What is love? It’s seen as a feeling, but more than that, it’s two things: Desire and willing the good of another. The first part craves unity with the beloved, and the second part wants the best for the other.

When we love others using both parts of this definition, we are able to do so much more in our relationships.

Here are three guidelines to make sure we’re living out the right definition of love.

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What is pettifogging? It’s what happens when we put undue emphasis on petty details—which many of us do a lot in our spiritual lives.

Pettifogging is the first thing St. Ignatius of Loyola warns against in The Spiritual Exercises. He reminds us that we are made to know, love, and serve God. All other things are minor in comparison.

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You’ve repeated yourself multiple times, you’re getting frustrated and flustered, you’re raising your voice—you’re just not getting through to other people. We’ve all been there.

By looking at the reasons why we’re not getting through, maybe we can approach these situations differently in the future, both in our homes, and with others.

3 Reasons We’re Not Getting Through

Of course parents love their kids, but we may not realize how little we communicate that love to them.

Using the five love languages, we can uncover the most effective way to show our love. Whether that’s writing a letter, or sharing a hug, or saying “I’m sorry” for something we’ve done wrong, it’s important to find out what your children respond to.

Here are the five love languages:

How do you show love to your family?

Epiphany is the feast where the Magi come to pay homage to the infant Jesus, but it can also be used to describe a moment of sudden revelation or insight. In the life of Jesus, there are three epiphanies, and each one reveals a truth about ourselves and how we can grow toward God.

3 Epiphanies and What They Mean for Us:

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One of the biggest witnesses to the gospel in my life is Leo, my nine-year-old son. His strategy for growing closer to Jesus in 2020 is to pray, listen to his parents, go to Mass, and go to Adoration, which sounds like a great plan.

He also says that confession is easy because all you have to do is ask a priest.

The things Leo talks about in this episode (Mass, confession, Adoration, reading scripture, and evangelization) are cornerstones of our Catholic faith, and worthy of a special devotion this year.

What’s your 2020 resolution to grow closer to Jesus?

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This January, don’t just make a list of goals for the new year—try developing a vision. I don’t mean a vision for your career, your finances, or even for your family. I'm talking about a deeper, more integrated vision that encompasses the entirety of who you are and who Christ is. Developing a vision like this is only possible if you understand where you come from, who you are, where you’re going, and how you can get there. If you’re clear on all four of these questions, I guarantee you’ll be clear on what’s important for you in 2020.

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The Nativity is an invitation to learn more about Scripture and ponder it as Mary did. The excitement, beauty, and power of Scripture can be lost on us Catholics if we only hear the Bible at Mass. Let’s dive deeper into the Word this Christmas, and continue through the new year.

How is God calling you this Christmas?

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If you’re struggling with stress and anxiety as we get closer and closer to Christmas, you’re not alone. There are stressors that reemerge for each of us this time of year, from family struggles, to holiday preparations, to aches connected to the past or uncertain future, but we don’t have to just push them aside and put on a happy face.

We can bring it all to Christ.

Here are some ways to actually find joy this Christmas:

Make time for prayer

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As the feast of the Immaculate Conception passes, we turn to Mary at this point in Advent. Her sinlessness, virginity, and virtue are especially important to us as we look to grow in holiness.

Our Lady has many things to teach us, but here are three things that come to mind as we meditate on the immaculate conception.

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