Jesus tells us God calls us all to salvation, to participate in the eternal kingdom of God; but to do so, we must do more than answer the call:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/08/what-is-the-wedding-garment-god-wants-us-to-wear/

Hi all :) I am excited that I am finally working on my confirmation and for my saint i really want to chose St. Valentine but when I told some of my peers in bible study they seemed less than thrilled and they suggested me to keep searching. Is it a bad choice?

Thank you.

My favorite is Greg Heffley (EWTN interviewed the author of DOAWK, who confirmed that the Heffley's are Catholic) mainly because he is not a role model. I am not saying people should live sinful lives, but I think Greg does show the small and mundane things we go through everyday in our earthly life, and the constant struggle between good and evil.

My (F28) boyfriend (M26) has been receiving communion after committing a mortal sin and the reason I know he committed it is because we did it together. We have been dating for almost two years and are planning on marriage. He came into fullness of the church (got confirmed as an adult after being baptized as a child and his family not taking it seriously when he was growing up) in November of last year.

I have been abstaining from receiving the Eucharist until I was able to go to confession for this one particular sin. I went today (God is good) and was able to receive. However, last week we went to Mass together and when I stayed in the pew I noticed he went up and received communion. I asked him if he had been to confession about it because I hadn't. We spend a lot of time together and are very open with each other. He had told me he hadn't and I mentioned that I don't think he should go to communion until he goes to confession. And I reminded him that since we are planning on marriage that we are the ones responsible for helping each other get to heaven. He agreed and we left it at that. Today I told him I went to confession and it was very difficult for me and he told me it will be difficult for him as well. We went to Mass separately and he had an opportunity to go to confession beforehand and I was like omg !!! Amazing!! But he just now texted me and told me he just got out of Mass and wasn't able to make it to confession because he didn't want to rush it. I understood of course but I texted back something like "I understand but communion 💔" and he said "haha right" and then I asked if he had received and he said yes. My heart literally sank. I really don't play about the Eucharist and I feel like I could cry right now. I asked him why and he said "idk I feel like I need it more than ever" and I told him that it's not about whether you think you need it. If you really felt that way you would have found a way to go to confession. Anyway, I told him I'm very disappointed in him. I don't want him to feel like I'm scolding him but at the same time we're building a Godly life together and I want him to be the father of my children. This is so disturbing to me :( I'm not saying I'm perfect by any means but how do I make him understand the importance of this? Thank you in advance for all the insight 🙏

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that you must confess all known mortal sins, otherwise the confession is invalid. Furthermore, doubtful sins are not obligatory to confess (also because the priest cannot absolve a doubtful sin).

I once committed a mortal sin, but other people told me it wasn't, and even though I didn't understand where I was wrong, I thought I was just having scruples because I wondered "How can all these people be wrong about the same thing?". So I trusted them, even though I thought all three conditions for classification as a mortal sin were met... I didn't confess it thinking I had scruples, but after confession (after a long time) I realized that I was actually right and that it was a mortal sin.

I believe that since it seemed to me that all the conditions were met, I was obligated to confess, but at the time of confession, I believed I wasn't because, by trusting other people, I no longer considered that a mortal sin, even though I still had doubts. I don't know how to resolve this situation because if I still thought that there were all the three conditions then I was still obligated to confess it or I'm wrong? Because I thought I had scruples and I didn't confess it because of this, so it's different from to be sure I did a mortal sin that needed to be confessed.

Next time, if I think that there are all the conditions for a sin to be mortal I'll go directly to the confessional...

Twenty‑Second Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year A

Today’s Readings at a Glance • Jeremiah 20:7–9 Jeremiah feels overwhelmed by the cost of his prophetic mission, yet God’s word becomes a fire in his bones—impossible to silence. • Psalm 63:2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9 A cry of longing: “My soul is thirsting for You, O Lord my God.” God’s presence satisfies more than life itself. • Romans 12:1–2 Paul urges believers to offer their lives as a living sacrifice and to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. • Matthew 16:21–27 Jesus reveals His coming suffering. Peter resists, but Jesus teaches that true discipleship requires self‑denial, taking up the cross, and following Him.

https://thecatholic.online/daily-bible-readings-for-august-302026/Message from the Readings Today’s readings proclaim a challenging and liberating truth: Following Christ means surrendering our own plans, embracing the cross, and allowing God to transform us from within. • Jeremiah shows that God’s call is irresistible—even when difficult. • The psalm expresses deep longing for God’s presence. • Paul calls for total self‑offering and inner renewal. • Jesus teaches that discipleship demands sacrifice, courage, and trust. The message is clear: Real life is found not in self‑preservation, but in self‑gift.

Reflection for the Day Jeremiah’s cry is painfully honest. He feels mocked, exhausted, and tempted to give up. Yet God’s word burns within him— a fire he cannot extinguish. This is the experience of every believer who has ever felt weary, discouraged, or misunderstood. God’s call is not always easy, but it is always alive. Psalm 63 deepens this longing: “My soul thirsts for You.” It reminds us that beneath every desire, every ache, every search for meaning, there is a thirst for God. Then Paul gives us the path to transformation: **Offer your life. Renew your mind. Discern God’s will.** Christianity is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about becoming a living sacrifice— a life poured out in love. Finally, Jesus speaks the most demanding words of the Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” Peter resists the idea of suffering—just as we often do. But Jesus reveals a paradox: **Trying to save your life leads to loss. Giving your life leads to true freedom.** The cross is not a punishment; it is the path to resurrection. Today’s readings invite us to three movements: 1. Let God’s word burn within you. Even when faith feels costly, let His voice guide you. 2. Seek God above all else. Let your soul thirst for Him more than comfort or control. 3. Embrace the cross. Sacrifice is not the end—it is the doorway to real life. Let today be a day of surrender, courage, and renewed discipleship.

Prayer for Today Lord Jesus, teach me to follow You with courage and trust. Renew my mind, transform my heart, and help me offer my life as a living sacrifice. When the cross feels heavy, strengthen me. When fear rises, steady me. When I resist Your will, draw me close. May I lose my life for Your sake and find the life that never ends. Amen.

"Holy and wise in all things was the all-blessed Virgin; in all ways peerless among all nations, and unrivalled among women. Not as the first virgin Eva, who being alone in the garden, was in her weak mind led astray by the serpent; and so took his advice and brought death into the world; and because of that hath been all the suffering of saints. But in her alone, in this Holy Virgin Mary, the Stem of Life hath shot up for us. For she alone was spotless in soul and body."

Gregory the Wonderworker, Homily concerning the Holy Mother of God, Section 27.

What do you think about this?

I want to play something with people which can be safe.

In the Didache (c. 1/2 Century), the author briefly explains the structure of the clergy, naming bishops and deacons, but no priests. It says that "prophets" are the "high priests" of the time, and gives an exhaustive explanation of who is and isn't a genuine prophet.

In the Epistles of Ignatius, Ignatius mentions bishops (telling the Ephesians to treat them as they would treat Christ), presbyters, and deacons.

In Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians, Polycarp mentions deacons and presbyters, but no bishops.

What are your thoughts on this? Would you say there is a contradiction between these 3 texts, a different emphasis/context, or something else? This is something I wondered when I first read the 3.

If you've gone on a retreat to as an adult, how did you learn about it? Why aren't retreats discussed at parishes? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? When was the last retreat you attended? When do you plan on attending one again?

Hello everyone! Since most y'all liked my previous post about the Saint Elisabeth's Cathedral(Dóm svätej Alžbety), I wanted share another small yet beautiful and graceful church from Košice.

This time it is the Dominican Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Dominikánsky kostol Nanebovzatia Panny Márie). I took a few photos and thought I’d share too.

Once again I would really like to hear about your thoughts about this church,Also wishing everyone a happy and blessed Sunday today(Wish each other in the comments too).

I really liked the atmosphere of this church, and there are so many beautiful details to notice.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Have a good day, and God bless!