Have you ever wondered why the Catholic Church uses a crucifix as a symbol as opposed to other Christian churches that use an empty cross? It is common to hear from those outside the Church that He is risen, but we “leave Him hanging there” or that the crucifix reduces the power of the... Read More >>
Stole, a liturgical vestment composed of a strip of material from two to four inches wide and about eighty inches long. It has either a uniform width throughout, or is somewhat narrower towards the middle, widening at the ends in the shape of a trapezium or spade. A small cross is generally sewn or... Read More >>
At its core, the term "tabernacle" signifies a "dwelling place," a concept not exclusive to any single faith. In Christianity, the Tabernacle is revered as the dwelling place of Christ in the Eucharist, embodying His presence among His followers. The Eucharist, central to... Read More >>
Confirmation is the third sacrament of initiation and serves to "confirm" a baptized person in their faith. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life and calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. Through Confirmation, our... Read More >>
It is worth noting that an altar is a place where sacred actions occur in what the Church again and again calls “sacred buildings.” Sacrosanctum Concilium even speaks of “sacred furnishings.” 20 To be made sacred is to be set apart from other things, and... Read More >>
In the years since the Second Vatican Council, the table-ness of the altar has perhaps been emphasized above all other attributes. While an altar is indeed a table, it signifies much more than domestic furniture. The Order of the Dedication of an Altar calls the altar a “table of... Read More >>
Any altar, by definition, is a structure on which sacrifice is offered. Sacrosanctum Concilium repeatedly speaks of the Mass as a sacrifice, noting that at the Last Supper, Christ instituted “the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood” in order to “perpetuate the... Read More >>
Regarding baptism, St. Hippolytus in the Apostolic Tradition spoke of an anointing after the actual baptism with the “oil of thanksgiving.” Similarly, right after the actual baptism in the present rite, the priest anoints the person on the crown of the head with... Read More >>
The Oil of the Infirm is used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (formerly known as Extreme Unction). St. James wrote, “Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the priests of the church. They in turn are to pray over him, anointing him... Read More >>
The Bishop, joined by the priests of the diocese, gathers at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass. This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their Bishop. Here the Bishop blesses three oils– the Oil of Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum or Oleum Sanctorum),... Read More >>
Every Sunday and on all liturgical celebrations with the rank of “solemnity” --the highest-ranking celebration, we profess our faith following the homily. Why do we profess our faith each week? The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says: “The purpose of the Creed... Read More >>
The Paschal candle is one of the most sacred and enduring elements in Christianity. Made of beeswax to represent the purity of Christ, the candle’s wick signifies Christ’s humanity, and the flame His Divine Nature. It is adorned with one or more Christian symbols, often the... Read More >>
Easter lasts for a total of 50 days, from Easter Sunday until the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Christ. This year, 2024, Easter was on March 31 and runs until Pentecost Sunday, May 19.
Easter... Read More >>
Since the Second Vatican Council and the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, the Church has been emphasizing the importance of celebrating the entire 8 days of Easter as solemnities, the highest form of celebration possible. Still, some persist in their ignorance.
There seems to be a... Read More >>
Many people think that Christmas is the most important day in the Catholic liturgical calendar, but from the earliest days of the Church, Easter has been considered the central Christian feast. As Saint Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "If Christ has not been raised,... Read More >>
Establishing redemptive meaning
The temptation scene also serves to establish the meaning, purpose, and goal, of everything that follows. Ironically, just as the temptations in the wilderness implicitly bear witness to Christ’s divinity ("If you are the Son of God…"), so... Read More >>
The Passion in Perspective
The main action in The Passion of the Christ consists of a man being horrifically beaten, mutilated, tortured, impaled, and finally executed. The film is grueling to watch — so much so that some critics have called it offensive, even sadistic, claiming that it... Read More >>
Laetare is the first word — meaning “rejoice” — in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similar to the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy amid our Lenten fasts and penances. The colour pink, or more fittingly, rose is used.... Read More >>
This devotion is usually on Fridays, especially during Lent. You may wonder, what are the benefits of praying The Stations of the Cross?
1. We can look at suffering from a different perspective.
Our Lord understands our struggles and gives us the grace we need to bear them well. We... Read More >>
