Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Category: Flourishing and the Christian Life

How virtue, love, and transformation lead to true human flourishing.

  • Capture Your Mary Icon in 5 Minutes

    Capture Your Mary Icon in 5 Minutes

    The Glow

    Every mother cradling her child mirrors Mary with Jesus.

    One framed photo turns that moment into a living icon.

    Windows, Not Portraits

    Icons (Hodegetria, Eleusa) show love, not faces.

    Your hug already does the same.

    Soft light + real clothes = instant sacred vibe.

    4 Micro-Moves

    1. Hold close (left arm works).
    2. Gaze with love—wiggles welcome.
    3. Window light, 5 minutes max.
    4. Blue/red fabric if it feels right.

    Frame the Divine

    Print large. Simple frame.

    Hang where morning eyes land.

    Daily dopamine: “This love is holy.”

    Join the Circle

    Snap yours. Post with #MaryIconMoments. on X!

    Next post: how every culture sees “Mother + Child” as sacred.

  • Why Inner Life and Love Matter More Than Ever

    Why Inner Life and Love Matter More Than Ever

    How faith, purpose, and connection can guide you in a busy, chaotic world

    In today’s world, it can feel like everything is moving too fast. Social media, work, family responsibilities, and constant news cycles make it easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if the secret to thriving isn’t doing more, but living deeper?

    The Church has always faced this challenge. She must bring a message of hope to the world while nurturing her own inner life. And while you don’t need to be religious to take the lesson, the principle is universal: without a strong inner foundation, no mission or goal can truly succeed.

    Here’s the takeaway for modern life:

    1. Know yourself and your purpose. Just as the Church must understand her role, you need to understand yours. What drives you? What do you stand for?
    2. Faith can mean trust. You don’t have to be religious to see the value here. Faith, in a modern sense, is trust in what you know is right, and confidence in your ability to make a difference.
    3. Inner life matters. Reflection, mindfulness, and spiritual practice (whatever that looks like for you) help you stay grounded amid chaos.
    4. Balance action with depth. Doing good in the world—helping others, pursuing meaningful work—is powerful, but it’s more effective when paired with thought, reflection, and integrity.
    5. Beware of extremes. It’s easy to get caught up in outward achievement or personal ego. Both can be empty without inner depth and values to guide them.
    6. Love and connection are essential. Real growth comes when you care about others and invest in relationships. Empathy and compassion create the foundation for lasting impact.
    7. You are loved beyond measure. Whether you see it spiritually or simply as human connection, recognizing that you matter—and that your actions ripple out—gives purpose to everything you do.
    8. Your work matters, but your heart matters more. Success without integrity or care is hollow. Align your actions with values that elevate others.
    9. Small acts, big impact. Even small gestures of kindness or integrity can transform your environment, just as individual faith strengthens the Church.
    10. Hope fuels resilience. Knowing you can make a difference—even amid setbacks—keeps you moving forward, grounded in something larger than yourself.

    In short, thriving isn’t about doing everything; it’s about being rooted. Strong inner life, trust in what’s true, and a commitment to love and connection—these are what let you face today’s challenges with courage and purpose.

    Think of it this way: your life can become like a spark that lights a bigger fire, for yourself and everyone around you. Start small, start intentional, and let your inner strength guide your actions in the world.

    Ref: Pope Paul VI General Audience 25 October 1972

    With development and editing assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • Fill the Jars:

    Our Part in Christ’s Miracles

    The story of the Wedding at Cana in Galilee is familiar to many: Mary, the mother of Jesus, notices a problem—“They have no wine”—and brings it to her Son. Jesus responds, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” Yet Mary’s reply to the servants is simple and profound: “Do whatever he tells you.”

    The miracle itself hinges on a simple instruction: Jesus tells the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they do, to the brim. Only then does Christ transform the water into wine—wine far superior to what had been prepared for the celebration.

    This story gives us a powerful lesson about our own spiritual life. Like the empty jars, Christ cannot work in our lives unless we first take the initiative to fill them:

    • Turning our hearts toward Him.
    • Seeking to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
    • Trusting and hoping in His promise, even before we see the outcome.

    The servants’ action—filling the jars—was not the miracle itself, but it was a necessary part. Our obedience, hope, and effort cooperate with God’s grace. The “wine” Christ gives us, the fruit of His blessing, is always far superior to anything we could produce on our own.

    Mary’s guidance, “Do whatever he tells you,” remains timeless. She shows us that responding faithfully to God’s direction, even in small and practical ways, opens the door for His glory to be revealed in our lives.

    When we fill our jars, we make room for Christ’s miraculous work—and the joy and abundance He offers is beyond what we could imagine.

    Edited with assistance of ChatGPT-5

  • Charity Is a Supernatural Virtue

    Today when people hear the word “charity,” they often think of donations, fundraisers, or volunteer work. These are good things, but they only scratch the surface of what charity really is.

    In Christian teaching, charity—caritas—is not simply kindness or generosity. It is a supernatural virtue. Saint Paul places it above even faith and hope:

    “Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Cor 13:13)

    Why is charity the greatest? Because it is not something we generate on our own. It is God’s own love, poured into our hearts by grace, enabling us to love as He loves.

    The Natural Foundation

    Even without revelation, human beings are inclined to goodwill toward others. Aristotle called this eunoia—acting with the good of others, and the common good, in mind. This is a natural virtue, and it is real. We can see it in acts of kindness, civic friendship, and common concern for neighbors and strangers alike.

    Yet, natural virtue is fragile. It can be easily distorted by pride, fear, or selfishness.

    Grace Perfects Nature

    Christ calls us beyond this natural level:

    “Be ye perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)

    On our own, we cannot attain such perfection. But grace builds on nature and lifts it higher. When God infuses charity into the soul, it transforms natural goodwill into supernatural love. We are empowered to love not only as we would want to be loved, but as Christ Himself loves—freely, fully, and sacrificially.

    The Freedom of Love

    Aristotle observed that no act is virtuous unless it is voluntary. Forced “charity” is no charity at all. The same holds true in the supernatural order: Christian love must be freely chosen. It is a gift of grace, but also a response of the heart.

    That is why true charity is always personal. It is not only about writing a check or supporting a program. It is about opening the heart to God and to others—loving in freedom, with the very love of Christ that has first been given to us.

    Edited with assistance of ChatGPT-5

  • Feeding Bellies, Starving Souls

    Why Charity Alone Is Not Enough

    I once came across a piercing phrase: “Catholic Charities: feeding bellies; starving souls.” It stayed with me because it names a real temptation for Christians in our time: to give generously to the body, while neglecting the soul.

    Of course, corporal works of mercy are essential. Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. And Catholic institutions do this at a massive scale. But if that is where mercy ends, we have fallen short.

    Physical hunger is serious, but spiritual hunger is eternal. Jesus did not only multiply loaves. He said, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst” (Jn 6:35).

    If we only fill stomachs without pointing people to Christ, we risk leaving them starved in the most important way. A man with bread in his hand but emptiness in his heart is still in poverty.

    True Christian mercy must hold both together: bread for the body and Bread for the soul. Shelter and forgiveness. Clothing and truth. A warm meal and the promise of eternal life.

    This is the challenge for Christians today. Society has woven corporal works of mercy into its fabric through welfare, charities, and aid programs. But who will take responsibility for the spiritual works of mercy? Who will teach the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, forgive the offender, pray for the living and the dead?

    We cannot outsource those. They belong to us — to the Church, to every disciple of Christ.

    If we want to be true to the Gospel, then our charity cannot stop at the body. It must reach the soul, where Christ Himself longs to dwell.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • Beyond Bread Alone:

    The Forgotten Works of Mercy

    In the first blog, we saw how the corporal works of mercy have become part of the very fabric of Western society. Food banks, hospitals, charities, and even government programs echo Christ’s command to feed, clothe, and shelter those in need. That is a powerful legacy of Christianity.

    But mercy is not only about the body. It is also about the soul.

    The Church has always taught about the spiritual works of mercy:

    • Instruct the ignorant
    • Counsel the doubtful
    • Admonish the sinner
    • Bear wrongs patiently
    • Forgive offenses willingly
    • Comfort the afflicted
    • Pray for the living and the dead

    Unlike their corporal counterparts, these spiritual works are not easily institutionalized. A government cannot legislate forgiveness. A nonprofit cannot substitute for patient endurance. No program can replace prayer.

    And yet, it may be precisely these works that our world needs most today.

    In many places, hunger for truth is deeper than hunger for bread. Loneliness wounds more people than sickness. A culture of anger and resentment cries out for forgiveness and patience. In a world full of noise, people are starving for real counsel, comfort, and prayer.

    The danger is that Christians become content with mercy limited to the material. We may feed bodies but leave souls untouched. We may shelter people but never welcome them into communion with Christ. True mercy must be both corporal and spiritual — not either/or but both/and.

    Jesus Himself reminds us: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). To give bread without the Word is to give half a meal.

    So here is the challenge: if society is already carrying forward the physical dimension of mercy (often thanks to its Christian roots), then perhaps the unique responsibility of Christians today is to restore the spiritual works of mercy to their rightful place.

    This is not about abandoning corporal works — far from it. It is about remembering that real love, Christian love, reaches deeper than the body. It touches the heart, the soul, the eternal destiny of the person in front of us.

    In the next blog, we will look at practical ways to integrate both: how Christians can care for bodies and souls, ensuring that mercy is whole and holy.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • Have We Outsourced the Works of Mercy?

    In the Gospels, Jesus gave His followers the command to live out the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and the prisoner, and bury the dead. These simple, concrete acts of love are how Christians have always revealed Christ to the world.

    Over centuries, these works became so deeply woven into Western society that many people today hardly notice their Christian origin. Hospitals, food pantries, shelters, charities, and even government welfare programs all reflect the lasting influence of the Gospel. In many ways, the corporal works of mercy are part of the very fabric of our culture.

    That is good news. But it also raises an important question: have we outsourced mercy to institutions?

    Think about it. In modern society, there is almost always a program, charity, or government office ready to provide physical care. This is not bad — in fact, it is evidence of Christianity’s leavening effect on culture. Yet when mercy is reduced to only social services, something essential is lost.

    Christians are not called simply to hand off good works to others. We are called to bring Christ Himself into every act of mercy. Feeding the hungry is not complete without offering the Bread of Life. Giving shelter is not full without welcoming someone into genuine human community. Visiting the sick is not just about treatment but about hope and prayer.

    If we only address the body while leaving the soul untouched, mercy becomes incomplete. As one observer put it, some Catholic charities risk “feeding bellies while starving souls.”

    So, while society may continue the corporal works in their material form, Christians are still uniquely responsible for the deeper task: to ensure that mercy reaches both body and soul.

    This series will explore that balance — beginning with the works of mercy everyone knows, and moving toward the often-forgotten spiritual works of mercy. Together, they reveal a vision of Christian love that cannot be replaced by any program or policy.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • The Best Version of Yourself—or Something Greater?

    I first heard the phrase “the best version of yourself” on a business trip to Singapore. Later I heard Matthew Kelly use it, and I wondered—who said it first? Did he pick it up somewhere, or did others pick it up from him?

    Either way, whenever I hear it, I start asking questions. How many versions of myself are there supposed to be? It almost sounds like we’re meant to carry around a closet of personalities. “Today I’ll be Mr. Jekyll. Tomorrow I’ll be the thief. On Sunday I’ll put on my Christian self.” If that’s the case, then which one is the authentic self? And if I have to choose my “best” version, what does that say about all the rest?

    Maybe I’m on version 2.8 of my “best self” today—but what about 2.9, or 3.0? What if the best I can muster still isn’t very good? Do I just keep patching and upgrading like faulty software? Or will people ask, “Is that really your best version, or are you holding something back?”

    The more I hear this phrase, the more I think it misses the point. It makes “the best version of yourself” sound like something you accomplish on your own. But the truth is different: the best version of me is nothing compared to letting Christ live through me.

    And strangely enough, the more I put others first, the more “myself” I become. When I serve, I am surrounded by love and goodwill that multiplies my life far beyond what I could build alone. My “best version” is not about polishing up a private identity—it’s about creating the best version of my service, the best version of my vocation.

    So maybe the question isn’t, What’s the best version of yourself? but Who lives in you? Who do you belong to? Because if it’s just me, the best I can do is never enough. But if it’s Christ—then there is no limit.

    Epilogue: Where Did the Phrase Come From?

    The phrase “the best version of yourself” has become popular in motivational and self-help circles, but it has been especially tied to the work of Matthew Kelly, the Catholic author and speaker. Kelly made it a central theme in his books and talks, and for many people, the phrase is now inseparable from his message of spiritual renewal.

    That said, the idea itself isn’t unique to him. The broader self-improvement world has long promoted similar concepts about unlocking your potential, achieving your highest goals, or striving to become your “best self.”

    But here is the caution: when this phrase is left vague or purely self-focused, it can become just another slogan. It risks making people restless, always chasing after some imagined “best” that never arrives.

    Which brings us back to the Christian answer. The “best version” of you is not something you design or manufacture—it is what happens when Christ lives in you. Left to ourselves, we are always chasing. With Him, we are finally becoming.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • 10 RAZÕES PARA BUSCAR JESUS

    Se você realmente conhecesse Jesus, então realmente O amaria. Descubra como Ele pode transformar sua vida e guiá-lo a viver com amor, propósito e alegria em todos os aspectos do seu dia a dia.

    1. Jesus Cristo é a perfeição do homem porque Ele é a perfeição do amor. Se desejamos ser o melhor que podemos ser, devemos aspirar a ser como Cristo. No entanto, não conseguimos alcançar isso por nós mesmos.
    2. Quando convidamos Cristo para nossas vidas, Ele se faz presente em nós e através de nós. Assim, embora sejamos pecadores desesperançados, nos tornamos portadores da perfeição do homem. De fato, não há lugar para orgulho, pois todo o bem que fazemos vem Dele. Não podemos nos apropriar dele.
    3. Através da Sua graça, vencemos o pecado, o sofrimento e a morte. Nossos pecados passados e quaisquer faltas futuras já foram pagos pelo preço da Sua morte e ressurreição. A maioria dos novos pecados pode ser evitada mantendo nossos olhos fixos em Jesus.A dor do sofrimento se transforma em amor pelo sacrifício de Cristo, nosso propósito. O sofrimento só existe nas áreas de nós mesmos às quais ainda nos apegamos. Nas áreas em que morremos para nós mesmos e nos entregamos a Ele, a morte não tem mais poder. Para muitos santos, isso é apenas um passo através de um véu.
    4. Recebemos os olhos e o coração de Cristo. Vemos quanto Cristo ama todos ao nosso redor e percebemos onde eles foram feridos. 
    5. Tudo o que possuímos — habilidade, esforço, motivação, conhecimento — é inútil se não estiver a serviço do amor, de Cristo.
    6. Vivemos em verdadeira alegria, paz e amor. Se estamos realizando o Seu trabalho — o trabalho para o qual fomos criados — será a maior aventura que poderíamos ter (com o melhor final).
    7. Somos lavados em Seu amor. Apreciamos que Jesus nos amou tanto que morreu por nossos pecados. Aquele que morreu por nós nunca nos abandonará. Podemos saber que, quando falamos, Ele nos escuta. Ele sempre nos espera na quietude de nossos corações. Compreendemos que tudo o que nos acontece é Sua bênção. É o melhor que poderia nos acontecer.
    8. Ao deixá-Lo viver através de nós, podemos ser melhores cônjuges, pais, filhos, funcionários, chefes, empresários, vendedores, clientes, colegas, estudantes, professores, amigos e cidadãos. Mostrando respeito, colocando os outros em primeiro lugar, agindo com honestidade, diligência, paciência, perseverança, amor, misericórdia e lealdade, adquirimos o caráter ideal em todas essas áreas.
    9. Mantendo os olhos fixos em Cristo, podemos nos sacrificar para ajudar a vencer o pecado e o sofrimento no mundo à nossa volta. Podemos oferecer a outra face em vez de buscar vingança. Em vez de contribuir para o caos, podemos ser uma fonte de cura. O cristianismo foi a origem do respeito e da dignidade para toda a humanidade, bem como para os animais e o meio ambiente. Essas bases sustentaram grande parte do progresso da civilização desde Cristo. Onde o cristianismo foi eliminado, como nos regimes comunistas, vemos claramente o que o reino do mal traz.

    “…Quanto às misérias e pecados que ele ouvia diariamente no mundo, ele não os repreendia. Pelo contrário, ficava surpreso que não houvesse mais, considerando a malícia da qual os pecadores eram capazes. Por sua parte, ele orava por eles, sabendo que Deus poderia remediar o mal que causaram quando quisesse, e não se preocupava mais com isso.” –  —Irmão Lourenço em Cristo

    1. Podemos ajudar outros a conhecer o amor de Cristo. Serão necessários bilhões de mártires para superar o mal cometido em nome de Cristo. Serão necessários muitos mais mártires vivos para levar Cristo a todas as pessoas sem esperança neste mundo. Se o cristianismo é um encontro pessoal com Cristo, então o Cristo que as pessoas encontram deve ser apresentado através de nós.

    Translated and Edited by ChatGPT-5

  • 10 RAZONES PARA BUSCAR A JESÚS

    Si Realmente Conocieras a Jesús, Entonces Realmente le Amarías.

    1. Jesucristo es la perfección del hombre, porque Él es la perfección del amor. Si deseamos llegar a ser lo mejor que podemos ser, debemos aspirar a ser como Cristo. Sin embargo, por nosotros mismos no podemos lograrlo.
    2. Cuando invitamos a Cristo a nuestras vidas, Él se hace presente en nosotros y a través de nosotros. Así, aunque somos pecadores sin esperanza, nos convertimos en portadores de la perfección humana. No hay lugar para el orgullo, porque todo lo bueno que hacemos viene de Él. No podemos atribuirnos el mérito.
    3. A través de Su gracia vencemos al pecado, al sufrimiento y a la muerte. Nuestros pecados pasados y cualquier falta futura ya fueron pagados por el precio de Su muerte y Su resurrección . La mayoría de los pecados futuros pueden evitarse si mantenemos nuestros ojos fijos en Jesús.La tortura del sufrimiento se transforma en amor al sacrificio de Cristo, nuestro propósito. El sufrimiento solo persiste en aquellas áreas de nuestra personalidad a las que aún nos aferramos. En aquellas áreas en que hemos muerto a nosotros mismos y nos hemos entregado a Él, la muerte ya no tiene aguijón. Para muchos santos, la muerte fue simplemente atravesar un velo.
    4. Tenemos los ojos y el corazón de Cristo. Vemos cuánto ama Cristo a todos los que nos rodean, y vemos dónde han sido heridos. 
    5. Todo lo mejor que tenemos —habilidad, esfuerzo, motivación y conocimiento— no sirve de nada si no está al servicio de Cristo, que es el Amor.
    6. Vivimos en verdadera alegría, paz y amor. Si estamos haciendo Su obra, la obra para la cual fuimos creados, será la mayor aventura que jamás podríamos tener, con el mejor final. 
    7. Seremos lavados en Su amor. Reconocemos que Jesús nos amó tanto que murió por nuestros pecados. Y Él, que murió por nosotros, nunca nos abandonará. Podemos estar seguros de que cuando hablamos, Él nos escucha. Siempre nos espera en la quietud de nuestros corazones. Comprendemos que todo lo que nos sucede es Su bendición para nosotros; es lo mejor que puede pasarnos.
    8. Dejándolo vivir a través de nosotros, podemos ser mejores esposos, padres, hijos, empleados, jefes, empresarios, vendedores, clientes, compañeros, estudiantes, profesores, amigos y ciudadanos. Mostrando respeto, estando dispuestos a poner a otros primero, con honestidad, diligencia, paciencia, perseverancia, amor, misericordia y lealtad, adquirimos el carácter ideal en todas estas áreas.
    9. Manteniendo los ojos fijos en Cristo, podemos sacrificar para ayudar a vencer el pecado y el sufrimiento en el mundo que nos rodea. Podemos poner la otra mejilla en lugar de buscar venganza. En vez de contribuir al caos, podemos ser una fuente de sanación. El cristianismo ha sido el origen del respeto y la dignidad hacia toda la humanidad, así como hacia los animales y el medio ambiente. Estas han sido las bases de la mayor parte del avance de la civilización desde Cristo. En las regiones donde el cristianismo ha sido eliminado, como bajo los regímenes comunistas, es claro lo que trae el reino del mal.

    “… en cuanto a las miserias y los pecados que él escucha todos los días en el mundo, estaba tan lejos de preguntarle a ellos, que, al contrario, estaba sorprendido que no hubiera más, teniendo en cuenta la malicia de la que los pecadores eran capaces. Por su parte, el oró por ellos, pero sabiendo que Dios puede remediar el daño que hicieron cuando él quisiera, él mismo no dio más problemas.” –  Hermano Lorenzo en Cristo

    1. Podemos ayudar a que otros conozcan el amor de Cristo. Tomará un billón de mártires para superar el mal hecho en nombre de Cristo. Y se necesitarán muchos más mártires vivos —aquellos que ofrecen su vida día a día— para llevar a Cristo a todas las personas sin esperanza en este mundo. Si el cristianismo es un encuentro personal con Cristo, el Cristo que las personas encuentren debe presentarse a través de nosotros.