I still remember walking to the mall one day with my friend during the beginning of my high school years. We both had on cute outfits and were hoping to get some attention. We would smile and giggle when guys honked or whistled out of their windows, harmlessly enjoying the attention and affirmation. Then one car actually pulled over as Read more…
Do you know what’s funny about dressing modestly? It is the hardest thing to start, yet then becomes impossible to stop. My journey with modesty has happened in stages, prompted by questions that I continued to ask myself. These questions came from an internal battle between wanting to fit in and be seen as attractive on the outside, and Read more…
Our favorite movies make us feel things. As Hollywood legend Susan Sarandon said, “You go into a little dark room and become incredibly vulnerable. On one hand, all your perspectives can be challenged—you could feel something you couldn’t feel normally. It can encourage you to be the protagonist in your own life. On the other hand, it can completely misshape you.” I experience Read more…
How do you greet someone on a first date? Do you keep things polite with a handshake? Presume a certain level of affection and go for a hug? Add a kiss on the cheek? Or maybe avoid the issue altogether and stick with an awkward smile? I genuinely don’t know the answer! There have been times when I’ve gone for Read more…
I’ll never forget one particular high-school youth group that I attended, where the minister was preaching on why you shouldn’t have sex before marriage. To make his point, he took out a piece of gum and started chewing. After a few moments, he spat the chewed gum into one hand, held out the fresh piece in his other hand, and Read more…
About a week ago, I watched with an open mouth, a dropped jaw, and a cocked eyebrow as Jennifer Lopez took the Super Bowl stage at halftime to perform—and perform, she did. Dressed in the kind of costume that leaves little to the imagination, coupled with the combination of suggestive poles and “dance moves” that anyone should definitely not have Read more…
When I first began exploring the area of Catholic moral teaching that is chastity—not only implementing it, but also internalizing it—I couldn’t get my hands on enough material. I discovered I absolutely loved reading books that deepened my understanding of something so good; that I loved connecting with other young adults to hear their dating stories and to share my testimony with them; that Read more…
Have you ever questioned the best thing to do or to say around your crush? This is a story about two teens who both had a big crush on each other. Among misunderstandings and miscues, they decided to pray with each other and for each other. And prayer made all the difference! We met during a cold, grey, Michigan winter. Read more…
Suppose you meet an amazing man. He’s devout, mature, your best friend, you’re crazy about each other—but he wasn’t always like this. Like many deceived young people, he wasn’t always pure. As with any guy, make sure his chaste lifestyle is the real thing. If he isn’t faithful to you with his heart, his mind, his body, or his eyes, Read more…
Dating as a young Catholic can feel like walking a tightrope. In the modern culture of ‘Netflix and Chill’, you want to be intentional about actually getting to know the person you’re dating. But in a church culture where people start freaking out about finding their soulmate from age 22 onwards, you also want to keep things low pressure. So, Read more…
I don’t normally listen to the radio. Podcasts, yes. My own playlist with the windows down, yes. Never those annoying talk shows. God’s providence was at work when the radio came on and I left it on. The hosts were discussing a study done on overall psychological happiness and life stability. They asked viewers to call in and say what Read more…
I used to be a romance addict. It’s as life was all about falling in love. I was crush obsessed and had my first boyfriend when I was in eighth grade. I met him in youth group and he became the sole reason why I attended. We were on and off for ten years because I was confused and in Read more…
Recently, I was asked to explain why I’d never act on my same-sex attractions. Surprisingly, I was excited to respond because it reminded me of beauty and truth of our Catholic faith and the joy I have come to know in pursuing a heart of virtue. Indeed, I was initially inspired to pursue chastity because of the beautiful example of others Read more…
Hours before we were married, my wife and I went to Confession separately, wanting to enter into marriage as free as we could be. We confessed times when we gave away our love to individuals who didn’t deserve it and times when we ourselves failed to love as we should. I knew that through years of viewing pornography, I had Read more…
Hey, beautiful people. Let’s talk about attraction. Dating can be difficult territory to navigate, sometimes. It’s tough to find a partner who is devoted to God, intelligent, driven, and family-oriented. Throw a little something called “chemistry,” or romance, into the mix, and the whole process becomes as tricky as a chem lab experiment. I think what baffles me most is Read more…
There was a time when I would spend hours analyzing a single text message that perhaps contained five words. Other times, I would find myself scrolling through an entire text conversation trying to decipher if this guy was interested in me or not. Why do we do this? We say that the dating world is so confusing, but I think Read more…
You’re in a relationship and things are going well–so now what? Do you think about ‘taking the big plunge’ and getting married? Or do you search for basically any other option besides that? Maybe we can move in together? Or get a dog? Or maybe I can close my eyes and hope everything stays the same for as long as Read more…
Se sei un fan di Parks and Recreations * (* serie televisiva USA trasmessa in Italia dal 2012, sul canale “Joi”) potresti ricordare l’episodio del matrimonio di Donna e Joe in cui Ron Swanson diceva: “Adoro i matrimoni: vi trovi del buon cibo, la celebrazione dell’amore romantico e soprattutto adoro le Chiese. Di’ pure quello che vuoi sulla religione, ma “quei “farabutti” sapevano Read more…
Immagina questo: sei in una relazione con qualcuno e le cose stanno andando bene – e ti chiedi “e adesso? Pensi di “fare il grande passo” e sposarti? O cerchi, fondamentalmente, qualche altra opzione oltre a quella del matrimonio? E’ possibile che tu, forse, stia pensando di andare a convivere ? O, magari, di prendere un cane? O forse pensi Read more…
Avete mai avuto dubbi sulla cosa migliore da fare o da dire alla persona per la quale vi siete presi “una cotta”? Vi parlerò della storia di due adolescenti che si erano presi una grande cotta l’uno per l’altro e che, a un certo punto, decisero, tra incomprensioni e incertezze, di pregare l’uno per l’altra. E la questa loro preghiera sortì qualche effetto! Questa Read more…
Se avete seguito le notizie della scorsa estate, la Planned Parenthood Federation d’America si è trovata al centro di un importante scandalo. Al momento sta affrontando le audizioni del Congresso Americano e si trova di fronte alla prospettiva di perdere gli annuali finanziamenti statali pari a 528,4 milioni di dollari a causa delle accuse di violazione della legge federale per aver venduto Read more…
Mi trovo in uno stadio della mia vita in cui molti miei amici si stanno preparando al matrimonio. Nel momento in cui i miei amici pianificano il proprio matrimonio e i biglietti della luna di miele, ci sono tre parole che fanno capolino e poi entrano in profondità nella preparazione al matrimonio: pianificazione familiare naturale (NFP). La spiegazione che viene Read more…
The Catholic Church is so behind the times. What does it know? Things have changed. Everyone is living together now. It’s no big deal. But, as it happens, completely secular studies back up what the Church has been telling us all along: cohabiting is bad for your relationship. The National Marriage Project (not affiliated with the Church) did a thorough Read more…
I’m saving myself for marriage—five words that have the potential to send a man running, or at least that’s what I thought. Prior to meeting my husband, I often lacked the confidence to say these words aloud. I questioned how serious a relationship needed to be in order to share this part of myself, and at the same time, wondered Read more…
Fifteen There is a Taylor Swift song called “Fifteen” that contains a lyric that deeply resonates with me: “In your life, you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team. I didn’t know it at fifteen.” Twenty-five used to feel old to me. Now, looking back, I understand that 25 isn’t old—rather, 15 is young. My teenage readers: don’t Read more…
Quando ci siamo sposati ero avevo alcune “certezze granitiche” su mio marito. Sapevo, per esempio, che Tommy, durante i suoi pisolini sul divano, russava quando si addormentava, per cui probabilmente, avremmo bisticciato in luna di miele, quindi ci sarebbe sevito un periodo di adattamento per essere pronti nel momento in cui avremmo vissuto insieme, e, inoltre, avremmo avuto bisogno anche Read more…
Un giorno ero appolaiata su un tavolo pieno di riviste nella sala d’aspetto di uno studio medico. E, invece di concentrarmi su mio figlio appena nato che accanto vicino a me, mi sono messa ad ascoltare attentamente l’infermiera che chiacchierava mentre compilava dei documenti. All’improvviso, l’infermiera ha posto una domanda che ha rovinato il buon umore che avevo. L’infermiera ha Read more…
Looking for dating and relationship advice? I have an answer: try being present. I reached for my pocket to check my phone for a text. Everyone around me was still there, but for that moment they ceased to exist. This is a common occurrence for many, but now imagine someone doing that on a date. Before we dive into the Read more…
Sento spesso dire : Per” aiutare “le mie sorelle di fede, dovrei sostenerle in tutti i loro sforzi nel campo dei diritti riproduttivi. Ma cosa succede quando si concede a una donna accesso a tutte queste informazioni che in realtà limitano, di fatto, la sua libertà? Lasciatemi spiegare attraverso un’analogia: Supponiamo che io vada a comprare un’auto per il tuo compleanno, Read more…
Una nuova ondata ha recentemente preso il sopravvento sui miei social media. Molti dei miei amici ben intenzionati hanno empatizzato verso le milioni di vite perse a causa dell’aborto, sostenendo che questi numeri diminuirebbero, senza ombra di dubbio, se solo aumentassimo l’istruzione e l’accesso al controllo delle nascite. La tesi da cui partono sostiene, in primo luogo, il fatto che Read more…
La castità è un insegnamento tanto stimolante quanto liberatorio della Chiesa Cattolica. È senza dubbio una virtù radicalmente contraria alla cultura odierna e richiede grande padronanza di sé e sacrificio. La castità si basa su un amore ordinato verso Dio divenendo, di conseguenza, un amore autentico per gli altri. La mia esperienza di castità prima e durante la vita coniugale Read more…
Non ho mai dato un pugno in faccia a qualcuno, ma onestamente ci sono momenti in cui vorrei poter ignorare la virtù della calma e dell’autocontrollo per farlo. Alcuni mesi prima del mio matrimonio, una persona mi chiese (sapendo che ero una vergine ancora a 29 anni per libera celta), “Ma anche il tuo fidanzato è vergine?” Risposi, “No”. Allora Read more…
Sapete cos’è la cosa che mi fa ridere del vestirsi in modo modesto? La cosa più difficile è iniziare, ma una volta che cominci diventa impossibile smettere. Il mio viaggio con la modestia si è svolto a tappe, incoraggiato da domande che continuavo a pormi. Queste domande venivano da una continua battaglia interiore: volevo da una parte essere integrata e Read more…
Vestire con modestia è difficile. Parlando in quanto donna cattolica diciannovenne, che ama la moda, vi dirò per esperienza che vestirsi con modestia non è facile. Sapete perché? Perché la tua pelle è coperta. I media sono saturi di immagini di ragazze in top aderente e pantaloncini quasi inesistenti. Viene lasciato sempre meno all’immaginazione e la mia generazione è costretta Read more…
Ho scritto questo articolo perché una foto di me e di mio marito si è diffusa in modo virale su Internet. Volevo condividere la storia che si cela dietro a questa foto per le centinaia di migliaia di persone che hanno trovato ispirazione attraverso questo nostro momento dolcissimo. La Storia dietro alla foto Pochi momenti prima di andare all’altare la Read more…
L’amore è qualcosa di automatico, “precotto” – così che tutto ciò che dobbiamo fare è spingere il pulsante “play”? Questo ragazzo o quella ragazza ha sempre i miei interessi a cuore? Credo che conosciamo le risposte a queste domande-perché trovare il vero amore è spesso un processo complicato e confuso. Il titolo di questo articolo prende spunto da Giovanni Paolo Read more…
Quando ero una studentessa universitaria, a poco a poco mi abituai a sentire che la maggior parte della gente pensa che il sesso sia una cosa che si fa’ la terza volta che esci con qualcuno. Ho anche visto associazioni studentesche che distribuivano contraccettivi come se fossero caramelle. Non è certo una novità che la cultura sul campus universitario promuova Read more…
Spero che tu abbia già deciso che Cinquanta Sfumature di Grigio, non merita il tuo tempo. Ma dal momento che, in quanto cristiani, siamo chiamati ad impegnarci nella società per Cristo, ti sarà utile sapere un paio di cose su questo libro in modo da poterne parlare in modo coerente e convincente con i tuoi amici e colleghi. Cinquanta sfumature Read more…
One of the earliest memories I have is being about four years old in the drugstore with my dad. I remember ogling the rows of candy featured at the check-out counter before my eyes settled on a roll of Spree, and I asked my dad if we could get one. That time—for whatever reason – his answer was no, but Read more…
If you’re a Parks and Recreations fan, you may recall the episode of Donna and Joe’s wedding when Ron Swanson says, “I love weddings. Good food, the celebration of romantic love, and most of all Churches. Say what you will about organized religion those bastards knew how to construct an edifice.” Swanson’s statement has veracity. In our culture, people love weddings, Read more…
For many years, I rejected chastity while thinking I was truly free. However, that kept me from being able to experience love and joy in the way God designed, which I now experience today as a man who strives to live chastely. The Pursuit of Truth With same-sex attractions and transgender inclinations being part of my story, I knew I Read more…
Before we walk down this minefield, let’s set the record straight: this is also a guyissue, not just one for the ladies (and I’m not referring here to men simply “guarding their eyes”). I for one was completely enslaved to the idolatry of my physique for many years before my conversion. I lived for seeing improvement in the mirror—each night Read more…
The dating world can be tough to navigate. Scratch that– the dating world IS tough to navigate. There are some lessons which only come through experience while others can be gained through the wisdom of good friends and trusted advisors. In this blog I’d like to share a huge lesson that I have learned through my own life experience and Read more…
Have you ever felt rejected? I’m not talking about the kind of rejection you feel when you’re not invited somewhere, or if you ask someone out and they decline. I’m referring to a deeper and more persistent sense of rejection whereby you never feel desirable, good enough, or loveable. I’ve realized that this is a wound I have carried with Read more…
Fantasy (n): something that is produced by the imagination; an idea about doing something that is far removed from normal reality. Can fantasy fiction be a good thing? I mean, can pulling yourself away from reality be a good thing? Isn’t that what is so distorted about pornography? It’s not real. Studies reveal that men who look at porn find it Read more…
I’m probably not the only single Catholic who’s read the Book of Tobit and swooned over the notion that God has set someone apart for me since the beginning of creation. Obviously, when Tobiah married his wife, it was God’s will for this union to take place, as evidenced by the Archangel Raphael’s words to Tobiah: “Do not be afraid, Read more…
The emptiness enveloped me, and it was hard to breathe. It was over…In the depths of my soul I knew that I had to let go and close the door on the one who had my heart after almost 4 years. I had shared everything with him and when it was over there was nothing left. I was shell of Read more…
Recently, I have been hearing the topic of “chastity” everywhere. I have found so much encouragement through reading Jason and Crystalina Evert’s books and hearing my youth group talks about the “Feminine Genius.” However, at school (and on Instagram) it’s a whole different story. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good ol’ girl gushing sesh, but it hurts me Read more…
I’ve discerned religious life, gone on dating fasts and discerned what God is calling me to. I’m 30 and single. I promise that I’m still breathing and have not spontaneously combusted. All good here. I’m just aware that God is calling me to a vocation to marriage, and now it’s time to act. Looking back on my twenties, I see Read more…
“It’s not you… it’s me.” These are well-known “famous last words” of so many relationships. Well, this is what I wish I could tell every woman I’ve ever lusted after. What I mean, dear sisters in Christ, is that you are not the problem. It’s not you. It’s not your body. It was me and the state of my heart and the attachments of my heart that drove Read more…
I’m a Catholic man in my early twenties, I pray daily, and my cross in this life is gender confusion. What even is gender confusion? Gender confusion means different things for different people, but for me, it means I don’t have a grasp or even basic understanding of my own sexuality. Some days, I’m interested in dating a girl. Some Read more…
“I stopped reading fiction when I became Catholic.” The woman talking to me was obviously serious, but I couldn’t believe my ears. What a crime! What a shame! What a sad state of affairs! But I didn’t express my sorrow. After all, we were at a conference about honoring God with your sexuality, and there was no need to ask why Read more…
Recently, I’ve found myself discouraged over the realization that many young Catholics view sex as something shameful. In fact, I have struggled with personal feelings of guilt over my longing for physical intimacy, attempting to stifle these desires despite the fact that they are natural. Of course, it is necessary to understand that pre-marital sex is always wrong, even if Read more…
Here it goes. Get out your phone. Open Google. Now, fill your search history with searches of beautiful women. Wait, what?! I don’t mean what you probably think I mean. I want you to search for women like Theresa of Calcutta, Gianna Molla, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Jane Frances de Chantal. Why? Because I want you to take a few moments to reflect Read more…
I would never marry anyone unless we’d lived together first. The first date. The first I love you. Moving in together. The proposal. The wedding. Fingers crossed for a marriage that lasts! If not, repeat step one. We seem to have things a little out of order nowadays… There’s a lot of reasons divorce rates are so high but one Read more…
Ending your daily binge on porn involves some major life changes, but quitting doesn’t have to be the drudgery you think it will be. Believe it or not, quitting will actually make you a better you! Statistics show us that porn can mold us to be, well, a-not-so-nice-guy or gal. Shockingly, only half of daily porn users say porn featuring Read more…
Ogni anno negli Stati Uniti, c’è una festa nazionale chiamata la domenica del Super Bowl. La metà delle persone che vanno ad una festa in casa d’altri la domenica del Super Bowl sono lì per vedere (in televisione) due squadre del NFL Football che si scontrano per la gloria, in concorrenza feroce. L’altra metà dei partecipanti sono lì per … Read more…
Even amongst faithful people, there is much disagreement about modesty at the gym. Having some form of physical activity is important for the well being of the human person. It motivates us, helps us form healthy habits, it gives us a sense of control over our lives. However, while we may go in with this healthy and innately good intent, Read more…
Matagal na panahon ding iniwasan ko ang chastity dahil iniisip ko na sagabal ito sa aking kalayaan. Ngunit, ito palan ang naging dahilan kung bakit hindi ko nararanasan ang kasiyahan at tuwa na itinala ng Diyos, isang bagay na naisasabuhay ko na ngayon dahil nagsisikap ako na maging chaste. Ang Paghahanap sa Katotohanan Malaking bahagi ng aking kwento ang pagkakaroon Read more…
Nobody likes rejection. When it happens, the feeling that comes stings like a jellyfish (although I’ve never been stung by a jellyfish to know). I was recently interested in a guy who I was spending a lot of one-on-one time with. I felt the need to let him know that I was interested in him, even though I knew that Read more…
You may have a picture in your head of your ideal future – a dream of the way you would like your life to go. This may involve a spouse, a dog, six children, and a white picket fence, or it may look more to you like a life spent deep in prayer and service, or even in total isolation Read more…
Nothing brings us to despair faster than a sense of meaninglessness, a lack of purpose in our lives. These feelings of worthlessness lead us to seek outlets in various types of relationships, often of a physical or emotional nature, or in partying, alcohol, or drugs, as we seek to numb the pain. We are simply hard-wired for infinite happiness; and Read more…
In all human love it must be realized that every man promises a woman, and every woman promises a man that which only God alone can give, namely, perfect happiness. – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen “I, Joey, take you Brigid, as my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in Read more…
A few years back when my son was about seven years of age he asked me, very matter-of-factly, what pornography was. Now, I suppose that shouldn’t have surprised me give my line of work, but it did. I remember responding, “what’s that?” Not because I hadn’t heard him. I was stalling. Gathering my thoughts. Praying not to mess this up. Read more…
As women we have a go-to guy, don’t we? And, girl, you can’t say you don’t love him! Sometimes there are no words to explain just how much we are in awe of these men. Yet, as much as we love these men, there may be moments we question their love, wonder whether they’d rather be spending time with someone Read more…
[The following is a high school teacher’s letter to his students on pornography] Dear Seniors, Our desire as human beings is like a bottomless pool that always seeks to be filled with more water. One aspect of this desire is the longing to be united to the body of another human being. We get excited when we see a beautiful person Read more…
Sometimes I think God teaches us to obey Him with the small stuff, so He can prepare us to obey Him with the big stuff. Obeying can be tough. As humans, we often get caught up on what we want out of life. What can God give me? Why can’t I have just this one thing? Our flesh makes it Read more…
To Wait. This verb seems to have been misplaced from the modern-day vocabulary. The iPhones, the endless stream of social media, the Google searches… everything is at our fingertips. We seek entertainment in each moment and we want gratification right at the onset of any desire. As soon as we are hungry, we look for the nearest fast food restaurant Read more…
It is an unfortunate reality that we live in a society that sexualizes everything and glorifies instant gratification. The upside, however, is that many young, single Catholics continue to actively strive for chastity and understand why it is necessary. We have heard so many amazing accounts of what it means to give and receive authentic love, and we are always able to Read more…
I am blessed to be able to go to Adoration every day during my lunch break, as my office is right up the street from my church. I got into this habit last summer, when I was making some pretty significant changes in my life and often felt overwhelmed by these developments. My church, along with the Blessed Sacrament, has Read more…
Every day we make choices. Some are as small as deciding what shoes to wear or what we will eat for breakfast. Others require more thought, more prayer. How do I choose to spend my time on this earth? Who will I choose to spend my life with? As of late and with the newness of becoming a bride to Read more…
It’s no secret that chastity is HARD. Especially if you have been in love… or are currently letting your heart take flight into the unknown of falling in love, which is terrifying but also pretty exhilarating at the same time. When your heart is being drawn to that person it may “feel” almost impossible to pull on the reigns of Read more…
I remember reading a quote in my early teen years that moved me back then and resonates with me, today: “If you love someone, let them go. If they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were.” I don’t know how much truth applies to this saying, but in my own life, I have experienced making the tough Read more…
A few nights ago, I was curled up on the couch scrolling through Pinterest as my mom watched reruns of The Pacific, a TV series that follows the lives of soldiers who fought in World War II. In this episode, one of the soldiers, dressed in uniform, walked over to the house next door and proceeded to ask his love interest on Read more…
“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing.” – C.S. Lewis Watching my parents’ marriage end in divorce has made me doubt love. I’ve wondered “does love last?” and “can it last for me?” With these fears, I became timid, safe, and distant in my relationships. Beneath those questions is another question: what is love? Our Read more…
Few things light up the comments section like a post on modesty. Reactions range from, “Teaching modesty is body shaming and promotes rape culture!” to “Muumuus and turtlenecks for everyone!” Usually, when people are passionate and polarized about a topic it probably means it is an important one. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all agree on some reasonable Read more…
Pornography use has become an epidemic. The governors of Utah and Tennessee have recently declared pornography a, “public health crisis.” The declaration that was passed in each of the states had bipartisan support (it had unanimous support in the House of Representatives in Tennessee). But why is it a problem under the definition of a “health crisis?” The short answer Read more…
Looking back, I imagine the majority of heartache I experienced in my early twenties could have been avoided had I paid attention to the three words: Talk is cheap. More often than not, we figure out the character of a person by acknowledging their actions over their words. A good friend is one who shows up when we need them Read more…
I recently had the gift of reconnecting with a college roommate I hadn’t seen in many years. She’s amazing. She is a Psychologist who is smart, fun, solid, adventurous, joyful… and single. Over lunch, she said something that has resonated with me in the months afterwards. My friend explained, “I thought I would go to college, meet someone, be married Read more…
Same-sex attractions are a part of my story yet today I live a joyful and fulfilling life within the Catholic Church, pursuing holiness and virtue. How did I get here? I began asking questions, and here’s what I found: 1. God loves us, no matter what attractions or inclinations we experience. 2. We shouldn’t feel shame for experiencing attractions or inclinations we didn’t Read more…
Swimsuit shopping. I shudder a little at the implications brought on by that short, heart wrenching, dessert guilt-inducing phrase. It is June, so if you are a female older than seven years old, you are probably feeling the pressure to pick out that suit that will have you looking your best as you lounge poolside or hit up the beach Read more…
I would like to propose that us modern-day women have made a grievous mistake. You see, we have come to believe that some of the negative ramifications of the feminist movement are in fact how things ought to be. We think that if a woman is to be respected by men, she must prove to them her strength. She Read more…
Dress Like You Mean It As I browsed through the clothing racks of my favorite store the other day, my thoughts were something similar to “so if you pair the high waisted shorts with a crop top, the shirt won’t be short anymore… But then the shorts are too short too… so either way my entire legs and potentially my stomach Read more…
I lead a weekly Bible study with a group of high school young men. Prom was approaching and the guys wanted advice. One of them asked me, “how far is too far?” I have known these guys for over three years, and I knew this young man’s heart. He did not have a lustful intention, but he didn’t know how Read more…
From my earliest memories, I wished I was born a girl. I loved their clothes, how they played gently, and how they seemed to be treated “softer” than boys. Those were my perceptions, and as a sensitive kid, my heart desired that deeply. I also saw boys terrorizing younger kids on the playground and at daycare (both of which were Read more…
“But I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” What do you do when you like someone, but don’t want to “jeopardize” your friendship? Well, the answer is not: just hang out, flirt for the next year, and develop a strong emotional attachment along the way, with no commitment from either side—only to lead to jealousy and confusion when a third Read more…
Olympic star Aly Raisman said she knew she would face controversy when she decided to appear in this year’s issue of the “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.” Defending her decision, Aly stated, “…I love my body… women do not have to be modest in order to be respected.” In reading this, I wrestled with her statement. As St. John Paul II Read more…
“To be honest, when I got down on one knee to propose to you I didn’t feel the butterflies that Disney movies train you to expect or feel the crazy passionate ‘I must have this girl’ feeling that Hollywood shows. Instead, it was as if I felt the ‘me’ that I had been up until that moment—the single and somewhat Read more…
At some point, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” I have. I’ve gotten it from a friend justifying a spontaneous hook up with some guy she barely knew at a party. A couple of times, I’ve heard it from people who made a habit of leading others on, just for the attention. Once, tragically, Read more…
A couple of years ago I was sitting on a couch, listening to few of my friends discuss the idea of marriage. One of the pair let out a sigh and said, “Is loving only one person for the rest of your life even possible? It just sounds so complicated.” As far I was concerned, that was my cue to rain Read more…
If chivalry isn’t already dead, then at the very least, it seems to have passed its expiration date. Gone are the days of the chivalrous knight in his shining armor – a knight who would slay any number of dragons to rescue a beautiful princess. A knights who would pull out a throne for the princess to sit upon during the Read more…
Breaking up is hard to do. Whether it was a mutual decision or a heart-wrencher, the Lord wants to be the object of your rebound. Here are five messages for prayer to allow the Lord to take an active role in your healing. Comfort– Psalm 34:18-20– The righteous cry out, the Lord hears and he rescues them from all their Read more…
In the summer of 2014 I walked the northern route of the Camino de Santiago, starting at the Southwestern most point of France, and finishing some thirty days later in Santiago, the burial place of the Apostle St. James. Since returning, many have asked, “So, what was it like?” and I suppose the question is simple enough, yet it has Read more…
As a lonely and rejected little boy, my first discovery of gay pornography felt like a miracle. In a sense, after years of being either ignored or mercilessly teased by other boys, and thus adoring and hating them from afar, when I saw the men in pornography, I thought I had finally found acceptance. Although I could never admit it, Read more…
Is love something ready-made, automated—so that all we have to do is push “play”? Does this guy or that girl always have my best interests at heart? I think we know the answers to these questions—for finding true love is often a complicated and messy process. The title of this blog takes its cue from John Paul II who used Read more…
My Dear Daughter, From the moment the thought of you entered my mind, I have been wrapped around your little finger. I have loved you as only a father can love his little girl. I can still see that bright eyed look in your eyes the day you were born—taking in the light and sound and excitement of this big Read more…
As a college student, I gradually became used to hearing that most people think of sex as something you do on a third date. I’ve even seen contraception given out as if they were candy by some student associations. It isn’t news to anyone that university campus culture promotes the thinking of sex as something exploratory and recreational; however, I Read more…
Years ago I attended a high school summer camp retreat, and one night, one of our adult leaders corralled all of us girls into a room, leaving all of the boys on the other side of a closed door. What did this top secret, girls-only discussion consist of? A single woman telling a bunch of girls, “Don’t settle.” In telling Read more…
An apology on behalf of all women. Dear Brothers, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. While I don’t know you personally, I want to write this letter to you on behalf of all women. I hope and pray that it will speak truth in your life and call you to experience mercy in a new way, and a deeper relationship with Read more…
Store aisles are overstocked with giant teddy bears, exquisite rose bouquets, and LOTS of chocolate. Valentine’s Day is here and our consumerist culture wants you to know it! Single or not, there are things you can do this Valentine’s Day for the Valentine that truly matters—the one that will stand, sit, and lay by your side until death brings you apart. Read more…
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