Kevin J. Banet

Respecting the Delicate Boundaries in Man-Woman Friendships

People in a happy marriage might be heard saying, “God gave my spouse to me.” This language of exclusivity seems reserved for marriage, but can it be applied to meaningful, non-marital friendships, particularly between members of the opposite sex?

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A Saint For Those With Mental Illness — Part I

St. Benedict Joseph Labre is singularly the patron Saint of the mentally ill in the latter days for several reasons. His was a pronounced, distinctively eccentric presence of his times, much like many of the severely disturbed in our modern, chaotic world.

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Divine Surprises: Seeing God in the Unexpected

Have you ever had one of those moments where something so inexplicable happens that you say “it just had to be God?” We might call this serendipity or divine coincidences, or “God-incidences,” but it is undeniable that God works in our lives in mysterious ways.

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Why Mental Illness Must be Understood From a Catholic Approach

What is the one missing principle in today's secular approach to treating mental illness? The ideas in this article, by the guardian and co-founder of the Guild of St. Benedict Joseph Labre, are necessary to understand this important topic.

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New Movie on the Spanish Martyrs of the Visitation — What Do You Think?

When you take up the cross, you join an ongoing war. For many throughout history this has meant giving up their lives as martyrs.

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Eucharistic Prayer Draws Us Mystically Into the Trinity

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian faith. Even our simple, private prayers gravitate around the reality of the Eucharist. The sacramental nature of the faith is designed by God to align with our material existence as embodied beings.

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Can a Mentally Ill Person Become a Saint?

Can someone who is mentally ill become a saint? The answer is Yes! In fact, they are living out their vocation of mental and emotional suffering.

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Love Needs to Radiate Beyond Ourselves to Mission

To love and be loved. This is the great mystery of our faith. We are created from God’s love and called to live in God’s love. What does it mean to love? What does it mean to be loved?

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“God’s Love Exploded When He Gave Me the Gift of Faith”

Question 1: When did God begin to love us? How can you love an uncreated being? Laura: God loved us from before we were born – knitted us in our mothers’ womb.

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How Do Saints Achieve Harmony With Others?

Do you yearn for better communication with others? Saint Francis de Sales wrote letters to those in his life to help maintain connection.

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How to Bring Our Best Self to Prayer

What exactly is prayer? And is it important how we conduct ourselves while we pray, both for our benefit, and possibly for others?

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Why You Should Pray the Liturgy of the Hours with Us

Do you have trouble sticking to a prayer routine in the morning? The answer might be easier than you think. The book of Acts (2:42) tells us that the first Christians were devoted to common prayer,

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True Devotion Involves a Holistic Approach to Our Spiritual Life

This month's chat: True devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us and causes us to work briskly and lovingly.

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Is It Selfish to Desire to Be Filled With God?

Self-renunciation, preparing one's soul for divine communion, and discerning God's will versus self-will are discussed in this month’s chat discussion.

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St. Francis de Sales Wants You to Have Holy Friendships!

Question: Why is it good to find joy in the success (especially spiritually speaking) of others? Priscila: Because others' holiness reflects the goodness and the working of God. Sherry: This came to my mind, the last line of the Litany of Humility. THAT OTHERS MAY BECOME HOLIER THAN I, PROVIDED THAT I MAY BECOME AS HOLY AS I SHOULD… Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

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