Catholicism

Compassion

Why Catholicism?

I wanted Catholicism to help me with two particular areas of my life. The first was to cultivate a sense of love for others. At the time (and even now, if I’m honest), I make the mistake of judging others by their negative attributes, rather than viewing them as fellow members of humanity. Christianity is all about love, so it seemed to make sense.

The other thing I wanted from Catholicism was clarity. Life was beginning to feel meaningless, as if all the trivial activities of daily life would never amount to anything significant, for myself or others. What could be more meaningful than God? | Expand

Catholicism

History

  • The Catholic church is considered to be officially founded by Jesus Christ and the first Pope was Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. However, the Catholic Church only made institutional progress when it became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 CE
  • If you’re looking to party, the Catholic Church has 56 Holy Days and Feast Days. Who says Catholics are always serious?
  • Confession, as explained to me the late Father Curry (SJ), is less about actually admitting your sins, but rather, more like a sort of therapy in which you attempt to diagnose the behaviors that make you feel spiritually separated from God and those you love

Read More

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

catholicismThis is an easy to read book about the Jesuit perspective on….well…everything. He makes a lot of difficult Catholic and Jesuit concepts more digestible.

The Ignation Adventure

catholicismThis is a guide to doing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises on your own. Very worthwhile.

 
 

Mere Christianity

catholicismCS Lewis (of Chronicles of Narnia fame) converted to Christianity (the Anglican Church) wrote a defense of Christianity that is quite smart and compelling. I also recommend reading his other books on Christianity.

In a Modern World...

Modern Western life is primarily focused on the individual and how the individual can succeed in a free society. While I wouldn’t trade this development for anything, it can also lead to an excessive focus on your own needs, rather than the needs of other. We focus on our problems and issues instead of cultivating love and compassion of other. The ancient tradition of Catholicism is brilliant at helping bring out our better natures and balancing our inherent selfishness.

Catholic Wisdom

  • The Freedom of Constraint
  • My favorite personal development blogs and how ancient wisdom makes them better
  • Marriage according to ancient wisdom (I got engaged)
  • Are we all Frank Underwood?
  • Modernity: An Age of Disordered Love
  • What is New is Old: Nuns and Nones
  • When you are envious of your friend’s success
  • A letter to someone on the internet who is getting old and feels lost
  • Pay attention
  • Your imperfections are an asset
  • The Genesee Diary: The Priest Who Needed to “Get Away”
  • A meaningful life requires flexibility and continuity
  • Case Studies

  • Reader Case Study: How a Skeptic Learned to Benefit From Organized Religion
  • My 30 Day Experiment

    My Practice: Attend Mass a much as possible and perform the Spiritual Exercises daily

  • Catholicism: Intro to Month 2 – Catholicism for Love and Clarity
  • Catholicism: Day 1 – My First Mass and Spiritual Exercise
  • Catholicism: Day 2 – Faith, Stoicism, and Confirmation Bias
  • Catholicism: Day 3 – The Shepherd and the Sheeple
  • Catholicism: Day 4 – Someone Farted at Mass
  • Catholicism: Day 5 – Coincidence or Signs from God?
  • Catholicism: Day 6 – You’re a mixed bag (and that’s ok)
  • Catholicism: Day 7 and Week 1 – Catholicism Week 1 Recap
  • Catholicism: Day 8 – Should you thank God for the weather?
  • Catholicism: Day 9 – Jesuit Decision Making
  • Catholicism: Day 10 – Everything is Amazing
  • Catholicism: Day 11 – God wants you be to be (a little) unhappy
  • Catholicism: Day 12 – Which is more comforting: God or protein shakes?
  • Catholicism: Day 13 – The Christian Perspective on Wealth and Poverty
  • Catholicism: Day 14 and Week 2 Recap – God as an Olympic Coach
  • Catholicism: Day 15 – God as Santa Claus?
  • Catholicism: Day 16 – Jesuit Career Advice
  • Catholicism: Day 17 – Accepting Love
  • Catholicism: Day 18 – Lent, the Ultimate Self-Help Program?
  • Catholicism: Day 19 – Sighs too Deep for Words
  • Catholicism: Day 20 – Calling on God to do great work
  • Catholicism: Day 21 and Week 3 Recap – The Path of Exploration
  • Catholicism: Day 22 – Lean In and the Hierarchy of Values
  • Catholicism: Day 23 – Disordered Love and Spiritual Freedom
  • Catholicism: Day 24 – Letting go of worldly ambitions
  • Catholicism: Day 25 – Love, Pain, and Indifference
  • Catholicism: Day 26 – The Correct Pursuits (1 of 2)
  • Catholicism: Day 27 – The Correct Pursuits (2 of 2)
  • Catholicism: Day 28 and Week 4 Recap
  • Catholicism: Day 29 – Stoic vs. Christian Detachment
  • Catholicism: Day 30 and Month 2 Wrap-Up