Catholic Living - Tips for Living a Catholic Life
Learn more about Catholic spiritual practices that will help you put your faith into action. Find practical tips about prayer and fasting, spiritual reading, and sanctifying your work. Discover how to use icons, holy water, and other sacramentals in your everyday routine. Whether you are single, engaged, married, or widowed, you will find advice on Catholic living aimed at your state in life.
- Advent Activities (49)
- Blogs (8)
- Catholic Book Reviews (4)
- Indulgences (1)
- Lenten Readings (46)
- Catholic Movie Reviews (2)
Why I Left the Catholic Church—and Why I Returned to Catholicism
Have you left the Catholic Church but since returned? Please share your reversion story with the other readers of the About.com GuideSite to Catholicism. Your story may help and inspire others who have left the Catholic Church to return to Catholicism.
My World Youth Day Experience
Have you attended a World Youth Day celebration? Share your story of World Youth Day!
Homemade Advent Wreaths - Pictures and Stories
These pictures of homemade Advent wreaths were submitted by your fellow readers of the About.com GuideSite to Catholicism. Use them to spark your own ideas for homemade Advent wreaths!
Why I Converted to Catholicism
Are you a convert to Catholicism? Please share your conversion story with the other readers of the About.com GuideSite to Catholicism. Your story may help and inspire others to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and enter the Catholic Church.
Can I Get Married in the Catholic Church?
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. As such, it is a supernatural institution, as well as a natural one. The Church, therefore, restricts sacramental marriage to men and women who meet certain requirements.
Wordless Wednesday - Catholic Images for Wordless Wednesday
Catholic Wordless Wednesday images from the About.com Guidesite to Catholicism.
Can Catholics Eat Meat on Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Can you eat meat on Ash Wednesday?
Can You Eat Meat on the Annunciation?
The Annunciation sometimes falls on a Friday during Lent. Can you eat meat on the Annunciation?
Can Catholics Eat Meat on Good Friday?
Good Friday, the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified, is one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar. Can you eat meat on Good Friday?
What Are the Rules for Fasting and Abstinence in the Catholic Church?
Fasting and abstinence are spiritual practices that are vital to the Christian life. What are the rules for fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church?
Scripture Readings for Ash Wednesday Through the First Week of Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Fat Tuesday Recipes
Find Fat Tuesday recipes and Mardi Gras recipes from around the world, and learn about Mardi Gras, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, and Fat Tuesday traditions.
When Should You Take Down Your Christmas Tree?
One of saddest sights of Christmas is to see Christmas trees out at the curb on December 26. When should you take down your Christmas tree?
When Should You Put Up Your Christmas Tree?
Many people today decorate their Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. But is there a proper time to put up your Christmas tree?
Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a scientific method for determining human fertility through the observation of a woman's biological cycles.
Natural Family Planning Resources
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella name covering a number of scientific methods for determining human fertility. These resources provide further information on one or more NFP methods.
Why I Decided to Use Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Why did you decide to use NFP? Please share your story with the other readers of the About.com GuideSite to Catholicism. Your story may help and inspire others to adopt Natural Family Planning. See submissions
How Has NFP Changed Your Life?
While many people begin using Natural Family Planning (NFP) for medical or moral reasons, they often find that the use of NFP brings about an important change in their lives. Readers share their experiences of how using Natural Family Planning changed their lives.
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical reaffirming the Catholic Church's traditional teaching on birth control and abortion.
The Beatitudes
The eight beatitudes, delivered by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, form the core of the Christian life.
Scapular
The scapular is a small religious object worn by Catholics and tied to a particular devotion.
The Precepts of the Church
The precepts of the Church, also called the commandments of the Church, are duties that the Catholic Church requires of all the faithful. If we follow these commands, we'll know that we're headed in the right direction spiritually.
Fasting: A Powerful Spiritual Tool
What does fasting mean? Why and when do Catholics fast? Learn more about the spiritual discipline of fasting in the Catholic Church.
Abstinence as Spiritual Discipline
What does abstinence mean? Why and when do Catholics abstain from meat? Learn more about the spiritual discipline of abstinence in the Catholic Church.
What Is an Occasion of Sin?
What is an "occasion of sin," what makes it "near," and why should we avoid it?
Lenten Recipes
Our Lenten abstinence does not have to mean bland food. The foods we often associate with Lent are primarily popular American dishes from the 1950's. Catholic culture in Europe and Asia, however, has been coping with Friday abstinence (and not just during Lent) a lot longer. Read on for delicious recipes for Lent--and for Fridays throughout...
5 Busy Cooks Appetizers for Lent
Meatless Fridays, during Lent or throughout the year, can present a challenge for the busy cook. All of these appetizer recipes are meat-free and very easy to prepare. Use them to add a little elegance to your meatless meals on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and the Fridays throughout the year.
Spiritual Reading for Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for the Second Week of Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for the Third Week of Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for the Fourth Week of Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for the Fifth Week of Lent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for Holy Week
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Lent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church has chosen scriptural passages that are appropriate to every day of the Lenten season.
Scripture Readings for the First Week of Advent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Advent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church turns to the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah for passages that are appropriate to every day of the Advent...
Scripture Reading for the Second Week of Advent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Advent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church turns to the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah for passages that are appropriate to every day of the Advent...
Scripture Reading for the Third Week of Advent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Advent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church turns to the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah for passages that are appropriate to every day of the Advent...
Scripture Readings for the Fourth Week of Advent
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Advent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church turns to the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah for passages that are appropriate to every day of the Advent...
Advent Scripture Readings for December 17 through December 24
An excellent way to focus our thoughts and deepen our understanding of the meaning of Advent is to turn to the Bible. In the Office of the Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, the Church turns to the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah for passages that are appropriate to every day of the Advent...
Bless an Advent Wreath
Find complete instructions on how to bless your Advent wreath at the beginning of Advent.
Advent Wreath Prayer for the First Week of Advent
In our prayer for the Advent wreath for the first week of Advent, we ask Christ to come, to set us free from our sins and from the punishment that we deserve. He is our salvation.
Advent Wreath Prayer for the Second Week of Advent
In this prayer for the Advent wreath for the second week of Advent, we ask Christ to move us to action, so that we can prepare ourselves for His coming at Christmas.
Advent Wreath Prayer for the Third Week of Advent
In the prayer for the Advent wreath for the third week of Advent, we anticipate Christmas, and so we ask Christ to grant us His grace that we might be prepared for welcoming His Birth.
Advent Wreath Prayer for the Fourth Week of Advent
In our Advent wreath prayer for the fourth and final week of Advent, we ask Christ to forgive us for our sins and, through His grace, to create us anew when He comes.
Purgatorial Society - The About Catholicism Purgatorial Society
Find the names of the faithful departed who have been enrolled in the About.com Catholicism Purgatorial Society, and enroll your own departed, so that others may offer prayers and Masses for their release from Purgatory.
Holy Days of Obligation - Holy Days of Obligation in the Latin-Rite Catholic...
The Catholic Church currently has ten Holy Days of Obligation. Find a list of the Catholic Holy Days of Obligation here.
Holy Days of Obligation in the United States
In the United States, the Catholic Church currently celebrates the six Holy Days of Obligation listed below. (Any feast celebrated on a Sunday, such as Easter , falls under our normal Sunday Duty and thus isn't included in a list of Holy Days of Obligation.)
While the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church ...
Christmas Trees - Pictures and Stories
These pictures of Christmas trees decorated for Christmas were submitted by your fellow readers of the About.com GuideSite to Catholicism. Use them to spark your own ideas for decorating your Christmas trees!See submissions
What Are You Giving Up for Lent 2012? - Lenten Sacrifices 2012
What are you giving up for Lent 2012? Share your sacrifice, and get ideas from other Catholics.
What Are You Giving Up for Lent 2011? - Lenten Sacrifices 2011
What are you giving up for Lent 2011? Share your sacrifice, and get ideas from other Catholics.
What Are You Giving Up for Lent 2010? - Lenten Sacrifices 2010
What are you giving up for Lent 2010? Share your sacrifice, and get ideas from other Catholics.
Milwaukee Church Festivals - 2009
A list of Catholic church festivals in Milwaukee for the summer and fall of 2009.
The Couple to Couple League
The website of the premier organization promoting Natural Family Planning.
Catholic Engaged Encounter - Official Home Page
Engaged to be married? Catholic Engaged Encounter can help prepare you to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony.