In the early Church, every Thursday was made a compulsory day of feasting, not fasting. In the Catholic Church different minor traditions have come and gone over the years. The only tradition that influenced the way Catholics approached fasting (and…
To live a life that is centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not easy. We are in everyday of our lives being bombarded by various “enemies” of our soul that God permits to tempt us, thereby testing our…
The most interesting way to look at it is the number of days during Lent that represents a fitting “tenth” of our calendar year. In the book of Genesis, Abraham gave “a tenth of everything” to the mysterious king of…
How well do you know the Bible? The Bible is the Word of God, but even on the level of human it stands apart. No other book has sold so many copies, has been translated into so many languages, has…
It looks strange that during the most sacred time of year we cover everything that is beautiful in our churches, even the crucifix. Shouldn’t we be looking at the painful event at Calvary while we listen to the Passion narrative…
The Lenten season is noted by two very distinct liturgical omissions. Not even the hymn known as the Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest) nor the Alleluia verse sung before the Gospel is allowed during the entire 40 days…
Litany of Humility O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus. From…
Protestants most times accuse Catholics that they worship Mary through the Rosary. But they refuse to notice that Rosary is a meditation on the life of Christ. Every mystery of the rosary is focused on the very Biblical events of…
Most Catholics and many Christians know that there’s something called a Rosary. However, no one has ever asked why it is called a “rosary”. Rosary was gotten from the Latin word “Rosarium” which means a proper collection or garland of…
The ancient tradition of the Church involves the meditation on seven Psalms, called the “Penitential Psalms” because of their spiritual nature of penance and conversion. It is believed that the designation of these Psalms as “penitential” began way back in…
The liturgical use of ashes was introduced during the Old Testament times. Ashes means mourning, mortality, and penance. For instance, in the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard the announcement of King Ahasuerus (or…
One of the most corporal works of mercy we can do is to visit the sick. As we live in a time where there is a movement to euthanize people with chronic illnesses and to encourage them to seek death…
In the first three centuries of Catholic Church history, there was no law prohibiting the ordination of married men, and many priests were married. But marriage was never permitted after ordination. Moreover, all the Priests whether married, single, or widowed…
The two commandments of love 1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12): Do…
Prayer is our greatest Christian privilege and therefore, it is not optional for anyone who wants to develop a personal relationship with God. Prayer was designed by God to be the primary method of receiving His help and advancing His…
DO NOT open your heart to every man, but discuss your matters with one who is wise and who fears God. Do not keep friends with young people and strangers. Do not fawn upon the rich, and do not be…
O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, I consecrate myself to your Immaculate Heart. I consecrate to thee my very being and my whole life, all that I have, all that…
Lord, Father all powerful, and ever glorious God, I give you thanks, for even though I am a sinner, Thy unprofitable servant, not because of my worthiness, but in the kindness of Thy mercy, you fed me with the precious…
There are several definitions of the word “doctor,” but they all go back to the Latin word for “teacher.” But in the world of Catholic vocabulary, a church doctor is a confessor and a saint but not necessarily a martyr….
The anointing of the sick just like all sacraments, is one way that the church goes on with the ministry of Jesus. Through it, Christ continues to touch, heal, and comfort his people. The anointing of the sick was established…
Catholic teaching says that human life begins at the moment of conception, when the egg and sperm unite to form an embryo. But in In Vitro Fertilization the union occurs in a petri dish no more in an embryo. Usually…
It’s not a good thing to leave the Family thanksgiving dinner early because it’s not just about eating good food, seeing the relatives once a year, and letting them see how fat you’ve become and how good you are looking….
When the Catholic Church decides to invoke the intercession of a potential saint whom they consider to be in heaven and carries a little influence after living an exemplary and holy life. The church follows an investigation process into the…
Let’s say, you are at the wedding of a beloved family member or friend, which is taking place at any protestant church. And then you were called to come to the table of the Lord’s Supper, to receive communion. As…
Dear Lord Jesus, I try hard not to fall in my walk of faith, but you know the temptations that I face today. I experience desires that take me away from you. Sometimes the temptation seems too strong for me….
The HUMAN ACT is any action done by a human being and it can only proceed from the deliberate will of a human being. Human Acts are in three dimensions: The Object: What is the act itself. The Intention: Why the…
As far as the issue of punctuality at Mass is concerned. It’s good that we as Catholics get to Mass early not late, because it is during the introductory rites that we begin to adore God in communion with the…
Sacraments are a sign of God’s grace and forgiveness that came through Christ. Much more, sacraments are events that invites us to truly experience that grace. During the Reformation, Lutherans and Roman Catholics had an agreement on what a sacrament…
Sacramental imitates the Church’s official rituals. They are sacred signs that remind us of the sacraments. Sacramentals are both physical objects such as rosary beads, chaplets, scapulars, devotional medals, statues, candles, anointing oil and Non physical objects like prayer, often…
“The Mass is the most excellent form of prayer!” (Pope Paul VI). For every Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death. And this was revealed to St. Gertrude the great by Our…
