In the traditional period of Passiontide, the last two weeks of Lent, we turn our attention directly to Jesus’s suffering and death. As disciples of Jesus, it should be sobering that all abandoned him on the night of his arrest, and only one of the twelve stood at the foot Read more…
Is the offertory just an interlude? A time to use the restroom? In actuality, it has profound meaning, but one easily overlooked. We have an itinerary of sorts for the Mass from the words of the Gospel: he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. Read more…
Laxism is a moral position that in a position of doubt tends to the easiest or least demanding alternative. Christians certainly suffer from this position, but I want to focus rather an the general laxity of the practice of penance, which continues to wear thin with almost nothing expected of Read more…
Everyone can agree on one point at least: ad orientem worship is controversial. I appreciate the thoughtful and detailed response to my Denver Catholic column on ad orientem worship by Fr. Felix Media-Algaba, “Eucharistic Orientation according to Vatican II.” Here are some brief thoughts on his critique of my column. Read more…
God is not calling us to become a version of ourselves. Although we are made in his image, he seeks to recreate us in the likeness of Christ. The goal of the spiritual life is move beyond the self and into Christ, as Paul teaches: “It is now no longer Read more…
Good Friday through the Second Sunday of Easter is the time of mercy, the time when Jesus redeemed us from sin and established new life in his Resurrection. This is why it is the time Jesus asked us to pray a novena invoking his Divine Mercy for the Church and Read more…
I originally wrote this in October of 2019 but am posting this again in relation to the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 2022. A consecration to the Immaculate Heart Mary entails seeking the Lord with her, sharing in her purity, suffering, Read more…
“Listen, my son, to the teaching of the Master,” Benedict exhorts his monks in the opening line of his Rule. Benedictine monks and nuns place themselves under the tutelage of St. Benedict’s Rule as a way of following Christ, the master. Entering into the monastic life is not taking on Read more…
The Sanctus, the prayer that begins the Eucharistic prayer or anaphora, echoes the angelic hymn: “Holy, holy, holy!” It is one of the oldest Eucharistic prayers, with parts of it reaching back to the 1st century Didache: “Hosanna to the God (Son) of David! If any one is holy, let him come; Read more…
As Catholics throughout the world face closed doors at church, our Lenten fast has changed. We think of Lent as a time of giving up bad things and engaging in deeper prayer. Abstaining from attending Mass would not seem to fit this bill, but it actually has a deep history Read more…