March 29, 2026

Devotions, Explained!
Novena          

Mini Explanation
A novena is a nine-day period of prayer focused on a specific topic, saint, or devotion. There are four basic categories of novenas — novenas of preparation, of mourning, of prayer, and of indulgence. This 9-day period of prayer can be traced back to the Acts of the Apostles.

Novena, Explained
The word novena comes from the Latin word, novem, for nine. A novena is a nine-day period of private or public prayer. There are four basic categories of novenas — novenas of preparation, of mourning, of prayer, and of indulgence.

The nine days of prayer format comes directly from scripture where we read in the book of Acts that it was nine days after the Ascension that the Holy Spirit descended onto the Apostles. During that time, the faithful men and women “devoted themselves to constant prayer,” (Acts 1:12-14) waiting for the Lord.

Today, Catholics can find hundreds of novenas to pray about a plethora of topics. Many Catholics pray novenas in times of need or in devotion to a specific saint. Although a saint’s novena may traditionally begin or end on the saint’s feast day, while others, like the “Novena for Adopted Children” or the “Novena for Vocations,” can be prayed any time of the year, there is flexibility here for those wanting to pray. The faithful may choose to pray a private novena on any topic at any time! Want to pray a novena to St. Francis but it’s not his feast day? Go ahead!

March 29, 2026

Virtues, Explained!
Prudence



Mini Explanation

The virtue of prudence is like glasses for a soul made nearsighted by original sin. Prudence disposes our practical reason to not only discern what is good, but to choose the right way of achieving that good.

Prudence, Explained!

Those who have the vision condition of nearsightedness need glasses in order to discern objects which are far away. Without the aid of glasses, a nearsighted person’s world is small; anything which lies beyond their strength of vision is hidden to them.

The virtue of prudence is like glasses for a soul made nearsighted by original sin. “A prudent man is one who sees as it were from afar, for his sight is keen, and he foresees the event of uncertainties,” said St. Isidore of Seville.

The Catechism teaches that prudence disposes our practical reason to not only discern what is good, but to choose the right way of achieving that good. Prudence is “the charioteer of the virtues,” guiding the judgment of our conscience and directing our actions in accordance with that judgment (CCC 1806). Without prudence, not only can we not clearly see what is good, but we have no hope of realizing that good.

March 22, 2026

Devotions, Explained!
Anima Christi           

Mini Explanation
Traditionally said after or before receiving the Eucharist, the Anima Christi dates to the 14th century and was a favorite prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Anima Christi, Explained
The Anima Christi prayer takes its name from its opening lines: Soul of Christ — “Anima Christi” in Latin. In this prayer, the faithful invoke the image of Christ crucified, calling upon the salvific elements of his wounds, his Body and his Blood to strengthen them, imploring him to save them from “the malicious enemy” and to bring them, in their final hour, to his presence.

The author of this prayer is unknown, but it originated in the 14th century and was referenced in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. It is traditionally said after or before receiving the Eucharist

March 22, 2026

Virtues, Explained!
Faith

Mini Explanation

The virtue of faith is “man’s response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man.” (CCC 26). Faith is encouraged by the complementary virtues of hope and love, and through the gift of understanding our faith grows and strengthens.

Faith, Explained!

“Nobody reaches God’s presence until he has learned to believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who try to find him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

So how do we learn to believe? Through the theological virtue of faith — which is “man’s response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man.” (CCC 26). Faith, then, is embarking on the journey to find God. By faith “‘man freely commits his entire self to God.’ For this reason, the believer seeks to know and do God's will.” (CCC 1814)

But it is not enough for faith to simply be within us, as a lit match burns in a dark room. We are compelled to fan those flames. We must encourage them with the complementary virtues of hope and love, and we must ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of understanding so that our faith will grow and strengthen.

March 15, 2026

Devotions, Explained!
Taizé             

Mini Explanation
Taizé is an ecumenical Christian movement that is known for its distinctive style of music and prayer. Taizé devotees have carried its music and traditions to Catholic and Christian communities throughout the world.

Taizé, Explained
Taizé originated in France during World War II. It takes its name from the small town just southeast of Paris where Brother Roger Schutz, a Swiss Protestant, founded the community in the hopes of serving both Christian and Jewish refugees of the German-occupied country. In the years following World War II, Christian men from various traditions — Catholic and Protestant — came to live at Taizé and participate in Brother Roger’s vision of ecumenism, social justice and peace, eventually forming a community of about 80 brothers from nearly 30 countries.

Today, Taizé continues to be a place of pilgrimage, particularly for young people, who visit the community in the tens of thousands each year.

Taizé has also become well-known for its style of music and prayer, which emphasizes silence, contemplation and stillness. Taizé devotees have carried its music and traditions to Catholic and Christian communities throughout the world. 

March 15, 2026

Virtues, Explained!

Hope

Mini Explanation

Christian hope “is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness” (CCC 1817), even as we recognize that our own strength and merit can never achieve this. Hope, simply, is remembering that God keeps His promises.

Hope, Explained!

“Hoping against hope, he believed, and thus became the father of many nations.” (Romans 4:18)

This is how Paul describes the hope of Abraham, who allowed himself to believe in and wish for what seemed like an impossible thing — all because it had been promised to him by God. In this same way, Christian hope “is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness” (CCC 1817), even as we recognize that our own strength and merit can never achieve this.

Hope, simply, is remembering that God keeps His promises.

A desire for happiness is a seed planted by God in each heart. The virtue of hope pours down like rain to nourish that seed, but a barrier has been created by original sin. The Holy Spirit removes the barrier, allowing the hope to pour forth upon the roots of our sprouting happiness in great abundance. 

March 8, 2026

Devotions, Explained!
The Sign of the Cross                     

Mini Explanation
Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times. It is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

The Sign of the Cross, Explained
“I claim you for Christ by the sign of his cross.” These words from the Rite of Baptism, spoken as the priest traces a cross on the infant’s forehead, perfectly communicate the significance of that simple, familiar action. In signing the cross, we claim ourselves again and again for Christ, unite ourselves with His sacrifice on Calvary, and confess his victory over death.

Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times, as evidenced by writings from Tertullian, Hippolytus and St. Cyprian. The ritual action is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

In the Latin rite, it is made either with a movement of the full hand from one’s forehead, breast and shoulders (going right to left) or with the thumb tracing the cross on the forehead, lips and breast

March 8, 2026

Virtues, Explained!
Mercy

Mini Explanation

True virtuous mercy is a choice governed by reason, not merely a feeling. God’s mercy to us knows no bounds, but that mercy does not compel Him to grant us everything our appetitive passions desire. Rather, His perfect mercy is directed toward supplying our needs.

Mercy, Explained!

“And what does the Lord require of you? Only this: to do what is right, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

But what does it mean to show true mercy?

God’s mercy to us knows no bounds, but that mercy does not compel Him to grant us everything our appetitive passions desire. God’s perfect mercy could never allow for something that would harm His children. A father whose child has a toothache cannot, out of mercy, give the child the candy he wants, no matter how the tears of the child grieve the father’s heart. The father can, and should, surround the child with love and sympathy, and help him to remedy the problem that lies at the heart of his grief. This is true virtuous mercy — a choice governed by reason, not merely an emotion.

March 1, 2026

Devotions, Explained!
Icon Writing

Mini Explanation
Though an icon depicts an image, it’s much more than a religious picture. An icon is visual theology. It expresses the same truths written in the Gospel, but through an artistic medium, mirroring how Christ’s incarnation made the Word visible to man in the flesh.

Icon Writing, Explained
At first, the term “icon writing” may be confusing. Writing an icon? Shouldn’t it be drawing an icon, or painting an icon?

But although an icon depicts an image, it is so much more than just a religious picture. An icon is visual theology. Those who purchase icons for private devotion should have them blessed, as they are sacramentals. The Catechism tells us that “Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words.”

In early Christianity, this was deeply controversial. Many so-called “iconoclasts” pointed to the Old Testament’s prohibition of idols and insisted that it was sinful to represent the face of God in an image. But defenders of iconography like St. John Damascene pointed to the incarnation as a turning point in our visual relationship with God. In Christ, God made himself visible, and thus continually invites us to contemplate and understand Him visually. 

March 1, 2026

Virtues, Explained!
Self-Control

Mini Explanation

Self-control flows from the cardinal virtue of temperance, and it’s really all about boundaries. Through self-control, a gift of the Holy Spirit, we avoid surrendering too much of ourselves to our passions.

Self-Control, Explained!

Love. Joy. Anger. Desire. Fear.

These are just a few of what are called the “passions” of humankind, and in order to understand self-control, we must first understand the passions. Our passions are neither good nor bad — it’s all in how we interact with them.

Enter the virtue of self-control.

Self-control flows from the cardinal virtue of temperance, and it’s really all about boundaries. Passions only become problematic when we allow them to control us. Through self-control, a gift of the Holy Spirit, we avoid surrendering too much of ourselves to our passions.

“When regulated by reason, and subjected to the control of the will, the passions may be considered good and used as means of acquiring and exercising virtue,” we read in The Catholic Encyclopedia. “The sensitive is given to man by God, and therefore its acts have to be employed in His service.”