The Monday after Pentecost is a Marian feast day. Didn’t you know? It’s alright if you didn’t. After all, Pope Francis only just declared the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, to be a permanent memorial this past March. Why Mary, Mother of the Church? Since the earliest days of Christian history, Catholics have referred […]
Church & Faith
30 Healing Saints for Common Ailments
When it comes to our health and the health of loved ones, we often turn to prayer. We pray for disease prevention, for physical healing or for peace. Fortunately, there seems to be a special saint for every illness and health concern we can think of! Here is a list of both popular and not-so-well-known saints to invoke for common ailments:
Begin Lent With The Four Last Things
“Remember man that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words, which derive from the Book of Genesis, were spoken in the liturgy on Ash Wednesday when ashes were placed on the foreheads of the faithful. We naturally begin this season of Lent with a contemplation of our death. Join us for […]
A Novena To St. Blaise
On February 3rd, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was born into a wealthy Christian family in Armenia. He was trained as a physician before becoming a priest. Later he was ordained as the Bishop of Sebastea. When a wave of Christian persecution began, God instructed St. Blaise to hide […]
9 Saintly Modern Lay Women To Inspire You Throughout The Year
Who are the first five women who come to mind when you think of female saints? (Take a moment to name those five before continuing to read.) When I stopped to consider five female saints, I thought of St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Agnes, and St. Clare. […]
Why Do Catholics Choose A Saint’s Name At Baptism?
Candles are lit, the petite white gown has been donned by a squirming infant, and now the celebrant turns to the parents holding the child and solemnly asks: “What name do you give your child?” In reply, you might hear: Ashley Elizabeth… David Joseph… Mary Joy… Justin Michael… There’s nothing that says “Catholic” quite like […]
How to Celebrate the Rites & Blessings of Epiphany
There are many beautiful and ancient traditions that come to us from the East in the form of special blessings that the Church performs on Epiphany: the blessing of water, chalk, and homes.
St. John the Beloved and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
What is not commonly known about St. John is that he has a strong connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion. About 400 years before devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus became widely popular through St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, two nuns at a monastery in 13th century Germany had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart: St. Gertrude the Great and St. Mechtilde
The Symbolism of The 3 Christmas Masses
Next to Easter, Christmas is the holiest day of the year. Just as we celebrate Easter as a Triduum of liturgies (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), so at Christmas we have something like a triduum of Masses. There are three Masses celebrated on Christmas Day: at midnight, dawn, and during the day. Each Mass is distinct and highlights a different aspect of the Christmas story.
Why Do Catholics Use So Many Candles?
Walk into any Catholic Church, and it’s impossible to miss seeing candles. There are candles on the altar, a special candle near the tabernacle, and candles in front of images or statues of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady, St. Joseph, or various other patron saints. And these examples are just the bare minimum!
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