They say that perfection is the enemy of the good. But what is true goodness in a pursuit? What does excellence actually look like and consist of?

Today, Fr. Mike urges us to practice two qualities that lie at the heart of excellence: promptness and preparedness.

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How do you know you've had an encounter with God? Sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if you were raised in the Faith.

Today, Fr. Mike shares his own conversion story, and encourages us to think of a time or a season where you decided to devote your life to God, because Jesus was there in that time, even if you didn't realize it.

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Grief is a human emotion and and affects each of us at one time or another.

The Catholic Church in all her wisdom offers us this beautiful prayer in the rite of Christian burial:

"Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”

Continuing on the theme of death and grief, today, Fr. Mike offers a word of hope and encouragement to anyone who is grieving. Our grief as Christians should look different. We are called to grieve not like the rest.

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Everyone you know and love is going to die someday. You will too, but... the thought of losing everyone else can sometimes be all the more frightening. This is a natural response to the ugly, "unnatural" reality of death, and those feelings of fear are not "wrong" to feel.

But, today, Fr. Mike implores you to take heart. There is yet one person who will never leave you.

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Do aliens from outer space really exist? Did God create them? Are they intelligent? What does that mean for our faith?

Today, Fr. Mike's answer might not be what you're looking for, but... it's the truth.

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What if no one ever told you about Jesus?

Your life probably wouldn't have so many rules. You wouldn't be as guilty for any sins you commit (you wouldn't even know they were sins in the first place). You wouldn't need to evangelize.

And you wouldn't know that the God of the universe—your creator—loves you with a burning passion that you can't even imagine.

Today, Fr. Mike makes the case that it is better to know Christ. It is better to live in the truth. And it is better to take on the challenge of Christian discipleship.

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When things don't go the way we expect, it's hard not to be frustrated and disappointed. How do we move on after unmet expectations? And how do we break the vicious cycle?

Today, Fr. Mike tells us how to keep it real.

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When you go to a concert for your favorite band, and that band has been around for a while, what songs are everybody showing up for? The new ones off of the most recent EP? Or the classics?

And when that iconic song kicks off and the fans go mad... what do they want to hear? A modern reworking? Or the original—"just like the album"?

Today, Fr. Mike makes the case for worshipping God at Mass the way that he asks to be worshipped—not the way that we think he should be worshipped. "O Beauty ever ancient, ever new..."

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There is an age old question often debated among between Catholics and Protestant. Are we saved by faith or works? How are we saved?

Today, Fr. Mike continues the discussion on faith and weighs in on the Catholic Church's teaching on faith and works. The answer may surprise you.

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We must place our faith in Christ in order to allow him to save us. But what does it actually mean to have faith? What does it look like? Does it mean you just "agree" with everything Jesus and his Church say? Or is it deeper than that?

Today, Fr. Mike draws a sharp distinction between faith and mere "agreement", and calls us to a more radical trust in our savior.

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