As someone who knows the terrible depths of addiction and fell away from the Church during my youth, today I am careful to remain as close as possible to Christ to maintain my recovery and live out my vocation as a sober Catholic wife and mother. Below are two...
Often, we may plateau on our recovery journey. This is when we experience renewed temptations because we have grown in positive habits and acquired new tools but have not yet conquered our pride. Pride is, in truth, the biggest stumbling block for addicts. This is...
The season of Lent has fallen upon us once more, offering us time to reflect on the forty days Jesus spent facing temptation in the desert. What are certain Lenten practices for those in recovery to consider adopting to strengthen our recovery as well as our faith in...
When I was invited to write an article addressing strategies to combat acute temptation in times of significant stressors, I couldn't think of a more important topic. Since the onset of the pandemic, many of us have had more downtime—and more opportunities for our...
From the military to sports to the spiritual life, routine is critical for success. However, maintaining a routine can seem boring, rigid, and stifling. I admittedly shared this view for several years. But for addicts who truly wish to be successful in their recovery,...
Attachment, as we have seen in previous articles (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four), is central to addiction, recovery, and spiritual growth. St. Ignatius of Loyola describes his Spiritual Exercises as “every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid...
“I hate myself! I just made a great confession and felt clean and blessed. So, why did I commit this sin yet again?” I often had the above thought when I fell to sexual sin and before I took my recovery from pornography and masturbation seriously. Perhaps it’s a...
Most of my adult life was spent complaining when it came to any kind of pain or suffering—even though the majority of this pain was self-induced and in the form of terrible hangovers. I would whine and complain, asking “Why me?” And when I became ill or was injured I...
Satan is a killer. Given the chance he will happily kill your marriage, your family, your relationships, your joy, and your faith: “He's the enemy...avoid him at all costs” (James 4:7). The world is experiencing a health pandemic. However, as Christians and Catholics,...
When I do an Examination of Conscience, or my Daily Examen, I’m often confronted with how sinful I am. A Daily Examen is the practice of recounting our shortcomings and sins prayerfully in the presence of the Lord, asking for His forgiveness and the strength to do...