my Articulate Heart

Imagine one day discovering that some of the possessions in your household—items you have used, cherished, or even displayed with pride—did not rightfully belong to you. Perhaps they were mistakenly or even unlawfully acquired. What would you do? Keep them, discard them, or return them to their rightful owner? This dilemma mirrors our relationship with sin, especially habitual sin. Sin often begins as something external, introduced through temptation, circumstances, or even the influence of others. Over time, it creeps into our hearts like a leech, attaching itself to our very identity. Though it eats away at us, we might grow accustomed to it, even enjoying its fleeting pleasures, unaware of its destructive power. How do we respond when we finally recognize this "intruder" for what it is? Let us explore this spiritual struggle through Scripture and the wisdom of the Church. The Nature of Sin: An Intruder in the Soul Sin, in its essence, is a violation of the divine order—a r...

Prayer is a journey—a movement from simply speaking to God to resting deeply in His presence. St. Teresa of Avila, a master of the spiritual life, mapped out this journey in nine levels of prayer. For her, prayer was more than a discipline; it was a relationship, an adventure, a transformation. As we walk through these nine levels, take a moment to reflect on where you are. Remember, this isn’t a race; it’s a dance with the Divine, and He’s leading every step. 1. Vocal Prayer: Speaking to God It all begins here. This is the prayer we know best—reciting the Our Father, the Hail Mary, or simply talking to God in our own words. Vocal prayer is foundational because it teaches us to turn our hearts to Him, even when words feel clumsy or inadequate. St. Teresa said, “If you cannot meditate, you should always engage in vocal prayer.” This isn’t just about saying words—it’s about letting your heart speak through them. 2. Meditation: Seeking Understanding At this level, we move deeper. Meditat...

The journey toward God is like climbing a mountain: challenging, humbling, and breathtakingly beautiful. The Catholic tradition has long described this ascent in three stages—the Purgative, the Illuminative, and the Unitive. These stages aren’t rigid steps; they’re more like seasons of the soul, each drawing us closer to the heart of God. Let’s explore these stages together, not just as lofty ideas but as the lived experience of anyone seeking holiness. 1. The Purgative Stage: Leaving the Old Behind We all start somewhere, and more often than not, it’s messy. The Purgative stage is where we wake up to the reality of sin in our lives and begin the hard work of turning away from it. It’s a season of repentance, a time to clear out the clutter that keeps us from hearing God’s voice. Does this stage hurt? Absolutely. But it’s the kind of hurt that heals. Like pulling a thorn from your foot, it stings at first, but soon you’re walking freer and lighter. St. John of the Cross describes this...

Love, in its truest sense, is not stagnant. It is a journey, an unfolding revelation of the heart’s deepest desires and God’s call to intimacy with Him. As humans, we move through stages of love, not always in order, often stumbling, but always beckoned higher. These stages, ancient yet ever new, lead us to the fullness of life and love in God. 1. Loving Self for the Sake of Self In the beginning, our love is simple and self-centered. We love ourselves because it feels natural, even instinctual. This love is about survival, comfort, and pleasure. At this stage, we are like infants, crying for what we need without considering the giver. And yet, this love is not without its purpose. It is a necessary foundation, a mirror reflecting our innate desire to be cared for. But if we remain here, we risk becoming trapped in the illusion that we are the center of the universe. True love calls us forward, beyond ourselves. 2. Loving God for the Sake of Self When we encounter God, it often begins ...

In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). At first glance, this declaration might seem puzzling. Unlike many women of her time, Mary had no biological descendants to carry forward her legacy. After all, her son, Jesus, offered His life for humanity and left no children behind. What, then, prompted Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, to proclaim that future generations would bless her name? The key to understanding Mary’s words lies in the events at the foot of the cross. As Jesus hung on Calvary, He entrusted His beloved disciple, John, with the care of His mother. He said to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son!” and to John, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26–27). This was not a mere practical arrangement for Mary’s care. It was a profound spiritual act, establishing Mary as the spiritual mother of all who follow Christ. Interestingly, this scene unfolded with John’s biological mother present. Moreover, Jesus had cousins...

"Then Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." — Luke 1:38 In today’s culture, individualism reigns supreme. Society places immense value on personal freedom and the ability to make choices independently, often rejecting any form of external interference. The rallying cry of "my body, my choice" encapsulates this ethos, particularly when addressing matters of marriage, sexuality, and childbearing. Against this backdrop, the story of Mary, our Blessed Mother, offers a striking contradiction. Her fiat—her wholehearted "yes" to God—reveals a profound and countercultural perspective on freedom and self-giving. When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he brought a divine proposal that would utterly redefine her life. To modern sensibilities, this moment might seem like an intrusion on Mary’s autonomy. Here was a young girl, likely with dreams and pla...

The rising trend of prioritizing love for Pets over human relationships, reflects a complex mix of social, cultural, and philosophical changes. Some argue that these shifts signal a deeper issue — a movement away from seeing human life as uniquely dignified and intrinsically valuable. This trend has sparked conversations on the concept of "trans-speciesism" and the potential devaluation of human life, where animals and humans are often treated as ethically and morally equivalent. Individualism and the Appeal of Pets Pets, unlike human relationships, require relatively little compromise or emotional vulnerability. They provide affection without placing demands on one’s time, moral responsibility, or deeper personal growth in the same way relationships with people do. This fits well within an individualistic framework that emphasizes self-fulfillment and personal comfort. Relationships with pets are less likely to involve the complexities or sacrifices that human relationships ...