Catholic Church

By Philip Kosloski, Aleteia - Advent, similar to Lent, is a time of spiritual warfare. Its a period when the devil attacks us more openly, as we strive to reorient our lives to Jesus Christ... Pope Benedict XVI reminded us of this reality during a general audience in 2008, stating that “Advent also means anticipation. The dark night of evil is still strong.”

My Catholic Life - ACT OF CONTRITION: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.  Amen.

By Richard Van Kirk, Catholic Stand - There is a stone building called “Mary’s House” near the ancient city of Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) on a hillside named “Nightingale”. The house is simple, built on an ancient foundation first seen in a vision by German mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, and rebuilt by Servant of God Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey (1837-1915), a French Sister of the Daughters of Charity.

By Father George W. Rutler, Catholic Education Resource Center - The same might be said of those who are consecrated in the Religious life.  The difference is that most of the Church consists in laypeople, while monks, nuns, and other consecrated Sisters and Brothers are a small fraction of the People of God, but are needed to remind all the baptized that our true home is in heaven.  The distinctive habits that they wear are reminders of their role.