Universality in All ThingsMaureen Crowley Heil
It seems that as soon as I tell a person who I've met in a church that I've never visited that I'm a 'first-timer," I hear the same response: Be sure to make your three wishes! How this ...
The blessed pathScott Hahn
In the readings since Christmas, Jesus has been revealed as the new royal son of David and Son of God. He is sent to lead a new exodus that brings Israel out of captivity to the nations and brings all ...
Why use holy water?Jenna Marie Cooper
Q: Why do Catholics bless themselves with holy water? (Conway, South Carolina) A: A distinctive feature of any Catholic church are the holy water fonts usually found at the entrances to the worship ...
School days in Ordinary TimeLucia A. Silecchia
Happy Catholic Schools Week! In my early years, I loved school. At summer's end, I anticipated the quest for perfect school supplies and the promise of new shoes, new books, and the smell of fresh ...
Back to the riverJaymie Stuart Wolfe
There is always some relief when the holidays end. Schedules return to normal, and we enjoy feeling like we have more space because there's less clutter to take in. Christmas trees have mostly been ...
'More than Words': Mother of MercyBishop Robert Reed
Have you ever caught yourself operating on autopilot while praying one of the communal prayers of the Mass? It is easy to become distracted while we are doing something so familiar. It is not an unusual ...
His mercy is from age to ageFather Robert M. O’Grady
Prior to Christmas, your scribe was at a gathering of priests. During the course of the evening, this question was posed: "Is there a new rite of Penance being issued?" I jumped in with, "Yes, but... ...
'Prophets of a Future Not our Own'Maureen Crowley Heil
Bishop Ken Untener, of Saginaw, Michigan, wrote the following prayer for a homily given by Cardinal John F. Dearden of Detroit at a Mass for departed priests in 1979. The prayer has been published and ...
History redeemedScott Hahn
Today's Liturgy gives us a lesson in ancient Israelite geography and history. Isaiah's prophecy in today's First Reading is quoted by Matthew in today's Gospel. Both intend to recall ...
The life, death, funeral, and legacy of Pope BenedictFather Roger J. Landry
Normally the death and funeral of a successor of St. Peter takes place within the context of a major distraction. The routine shock that comes even when death is expected, the grief that accompanies the ...
