How strange and awesome is the coming of our Lord ( Read more... )

As I mentioned previously, the treatise from St. Ambrose that we are currently discussing, On the Mysteries, originally was a sermon that he delivered to new Catholics just baptized at the Easter Vigil. After their baptism, which took place in a baptistry in a building separate from the church, they were led in solemn procession into the church, ( Read more... )

In my earlier post I mentioned how the Holy Father had discussed original sin three different times in eight days. Two of those were in his ongoing catechesis on Saint Paul, and the third is his preemptively released Message for the World Day of Peace, a message released by the Roman Pontiff every January 1, but the advanced text was released on ( Read more... )

I've discovered one more precious homily from Pope Benedict XVI during his recent trip to Lourdes, this touching on several liturgical themes, but most brilliant is about halfway through when he begins discussing the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I can only hope and pray that this journey to France will play a pivotal role in the ( Read more... )

I have a question about sacramentality. If you could complete the following...

The sacrament is effective because:

(1) It is one of the (exclusive) physical points of contact between humans and divine grace.
(2) It is a (inclusive) physical point of contact between humans and divine grace.
(3) The symbolic act in itself pleases God (and thus ( Read more... )

Today's readings for Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter are from Acts 20:28-38, Ps 68:29-30,33-36, John 17:11b-19"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth." This is the prayer, or part of the prayer, that Christ makes to the Father for the Church just before being betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is such an interesting ( Read more... )