Tag: "Mass"

They're All With Us
1

They’re All With Us

by

We as Catholics believe that at death our material bodies are temporarily separated from our non-material souls until the end of time. We believe that at the end of time our bodies will be resurrected and re-united with our souls for eternity. For those who lived righteous lives their reunited bodies and souls will be […]

Who Wouldn't Want This?
0

Who Wouldn’t Want This?

by

Has Lent got you feeling grumpy? Deprived? Hungry? Has politics got you acting like a real bear? Are you snapping at people? Is the long wait for the first buds of springtime transforming you into someone from whom people walk away? Your heart, soul, body, and mind all need something. But what? If only The […]

Beyond Us and Beside Us
0

Beyond Us and Beside Us

by

In the Book of Isaiah the prophet recounts his vision: He saw God, sitting before him on a “high and lofty throne”while the Seraphim stationed above cried out: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. All the earth is full of his glory.” Then at the sound of that cry “the frame of the […]

Help Mary in Her Mission -- Offer Your Communion
1

Help Mary in Her Mission — Offer Your Communion

by

Fr. Emil Neubert, SM, one of my favorite Mariologists, wrote many books on Mary including Mary and the Priestly Ministry and My Ideal, Jesus, Son of Mary. Recently, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, through their publishing house, Academy of the Immaculata, have renewed interest in Father Emil Neubert by translating his French works from the 1950’s into English. […]

The Priest’s Sacrifice and Yours
0

The Priest’s Sacrifice and Yours

by

“You received Holy Communion this morning and that is well, but you must do more, make a general confession and offer your communion for the conversion of sinners.” These were the words the Queen of Heaven spoke in 1859 to a Belgian immigrant named Adele Brise in Champion, Wisconsin. In 1917 the children in Fatima […]

My Favorite Christmas Gift
2

My Favorite Christmas Gift

by

At the pinnacle of the sloping ceiling at St. Cletus Catholic Church (in St. Charles, Mo.), at the center of the church, some clear windows allow sunshine to stream downward – when the sun is shining, of course. The sun was shining brightly in our part of the world on Christmas Day. Praise God! Monsignor […]

Thinking Liturgically:  The Creed
0

Thinking Liturgically: The Creed

by

When one considers what the most important part of the Liturgy of the Word is, you would think that the proclamation of that word would easily rank in the top slot. I don’t wish to tell my reader they are wrong, but I submit there is something else that is also of the highest importance. […]

Happy Boy Makes Mass
0

Happy Boy Makes Mass

by

Last year I remember rushing into mass minutes before the opening song. Exhausted from hours of setting up for a ministry event, I was unable to prepare for mass properly. Sliding into my usual spot I jumped to attention as the procession began. My eyes naturally scanned the area directly across the expanse to those […]

Love for the Loud at Mass
1

Love for the Loud at Mass

by

Most Catholic parents have had to take an embarrassing walk to the back of church with small children who can’t quiet down. So, what might parents of small children, and those who are bothered by small children, do in these situations? From the perspective of others at Mass My family is at the stage where […]

If You Can't Make Daily Mass
0

If You Can’t Make Daily Mass

by

Our spiritual lives are centered upon Jesus’ sacrifice, made present in the Eucharist. Probably the majority of us however, have schedules that keep us from attending Mass on a daily basis. It may come as a surprise to learn that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – and the majority of Jews at the time – found […]

Why We Need to Think Liturgically
2

Why We Need to Think Liturgically

by

What is the best way to teach the faith?  This is a question that has been on the mind of many thinkers lately, especially in light of what Ralph Martin calls the “institutional collapse” in American Catholicism.  This question should be considered anew in light of recent research into the behavior of young Catholics in […]

How Shepherds Smell Like Their Sheep
0

How Shepherds Smell Like Their Sheep

by

One of the phrases people quote about Pope Francis is his exhortation that “shepherds must smell like their sheep.”  If you ask ten people what this means, you will likely get ten different answers.  Nobody can agree upon what it means, but everyone can agree it is something important.  I believe that as always, the […]

Behold the Lamb of God
0

Behold the Lamb of God

by

The Protestant Church is all about the Bible; the Catholic Church is all about the Sacraments.  Right? Not exactly.  When it comes to personal Bible reading, Protestants often put Catholics to shame.  But as far as Sunday worship goes, it is hard to find a more biblical service than the Mass. The readings are awesome […]

The Epiphany
1

The Epiphany

by

Up until now, all has been quite humble. A donkey-ride to a dusty town south of Jerusalem. Hotel rooms all booked up. Giving birth in a stable and laying the baby in an animal’s feed trough instead of a cozy cradle. Into this scene of obscure poverty suddenly bursts an exotic entourage from a far-off […]

A Mass-Centered Way to Talk About the Eucharist
0

A Mass-Centered Way to Talk About the Eucharist

by

A great opportunity to share the faith with both fallen away Catholics and with non-Catholics is to talk about that one central thing that distinguishes the Catholic Church apart from all other religions of the world.

The Importance of Having Children at Mass
21

The Importance of Having Children at Mass

by

One Sunday a while back, a family of five filled a pew at church near where I was sitting during Mass. That family grabbed my attention. The pew was much larger than needed to accommodate a regular group of five. But this family, in addition to the two parents, included three young children. Three energetic, […]

Gumdrop Catechesis and Marshmallow Sermons
10

Gumdrop Catechesis and Marshmallow Sermons

by

I really can’t remember the last time that a homily made me squirm in my seat and cast a downward glance at being convicted of my sinfulness. I can’t call to mind ever leaving mass with a zeal and fiery passion to go make a difference that was so hot I wanted to jump in […]

No Vacation From Faith
1

No Vacation From Faith

by

When I signed up for RCIA classes at our parish in September 1996, I failed to read the fine print. Graduation, otherwise known as Confirmation, would be at the Easter Vigil. Since my daughter’s school had spring break the week before and the week after Easter, we had planned a dream vacation and booked non-refundable […]

To Wear or Not Wear: Church Veils and Mantillas
7

To Wear or Not Wear: Church Veils and Mantillas

by

If you do an internet search for “church veil” or “mantilla”, you’ll come across many websites dedicated to wearing a piece of lace covering on your head during Holy Mass. You’ll also find many blog posts and articles that ask the question: should I or shouldn’t I wear a mantilla? The reasons for veiling are […]

The Excitement at Mass
0

The Excitement at Mass

by

My husband is so lucky that we only have girls. Whenever we’re out someplace public like the zoo, Legoland, a grocery store, or church, and a child has to go to the bathroom, it’s automatically the female parent who has to take her.  Lucky me. This especially came in handy (for my husband) at church […]

Understanding Sunday Mass - A Kid's View
0

Understanding Sunday Mass – A Kid’s View

by

How many times have you — as a parent — sat in Mass and not heard a word the priest said because you were playing referee, peacekeeper, or bad cop in the pew? Since I can answer that question in the triple digits, I was thrilled to learn about the new DVD “Understanding Sunday Mass: A […]

A Mass Unlike Any Other
0

A Mass Unlike Any Other

by

What a privilege it was to serve Mass recently! It is something I have had the honor to do only 3 or 4 times in my adult life. For someone who just recently received his Medicare card, today was both a day for gratitude and for awe – gratitude for the gift of life and […]

A Year Out: A Reflection on the "New" Translation of the Mass
0

A Year Out: A Reflection on the “New” Translation of the Mass

by

The end of November, 2011 saw the one-year anniversary of the “new” translation of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy. Like many others, I welcomed the new translation.  When I began hearing some of its texts, I heard a more dignified, elevated language that spoke more directly to the heavenly Mysteries the Liturgy purports […]

Will I Get Time Off in Purgatory If I Take My Kids to Mass?
7

Will I Get Time Off in Purgatory If I Take My Kids to Mass?

by

My husband and I have three young boys (Joey – 5, Nicky – 3, Ritchie – 11 months). These kids are my heart and my favorite people on the planet, but they are the reason that we haven’t heard a homily in five years. When Travis and I were expecting Joey, we were blissfully unaware […]