Hey there, On Monday, August 15th, Catholics around the world will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Well, some Eastern Catholics will celebrate something slightly different ... more on that below. It’s typically a Holy Day of Obligation, but not this year since it falls on a Monday. I ran across this beautiful poem about the Assumption. Memories of …
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Hey there, On August 6th we'll celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration … one of the key events in Jesus’ life. Just to refresh your memory, this was when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain and He was transfigured with His face shining bright like the sun and his robes a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared, and the Lord spoke to them as well. There’s more to the …
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Hey there, There once was a minister who died and was waiting in line at the pearly gates. Ahead of him was a guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addressed this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replied, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi driver, of Noo Yawk City." Saint Peter consulted his list. …
Continue Reading about Why Our Salvation is a Process … And Isn’t Guaranteed
Hey there, I’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since I began Genuflect four years ago. As a cradle Catholic who attended Catholic school, you’d think I wouldn’t have had that much to learn. But it’s not unusual as I’m researching one topic, for another topic to jump out at me. That’s what happened in the case of the magisterium. The magi-what? That’s right. I had never heard of the …
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Hey there, We often hear that to grow in our faith, we should pray every day, go to church every Sunday, and read the Holy Scriptures. But what we don’t hear is that we should read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism, or CCC as it’s referred to, is the compilation of the beliefs of our Catholic faith. It’s what Priests and Deacons reference for their homilies. And it’s …
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Hey there, In Catholicism we talk about the Roman Catholic Church. And you may hear the term Latin Rite. Then there’s the Eastern Church ... the Western Church ... and the Universal Church. If you’re like me, your head starts to spin when these terms are thrown around. I was recently told about a mutual acquaintance who grew up Catholic, but it was not a Roman Catholic church. So we …
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Hey there, Do you remember back in the 1990s when people were wearing those bracelets with the letters WWJD? It stood for “What Would Jesus Do.” And it was a constant reminder to emulate Jesus in your life. There was a follow-up movement called FROG, which stands for “Fully Rely on God.” Also a good one! Those WWJD bracelets and that phrase have disappeared from our culture. But it’s an …
Hey there, It’s hard to believe it’s already June 1st! June brings time to enjoy warmer weather, outdoor activities, vacations … And a few celebrations. Like two holidays we celebrate in the US … Flag Day and Father’s Day. Did you know that today is National Hazelnut Cake Day? There are also month-long celebrations in June. Like African-American Music Appreciation Month. ALS …
Hey there, You can’t look at the news for long without learning about a senseless tragedy. It may be a natural disaster like last month’s tornadoes in Kansas, or the recent wildfires in New Mexico. Or even worse, it may be a man-made tragedy like yesterday’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas or the one in the Buffalo, New York grocery store a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, I could …
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Hey there, Well, we have about a week-and-a-half to go to Easter. Whether it’s gone by fast for you … or dragged on and on … we’re coming down the home stretch. Up to this point we’ve been inwardly focused … with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But now our attention turns to Jesus Christ. Beginning with Palm Sunday and next week with the Triduum we will join in solidarity with our …
Hey there, Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, almsgiving … and penance. Also known as reconciliation. And confession. Whatever you call it, it’s an important part of the Lenten season. I remember my mother dragging me to Confession a few days before Easter every year. Without fail. Parishes schedule more times to hear Confessions during Lent … especially during Holy Week. But …
Hey there, One of the oldest traditions in the Catholic Church is the Stations of the Cross ... or you may call it the Way of the Cross … also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis. Most churches pray the Stations on Fridays during Lent. Call me weird, but I love the Stations of the Cross. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s reliving the passion of Christ. Maybe it’s the routine, …
