Category: Virtue Challenge

Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of the World

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Take care of the world you live in.

No, I’m not going to go on some sort of global warming, overpopulation, save the ocean tirade.

I don’t even think we have a “responsibility” to the earth.

However, I feel very strongly that we have a responsibility to God to take care of the world he has given us.

Continue reading “Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of the World” →

Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of Your Things

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My kids looked up from their game of Oregon Trail and asked, “Mom, how did the whole family fit all their stuff into one wagon when they moved?”

This was in stark contrast to our recent move: a whole van full of our furniture, toys, clothes, books (so many books!), gadgets – and then some.

How do we accumulate so much stuff?

And, how do we treat the stuff we accumulate?

Continue reading “Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of Your Things” →

Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of Your Self

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My four-year-old snuck a beaded glass bracelet from my jewelry display. I discovered her theft when she approached me with a downcast fast, hand outstretched, broken bracelet in her upturned palm.

“Can you fix it, Mommy?”

Thankfully, I was able to piece it back together. But my daughter learned a few lessons that day. She has to take care of Mommy’s things. And she has to wait to receive the things she’s ready for.

Continue reading “Good Stewardship: How to Take Care of Your Self” →

Compassion in action

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A modern examination of conscience.  (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!)

Have you ever felt overcome with compassion for someone who is suffering?

The man with a cardboard sign on the side of the road. The family who lost everything in a home fire. The child who broke a glass and weeps tears of remorse.

Compassion moves our heart to break for them, to cry for them. Mercy puts compassion in motion. It’s the virtue that acts on our sympathy, extending kindness and forgiveness to our neighbor in need. Continue reading “Compassion in action” →

Unite the body and soul to live authentic sexuality

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A modern examination of conscience.  (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!) This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Chastity and modesty. Two virtues that are necessary for bridging the gap between the physical and the spiritual. They’re necessary for living as a fully alive, integrated human being.  And they’re all about authentic love.

Chastity helps us authentically live our sexuality. It helps us know ourselves, body and soul. The Catechism says it’s both an “apprenticeship in self-mastery” and a “school of the gift of the person.”

We come to know ourselves, to order our appetites, and to be able to give ourselves to each other in perfect love. Continue reading “Unite the body and soul to live authentic sexuality” →

Have courage to do right

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A modern examination of conscience.  (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!)

When we talk about virtues, we sometimes try to put them into practice in a restrictive sense:

  • don’t yell
  • don’t gossip
  • don’t eat too many sweets.

Even the 10 commandments guide us with “thou shalt not”s.

And that’s a good thing.  We need to have healthy boundaries in our lives and avoid things that would harm us physically and spiritually.

But this month’s virtue breaks the mold.  Fortitude calls us to action.  Fortitude tells us “thou shalt.” Continue reading “Have courage to do right” →

I need this, bad. Because: Oreos, and Netflix, and Facebook infinite scroll....

Oreos and Netflix and Facebook, oh my…

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A modern examination of conscience.  (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!) The Temperance Challenge is also available in Spanish.

I didn’t want to write this challenge.  Because Oreos.  And Netflix.  And Facebook infinite scroll.

I didn’t want to write it.  But I needed to.  Over-indulgence is so. hard. to. resist.

My mouth waters when I pass by the grid of fast food restaurants in the middle of town.  My tablet glows late into the night when I can’t stop swiping.  And my ears perk up when I hear someone say, “Do you know what she said to me last week?”

Oh, temperance, you’re so elusive.  I need you bad but I don’t really want you. Continue reading “Oreos and Netflix and Facebook, oh my…” →

Justice Virtue Challenge

The softer side of justice

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A modern examination of conscience.  (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!) The Justice Challenge is also available in Spanish.

When I see that wrong has been done, my heart pounds and anger rises to my cheeks.  I’m eager for “justice to be served.”  To dole out punishments, to right wrongs.  That’s just anger at its finest.

But justice is more than a punitive virtue.  It’s not all about laws and rules and rigid enforcement.  Justice means giving each person what they deserve, in both a positive and a negative way. Continue reading “The softer side of justice” →

Prudence: how to make choices you’ll never regret

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The Prudence Challenge is also available in Spanish.

We all know the pain of regret: the sinking feeling in your stomach, the fire of embarrassment in your cheeks, the emotion and energy sapped from your limbs.  It comes when you’ve made a hasty decision you can’t take back.  When you’ve blurted out unthinking words that hurt your dearest friend.  When you blew off your last chance to see your grandma before she passed away.

Our regret often results from a failure to act prudently.  If only we’d made a better decision. Continue reading “Prudence: how to make choices you’ll never regret” →

Love of Neighbor Virtue Challenge

Charity: Love. Everybody.

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Hello, April!  Time for the Charity Challenge: Love of Neighbor.

Jesus said,

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  [And] you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31

Before you can love your neighbor as yourself, you need to make sure you have a healthy love of self.  If you’re struggling with that, make a quick stop at the Humility Challenge, then come back here.

You back?

Okay, here we go.

Love your neighbor. Continue reading “Charity: Love. Everybody.” →