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Today I would like to write about something that has been on my mind for a while. As I see polarization increasing in our nation to the point where true dialogue almost seems impossible, I want to seek understanding and…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year BExodus 24:3-8Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13)Hebrews 9:11-15Mark 14:12-16, 22-26June 2, 2024 When God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He did not simply pull them out of Egypt and then…
Read MoreIf you are a regular reader of my blog, I would think you probably are a regular churchgoer. If so, you can use this article to reflect on why you find value in going to church. This can help keep…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel (second option), Jesus speaks of the Advocate whom He will send to us from the Father. This advocate is “the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father.” The Advocate of whom Jesus speaks is the Holy…
Read MoreRecessional, Hymn, and Other Prayers Then the altar servers, lector, and clergy recess out as we sing a hymn. We began with a procession that symbolized all of us entering in. We end with the recessional symbolizing all of us…
Read MoreToday I would like to try something a little different. I would like to examine the morality of something emerging in today’s technology. I begin by proposing a question to you. Do you want to grow in your faith? I…
Read More7th Sunday of Easter Year BActs 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 (19a)1 John 4:11-16John 17:11b-19May 12, 2024 Throughout the season of Easter our first reading at Mass comes from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts tells us the story…
Read MoreHere is an article in PDF format that I recently composed (with proofreading and editorial assistance from some friends.). The topic is what is the purpose of a parish.
Read MoreThe “Last” Prayer After Communion, we stand as the priest offers the Prayer After Communion. There was a period of time when this prayer was mistakenly called the Closing Prayer. This is understandable since it is the last prayer said…
Read MoreI don’t understand…I don’t understand so much of what goes on in the world today. I don’t understand the current protests occurring on college campuses in the United States. I believe in the right of people to protest. However, I…
Read MoreLove can change the world for the better. Hate can’t do that. Why? “Because love is of God.” Jesus does not want us to be his slaves. He says so himself, “I no longer call you slaves.” Instead He calls…
Read MoreStanding or Kneeling Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the normal practice was to receive Communion kneeling at the Communion rail. Now the official practice in the United States is to receive standing. Timothy P. O’Malley writes, “We stand and…
Read More5th Sunday of Easter, Year BActs 9:26-31Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32 (26a)1 John 3:18-24John 15:1-8April 28, 2024 We read in Acts, “The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in…
Read MoreOn the Hand or the Tongue? Many of us grew up when the only acceptable way to receive the Body of Christ was on the tongue. Now, we are allowed to receive on the hand. Receiving on the hand was…
Read MoreWe celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter today. The gospel reading on the 4th Sunday of Easter always come from Jesus’ Good Shepherd discourse in chapter 10 of the Gospel of John. We also celebrate it as the World Day…
Read MoreThere’s No Cup For several centuries, the Precious Blood was not offered to the laity. This was not meant to be an act of exclusion. It was out of reverence for the physical handling of the Precious Blood. In 1984,…
Read MoreOn Saturday I found myself wondering how close we were to seeing full scale war in the Middle East. Beginning last fall I have been writing articles on the application of Just War Theory on the conflict between Israel and…
Read More3rd Sunday of Easter, Year BActs 3:13-15, 17-19Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 (7a)1 John 2:1-5aLuke 24:35-48April 14, 2024 Peter spoke to the Jews who had heard that he has healed a crippled beggar. He said to them, “the God of…
Read MoreWhy Can’t Non-Catholics Receive Communion? To understand this practice, we must understand what it means to receive Communion. It is not just bread. It is truly Jesus we receive. We call it “Communion” because we believe that receiving it means…
Read MoreToday I would like to take a look at how our readings on this Divine Mercy Sunday contrast to the way the world looks at life. Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles speaks of how the early church…
Read MoreMortal Sin and Receiving Communion Why does the Catholic Church say that those who are in a state of mortal sin are not to receive Communion? This is rooted in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, Paul speaks of unworthy…
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