no idea what to do. please help me out! thanks!

Hello to all, I just wanted to share the good news that after being away from the church for some while, I have regained my faith. I am what you all would call a "cradle catholic", and for many years after my confirmation I had strayed from Jesus Christ. It was my relentless studying of history, and truth, as well as the never ending call of God that brought me back. I just want to share this message to anyone that is like me, and is nervous, to just do it please Jesus glory is so much better than I can describe it to be. Christ truly is king!!!!!!!

I have had 3 miscarriages and one living child. We recently found out we are having another baby. Our first ultrasound showed all normal features and heartbeat but a small CRL. Baby is measuring 6 days too early. I know when conception occurred, my dates aren't wrong. We are so so scared to have another loss. The OB made us feel like we're destined for miscarriage. We desperately need prayers for our sweet baby. Our son turns 2 next week and cannot imagine our miracle baby's birthday being ruined by horrible news. I know God can do anything. I just hope He wants to. We've had so many losses. We're desperate. Please pray. Also, we're praying novenas to the Sacred Heart and St. Jude. Who else can we ask for intercession? I would be eternally grateful for all the prayers.

(full disclosure: I am posting this on my friend's behalf because he doesn't use social media - anything related to Christianity on my account is on his behalf)

When separated from any interpretive authority, sola scriptura—the belief that Scripture alone is the final authority in questions of faith and doctrine—presents an intrinsic contradiction. If everyone is allowed to read the Bible however they see fit, then there is no objective yardstick by which to compare different interpretations. This leads to doctrinal anarchy, or a theological free-for-all, in which all viewpoints are equally valid, regardless of how innovative or contradictory they may be.

To use the example of a national constitution to demonstrate this point. If every person read the constitution just in accordance with their own understanding, legal coherence would break down without the help of a skilled judge. The precise purpose of courts, judges, and legal experts is to uphold consistency and rootedness in precedent, tradition, and the corpus of acquired interpretational expertise. Their authority protects and stabilizes the integrity of the system. In a similar vein, the Catholic and Orthodox churches provide a coherent and historically grounded interpretation by referencing Scripture as well as the Church Fathers, Ecumenical Councils, and an unbroken line of apostolic succession.

Under Sola Scriptura, however, any Protestant can isolate verses and build entirely new doctrines—be it annihilationism, total rejection of Christ's divinity, or the rejection of free will—while dismissing two thousand years of theological development and patristic insight. In this model, no Protestant has the right to say a Catholic or Orthodox is "wrong"—because they themselves appeal only to their personal reading, while Catholics and Orthodox appeal to a living interpretive tradition.

Furthermore, Christ himself pleaded for Christian unity (John 17:21), which is undermined by this relativistic viewpoint. Thousands of groups with conflicting teachings, all claiming the Bible as their source, are the precise outcome of leaving interpretation completely up to the individual. However, truth cannot contradict itself by definition. In the event that doctrines A and B are incompatible, they cannot both be true, even if they both assert "biblical backing." As a result, subjectivism results from Sola Scriptura without an interpretive authority, where the authority of Scripture is paradoxically decreased and replaced by the preferences of individual readers rather than the Word of God. Everyone becoming their own pope is incompatible with a self-authenticating canon.

In contrast, the Catholic and Orthodox traditions offer a coherent epistemology: Scripture, interpreted within the context of the living Church, safeguarded by apostolic succession and the guidance of the Holy Spirit promised to the Church (John 16:13), not to every isolated reader.