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, 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, …
Hey there, Ash Wednesday is just one week away … and year after year, it remains one of the most widely attended liturgies we celebrate. Not because it’s a holy day of obligation, because it’s not. But because something deeper draws people through the church doors. Perhaps it is the simple yet striking gesture of ashes traced on the forehead … a visible reminder of who we are, where we come …
Hey there, When the Coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, our lives quickly changed. We self quarantined. We learned how to work from home. How to buy what we needed online. And even how to worship Mass online ... thanks to a dispensation from our Sunday Obligation. It’s been different for everyone, depending on what part of the country you live in. But everyone has adjusted to a …
Hey there, Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas (since it’s still Christmas)! The month of January is dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus … and we celebrated the feast day on Monday. We take great pains when naming our children. And our pets. And then there’s the all important “handle” we give ourselves in social media. We recognize some people by a single name. Like Madonna, …
Hey there, I’m sure you’re aware of practicing Catholics' obligation to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. And to go to Confession at least once per year. But did you know that we Catholics are also required to receive Holy Communion at least once during the Easter season? And we know we’re supposed to tithe, but did you know it’s a requirement? These are examples …
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Hey there, We’ve covered several virtues before and the intention was to cover the Capital Virtue of Diligence. But what I found was that there are a lot more resources on the vices and sins that Diligence combats than about diligence itself. The sin takes several forms from acedia (a new term for me) and sloth, to procrastination, laziness, and idleness. The subtleties between these …
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Hey there, On Monday, May 31st, we will celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary. You know how this story goes. Upon hearing of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary travels to visit her cousin. When hearing Mary’s greeting, John leaps with joy in Elizabeth’s womb. It’s a seemingly simple event … one might even say it’s fairly routine. But a closer examination reveals there are …
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Hey there, Of the three pillars of Lent -- prayer, fasting, and almsgiving -- it’s the latter that gets the least amount of attention. Truly understanding what it’s all about is something I’ve taken for granted over the years. So before this Lent ended, I wanted to focus our attention on this important Lenten activity. Monetary donations are typically associated with almsgiving, but it …
