Both Species from an Extraordinary Minister If no priest or deacon is available to distribute the Precious Blood in the circumstances where Communion under both kinds is permitted and customary, then it cannot be considered an abuse to avail of the services of an extraordinary minister of Communion
An Author for Catholic Teens In a world filled with so many complex media images confronting our families, it’s a simple pleasure as a parent to be able to share a book with your teen. The trick is finding the right book and getting the teen to agree to read it.
How Can You Be Sure? If there is no clear sign in your life against a vocation, and there is some attraction based on a good, spiritual reason, then it boils down to what you are willing to do for God, how generous you want to be, how real you want to make your love.
Previously Consecrated Hosts for Concelebrants Each concelebrating priest truly offers the sacrifice of the Mass and he must complete his part of the sacrifice by partaking of both species offered at that Mass just as if he were celebrating alone.
INRI: I’ll Never Regret It As I returned home, at the end of the summer, I knew if God was really calling me to become a Sister, the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus would be the Order I would choose. I saw only good and dedicated women working for the Lord.
Random Thoughts Isn’t it odd that Catholic pacifists, given a choice of two candidates who both say they will prosecute the war on terror to the full, would intervene on behalf of the candidate with a consistent anti-life record?
Breaking the Host Before Consecration This abuse seems to have arisen from a literal and somewhat dramatic interpretation of the words of the institution narrative of the consecration “He took the bread, broke it…”
Serious Relationships Is it possible for me to deepen my love of God, to reach such a level in terms of my spirituality without experiencing that particular type of love on a human level?
What If My Parents Are Against It? Do not walk away from the vocation just because it is not easy and is forcing some hard choices on you.
All Souls Day Christ’s death and resurrection won eternal life for everyone. Yet the fruit of his redeeming work needs to be personally appropriated.
A Primer for Committed Couples Couples in Love, by Fr. John R. Waiss, provides a comprehensive yet approachable and enjoyable overview of the Church’s teachings on issues that confront young couples in relationships.
The Discernment Process The main problem is not in being able to see what God wants, but in not being willing to do it.
Hey, What’s My Vocation? In order for you to have a vocation there are certain conditions you have to fulfill. If there is anything missing that you are not able to acquire by putting in a little bit of effort, it would be a sign that you don’t have a vocation.
Me, a Nun? No Way! I understood that God had planted a certain desire in my heart when He first created me, and that the fulfillment of that desire would make me happy.
Communion Services Before Daily Mass In order to hold a daily Communion service guided by lay ministers, express permission is required from the bishop, who is encouraged not to grant it with ease.
Author Interview - Shower of Heavenly Roses by Elizabeth Ficocelli In her new book Shower of Heavenly Roses: Stories of the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux, author Elizabeth Ficocelli shares stories of countless hearts touched through the intercession of St. Therese.
Picture of Martin Luther King Jr. in a Church When the Church reverences a person through public worship she thereby makes a statement that she holds, not only that the person is an example to others but also that the person is certainly in heaven.
Christ the King Yes, he was indeed on a mission to rescue his people from the power of darkness (Col 1:12). But his crown was of thorns rather than of gold. His weapon was the cross rather than a sword. He came to serve rather than to be served.
On the Right Track I think our Lord, if he is calling you to the priesthood is purifying your heart very early on, almost as he were forcing you to go to the roots and reality of your vocation . . .
Vocation Yes, but... A good course of action for you is to continue your discernment, continue praying and opening your life to be guided by God.
An Outreach To Abortion-Seeking Women While many abortions are procured for selfish reasons, a not insignificant
number of abortion-seeking women do choose life for their babies when
provided with loving alternatives.
Getting More out of the Mass Nothing and no one can stop us from being in Jesus’ presence to receive him and give ourselves to him. The bad news is, if we don’t get anything out of Mass, there’s no one to blame but ourselves.
Thanksgiving & Eucharist But why did Lincoln proclaim the last Thursday in November as a national holiday? Because it was clear to him that the blessings of food, land, family, and freedom enjoyed by Americans are all gifts from the Creator.
Thanksgiving But thanksgiving can’t be limited to Sunday Eucharist. We are called to develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving. We’re called, in this year of the Eucharist, to become a eucharistic people.
Use of the Church Organ During Advent The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument that adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up the spirit to God and to higher things.
Celebrating Advent as a Family For families longing to build Catholic traditions, few times of the year hold greater promise than the liturgical season of Advent.