Are you looking for the perfect gift for the Catholics on your Christmas list? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a guide to the best gifts of 2023, all available from Ascension. BEST GIFT OF 2023 1. The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Purchase: $64.95 How can there be a better gift than the Word of God? Give the gift of not just reading the Bible but finally understanding it with the only Bible that integrates the color-coded, world-renowned Bible Timeline® Learning System. BEST RESOURCE OF 2023 2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ascension Edition Purchase: $64.95 The Ascension Edition ..read more

The following excerpt is from pages 15-18 of Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You by Lillian Fallon. Lillian shares the difference between personal style and fashion and explains how she discovered her own style. The words “fashion” and “style” are almost always used synonymously, and the muddling of these terms confused my own understanding of the purpose of personal style. Take a moment to think about the term “fashion.” What images come to mind? Now think about “style.” What comes to mind? Most people think of “fashion” and imagine the fast-paced New York ..read more

There are many harmful myths about what it means to be single and Catholic. As you watch your peers and friends get married, it can be easy to think something is wrong with you for not also getting married. In this video, Lillian Fallon (a single Catholic woman) addresses 4 myths about being single and offers hope and advice to those seeking to live out their vocations. 1. You Have Done Something Wrong Lillian says, “For as long as I can remember, there is a time Catholics are expected to get married. That’s typically between 21 and 25 years old.” There is a fear that if you don’t meet someone ..read more

Has it been some time since your last Confession? You might grasp the significance of this sacrament but feel uncertain about how to approach it after an extended hiatus. If it’s been a while, you may have some lingering questions. Fr. Mike addresses the most frequently asked questions from individuals who haven’t participated in the sacrament of Reconciliation for a while. How Am I Supposed to Remember All of My Sins in the Course of My Life? The Holy Spirit plays a role in bringing our sins to light, revealing what we should confess. Fr. Mike encourages individuals to set aside a notepad, n ..read more

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Decided Excellence Catholic Media. Published with permission. September marks the month of the Sorrowful Mother, Mater Dolorosa, the woman who faithfully stayed with the Lord through his most vulnerable and physically weak moments on earth. In order to understand Our Lady’s role (especially during the Passion), we must first look to her Son, who set the stage for this great drama of our redemption. It is within his Passion that our suffering is made sweet and by which our frailties and weaknesses are wiped away. Our trials each day are purifie ..read more

Do you want to be a saint? Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that to live like the saints, we must pray like the saints. In this video, he shares how we can pray like St. Francis of Assisi. At the end of his life, St. Francis dictated a document called “My Testament.” Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this document was his final words to his brothers. St. Francis concludes his writing by telling his brothers “not to place any gloss upon…these words.” Living Without Gloss Fr. Mark-Mary explains that by “gloss,” St. Francis means not to water down your prayers and not to filter your Scripture reading with your ..read more

St. Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, is one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity and Western philosophy. His most famous work, The Confessions of St. Augustine, is a profoundly reflective autobiography that explores his spiritual journey. Discover 10 unforgettable quotations from Augustine that offer profound insights for personal growth, touching on human conversion, Scripture, and the pursuit of wisdom—wisdom you can apply to transform your life. 1 For you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. book 1, chapt ..read more

The following excerpt is from pages 133-134 of Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, Season 1 reading for the Catholic Classics podcast. Here, St. Francis shares 4 prayer exercises you should complete in the morning before leaving your bedroom. In addition to this full and complete mental prayer, along with the additional vocal prayers that you ought to say once every day, there are five other shorter kinds of prayers which are, as it were, the little offshoots of your principal prayer. The first is the morning offering, which is general preparation for all the works of the ..read more

“And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:35 Suffering is such an interesting concept. It seems that even for faithful Catholics, many of our actions result from our subconscious trying to escape pain and discomfort. Sure, we want to serve Jesus, steward what has been given to us, develop a deeper relationship with the Lord through prayer, and serve our neighbors with love and generosity. But I’d bet that many times, we look for ways in which we can do these things without suffering too much ourselves. It is easy to giv ..read more

Do you ever wonder if you’re on the right path in your spiritual journey? Being a faithful follower of Jesus involves more than attending Mass and believing the correct doctrines. Jesus is calling us to give more, love more, and surrender more. In this podcast, Dr. Edward Sri shares 3 ways to practice discipleship. 1. Imitation Imitation, Dr. Sri argues, is the essence of discipleship. Do you earnestly strive to imitate Christ? A disciple works to emulate his teacher in all things. Jesus demands more from us than simply attending church on Sunday and starting a Bible study. While these ar ..read more