Can you explain what we mean by a vocation or calling? I have heard this term used in many different contexts and am not sure what it means. Does it apply to religious life? A vocation or calling refers to a spiritual experience whereby a person senses within oneself the closeness of God...
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What are the origins and significance of the Easter celebration? Easter was the first feast celebrated by the early church, commemorating Jesus’ resurrection. This rich and glorious event celebrated the reality that Jesus, who had been killed, was experienced as alive. Sunday was chosen as the day of communal gathering and celebration because, according...
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Nativity will have a Communal Reconciliation Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. Do Catholics have to go to confession at least once a year? Paragraph #1457 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us “each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.”...
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  <At church, they keep inviting us to celebrate the Easter Triduum. What is this? Triduum means “three days,” usually referring to Christ’s resurrection from the dead “on the third day.” The Easter Triduum refers to the three days beginning with sundown on Holy Thursday and ending with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Reckoning...
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What does John’s account of raising Lazarus from the dead say concerning our Lenten faith journey? The raising of Lazarus, unique to John’s Gospel, is the narrative proclaimed on the fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A. The account is rich in affirmations concerning who Jesus is and what his ministry is all about....
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What is the significance of all the sacramentals-holy water, candles, incense? When the younger children in grade school come to Mass, they understand the homilies best when there are lots of visual aids. Clocks, treasure chests, oversize pencils, flashlights and props of all kinds help them grasp the meaning of the Gospel and how...
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What does Jesus mean when he talks about taking up our cross? Our parents and grandparents used to say to us, “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. You have to work at it.” Anything of substance and value requires patience, effort, and careful planning. If it were easy to do, there would not be much...
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Lectionary Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew. What are the Gospel’s key concerns and messages? The community that produced Matthew’s Gospel faced a myriad of issues. The Gospel, probably written around 85 AD, addresses a community consisting primarily of Christian Jews who accepted Jesus as their Messiah. This places them in conflict...
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A Valentine’s Day Blessing Love, the Bible says, is patient. May you never lose your temper with the one you love, but be patient as God was with his people. Love, the Bible says, is never boastful. May you cherish your love as a masterpiece of God, and not as a trophy to be...
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Why do we confess to priests? Can’t we just confess to God? Let’s just suppose for a moment that I, as an underpaid writer, decided that I needed some fast cash and so I rob a store! Whom would I owe an apology to? Certainly I would apologize to the store’s owner, as well...
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