Aflame for Christ

Aflame 112 - Traditions: Good or Bad?

We've seen the Disney-esque trope: a young person feels stifled by their traditions, and for love or adventure decides to rebel against their parents and their culture. Conflict ensues, but in the end, the parents realize that their offspring were correct: their culture and their traditions prevented their happiness.
Is this what Jesus is criticizing in today's Gospel? Do traditions and rituals forbid authentic expression of faith and love? Are we just too "legalistic" as Catholics? Not so! A deep dive into the historical background of this Gospel helps us realize the entire purpose of Traditions, which are to give an identity to us so that we can more adequately keep the first things first: the love of God and neighbor.

Dash Through the Creed 22 - Holy Orders

Some men are called to give it all for Christ, being conformed to Him in a unique manner through the gift of the priesthood. What about those mysterious priests? Learn all about how they are called to image Christ and be a true father to His people!

Aflame 111 - The Sanctifying Power of a Difficult Marriage

Marriage is fantastically difficult. It puts two imperfect people together, for life, with all of their sins and weaknesses and insecurities. What could God have been thinking by concocting such a relationship? Only that it has the immense power to sanctify us and teach us how to love. Even difficult marriages, with all of its suffering and pain, can make us profoundly holy. Hear how our Catholic Faith gives hope to those in difficult marriages - hope that God can bring something beautiful, even out of the Cross!

Dash Through the Creed 21 - Marriage

Marriage is more than just a natural relationship or a convenient partnership - it is a Sacrament given by Christ, ordered to the procreation of children and the mutual sanctification of spouses. Hear how the graces given in this Sacrament can make you holy!

Aflame 110 - Dining Well

The Eucharist can make us saints - so why do so many people receive Him frequently, and still remain unchanged? Perhaps it is because we do not have the right dispositions! What characteristics and virtues should fill our soul to receive Him, not just worthily, but fruitfully? Love, faith, desire, purity, and reverence - these unleash the immense power of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist!

Dash Through the Creed 20 - Theology of the Body

Before we begin speaking about the beauty of Matrimony or the Priesthood, we need to speak about understanding love. John Paul II left us a beautiful insight on love, called the "Theology of the Body". Here, we break it down into a very easily-understood lesson on the nature of love - what it is, and what it is not. Tune in to hear the life-giving Good News about how God made us for love!

Aflame 109 - The Eucharist Is the Life of the Soul

Every authentic spirituality must be Eucharistic, since the goal of spirituality is union with God - and there is no better way to be united to Him than to receive and worship His Body and Blood. Truly, the Eucharist is the Bread of Life, for if our souls are to be alive, they must feed upon Him Who is the Life!

Dash Through the Creed 19 - Confession

This great Sacrament of Confession has fallen out of favor in the Church recently - but needs to be rediscovered as the "second plank of salvation after the shipwreck of sin", as the Church Fathers called it. A good Confession gives us peace of mind, restores us to grace, and re-opens Heaven to us. How do we make a good Confession, and why should we confess to a priest? Tune in to dive into this wonderful Sacrament!