Uncategorized – Flourish Catholic

How do Catholics Understand the Pursuit of “Self-Esteem”?

Catholics are stereotyped as the religion that lays on the guilt trip, that makes people feel that they are never good enough. Catholics, our critics say, go through life wringing their hands in anxiety about whether God really loves them and whether they will go to heaven. From their perspective, Catholics need to embrace theContinue reading “How do Catholics Understand the Pursuit of “Self-Esteem”?”

What do Catholics Believe About Purgatory?

Before we begin this exploration, let me affirm that Purgatory is a doctrine of the Catholic Church—part of the “deposit of faith” that we believe comes from God’s Divine Revelation and, as such, is true. We do not choose to agree with or disagree with doctrine like we do with some restaurant or movie review—orContinue reading “What do Catholics Believe About Purgatory?”

How do Catholics Understand God’s Judgment After Death?

When a person dies, we believe their soul immediately faces God in what’s called the “particular judgment”—they are judged by God as fit for heaven (with perhaps purification in purgatory first) or as fit for hell. At the end of all God’s creation, at the Last Judgment, the particular judgment each person experienced is confirmedContinue reading “How do Catholics Understand God’s Judgment After Death?”

Elijah’s Journey in Oregon

A poem and a prayer based on 1 Kings 19 I walked out into the Oregon High desert as far as I could go. Stumbling through tears Each step an irrevocable choice to go to an end–to end what had already ended. I lay down under a juniper dizzy and sick with thirst. My backContinue reading “Elijah’s Journey in Oregon”

How Do Catholics Make Use of the Bible?

It a very common stereotype (and accurate in some cases) that Catholics, unlike other Christians, don’t know much about the Bible and don’t use it. I want to provide you with a more truthful understanding of how Catholics make use of the Bible. We Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God—itContinue reading “How Do Catholics Make Use of the Bible?”

“Lord, Teach us to Pray”

The apostles watched Jesus praying in some deserted place, and after He finished, they asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus teaches them the words of the “Our Father.” We call it the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus taught it to us, not because it was how He prayed to the Father.Continue reading ““Lord, Teach us to Pray””

Diamonds and Hosts and What Really Matters

Many years ago, I glanced down at my left hand on Corpus Christi Sunday and something caught my eye. The diamond was missing out my engagement ring! I was busily preparing the church for our First Holy Communion Mass beginning in under an hour, but I stopped and began searching for the diamond. Maybe itContinue reading “Diamonds and Hosts and What Really Matters”

What do Catholics Teach About the Importance of “Self Esteem”?

Catholics are stereotyped as the religion that lays on the guilt trip, that makes people feel that they are never good enough. Catholics, our critics say, go through life wringing their hands in anxiety about whether God really loves them and whether they will go to heaven. Catholics need to embrace the value of “self-esteem”Continue reading “What do Catholics Teach About the Importance of “Self Esteem”?”

“Arise and be Doing!” (1 Chronicles 22:16b)

King David, after winning peace for his kingdom and nearing the end of his life, charges the leaders of Israel to help his son construct a Temple in honor of the Lord God. In this Temple, the Ark of the Covenant would dwell, gathering all people of the Covenant to worship as one community. DavidContinue reading ““Arise and be Doing!” (1 Chronicles 22:16b)”