Faith

Patience: The virtue we would like to possess immediately

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:45:41 +0100

Often we speak of Christ’s mercy and perhaps slightly less often of his justice. But, how often do we speak of Christ’s patience?

Daily Scriptures: August 27, September 12, 2010

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Friday, Aug. 27 Monica 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 Matthew 25:1-13 There are some things no one else can do for you. Saturday, Aug. 28 Augustine, bishop and doctor of the church 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 25:14-30 Holding something or someone too tightly causes suffering. Sunday, Aug. 29 22nd Sunday in ordinary time Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14 “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gif ...

Pope addresses Pakistan floods, notable teachings of St. Pius X

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:33:47 +0100

Pope Benedict XVI appealed again for solidarity and concrete assistance for the millions of people affected by flooding in Pakistan. At the end of his weekly general audience Aug. 18 in Castel Gandolfo, the pope remembered “the dear population of Pakistan, recently stricken by serious flooding, which has caused numerous victims and has left many families without a home.” The flooding that began in late July has left an estimated 1,500 people dead and about 2 million people homeles ...

A small dose of humility can set you on a better path

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:25:37 +0100

It is interesting to read in sacred Scripture about how much time and energy people spent observing Jesus. As it says in the Gospel passage for this Sunday, “The people there were observing him carefully” (Luke 14:1). Sunday Scriptures Deacon John Knopik There were many different reasons why people took time to gaze on the Lord: to see him speak, to observe some miracle, or, unfortunately, to trap him in his own words. ...

Feast on feasts - And 36 other ways to make faith a bigger part of your daily life

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:18:36 +0100

Do you go to Mass on Sunday, but feel like Monday — and Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest — are detached from what you experience at church? For many Catholics, it’s a challenge to unite faith and the normal tasks of daily life. There’s something about a meeting at the office, or washing dishes, or shopping for groceries that seems very ordinary and outside of God’s interest in our lives. Yet, St. Ignatius of Loyola preached that it is possible to find God in all t ...

Hungry for deeper faith?

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:48:18 +0100

37 suggestions for making your Catholic faith a bigger part of your daily life ...

We can learn from Mother Teresa's devotion to Mary

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:02:15 +0100

At the conclusion of every daily Mass, the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity sing this simple prayer written to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Sunday Scriptures Deacon Jim Lannan “O most pure and loving Heart of my Mother and my Queen, Grant that I may love thee, love thee daily more and more!” ...

Daily Scriptures: August 1, August 15

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Sunday, Aug. 1 18th Sunday in ordinary time Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 “Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and put on the new self.” — Colossians 3:9 “When my friend realized she had accepted two invitations for the same evening, she was mortified, but she called both parties involved and honestly admitted her error. She ...

Is it time to open your heart to God and toss out stuff?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:27:25 +0100

Over the summer months of my deacon placement at Divine Mercy in Faribault, I have had the opportunity to work with the local St. Vincent de Paul Society. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Nate LaLiberte In 1833, Blessed Frederic Ozanam founded the society in Paris with the desire to continue the charitable works of St. Vincent de Paul. The organization has spread to 142 countries and has more than 690,000 active members. ...

Plan your family naturally while embracing your divine design

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:09:04 +0100

As a primary care doctor I have the honor and privilege of helping people in times of need. While most often it is a medical need, sometimes it’s more intimate than this: a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, someone to process a new challenge with. As a ceaseless student of the human condition, I am struck by a pattern of resilience in some of my patients. Why can some people handle more than what seems humanly possible with bravery and joy, and others crumble under the load? Love. ...

Couple credits NFP for changed worldview

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:49:55 +0100

Chris and Christelle Hagen weren’t Catholic when they decided to use natural family planning instead of artificial birth control. From left, Kateri-Anne, Chris, Christian-Samuel, Camille-Joy, Emilie-Rose and Christelle Hagen enjoy a nature walk near their Stillwater home. Understanding natural family planning has deepened the couple’s appreciation for children. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit Christelle was initially attracted to NFP for health, not moral, reas ...

Balance your vocation with action and contemplation

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:14:31 +0100

When Jesus stopped in Bethany on his way to Jerusalem, Mary and Martha served him, each in their own way. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Cole Kracke Martha greeted and served him while her sister Mary sat at his feet and listened to his words. ...

Bishops define direct abortion vs. medical procedure

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:06:27 +0100

The U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine in a June 23 statement discussed the distinction between the church's definitions of a direct abortion and a legitimate medical procedure that could result in an indirect abortion. The Catholic Spirit file photo Archbishop John Nienstedt is a bishop consultant, with Chicago Cardinal Francis George, to the committee, which is chaired by Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington. ...

Priest searches for closure after children's deaths

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:28:35 +0100

The following is a reflection about hope written by Dominican Father Joseph Gillespie, pastor of St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis in the aftermath of an apartment fire in April that killed six people. It is reprinted from the parish bulletin. Father Gillespie The circumstances for being in the building were by no means pleasant. I wasn’t there out of a sense of obligation, but rather from a need to gain some closure on a particularly devastating incident. ...

Head of dialogue sees optimism in science-religion relationship

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:37:59 +0100

A physicist, bioethicist and minister walk into a bar.

One asks, "Does a clone have a soul?"

Religion and science are not 'incompatible opposites,' says theologian

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:51:40 +0100

Participants in dialogue between religion and science must work to dispel the notion that the two disciplines stand in total opposition to each other, said a theologian with the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington.

Pope says God can be understood through harmony of faith, reason

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:21:38 +0100

Christians can come to an understanding of God and his plan through reason that is enlightened by faith, Pope Benedict XVI said as he explained the works of St. Thomas Aquinas. Pope Benedict XVI waves during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican June 23. CNS photo/Paul Haring At the weekly general audience June 23 at the Paul VI audience hall, the pope said the 13th-century saint and doctor of the church showed in his writings how the intellect and faith come togethe ...

You can find love and forgiveness at foot of the cross

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:36:38 +0100

“The Son of Man must suffer greatly . . . and be killed . . . and be raised.” Sunday Scriptures Deacon Jonathan Kelly Why would God do something like this? It is a mystery. ...

Six guidelines for living a fulfilling life - Full speech

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:09:04 +0100

In his commencement address to St. Agnes High School’s class of 2010, teacher Fred Blonigen presented six guidelines to live by — advice all Catholics would do well to follow. Below is the speech in its entirety.

Six guidelines for living a fulfilling life

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:48:01 +0100

In his commencement address to St. Agnes High School’s class of 2010, teacher Fred Blonigen presented six guidelines to live by — advice all Catholics would do well to follow.

Pentecost: descent of the Holy Spirit

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:33:25 +0100

Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter, is one of the most important celebrations of the Church’s calendar, and serves as a kind of birthday for the Church. On this important solemnity, the Church remembers the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord’s Apostles, as described in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. As we read in Acts, it is by means of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles are able to finally heed the command of Christ, “Do not be afraid,” and ...

The unexpected missionary - Winners of the Center for Mission's 2010 Writing Contest

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:24 +0100

Winners of the Center for Mission’s 2010 Writing Contest have been named. The contest was held as a part of several activities to celebrate 75 years of missionary activity in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Contest guidelines asked children and teenagers to respond to the phrase: “I am a Catholic Missionary.” Children in third through sixth grade were asked to respond in the form of a poem or prayer. Students in seventh through 12th grade answered in the form of a ...

We can find comfort and eternal life as lowly lambs

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:02:48 +0100

Have you ever watched sheep? Usually they flock around a leader, and when this leader runs, all the others follow. For better or worse, those that follow don’t hesitate or hold back, they simply follow. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Paul Kubista We are called to follow Christ and not hesitate or hold back in our own lives. We are all called to be the sheep of God. ...

Resurrection transforms everything in our lives

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:32:33 +0100

Throughout life, we experience events that transform our lives. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Juan Ayala For example, the birth of a new baby brings happiness to the life of a family. The death of a loved one definitely brings sadness and sorrow in one’s life. The arrival of an old friend brings joy to our lives, and sickness can bring fear of losing one’s life. ...

Archbishop Dolan urges Catholics to put Mass at center of their Sunday

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:06:41 +0100

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York urged Catholics to make Mass the center of their Sunday because the observance of the Lord’s day is essential for the church, “the vibrancy of our faith” and the “clarity of our Catholic identity.”

New members share their journey into Catholic Church

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:11:12 +0100

In the March 25 issue, The Catholic Spirit asked those who were joining the Catholic Church during this year’s Easter Vigil to tell us about their journey toward Catholicism. Father Patrick Hipwell, pastor of Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, confirms Rachel Schmitz during Nativity’s Easter Vigil April 3, as her husband, Cody, prepares to receive the sacrament next. “It was a very moving and profound experience,” Rachel said, of the final step in her journey towa ...

CRS program emphasizes global, local responsibility

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0100

The following is the fourth in a four-part series. Each Lent, nearly 14,000 faith communities in the United States participate in Operation Rice Bowl as a way to respect human dignity and foster solidarity with the poor around the world. This Catholic Relief Services program is not just about putting money in a rice bowl during Lent; it combines four equally important components: praying, fasting, learning and giving. ...

Try some zucchini pie

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0100

The Catholic Spirit is running a meatless meal recipe contest during Lent on its Community Web site.

The Symbols of St. Joseph

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:36:32 +0100

The Church has assigned two special feast days each year to honor St. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus: March 19, the solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary; and May 1, the memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. A number of symbols are associated with this great saint.

Forgiving family members: When pain runs deep

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:55:38 +0100

Deeper love. While all forgiveness is difficult, the forgiveness of a family member is particularly difficult. The bond of love between husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister, is especially strong. It is in the home where love is first experienced, and in the home where Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:35) is put into practice at the deepest and most intimate level. The duty and expectation to love family is higher. Charity begins at home ...

Rice Bowl supports farmers feeding families, communities

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0100

The following is the third in a four-part series. Operation Rice Bowl ensures that Catholic Relief Services can continue to provide assistance to those in need in more than 100 countries. CRS will use 75 percent of the gifts received to fund vital programs around the world, while 25 percent of the collection will remain in this diocese to support local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts. ...

What's your favorite meatless meal for Lent? Greek Spaghetti

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0100

The Catholic Spirit is running a meatless meal recipe contest during Lent on its Community Web site.

There's an 'app' for that: iPhone applications devised for Catholics

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:52:24 +0100

In a world that boasts continual technological change, the iPhone by Apple has gained near-iconic status. Even Apple boasts there are more than 140 million applications -- or "apps," in Apple-speak -- that users can obtain for their phones. This image shows screenshots from the iTunes page that describes an application for the iPhone titled "Stations of the Cross," which was developed by Ave Maria Press. - CNS It only follows that there would be some clever Cath ...

Year of St. Maron

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:12:54 +0100

Namesake parish in north Minneapolis will celebrate until the close of the special year next March Fast facts » This year marks the 1,600th anniversary of the death of St. Maron. » St. Maron Catholic Church in Minneapolis will be designated a special pilgrimage site for the year. » Holy Family in St. Paul is the other Maronite parish in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Mi ...

St. Patrick: Why his message still matters

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:42:02 +0100

March 17 is upon us again, and all over the world everyone is an honorary Irishman or Irishwoman for 24 hours. St. Patrick’s popularity is a result of the wanderlust of the Irish, and there is no corner of the world in which his name is not honored. This stained-glass window of St. Patrick is located in a chapel at St. Patrick in Edina. - Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit Yet, if his name is known, his story is less familiar and his message often gets drowned out by the para ...

What's your favorite meatless meal for Lent? Can-Can Bean Soup

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:24:41 +0100

The Catholic Spirit is running a meatless meal recipe contest during Lent on its Community Web site.

Take time to comtemplate forgiveness this Lent

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:34:49 +0100

Forgiveness: A timely topic. Forgiveness is a matter of utmost spiritual importance, and it is a timely topic for this season of Lent. The Sunday Gospels for Year C from week three until Passion Sunday all feature forgiveness. Week three is the parable of the barren fig tree, which represents the unproductive sinner who is mercifully not cut down but given another chance. Week four is the parable of the forgiving father who treats both misbehaving sons with compassion. W ...

God may have a different idea about what we do this Lent

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:45:19 +0100

This Lent, we may have a strong desire to be part of building up the kingdom of God. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Patrick Barnes We would do well to recall God’s covenant with Abram, which said: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” ...

Reflection: Of dreams and retreats

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:00:00 +0100

“The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught [and he] said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’” – Mark 6:30-31

These words from the Gospel reading for Year B of the 16th Sunday in ordinary time carried a special meaning for me when I read them, since the previous weekend I had been on a retreat at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville.

Last rites: Not one, but three sacraments for the sick

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:50:46 +0100

The following is the last in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun A common misunderstanding. Many Catholics mistakenly think that the sacrament of anointing and last rites are the same thing. They are not. The sacrament of anointing is a single sacrament, while last rites are a combination of three sacraments: reconciliation, anointing, and Eucharist or holy Communion. ...

3 ways to support Christian unity

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:11:49 +0100

As we approach the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, Father Erich Rutten, who serves on the archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs, said there have been a number of “seismic shifts in ecumenism this past year.”

The symbols of the sacrament of anointing

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:38:01 +0100

The following is the tenth in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Candles. Traditionally, one or two candles are part of the “Sick Call Set,” and the candles are lit at the time of the priest’s arrival. It is Christ who is the Light of the World (John 8:12; 12:46). By lighting the candles, the faithful acknowledge and welcome Christ present in the Eucharist, which is often given at the time of ...

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Scripture and reflection

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:43:51 +0100

January 18, Witness through Celebrating Life Scripture Genesis 1:26-31, God saw all that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. Psalm 104:1-24, O Lord, how manifold are your works. Corinthians 15:12-20, If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. Luke 24:1-5, Why do you look for the living among the dead? Meditation Our journey of Christian unity is firmly rooted in our common belief that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, - we celebrate not only the life God has ...

Holy Family fully humanizes immigration issue in community

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:14:52 +0100

The following is the last in a three-part Advent/Christmas series focused on immigration. The Scripture readings for the Christmas season proclaim God’s full embrace of human existence. The Christmas feasts make known God’s ever-widening plan for redeeming human persons and human communities. ...

Sacrament of anointing based in abundant biblical references

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:41:30 +0100

The following is the ninth in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Sacred Scripture provides a solid basis for the sacrament of anointing. Jesus commissioned his apostles to heal. The sacrament of anointing arises from Jesus’ own care for the sick. ...

Trust God in these last days before Christmas

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:12:50 +0100

The following Advent Wreath prayer is intended to help busy households make Advent a prayerful time during the rush of Christmas preparations. The language is fairly simple to be used by groups of adults or adults with children, and options are noted to allow for participation by a variety of members of the household. ...

Anointing is communal even with just person and priest

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:06:57 +0100

The following is the eighth in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Alone or with others. It is possible to celebrate the sacrament of anointing individually or communally. An individual celebration happens when only the sick person and the priest are present, such as when a priest is summoned to the hospital when family or friends are unable to attend. The sacrament may also be celebrated communally, and th ...

Pax Christi USA document sums up hope for peace

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:54:32 +0100

Pax Christi USA is calling upon Catholics to reflect on ways to integrate peacemaking and embrace nonviolence in their everyday lives.

God prepares his house to welcome impossible dreamers

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:19:16 +0100

The following is the second in a three-part Advent/Christmas series focused on immigration. Above my desk is a picture of Don Quixote, the Man of La Mancha, who is on a great quest for a world that seems impossible and unreachable by conventional wisdom. Yet, this impossible quest is worth the journey because he has seen it in a dream and chooses to reach for the “unreachable star.” He sees the beauty in people that the world labels as ugly and worthless. ...

Prepare your heart for the birth of Christ

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:23:54 +0100

The following Advent wreath prayers for the second and third weeks of Advent are intended to help busy households make Advent a prayerful time during the rush of Christmas preparations. The language is fairly simple to be used by groups of adults or adults with children, and options are noted to allow for participation by a variety of members of the household. ...

God will accompany those traveling the desert highway

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:24:45 +0100

The following is the first in a three-part Advent/Christmas series focused on immigration.

A well-known Minnesota joke says that we have only two seasons: winter and road construction.

Go online for ideas to celebrate Advent, Christmas

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:58:44 +0100

New book underlines Bible stories behind Sistine Chapel art

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:16:44 +0100

To really see the Sistine Chapel, it’s more important to have a Bible in your hands than mini-binoculars, said Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli, an official of the Vatican Museums. Michelangelo’s “Libyan Sibyl,” a pagan prophetess, is one of the figures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The presence of the Sibyls, although not biblical, testify to the fact that even the pagans were awaiting the Savior. - CNS photo / courtesy of th e Vatican Museums The Italian mons ...

Christ set the example for priests to anoint with oil

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:16:48 +0100

The following is the seventh in an 11-part series on anointing. The second ritual action. After the laying on of hands, the second liturgical action is the application of oil. It is gently applied by the priest to the sick person with his thumb in the Sign of the Cross to both the forehead and the palms of the hands. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun The ritual words. As the priest anoints the forehead, he says, “Through this holy ...

The laying on of hands is the first gesture of sacrament

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:03:09 +0100

The following is the sixth in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun The first ritual action. The laying on of hands is the first liturgical gesture of the sacrament of anointing. The priest lays both of his hands side-by-side, palms down, on the top of the head of the sick person. Great healing power went out from Jesus when he touched the sick, and the priest, who acts in persona Christi, “in the perso ...

Web site offers resources for celebrating Advent, Christmas seasons

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:01:02 +0100

Suggestions for daily prayer, reading, reflection and action throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons and other resources are part of a new Web site created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The site, www.usccb.org/advent, features interactive online calendars with a menu of resources for each day of Advent, which begins Nov. 29, and the Christmas season, which ends Jan. 10 with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. ...

This year, let's really do Advent

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:52:21 +0100

This Advent, let’s not just put an Advent wreath out as a decoration.

Let’s really do Advent.

Advent: Waiting for Jesus on many levels

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:31:50 +0100

Knowing that the word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “Adventus” — itself a combination of two common parts, “ad” meaning “to” and “venire,” “come” —many believers naturally assume that the season recalls the incarnation of Jesus, his “coming to” the world in the fullness of time, God’s gift to humanity. Advent Martin Connell While this is ...

How do you know when to anoint and whom to call?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:51:10 +0100

The following is the fifth in an 11-part series on anointing. Two common timing problems. Special care should be given as to when to request the sacrament of the sick. The most common mistake is to wait too long before requesting the sacrament. The most common misunderstanding is that the sick person must be on death’s doorstep before he or she can be anointed. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Preferred timing. When it comes t ...

Jesus calls us to share all we have to help those in need

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:33:02 +0100

Have you ever been in need of something that you could not provide yourself? I know that I have. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Alex Carlson I used to work every summer and Christmas break during college to earn some money. However, no matter how much money I made, it always seemed like I would run out with about two weeks left in the semester. ...

Guidelines on who should or should not be anointed

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:27:47 +0100

The following is the fourth in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Those who should be anointed. The sacrament of anointing is intended for those who are in danger of death or are seriously ill. It is also for those who are awaiting or recovering from critical surgery; the elderly who are notably weakened and dealing with the debilitating effects of aging, even if no serious illness exists; those failing with a ...

Faith unlocks the spiritual power of the sacrament of anointing

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:24:33 +0100

The following is the third in an 11-part series on anointing. Faith is crucial in unlocking the spiritual power of the sacrament of anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Jesus explains the importance of faith. When Jesus worked his healing miracles, faith played a major role. Frequently, it was the faith of the sick persons themselves. After Jesus cured the woman who suffered from hemorrhages for 12 years, he told her, “Your ...

Anointing 101

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:32:42 +0100

The basics on the sacrament for the sick The following is the second in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun Names for the sacrament. The sacrament of anointing is also called the anointing of the sick, the sacrament of the sick, extreme unction and the sacrament of the dying. ...

Jesus, the healer, and his special ministry to the sick

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:08:05 +0100

The following is the first in an 11-part series on anointing. Anointing Father Michael Van Sloun The sacrament of anointing is a continuation of Jesus’ healing ministry. Our Lord had extraordinary compassion for the sick, and it is unmistakably evident by the way he conducted his public ministry. ...

Labor Day Reflection - Work: Curse or Blessing?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:36:50 +0100

Work. Toil from dawn until dusk. Hard labor day after day, year after year, constantly, with almost no let up. Work can be such a drag. Life would be a whole lot easier if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned, but they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree and God declared, "By the sweat of your brow you shall eat your food" (Gen 3:19a, NIV), and we inherited their mess. Exertion. Sweat. Fatigue. Life is tough. By nature, work is demanding. There is no free lunch. In fact, St. Paul said, "Tho ...

Indiana Jones and the Christian catacombs? Not quite

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:15:00 +0100

Vatican archaeological job is mostly work and study, but there are some awe-inspiring moments of discovery An inscription marking the burial place of “Bincentia,” a form of the name Vincentia, is found in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome. The grave marker includes the Chi Rho (the Greek monogram of the name of Christ), a dove holding an olive branch in its beak and a basket, probably of bread, a symbol of the Eucharist. - CNS photo / Catholic Press Photo Someti ...

Pope to visit city where papal conclaves were born

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:06:40 +0100

Pope Benedict XVI will interrupt his stay at the papal summer villa to make a one-day trip to the Italian city where the papal conclave was born.

In Afghanistan, chaplains share duties in effort to serve troops

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:21:58 +0100

In the middle of Afghanistan’s war zone stands a plywood chapel with fluorescent lights and rows of black vinyl easy chairs. A simple iron cross hangs on the altar where the chalice and plate rest, ready for the sacrament of Communion. Father Mirek Jordanek, a Czech army chaplain, celebrates Mass for soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan Aug. 1. - CNS photo / Jessica Weinstein On a Saturday evening in August, F ...

Low confession numbers prompt creative outreach by dioceses, churches

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:08 +0100

Statistics show decreasing numbers of Catholics going to confession, but rather than discouraging churches those numbers are only encouraging them to be more creative in their outreach.

Following Jesus makes us sensitive, vulnerable in new ways

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:37:26 +0100

Daniel Berrigan once quipped: Before you get serious about Jesus, first consider carefully how good you are going to look on wood. Food for the Journey Father Ron Rolheiser There’s a hard truth. ...

Upcoming NFP classes

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:23:51 +0100

July 18: St. Charles Borromeo, St. Anthony; U of M Medical Center, Minneapolis. Twin Cities FertilityCare, (651) 232-3088. July 21: St. Michael, St. Michael. Billings Ovulation Method, (763) 263-8297. July 23: St. Joseph, West St. Paul. Family of the Americas, (651) 224-1465. July 27: U of M Medical Center, Minneapolis. Twin Cities FertilityCare, (651) 232-3088. July 28: St. Michael, St. Michael. Billings Ovulation Method, ( ...

Natural family planning questions and answers

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:05:21 +0100

What is NFP?

An umbrella term for methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. The methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. No drugs, devices or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.

Natural family planning packet offers new resources

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:47:58 +0100

Mary Stolz can hardly complete a sentence before she is on to another thought when you get her talking about the archdiocese’s new natural family planning packet.

At end of jubilee year, St. Paul stands in clearer focus

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:20:24 +0100

After 12 months of special liturgies, conferences, Bible reflections, indulgences, concerts and pilgrimages, the Year of St. Paul has left the Apostle a more clearly defined figure on the Catholic landscape. Even before Pope Benedict XVI led final closing ceremonies in Rome June 29, Vatican officials declared the jubilee year a success. A statue of St. Paul is seen in the courtyard of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. - CNS photo / Cindy Wooden ...

Summer Sunday Mass: Obligation or Option?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:52:32 +0100

Sunday is the Lord's Day. Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning, so Sunday is reserved as the "Lord's Day," the day to remember the Resurrection and to offer our praise and worship. Sunday is the Christian "Sabbath," a shift from the Jewish Sabbath that runs from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. God gave us the Third Commandment as a solemn obligation, not a suggestion or an option: "Keep holy the Sabbath day (Ex 20:8-11; Dt 5:12-15) (see the Catechism of the ...

Pope: Understanding Bible requires faith, intelligence

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:40:25 +0100

Discovering the truth contained in the Bible about God and about each human person requires attentive reading and scholarship as well as a constant willingness to change one’s life, Pope Benedict XVI said. Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 10. - CNS photo / Emanuela De Meo “God gave us the Scriptures to teach us,” the pope said June 10 at his weekly general audience in St. Pete ...

Jesus calls us to be honest with ourselves and repent of our daily sins

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:11:48 +0100

This reflection on sin by Father Michael Van Sloun follows the completion of his 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun Repent. Turn away from sin. Jesus had such a deep concern about sin that he began his preaching ministry in Galilee exhorting: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Sin is real. Its effects are devastating. Every person is a sinner. ...

Penance assigned by priest helps reconcile penitent

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:47:08 +0100

The following is the last in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun An integral part. After a person confesses his or her sins, and before the priest offers absolution, the priest imposes a penance. This is stipulated by canon law: “The confessor is to enjoin salutary and suitable penances in keeping with the quality and number of the sins but with attention to the condition of the penitent; the penitent is o ...

Focus on funerals make last class of year more meaningful

Mon, 18 May 2009 22:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. In a rather ironic circumstance, the catechetical institute’s Class of St. Paul came together for its last lecture of the year, appropriately titled, “Saying Farewell.” Although the focus of the lesson was on sacramentals and funerals, the message of saying “goodbye” felt very real as the 145 students bid adieu to their classmates until the start of their third module ne ...

Good confession requires contrition, intention to change

Thu, 14 May 2009 14:42:01 +0100

The following is the ninth in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun • Contrition is sincere and heartfelt sorrow for one’s sins. ...

Marriage is covenant sign of God's relation with his people

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:50:08 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Deborah Savage, St. Paul Seminary ins-tructor, taught about marriage, the last, but not least, of the seven sacraments in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Marriage has been a covenantal sign that embodies the relationship of God to his people, first Israel, then the church, Savage said. Marriage is at the center of all that God has done and will do for us. Scripture begins with t ...

Sacrament of holy orders makes Christ present to us

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:47:43 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Father Andrew Cozzens, theology professor at the St. Paul Seminary, taught about the sacrament of holy orders, focusing on the need for a sacramental priesthood. He said the Catholic priesthood is a sacrament with one purpose — to make Christ present. God’s sacramental plan springs from the Incarnation, when God took on flesh and set up his church to continue to take on flesh in our mi ...

Three reasons why Thomas Aquinas matters today

Wed, 06 May 2009 10:10:24 +0100

In a recent interview with Catholic News Service, Dominican Father Thomas Joseph White was asked what three or four points he might drive home if a parish invited him to speak on the strengths of St. Thomas Aquinas' thought today. The 38-year-old theologian, who teaches at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, had this response to the question posed by David Gibson, former editor of Origins, the CNS documentary service. St. Thomas Aquinas is depicted i ...

Take a U-turn toward Christ and away from the devil

Tue, 05 May 2009 10:57:50 +0100

The following is the eighth in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun Conversion is the process of moving from unbelief to belief, from sin to grace. ...

Sacrament of healing: anointing of the sick

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Bill Stevenson, chairman of the theology department at Providence Academy in Plymouth, lectured on the second of two sacraments that the catechism calls the sacraments of healing: the sacrament of anointing the sick. Two features center on the principle of the incarnation of Christ and God’s covenant promise, made to the patriarchs of Israel, to be ever present. In the ...

Examine your conscience for sacrament of reconciliation

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:01:28 +0100

The following is the seventh in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun It is a worthy goal for every Catholic Christian to be in the state of grace, to be washed clean of all previous evildoing and to be sacramentally forgiven of one’s sins. ...

Mortal sin: The what, why and how to heal

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:36:14 +0100

The following is the sixth in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun • Mortal sins. A mortal sin is also known as a grave or serious sin. A mortal sin does terrible violence to a person’s relationship with God or neighbor. It is a horrible offense against the law of love and a major violation against charity. It is a deliberate decision to do evil and turn away from God, a conscious choice to reject God ...

St. Francis offers conversion lesson for modern times

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:01:47 +0100

At first glance, the scholarly Pope Benedict XVI — sometimes dubbed “the pope of reason” — might seem an unlikely devotee of St. Francis of Assisi, the mystic friar of simple faith. A fresco by Giotto depicts Pope Innocent III giving approval to the first Franciscan rule, and blessing St. Francis and his followers during their visit to Rome in 1209-1210. The Franciscans are marking the 800th anniversary of the approval of the rule, which stipulated a life of pove ...

The Eucharist and its effects

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Joe Michalak, archdiocesan diaconate formation director, explained that Mother Church wants all the faithful led to participation in the liturgical celebrations — the re-presentation of the one continual holy sacrifice of Christ. We, as Catholics, are invited to participate in this sacrificial meal in which, through receiving Communion, we receive Christ who has offered ...

Sacraments of healing: Confession

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Bill Stevenson, chairman of the theology department at Providence Academy in Plymouth, introduced the first of the two sacraments that the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls sacraments of healing: the sacrament of reconciliation. Stevenson said that a merciful person is one who takes into his own heart the misery of someone else. So, when we speak of the mercy o ...

A primer on going to private confession

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:33:25 +0100

The following is the fifth in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun • Your option. You are free to go behind-the-screen and remain anonymous or walk around the screen, take a seat opposite the priest and confess “face-to-face.” ...

Easter homilies

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:31:17 +0100

Are they different than other homilies? The Easter homily is one that is traditionally greeted with much anticipation, offering a hopeful message to the faithful. For priests, it is often an opportunity to reach a wider audience as they strive to provide those words of hope. Are there particular messages they try to focus on each year? Is the current economic crisis — which is causing some people to feel less hopeful — a consideration this Easter? How do they craft their Easter ...

Holy Week/Easter reflections

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:30:19 +0100

Holy Thursday

As Holy Thursday approaches I find myself looking back to an evening many years ago when my husband and I were the weary parents of three young daughters.

Today, we can laugh and rejoice in the great gift

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0100

A priest, a minister and a rabbi walk into a bar. Okay, I won’t go there. But perhaps you can think of a funnier joke — something that will make you laugh. Sunday Scriptures Deacon Jonathan Sorensen Why not? ...

Priests bound by 'seal of confession'

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:37:24 +0100

The following is the fourth in a 10-part series on reconciliation Penance Father Michael Van Sloun ...

Eucharist is sacred memorial, sacred presence

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:06:30 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. This week, Joe Michalak, director of archdiocesan diaconate formation, led us into the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Michalak illuminated the real action in the eucharistic liturgy (the Mass) and the Real Presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit, based on the real action: if God is truly acting here, he is truly here! What is the “real action”? ...

Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:47:35 +0100

The following is the third in a 10-part series on reconciliation Penance Father Michael Van Sloun Of all the objections to the sacrament of reconciliation, the one most often voiced, particularly by Protestants, and sometimes by Catholics is: “I don’t need to go to confession to a priest! The priest is just another human being! All that I need to do is to confess my sins directly to God, and that is enough!” This obj ...

The Shamrock: St. Patrick's Symbol for the Trinity

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:09:23 +0100

The shamrock is a symbol both for the Holy Trinity and St. Patrick (389-461). The shamrock is a clover plant with a yellow flower and leaflets made up of a stem with three small green leaves. The plant is very common and widely distributed throughout Ireland. ...

Churchs symbols help explain penance

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:02:44 +0100

The following is the second in a 10-part series on reconciliation. This week’s focus is the meaning behind symbols used in the sacrament of reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun ...

Those who are baptized, confirmed are witnesses of Christ

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. This week, the Class of St. Paul continued its study of baptism and then moved its focus to the sacrament of confirmation. On the journey through these first two sacraments of initiation, Father Tom Margevicius spoke of the “sacramental economy,” explaining that this expression simply means how God reveals himself today through the sacramental celebration. “The sacra ...

Signs and symbols weave fabric of sacraments

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Picking up where he left off last week, Father Tom Margevicius detailed the sacramental life in the church, reviewing the liturgical actions and reminding students that the actor in all liturgical actions is the total Christ, Christo totus. The whole church is the church joined to Christ; thus, when Christ offers himself to the Father in the liturgy, he offers all of us who are in him to the ...

Jesus placed great value on forgiveness

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:12:20 +0100

The following is the first in a 10-part series on reconciliation. Penance Father Michael Van Sloun For Jesus, forgiveness is of paramount importance. It is the flip side of the love coin. ...

Liturgy encompasses a two-fold movement

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The following is the weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. This week, Father Tom Margevicius, instructor of liturgical theology at the St. Paul Seminary, expounded on the liturgy, what it is and why we celebrated it. Noting that in the liturgy the blessing that is both our origin and goal of our faith journey is revealed and made available to us, Father Margevicius explained how it is that the liturgy itself enables us to make this journey and that the gr ...

History to mystery

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Continuing on the journey after a long winter break, the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute first inaugural class, The Class of St. Paul, reunited to begin the second of four modules that make up the Catechetical Institute program and embraced “The Sacraments: The Blessing Revealed and Communicated.” With the newly gained knowledge from the first module, “The Creed: The Story in Miniature,” fresh in their minds, the students were reminded that God, in a p ...

Harvesting hope

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 +0100

My name is Rubén Halasan, and I live on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. I have 3.6 hectares of land and earn my living through farming. In the Philippines, your participation in Operation Rice Bowl will support farmers, like Rubén Halasan, to continue to improve their crops and share their knowledge with other farmers. - Photo courtesy of Catholic Relief Services Several years ago, I heard from some other farmers that Catholic Relief Services was helping to ...

Pope's message for Lent 2009

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:08:07 +0100

Dear Brothers and Sisters! At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving, fasting – to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God’s power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, "dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, ...

It is through community that we reach completion

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In this, the conclusion of the first module of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Arthur Hippler focused on the last four affirmations of the Apostles’ Creed, which contain the whole weight of eternity: “I believe in . . . the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.” Here we find, in keeping with all the teachings of the Catechetical Institute thus far, that the unfolding of God’s great ...

Church is a gift from God to us

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:59:50 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Todd Flanders shared with the class his personal story of coming into the church 15 years ago, pointing out that he was convinced that the church was true based on her four “marks.” These essential qualities of the church, that the church is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic,” are gifts from God to the church by which it expresses his plan for us. It is these “marks” that invite us ...

Rejoice in the middle of our journey to joy

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:59:35 +0100

Advent Week 3 The following Advent wreath prayer is intended to help busy households make Advent a prayerful time during the rush of Christmas preparations. The language is fairly simple to be used for personal prayer and reflection or by groups of adults or adults with children, and options are noted to allow for participation by a variety of members of the household. ...

Isaiah, the Prophet, the featured voice of Advent

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:04:09 +0100

Isaiah, the Advent Prophet. Isaiah's words are used extensively in the liturgies leading up to Christmas. He, more than any other prophet, anticipates the coming Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promise spoken to King David, "I will raise up your heir after you, and I will make his kingdom firm. It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me" (2 ...

Proclaiming the Good News through flower and song

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:11:43 +0100

The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been characterized as one of the most effective means on the American continent of communicating the core message of the Gospels. This story invites us to ponder how God always communicates with us through particular human ways that include our cultural experiences. Reflection Miguel Diaz Guadalupe speaks to Juan Diego in Náhuatl, his native language, and uses cultural symbols and sacre ...

Church is purpose of Gods plan

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Todd Flanders, the headmaster at Providence Academy in Plymouth, recalled that the Creed is not just a collection of faith facts but a mini description of the great story of creation. He walked students through the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s paragraphs that focus on the church and the Holy Spirit, who is its soul. Flanders explained that the church is not an incidental element in God’s plan but the ...

The Corporal Works of Mercy

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:21:38 +0100

This Sunday we celebrate the Thirty-Fourth and last Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King, and the gospel (Mt 25:31-46) features the Corporal Works of Mercy. ...

Resurrection makes eternal life possible

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:26:15 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Father Peter Laird, vice rector of the St. Paul Seminary, laid out the Paschal Mystery as a whole, showing that Christ’s Passion, death and resurrection, although identifiable as three separate movements, is really a single symphony that expresses the whole truth about the redemption he has won for us: It is Christ’s death that brings the forgiveness of our sins, and his resurrection that makes possible our ...

All Scripture is fulfilled in Christ

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:08:00 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Father Peter Laird, vice rector at the St. Paul Seminary, focused on paragraphs 535 to 630 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This section of the catechism covers the public life of Jesus from his baptism to his burial. In God’s plan of sheer goodness, we follow in the Old Testament the story of God’s first-born son, Israel. As Christians, we value greatly the drama between God and Israel; at the same ti ...

To be human means to be like Christ

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:27:50 +0100

This week the focus in the catechism turned to “Who is Christ,” as Joe Michalak, director of diaconate formation for the archdiocese, led the students to examine the question, “Why did the Word become flesh?” The catechism gives three reasons the Word became flesh: To save us by reconciling us with God, that we might know God’s love and to be our model of holiness. Ultimately, the Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature” (CCC 456- ...

Ability to know, love our creator sets humans apart

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:58:13 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, the students were introduced to Arthur Hippler, religion department chairman at Providence Academy in Plymouth. Hippler reminded the students that God is the source and constant sustainer of everything. With that basis, he began to lay out the place of the human person in the plan as it unfolds “in the beginning.” Hippler said that to be made in the image and likeness of God means there is something in man, ...

Institute students study impact of creation on Gods plan

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Joe Michalak continued his teaching in this week’s lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute by emphasizing the importance of getting our bearings right “in the beginning.” Michalak pointed out that “creation is the foundation of ‘all God’s saving plans,’ the ‘beginning of the history of salvation” (CCC 280). He showed that those on the journey of Christian life must recognize that they are a part of a g ...

Join the journey to see, know and love God more clearly

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Joe Michalak, the archdiocesan diaconate formation director, unpacked the beginning of the Creed, the story of salvation in miniature. Michalak showed that through God’s personal self-disclosure over time in his words and deeds — and supremely through the Son, the Word and the Holy Spirit, the gift of love — he is inviting us back into the blessing of his own divine life. “We love only ...

'The Journey Begins': Interpreting Scripture with church criteria

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:20:57 +0100

In this lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, we see in Sacred Scripture that “the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks to them” in human words (CCC 101, 104). Sacred Scripture is the marvelous result of God inspiring people to write whatever he wanted written, yet at the same time making full use of their faculties and powers. Interpreting Scripture correctly takes into consideration what the human authors wanted to affi ...

Spirit readers invited to follow Catechetical Institute

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:47:39 +0100

The Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute opened its doors Sept. 15 to 150 Catholic lay people from around the archdiocese who embarked on a two-year journey through the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” ...

The Journey Begins: Gods plan of sheer goodness

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:29:08 +0100

In this first lesson of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute titled “The Journey Begins,” we learn that God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, has a “plan of sheer goodness,” a plan to unite all people scattered and separated by sin into his family, the church, and to share with them his blessed life. In order to understand and participate in God’s plan of sheer goodness, God has not only revealed himself to us through Sacred Scriptu ...

Marriage annulments: Facts and fictions

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

An interview with Father Christopher Beaudet Q What is an annulment? A An annulment - a declaration of nullity - basically says that on the day of marriage, from the moment of consent, the marriage that was entered into was not a sacrament. So a declaration of nullity says this marriage was sacramentally null from its inception. Father Beaudet Q Why do we have this in the church? A We have it because of our sacramental theology. We also have it because, unlike other sacram ...

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