Pentecost Meditation- The Living Flame of Love
From St. John of the Cross: "This flame of love is the Spirit of its Bridegroom, who is the Holy Spirit. The soul feels him within itself not only as a fire that has consumed and transformed it but as a fire that burns and flares within it...And that flame, every...
Joseph of Arimathea & St. Joseph
When considering the designs of our Lord’s providence, the person of Joseph of Arimathea strikes me every year during Passiontide and Easter and how he is similar to St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Mother. - In Sacred Scripture, Joseph of Arimathea is called...
JPII’s New Eyes: Karate Kid Part 2
Looking at “The Karate Kid” with fresh eyes revealed an amazing perspective I had never considered before, outlined in Wax On, Wax Off. Mr. Miyagi portrays a good father, evident in his relationship with Daniel as well as his training techniques. The Revelation for...
Wax On, Wax Off: With New Eyes
When my family first rented the VHS of "The Karate Kid," I was 9 years old. Watching it then, I naively thought of it as just a great “sports story”. But recently, Michael and I watched it again with our teens, and we both noticed a powerful theme in the...
Remembering & Recounting the Deeds of the Lord
In recent years, Heather and I have been praying and discussing the amazing things that the Lord has done in our lives. In Sacred Scripture, Psalm 136 is a tremendous example of recounting the deeds of the Lord and giving thanks to Him. The Psalm is...
What is the Meaning of Image of God?
Our name, the Image of God Institute, is derived from two realities that are critical to understanding the human person in Sacred Scripture, the teaching of the Church, and the minds of Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Genesis 1:27: Man and woman are...
Love Song for a Savior
When I was in college, I was blessed to spend a semester abroad in Ireland, the mother country of my grandma and grandpa, who grew up on the west coast. Studying at University College Dublin, I learned much about life, love and being Catholic that spring of...
Why Do We Love “It’s a Wonderful Life”?
What is the meaning of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Why does it move us so deeply? What can it tell us about humanity? My family and I watch this movie during either Advent or Christmastide each year and it always brings tears to our...
Three Books That Will Rebuild Civilization
Throughout history, literature has played a crucial role in forming (and deforming) civilizations. Postmodernism produced a plethora of works espousing skepticism and relativism, and we see the destructive results all around us. It forces us to seek out literary works...