Principles for Your Week

Very easily, we can lost perspective what is important in the spiritual life. Fr Walter Cizek who heroically celebrated Mass in Russian prison camps, writes of the tremendous joy the Eucharist brought to the prisoners.

The family is a divine institution, which is reflected by Christ coming into the world through the family. Because no human family is perfect, we must continually pray for our families that we grow in holiness.

Every Catholic is indebted to the great gift of the priesthood. St. Gregory Nazianzus in his writings reflects on the incredible grace of the priesthood, and what priests must do to fulfill their priestly obligations.

In the penitential season of Lent and Advent fasting offers a valuable opportunity to practice self-denial. The anonymous piece titled "The Fast Life" captures the spiritual rhythm of fasting and feasting.

Rapid change often obscures the value and goodness of past generations. By reflecting on history, we can gain valuable insights and reevaluate our perspective.

Dr. Warren Carroll was in part inspired to establish Christendom College by a six-week program in Spain where he taught. Through his founding vision and commitment to furthering the pursuit of faith and reason Christendom Colleges continues to thrive today.

Poetry often expresses beauty and truth in such a way that cannot articulated in the confines of prose. The poem "The Trimmins on the Rosary" by John O'Brian captures the rich and melancholic spirit of traditional Irish Catholic culture.

Catholic education, through commitment to the faith and reason, plays a vital role to reinstating order in society. In his apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, St. Pope John Paul II outlines the essential characteristics Catholic colleges must follow in the pursuit of truth.

A powerful form of spiritual practice is the Divine Office. More recent Popes especially encourage the laity to practice the Divine Office, which is an incredible source of blessing and grace.

Our life inevitably involves suffering, which we can offer up as powerful sources of grace. St. Bernadette serves as a profound witness of humble acceptance of suffering.

Pope Benedict XVI recognized the vital importance of Catholic education. At his historic address in 2008 at the Catholic University of America he emphasized that the priority of Catholic higher education should be encountering the love and truth of Christ.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen by extensive outreach served as a guiding light to the nation. He wrote insightfully on the problems besetting America, and how to overcome them through love.

Today in Principles, Dr. O'Donnell shares an original song that was the result of the the night of January 2, 1973.

St. Leo the Great not only protected the Church from the evils of heresy, but also shed light on the mystery of the Incarnation.

St. Joseph watching over baby Jesus in Bethlehem offers a special moment of contemplation for Catholics, which the Poem entitled "While Mary Sleeps" beautifully describes.

The teaching and tradition of Pope Saint John Paul II holds enormous wisdom for Catholics today. In particular, he understood the evils which threaten to destroy the family.

The beauty and innocence of children is especially witnessed when they are resting. Sleep plays an essential role in our lives, and holds a special place of rest and contemplation.

The Jedeo-Christian faith is deeply grounded in history. Christianity empathizes the importance of history, which is seen in a special way around Christmastime.

In order to combat the darkness, we must embrace the light of the gospel, even as secular culture shuns the truth.

As Fr. Patrick Peyton says, the family that prays together stays together. The rosary is a powerful way to strengthen the family as domestic Church.

Throughout history and up into the present day there have been repeated assaults on religious liberty and freedom of conscience. The Roman centurion St. Marcellus, serves as an inspiring defender of the faith in oppressing times.

The family is meant to be a center of prayer. One of the most powerful ways to strengthen the family is having parents praying together, which serves as a model to the children the importance our relationship with Christ.

The father plays a crucial role as the model of faith within the family. Statistically, if the father is the first to convert to the Christian faith, there is a 93% probability that the rest of the family will follow suit, testifying to meaningful influence that the father has as a figure of devotion and holiness.

In times of great social unrest, the the role of the father in the family is more important than ever. Having a real and meaningful relationship with parents is essential for children to feel loved and valued as a person.

Pope Saint John Paul II emphasizes the complementary nature of man and woman as necessary in the role of raising children.