"Live joyfully!" St. Francis de Sales advises.

In a world so badly in need of joy, we Christians need to live joyfully and share joy with the world.

After all, “Joy is the echo of God’s life in us.” So said Blessed Columba Marmion.

That’s what Easter is all about.

Pope Benedict calls on us to have joy in the Resurrection this Easter season because Christ enters our lives, “bringing joy and peace, life and hope, gifts we need for our human and spiritual rebirth.”

Benedict also encouraged youth to be joyful missionaries for the New Evangelization earlier this month in his address for World Youth Day 2012: “Be enthusiastic witnesses of the New Evangelization! Go to those who are...READ MORE

Valentine’s Day is here. Which makes me think of candy and flowers and love.

Jane Austen has great things to say, as I’ve duly noted via each novel as well as overall themes.

God has a lot to say too: God is love.

And my favorite love song is based on 1 Corinthians 13.

Feeling down today? Read what fellow Register staffer Robyn Lee wrote.

I pray today for God’s plan for my life, love-wise and otherwise. And I will listen to some Brandon Heath [see aforementioned song link above]. :)

Pop culture revolves around an ever-changing mix of headlines. I am happy to see that many deal with Christianity lately.

“Tebowing” is part of the American lexicon now due to Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s Christian faith on and off the field.

I think it’s great how Tebow is glorifying God in all things, standing up for faith, life and purity.

So does another quarterback: Philip Rivers, who just happens to be Catholic (yay!).

The San Diego Chargers quarterback lives his Catholic faith well. (Our article has links to his Catholic Answers’ videos and appearance on Life on the Rock.)

Then there’s actor Mark Wahlberg’s commitment to his faith of late (he carries a prayer book...READ MORE

“God made himself small so that we could understand him, welcome him and love him.”

So said Pope Benedict at Midnight Mass for Christmas 2006.

That sums up Christmas so well.

This quote perfectly fits this Christmas card picture:

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Wishing you a blessed and merry Christmas!

I am a Jane Austen fan.

I have read her novels multiple times and enjoy watching the movie adaptations.

So I am celebrating the beloved author on her 236th birthday today, Dec. 16, and the 200th-year anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility.

I applaud that her books reflect concepts of true love and virtue and faith.

Her writing has stood the test of time for good reason.

For me, these are six reasons to read Austen’s novels:

1. Pride and Prejudice‘s Lesson: People can change. And love prompts good actions.
2. Sense and Sensibility‘s Lesson: A balance of sense and sensibility is needed in love and life.
3. Persuasion‘s Lesson: True love waits; love never fails (see...READ MORE

As a child I looked forward to the appearance of my family’s Advent calendar on Dec. 1.

Each day my sister and I would take turns taking the plush Velcro items out of their pockets and affixing them to the appropriate spots in the countdown to Christmas. Teddy bears, presents and candles etc. all took turns.

The closer we got to Christmas, the more filled the family keepsake became — a tangible reminder that Jesus’ birthday was getting closer.

I still have the Advent calendar; it is still a key part of my preparations. It is a part of many Christians’ preparations (I even saw make-your-own Advent calendar ideas in a recent issue of Martha Stewart Living) for a reason.

The Register is...READ MORE

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, visited Priests for Life’s headquarters yesterday, July 11.

She brought with her a photo and relic (a piece of cloth) of her mother, who is regarded as a patron saint for pro-lifers.

“God loved my mother very much,” Molla told the staff. She added: “God chose her among many saint mothers. There must be many saint mothers in paradise.”

“I would not be here with you if I had not been loved so much,” shared Molla, who lives near Milan, Italy. Her saintly mother gave her own life so that she could live. (For more on St. Gianna’s life, see my last blog post.)

“All my mom’s life has been a hymn to life,” Molla said. “She...READ MORE

“Christ my hope is arisen!” John Paul II was a living witness to Easter joy and the Divine Mercy message, all of which we celebrate at his beatification this weekend.

I never went to World Youth Day, but John Paul’s writing was a focus of a marriage and family class I took in college, and his teaching was prominent at my college Newman Center (St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), in my life and the lives of all of my young adult Catholic friends who are participating in all sorts of ways in the New Evangelization: as journalists, Catholic teachers (including my sister), Focus (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries,...READ MORE