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What do two Catholic men who believe in God and love the Church sound like when they have a conversation? Listen to ‘”A New York Catholic Conversation” to hear for yourself. For several years every Thursday morning, Frank Alagia and Deacon John Catalano would have breakfast after the 7am Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and they would talk about things they cared about; the daily Gospel message, the Sacraments, Holy Days, forgiveness, and any number of topics of interest to Catholic people. ...
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INGRATITUDE. Jesus said, “Ten were cleansed, were there not? Where are the other nine?” If we do not stay close to Jesus in the Eucharist and in prayer, we can fall prey to ego, pride, and a lack of humility. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux said, "Jesus does not demand great action from us, but simply surrender, and gratitude." Join the conversation: any…
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MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN. These four Evangelists all had the same goal — to proclaim that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came into the world, suffered, died, and rose from the dead, so that all mankind would be saved from sin. But they each came to the story from a different point of view and wrote to different audiences. Knowing more abo…
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DIVINE MERCY. His Merciful Forgiveness extends to all who are in need, and ask for it. If this is true, and we believe it, why not say the prayer as often as possible – "Jesus, I Trust In You" ? Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER SUNDAY. As we enter into His Passion on Good Friday, we prayerfully follow Him to the Cross, and to His tomb. And when we awaken on Easter Sunday, we recognize once again, that ‘He Is Risen’ today, and every day, for the rest of our lives. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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THE LORD'S PRAYER. Jesus said to His disciples, "This is how you are to pray; 'Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.'" This prayer is said when we are baptized, and when we are buried, and at every Mass, every day, in every church throughout the world. It is said to be the perfect prayer, because Our Lord Himself connects us to God Our Fathe…
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HOW IS IT GOING THIS LENT? We start on Ash Wednesday with good intentions, but as the days wear on, we may start falling short. It's a good time to readjust and strengthen an abstinence you may have taken on. And remember to check the ego for envy or jealousy, so that you will remain free to love with a joyful and forgiving heart. Join the conversa…
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GROWING DURING LENT. We’re in motion during Lent. With a desire to return and draw closer to God, we avoid things that keep us from Him. Through prayer and self-denial, we begin again to align ourselves with the suffering Christ, who we can now more eagerly follow to the Cross, and beyond. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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STOP WORRYING! When we worry, we are focusing outside of the present moment. We are overthinking the past, and harboring anxiety about the future. But Jesus insists that we place our trust completely in our heavenly Father, and He challenges our lack of faith; "Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?" Join the conversation:…
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ASH WEDNESDAY. "Gotta get my ashes!” Ok, but what else do I need to think about, as I prepare for Lent this year? Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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JUBILEE YEAR. The Church celebrates a Jubilee every 25 years, and in 2025 the theme is 'Pilgrims of Hope,' a year dedicated to hope for a world that is suffering. In this "Holy Year," the Pope calls all Christians to re-establish a proper relationship with God and with one another. It is a time for the true joy that comes from spiritual renewal, pe…
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CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY. Although Carmelite Spirituality traces back to the Middle Ages, it still helps us today because of its focus on prayer, contemplation, and service to God. It includes devotion to our Blessed Mother and is based on a deep desire to experience God's presence in everyday life. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@gmai…
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A DEMON SPEAKS. We all experience the presence of evil in our lives in different ways, and Jesus Himself confronts Satan directly in the Bible. What if the Devil spoke, and explained how he deceives and destroys people, especially those of us who have faith? Let's listen to the voice of evil, when a demon speaks. Join the conversation: anycatholicc…
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MEDICALLY-ASSISTED SUICIDE. Whether it is called "compassionate" or "dying with dignity," any effort to end one's life before natural death is considered by the Church to be "morally unacceptable" and opposed to God's will. Suffering at the end of our lives may well serve as a reminder of our spiritual need for grace and mercy in the judgment which…
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PERSEVERANCE IN THE NEW YEAR. Have you made resolutions, and thought about your goals for this year? Now is the time, and you’re going to need some tools to help you along the way. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS. We don’t notice them or think about them much, but upon reflection, they are always with us. They are bearers of good news; they are there to protect us, and to assure us of God’s love and mercy. Our Angels exist to help us know the will of God, for each and every one of us. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@…
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LET THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN YOUR LIFE. "Leave room for the Holy Spirit!" In our Creed we say that the third Person of the Blessed Trinity is "the Lord, the giver of life." We constantly need to remove those things from our lives that block or prevent the flow of grace and peace and love that come from the Holy Spirit of God, Who proceeds from the F…
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A CHRISTMAS REFLECTION. It seems like joy is in short supply this year, but it’s there, in abundance, if you know where to look. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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MOTHER TERESA. In dedicating her life to the poorest of the poor, St. Teresa of Calcutta has become one of the most beloved women of all time, and the work of the Missionaries of Charity continues around the world. The simplicity of her life and the authenticity of her vocation are an inspiration for all of us in our own journeys of faith in Christ…
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THE DIARY OF SAINT MARIA FAUSTINA. The Polish nun who lived a cloistered and contemplative life is now known throughout the world as "The Apostle of the Divine Mercy." In her Diary, Sister Faustina reveals her intimate and mystical union with God, and now when we gaze on the Image of the Risen Christ with Blood and Water flowing from His side, we b…
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ADVENT. Is everything ready? If not, Advent is the time to once again prepare for a new birth, and a new life. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE RIGHT TO LIFE. As Catholics, we believe in the sanctity of human life, and we take a moral position on abortion based on God's law and Church teaching. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and we are all called to defend life from conception until natural death. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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THE ROSARY. It’s not for everyone, but many people who say the Rosary find it to be a spiritually engaging and enriching prayer. If you are less familiar with it, you may be surprised to learn of its depth and its power. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE. Saint Paul says that love is patient, love is kind; it endures all things; and love never fails. But to "will the good of another" is a constant challenge, and a very difficult thing to do. It requires us to break free from the ego and self-absorption, so that we can really see the heart and needs of others. Join the conver…
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WINDOWS OF THE SOUL. It is with our eyes that we perceive all of the beauty of creation, but it is also with our eyes that we see temptation. We are greatly blessed with our ability to see, so we must take custody of our eyes and fix them on Christ, who guides us from darkness into the light. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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HOW THE DEVIL DECEIVES US. The Devil is more alive today than ever, and has worked his way into every aspect of our lives, without us realizing it. How do we ward off the enemy's blows and defend ourselves in this ongoing spiritual battle? Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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Practical Guidelines for Order in Your Life
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PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR ORDER IN YOUR LIFE. There are numerous self-help guides online and in books that offer ways to improve any and all aspects of one's life. We check in with St. Francis de Sales, who provides some practical ways to help us strengthen our own personal commitment to our faith and to discipleship. Join the conversation: anycatho…
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REDEMPTION AND SALVATION. Redemption is understood as "deliverance from sin," but Salvation requires our cooperation and participation. For eternal salvation we need grace from God, and we must make our Redeemer the center of our lives. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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A LETTER FROM BEYOND. We pray for the souls in Purgatory because we believe that one day they will be joined with God in Heaven. But what of those souls who have turned away from God and who now exist in eternal damnation? Listen to the voice of one who calls out from a place in which there is no love, no faith, and no hope. Join the conversation: …
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DIFFICULTY & HOLINESS. We all strive to be good Christians, but the path to holiness seems filled with obstacles and difficulties. When we accept these challenges as God's will for us, we are able to accept the grace that feeds us and enables us to overcome, and give glory to God. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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MEDITATIVE PRAYER. Our greatest prayer as Catholics is the Mass itself, in which we express our thoughts and beliefs externally, through words proclaimed aloud. The other kind of prayer is Meditative, which is a quest to listen and talk to God. Through silence and stillness, we go deeper into our heart and soul, which is the dwelling place of Our L…
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AM I WASTING THE GIFT OF TIME? Many of us are obsessed with time, and yet we don't seem ready, or prepare ourselves for the time when we will be held to account for our lives. Jesus warns us that the day will come, and we must use this gift of time on earth to be prepared. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE. When we gaze into the Holy Face of Jesus in prayer, we enter into His passion and humbly align ourselves with the suffering Christ. And Jesus Himself told Sister Mary of St. Peter, "Those on earth who contemplate the wounds of My Face, shall in Heaven behold it radiant with glory, and they themselves shall shine with part…
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MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY. Jesus uses the word "meek" in the Beatitudes - it represents a quality of the heart with which a person is willing to accept and submit to the will and desire of someone else - so necessary in marriage. And by embracing the virtue of humility, we can more readily love God above all things, and love our neighbor as ourselves. …
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GROWTH, TRANSFORMATION, & THE JOY OF GOD. We are called to be saints, and we must keep striving for growth and transformation in our spiritual lives. A Benedictine nun, Sister Mary David, offers reflections on spirituality that are steeped in simple wisdom and practical advice. Her collected writings are in a book called The Joy of God. Join the co…
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GRUMBLING. It's been called "faithless complaining." It's moaning and growling about everything and everyone around us, but it is dangerous because it can easily turn to bitterness and harden our hearts. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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TURNING BACK TO WORLDLINESS. Many of us make only a tepid effort at practicing our faith, and grow frustrated when the going gets tough. In our frustration, we turn back to the things of the world. Worldliness seems the easier path. Join the conversation: [email protected] anewyorkcatholicconversation
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THE 7 SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY. Are you looking for ways to enrich and strengthen your prayer life this Lent? Consider practicing the Spiritual Works of Mercy. They draw us into a deeper relationship with God and make us instruments of God's peace. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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REFUSALS. It is God's will to enter into our lives, and abide in us. He does not force us, He calls us. But we ourselves often block this from happening. We sometimes intentionally stand in the way of a fuller life with God. Let's talk about these impediments, these "refusals" to make room for God in our hearts. Join the conversation: anycatholicco…
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RELICS. We preserve and venerate these bones and fragments because they give a connectedness to the sacred, to the holy people of God – the Saints! Relics are not magic, but they prayerfully draw us closer to God, and they can be a channel through which God answers our prayers. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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INDULGENCES. Yes, they still exist, and they are a wonderful incentive to pray! Any act of prayer expressed devoutly provides a way to reduce the amount of punishment one must undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. God is merciful! Not only does He offer us freedom from eternal punishment, but also from the consequence or punishment requ…
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ARE YOU PLEASING TO GOD? As Catholics, our ultimate objective and goal is to join in everlasting life with God, by loving God above all things, and loving neighbor as ourselves. But are we doing our best to become more pleasing to God? Do we pursue the natural desires of this world, or the interior joy that Jesus promises us? Join the conversation:…
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WHAT THE SOULS IN PURGATORY TELL US. We don't talk about it much these days, but it's real -- a state of purification "so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." Many Saints have heard from the souls in Purgatory, and have shared with us their requests. So, what is Purgatory like, and how can we benefit from what these sou…
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A WALK THROUGH A CATHOLIC CHURCH. When you enter a Catholic Church, you are met with a variety of symbolic and real expressions of our faith. Everything that we touch and see is there to help us give honor and praise to God. Let's walk in and remind ourselves of the beauty and wonder that surround us. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@…
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THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY. When we say the Rosary, we ask our Blessed Mother to "pray for us, now and at the hour of our death." In the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, we are invited through prayer to console her sorrowful heart and unite our suffering to hers, and by doing so receive beautiful graces of peace, consolation, and strength. Join the …
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THE PARTICULAR GOOD. The Evil One is at work when we are encouraged to become attached to our Particular Goods, even if they are not what is best for us. Whatever we desire is most important, not what God wants for us. Then the attachments that are particular to each one of us, lead us away from God. Join the conversation: anycatholicconversation@g…
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GOSSIP. It's something we all know we should not do, yet it seems to appear in so many of our conversations. It's harmful to ourselves, to those we talk about, and even to those who hear it. Let's discuss how we can identify gossip, and how we can stop doing it. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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SMALL SACRIFICES. The greatest penances most of us must deal with come in the small obstacles and frustrations of everyday life. If we can confront them and turn them into small sacrifices, we will achieve small victories which will strengthen our will, and draw us closer to God. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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PRIVATE REVELATIONS. We accept that God reveals Himself through Sacred Scripture, and is present in the Eucharist at Mass. But private revelations are messages or inspirations that come to all of us, in many different ways. When we breathe prayer to God, sincerely from the heart, we know that God reveals His love and mercy, for each and every one o…
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THE 12 APOSTLES. Jesus picked these 12 ordinary men to follow Him and witness to His ministry on earth. After the Resurrection, He visited them to reassure them of His love, and to strengthen their faith. And when they were filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they became the foundation of the Church, which even the gates of hell …
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THE BEATITUDES. Through the Beatitudes, Jesus deepens our commitment to the 10 Commandments and offers us a way of living on earth that promises eternal life with God in Heaven. They point to a true Christian way of life, and demonstrate what kinds of human lives are "Blessed" by God. Join the conversation: [email protected]…
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