Giver 6.27.22: Our Lord, the giver of life and giver of all things good, asks us to be givers as Catholics. "Do onto others whatever you would have them do to you." (Matthew 7:12) It's interesting how secular books like the popular Adam Grant's "Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success," are really just repackaging what we learn in the Bible. That's because these Biblical Truths serve as the foundation of all positive human relationship interactions.
Chose 6.26.22: The Lord said, "Before I formed you in your mother's womb, I chose you; I set you apart before you were born." (Jeremiah 1:5) The good Catholic chooses by “not standing before God as a slave in servile fear, nor a mercenary looking for wages, but obeys God for the sake of the good itself and out of love for God as his child.” (CCC, 1828)
Leapt 6.25.22: "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'" (Luke 1:41-42) After the redeeming SCOTUS pro-life decision yesterday, all unborn babies surely leapt in their mother's wombs with joy as God answered our prayers. On this Catholic Feast Day of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pray for Mary's intercessions that each fruit of womb grows into the person of God that God meant for him/her to be.
Agape 6.24.22: Agape is a Greek word meaning "unconditional love." In the New Testament, agape was frequently used to mean the unconditional, self-sacrificing, and willful love of God for humans through His Son Jesus dying on the cross. On this Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heat of Jesus, we remember the agape of Christ atoning for our sins by pouring His blood from His Sacred Heart. We are to reciprocate by practicing agape love towards God and among themselves.
Teach 6.23.22: Psalms 119: 34-35 "Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight." This Responsorial Psalm from yesterday highlights how the Lord is always teaching our hungry hearts with His faith and morals. Christ has also gave His teaching authority to the Catholic Church through the apostles when he instructed: (Matthew 28:19-20) "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Share 6.22.22: Catholics are not just called to share with others, but to share in the Divine Life. We have an innate desire for happiness that God has placed in our hearts that draws us closer to Him. However, while offering us this share of His happiness, God has also given us free will to make choices between good and evil, and these choices either draw us closer to God or separate us from Him. Choose wisely 😊.
Super 6.21.22: On this summer solstice day with much focus on the natural earth, Catholics don't lose sight of the "super-natural" forces driving all things good. For example, our supernatural faith abounds at Mass, as the priest calls down Christ from Heaven to be physically present in the Eucharist which nourishes our supernatural souls. Our supernatural faith directs our prayers for the intercessions from Mary and the Saints, or for the poor souls in purgatory. Our supernatural faith guides us with our Guardian Angel and unites us with God's plans for our lives. Our supernatural faith helps us to discern the forces of evil which try to knock us off course from our ultimate supernatural destiny of union with God in Heaven.
Image 6.20.22: Happy Juneteenth holiday! The dignity of every human person is rooted in his or her creation in the image and likeness of God. Catholics believe that every person across the range of diversity, born and unborn, is valued in God's family. Endowed with a soul, intelligence and free will, each person innately longs to be properly ordered to God, while being called to eternal union with God (CCC 1699-1715). All are called!
Pater 6.19.22: Happy Pater's Day to all the fathers out there. "Pater" is latin for father. The Pater Noster (Our Father) was given to us by our Lord which allows us to pray in a way that summarizes the Gospels. We honor fathers for their unselfish and often sacrificial and heroic love of bringing children into this world, joining in the creative Will of God to do so. Fathers are critical for teaching the Catholic faith and instilling Catholic disciplines and perseverance; our priest likes to say that if the father is a devout Catholic then there's more than a 90% chance that his children will remain Catholic throughout life as well.
Unity 6.18.22: When we pray and live by the teachings of Christ, then we are converted to Christ's love and united to one another in peace, harmony, love, and joy. Therefore, unity is a gift of God and the fruit of the Holy Spirit's action.
Covet 6.17.22: Covet is when we think about others in a wrong way. The Catholic Faith teaches us to love people and use things, but if we covet, then we love things and use people. Through the virtue of detachment, our hearts may be directed away from reliance on material goods or coveting what someone else has; instead, we may rely on God’s providence and have an attitude of generosity towards others.
Other 6.16.22: In middle school Catholic religion class, we learned that the right order of Christian priorities is: Jesus, Others, Yourself = "J.O.Y." Easy to remember, sometimes difficult to do. Christian love is willing the good of the other, even if there's no earthly benefit to oneself. In today's gospel, Jesus reminds us: "If you forgive others their transgressions, then your heavenly Father will forgive you." (Matthew 6:14) All of this creates Christian harmony, peace and joy which is a glimpse of Heaven on earth.
Roman 6.15.22: Catholics refer to themselves as Roman Catholic and look to Rome as "Rome, sweet home." Rome was the most powerful city on earth during the time of Christ and is where our first Pope, Saint Peter, chose to settle, spread the Gospel, and was martyred and buried. Subsequently, each Pope has been based in Rome (Vatican) and, as the successor of St. Peter, is the Vicar of Christ on earth and authority of the Catholic Church. Even today, all Catholic bishops must travel to Rome every five years to pray at the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul and meet with the Pope.
Kyrie 6.14.22: Kyrie is a Latin word meaning “Lord”. The Kyrie Eleison part of the Catholic Mass is one of the oldest Christian refrains, meaning "Lord, have mercy." At the very beginning of the Mass, we recall our sins and place our trust in God's abiding mercy by praying the Kyrie. This prayer recalls God's merciful actions throughout history and our plea that this mercy continues.
Cheek 6.13.22: Today's gospel reminds us to turn the other cheek and put our soul at peace. Jesus said (Matthew 5:38): “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, when someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him as well." St. Francis of Assisi teaches "it is in pardoning that we are pardoned." The desire for revenge causes one's heart to be tormented and overcome with evil, instead Jesus taught us to overcome evil with peace and love.
Exalt 6.12.22: To exalt means to glorify. On this Feast Day of the Holy Trinity, we are reminded, as always, to give all glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As Matthew 23:12 reminds us: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Shine 6.11.22: Today, let your light shine! Everyday, let the light of the love of our Lord Jesus Chris shine forth from you and become the symbol of hope and goodness in this world! Just as Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14, 16) 😊.
Known 6.10.22: God knows us intimately and wants to be known by us. He knows what we need and what is good for us. St. Thomas Aquinas said that God’s providence “extends to particulars:" God knows and guides everyone individually. Our Faith is the submission of our intellect and will to what God has willed for us. Faith is a supernatural gift of God, but it requires we remain in a state of grace and our cooperation with and our worship of God, even though the human intellect can never grasp the full mystery of God. As Psalm 139:10 says, "Your hand guides me, your hand holds me fast."
Honor 6.9.22: When we honor our father and mother, we are honoring life, family, and community. Our parents chose life to bring us into this world and made many sacrifices to raise us. Hopefully, parents create the "little church" of Father, Mother, and children in the home and teach the Truths and beauties of the Catholic Faith. At their best, parents reflect the love of God in their love for us. God frequently compares himself to a father (and Mary--mother) to show us how much He loves us. When parents fulfill their roles to children and children honor their parents, these relationships brings joy to both, serving as a cornerstone for a peaceful, happy community of God.
Psalm 6.8.22: A psalm is meant to be prayed. The ancient Israelites prayed the psalms in the Temple from the time of David (author of 73 psalms), and the earliest Christians prayed these in their worship. Today, the Responsorial Psalms are prayed during Mass. From the Old Testament, the Psalms are a collection of 150 songs, prayers, poems and hymns. Some may tell stories or are songs of praise or prayers of repentance. The psalms are profoundly spiritual, having a range of human emotions from sorrow, lament, joy, praise and celebration.
Salty 6.7.22: Jesus said (Matthew 5:13), "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste it is no longer good for anything." In Jesus' time, salt was a precious commodity because it was used to preserve and flavor. Roman soldiers received their wages in salt. Being salt of the earth means we should preserve, using faith and reason, the Word that Jesus gave to us and flavor the world with our works of love to reveal God's glory. We need to constantly refresh our discipleship by regularly receiving the sacraments and living the Beatitudes. Be "worth your weight in salt." Stay salty, my friends!
Renew 6.6.22: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth."--Catholic Prayer to the Holy Spirit. May this help renew our Faith and our world.
Ghost 6.5.22: The Holy Spirit was traditionally called the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and dwells in the Church as the source of its life, sanctifying souls through the gift of grace. As we celebrate the end of the Easter Season today on Pentecost Sunday, let us remember it was on the first Pentecost that the Catholic Church began its work. The dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church was first visible on Pentecost when He came down upon the Apostles, enabling them to teach, sanctify, and rule the faithful in the name of Christ.
Happy 6.4.22: The 1st lesson of the Catholic Catechism teaches about the purpose of our existence, asking: "who made us and what for?" The answer is: God made us, to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. And in this world as well 😊.
Fasts 6.3.22: In striving for self control to resist temptation, a good Catholic fasts on Fridays or other days of willful holiness. Forgoing meat or other luxuries is meant to be an act of self-discipline, making our spirit in control of our body. So many sins are due to our spiritual strength being weak and giving in to our fallen human desires for concupiscence and various sinful desires. Even the secular world is embracing fasting as a way to control blood sugar levels, inflammation, and health problems caused from over indulgences.
Canon 6.2.22: Canon laws are the rules of the Roman Catholic Church that govern various church matters, such as church ceremonies, the role of clergy, religious education, discipline within the church, and administration of the church. Canon laws originated from norms derived from scripture and most recently were updated in the Catholic Church’s 1983 Code of Canon Law. These guide local churches so they don't make up their own rules, but instead are part of a consistent universal (i.e. catholic) church.
Heart 6.1.22: The entire month of June is dedicated by the Catholic Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus--one of the more revered symbols for Catholics. It represents Christ's love for mankind through his sacrifice on the cross for human sin. Jesus' heart longs for us to offer our love and devotion in return. Prayer to the Sacred Heart can be as lengthy as a novena or litany, or as simple as a spontaneous, “Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.”
Queen 5.31.22: In his 1954 encyclical "Ad caeli reginam," Pope Pius XII said Mary deserves the title of "Queen of Heaven" because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus' redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power. As we leave the month of May devoted to Mary, we might ask: "Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!"
Serve 5.30.22: Jesus said (John 15:13) "No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." On this Memorial Day, we thank, honor and remember all the men and women who died while answering the call to serve in the U.S. military. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Union 5.29.22: The Lord came from the Father into this world, and now on the Ascension, the Lord left this world and returned to be in union with the Father in Heaven. This is where we hope to join for eternity: to be in union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says "The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
Brave 5.28.22: We live in the land of the free because it is home of the brave. The Saints often had to be brave in order to live a life of Faith. Let us remember this Memorial Day all the brave people who have enabled the religious freedoms we now have. “The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge--of whom should I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
Worth 5.27.22: So what is my worth? The Catholic Church teaches we are valuable because we are created in God’s image. If we truly honor God above all else, we will value ourselves and others as well. We are valuable because of God's love for us. Our worth is in our relationship with God. Only in God will we find Truth and happiness. If we embrace being children of God then our lives are worth beyond measure.
Flock 5.26.22: Birds of a feather flock together. Jesus said (John 10:16) "So there shall be one flock, one shepherd." The Church teaches that the “one flock, one shepherd” to which Jesus referred is the Catholic Church, led by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him, where the complete fullness of Christ’s teaching and grace are found.
Child 5.25.22: A child is pure of heart, the way Christ wants us to be. And Catholics believe every child is a precious gift from God, whether born or unborn, and is to be protected and loved. Matthew 18: 1-3 "The disciples said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, Jesus put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
Hymns 5.24.22: Pope St. Pius X said, "Sacred Music has the important role of lifting up the spirit to God and as a precious aid to actively participate in... solemn prayers of the Church." Catholic hymns are a form of worship that we do in beautiful harmony with one another.
Deeds 5.23.22: In this week's Mass reading, the Lord says (Rev 22:12) “Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds." The Catholic Church does not teach that good deeds alone will get anyone into heaven nor does it teach that faith alone will get anyone into heaven. However, it teaches that good deeds done in conjunction with faith do have merit because they are a response to God’s grace.
Latin 5.22.22: In 1962, Pope John XXIII affirmed Latin as rightful language for the Catholic Church. Christians in Rome adopted Latin as Catholic Church's language in the fourth century, and all Masses were thenceforth said in Latin to unite Catholics throughout the world with a common language. Today, Latin is universal (i.e. "catholic") because it does not belong to one country and does not change. Learn prayers in Latin to enjoy this elegant, sacred language.
World 5.21.22: Jesus said in today's readings at Mass (John 15:18), "If the world hates you, realize that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world." Sometimes doing what's right for Christ will be unpopular.
Bells 5.20.22: Oh the bells. The bells beckoning the faithful to come to the Catholic Church. The tradition of ringing bells dates back to 400 A.D., when Bishop St. Paulinus of Nola, Italy, first introduced bells at his Catholic Church. By 604 Pope Sabinianus officially sanctioned the use of bells to become common at churches and monasteries. Many Catholic Churches have grand bell towers where the harmonious sounds of bells ring throughout the town calling everyone to worship God.
Calls 5.19.22: God calls us each day--let’s answer the phone (or text😊). We are each called by God to believe in him. With belief comes love for God. With love comes expressing God’s love to others through service. God also calls us to vocations: for Catholics this includes married/family life, Priesthood, or religious/consecrated life. Psalm 91:15 “He calls upon me, and I will answer Him.”
Creed 5.18.22: The Creed expresses our profession of faith believed by all members of the Catholic Church. The two most used creeds of the Catholic Church are the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. At the beginning of the Rosary, we pray the more brief Apostle's Creed. In Mass, we pray the Nicene Creed, written during the great council of the Church in Nicea in 325 A.D. It’s the Church’s way of briefly summarizing the most important truths of the faith uniting the faithful as One Church.
Carry 5.17.22: As Catholics, we carry our crosses and don't give up. This means fully placing your trust in God amid the storms and battles in your life. Even during extremely difficult times, we always trust that God is with us in the midst of one's suffering and would never send a cross too big for us to carry. As Christians, we know we are not alone and find comfort in living our life according to the Will of God.
Dwell 5.16.22: Rev. 21: "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.'" We can dwell with God in many ways, especially when we reflect on God's everyday presence in our life. Psalm 27 has a beautiful prayer: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life."
Gifts 5.15.22: Who doesn't like a gift. At the Sacrament of Confirmation, Catholics receive not one, but Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) wisdom/self control, 2) understanding, 3) counsel, 4) fortitude, 5) knowledge, 6) piety, and 7) fear of the Lord. We each are bestowed with many other personal gifts & talents, but these 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen us so that we may use our talents to live by the truths of the Faith and advance the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Loves 5.14.22: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete" (John 15). By following Christ's teachings, we may find the path to most spiritual joy and love.
Beads 5.13.22: Catholics say the Rosary on a string of beads made up of five sets, each of one large and ten smaller beads called decades. The Rosary is a devotional prayer reflecting on the joyous, sorrowful, luminous, and glorious aspects of Our Lord and Our Lady's lives. May 13th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima when Mary appeared to three small children in Portugal in 1917 holding a Rosary in her hand. A key message of Our Lady of Fatima was we must stop offending God, and remember to pray--especially the Rosary.
Piety 5.12.22: In Catholicism, piety is one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. A person of piety approaches prayer and worship at Mass not as a burden, but as an act of joyful love, and follows the commandments and teachings of the Church because these express God’s truth and therefore show the way to eternal life. The gift of piety helps us grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and leads us to live as His children, sharing this love with others.
Rests 5.11.22: St. Augustine beautifully said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in thee.” St. Augustine, one of the 37 Doctors of the Catholic Church, wrote this in his book "Confessions." Augustine wandered through many pleasures and vices of the secular world, but did not find his ultimate fulfillment until he found God. In the end, the hope is thy restless heart rests in peace in union with our Lord.
Sheep 5.10.22: Jesus often described Himself as the good shepherd and His followers as sheep. God protects, provides, and guides just like a good shepherd if we only allow ourselves to hear His Voice. In John 10:10, Christ said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." And even if we are lost but then found, Christ said in Luke 15: "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!" When we realize this, we will say (Psalm 23), "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want."
Voice 5.9.22: Listen. As Jesus said to His disciples, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Let's turn down the TV, radio, chatter, etc. so we can hear God's voice and know the graces and promptings He is placing in our lives each day. God speaks to us by inspiring our hearts and minds. We also hear God's voice when we pray, read the Bible, serve others, and spend time with Him during Eucharistic Adoration.
Mater 5.8.22: Happy Mater's Day to all the mothers out there. "Mater" is latin for mother. There are many Catholic Churches named "Mater Dei" which is latin for "Mother of God." We honor mothers for their unselfish and often sacrificial and heroic love of bringing children into this world, joining in the creative Will of God to do so. When our Blessed Mother found out she would be the Mother of Jesus, she responded: 'I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.' (Luke 1:26–38). She choose life just like all mothers choose life, and we thank and honor them.
André 5.7.22: Catholic Sister Andre became the world's oldest living person last month at age 118. She is living testament that what is good for the soul is also good for the body. "People say that work kills, for me work kept me alive, I kept working until I was 108," said the Catholic nun (formerly known at Lucile Randon) from her home in Toulon, France. Prayer, temperance, fasting, forgiveness, active service, trust in God, and other Catholic disciplines are all important ingredients of a long healthy lifestyle. May Sister Andre someday break the world record for the oldest person ever recorded at 122!
Dogma 5.6.22: People said of Amy Coney Barrett that the [Catholic] "dogma lives loudly within you." What is dogma? Catholic dogma is divinely revealed by God and authoritatively taught by the Catholic Church. While doctrines vary in importance, dogmas are of the utmost importance and Catholics follow them absolutely. Instead of personal interpretation, Catholic dogmas are divinely-revealed absolute truths that preserve the Deposit of the Faith and Morals as revealed by Christ and through the Apostles. Dogmas do not change over time, maintaining the "rock" upon which Christ built His Church. Let the Catholic dogma live loudly within you!
Gates 5.5.22: Jesus proclaimed, "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) The gates of hell are the powers of hell who are always trying to destroy the Catholic Church. Jesus promised that He would always protect His Church, then and now.
Peter 5.4.22: Since Peter denied Christ 3 times on Good Friday, after the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter 3 times if Peter loved Jesus. Peter affirmed his love 3 times as a sign of his complete love. Jesus made Peter the first pope of the Catholic Church and leader of the Apostles. Jesus said "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church." (Matthew 16:18). What made the name Peter (meaning "rock") striking was that "Peter" had never before been used as a person's name before; Jesus want this name to signify enduring strength.
Three 5.3.22: The number 3 is said to be used 523 times in the Bible. Jesus died at 3 o'clock at the age of 33 and was dead for 3 days. As there are three in the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), three means wholeness and divine perfection. The 3 attributes of God are omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. The bells are rung 3 times at Mass. Think of how many times a day you hear 3 things or see 3 things in a grouping.
Bride 5.2.22: The Church is often described as the bride of Christ. Christ referred to himself as the “bridegroom” (Mt 9:15; Mk 2:19-20, Lk 5:34-35). In the Book of Revelation, the Church is described as the “holy city, the new Jerusalem,” descending from Heaven “as a bride adorned for her husband” to become “the wife of the Lamb” (Rev 21), who is Christ.
Vital 5.1.22: Catholics have long honored the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May with a crown (i.e. "May Crowning") to display her queenship as the Mother of Jesus. Catholics do not worship Mary, but she is honored and venerated as the Mother of God and as the most vital woman in our Catholic faith. Our Holy Mary is full of grace and with our Lord, so we can ask her to pray for us.
Guilt 4.30.22: Catholics may speak of "Catholic guilt” which is usually a sign of a well-working conscience. Guilt is remorse for having contemplated or committed a sin.
Siena 4.29.22: Today is the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena, a "Doctor" of the Catholic Church, who was a Dominican mystic who lived in Italy in the 1300s. She was known for her holiness, asceticism, and spiritual visions. We can learn from her to let our hearts be transformed by Christ's love, be nourished by prayer, and be devoted to Holy Communion.
Trust 4.28.22: On Divine Mercy Sunday, we prayed: "Jesus, I trust in You." Once you trust that God is the source of all goodness in your life, you then enter an “active faith” in God. This means allowing belief to move also into your will and ultimately into your desires. You make a free choice to let God take over your life and produce good fruit in it.
Sifts 4.27.22: At the Last Supper, Jesus said, "Peter, Peter, behold Satan has demanded you as he sifts you all like wheat, but I have prayed for you Peter that your faith may not fail; and once you have recovered, you must strengthen your brothers." Why did Satan demand the Apostles at the Last Supper? Because he knew right then that our Lord was never going to leave us: that through the Eucharist and the power of Apostolic succession, that Catholic priests throughout the world could always call down Christ from Heaven during Mass to be with us through the Eucharist.
Relic 4.26.22: By honoring the Saint's memories, bodies and belongings, Catholic tradition gives thanks to God for the Saint's holy witness. Relics are physical, tangible, concrete reminders that heaven is obtainable for us — so long as we recognize what made the Saints holy and work to apply those qualities to our lives.
Doubt 4.25.22: St. Thomas is known for his doubt of the resurrection of Jesus. The phrase “doubting Thomas” was for his lack of faith. However, when Jesus showed him His wounds, St. Thomas became the first person to explicitly acknowledge the divinity of Jesus. When we put our faith in God's Plan, we are reminded of "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Mercy 4.24.22: With a repentant heart and act of confession, we seek mercy for our sins from God. Today’s Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. St. Faustina said Jesus appeared to her and told her that the person who goes to Confession and receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.
Turin 4.23.22: Exciting news this week that new X-ray dating technology found the Shroud of Turin to be approximately 2,000 years old, consistent within the time of Christ! Catholics have long believed this relic to be the burial linen of Christ before His resurrection. Millions of people make the pilgrimage to Turin, Italy, each year to venerate this famous relic of Christ. It is Catholic tradition that we venerate items associated with Christ and Saints. For as Matthew 9:20-22 states, "the woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus' cloak."
Break 4.22.22: Luke 24 reveals that the disciplines of Jesus came "to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread." When priests break the bread at Mass, Catholics are reminded that Mass is more than a communal meal. The priest acts as "the person of Christ" and calls down Christ from Heaven to be truly present in the Eucharist. This Bread of Life nourishes our supernatural faith in Christ and helps us to better understand what Christ taught us.
Peace 4.21.22: People are often at war today. Why? "Peace be with you," the Lord said to the 11 apostles upon first seeing them after His resurrection. At Mass, before we receive the Eucharist, we share the sign of peace with each other to prepare ourselves to receive our Lord. Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God." When Christ is with us in our hearts and minds, then we are able to be have inner peace and with one another.
Limbo 4.20.22: Limbo is used a lot in casual conversation today. Limbo originally was taught by the Catholic Council of Trent to be a place neither Heaven, Purgatory, nor Hell, but reserved for the unbaptized dead, including unbaptized babies, or good people who lived before the coming of Christ. Good Saturday is when Christ is believed to have elevated to Heaven such good people stuck in limbo before His redemptive death.
Glory 4.19.22: At Mass we pray "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth" because we know that we can only have a rightly ordered world with peace if glory is first and foremost attributed to God, not man. We praise God for His infinite goodness and for bringing us and all goodness into existence 😊.
Eight 4.18.22: The Octave of Easter is the eight-day period that begins on Easter and ends the following Sunday, marking the beginning of Eastertide. Our Risen Lord is such a cause for celebration that Catholics celebrate Easter for eight days, not just one.
Risen 4.17.22: It's Easter and our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ has risen!! Alleluia! Alleluia! 😊.
Vigil 4.16.22: Holy Saturday celebrates the 40-hour-long vigil that the followers of Jesus Christ held after his death and burial on Good Friday and before his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus's followers and Blessed Mary held a vigil for him outside his tomb, awaiting his foretold resurrection. Easter Vigil Mass is an amazing experience, starting after sundown by an outside firepit and processing into the Church with lit candles.
Cross 4.15.22: Catholics know that you cannot have Christ without the Cross. And not just a plain wooden cross, but a Crucifix which is required to be visible in every Catholic Church. This reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus on the altar of the cross, which made possible our redemption and the Holy Eucharist. The Crucifix reminds us to accept sufferings that come into our lives as we live by the words of Christ to “deny yourselves, take up your cross daily, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
Blood 4.14.22: "Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me." These words from the consecration during the Catholic Mass, echo the words of Christ as he instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper. He gave his blood to open the gates of Heaven and redeem our sins.
Agnus 4.13.22: This is the Latin word for "lamb" as in Agnus Dei = "Lamb of God." Catholics often see images of a lamb in Church. This is not a cute little, meek lamb. Instead, in the Old Testament, a lamb symbolized "sacrifice." When John the Baptist said in John 1:29 "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," he was referring to Jesus who would have to be sacrificed on Good Friday to redeem our sins.
Agony 4.12.22: During His final hours before being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced His "agony in the garden.” This occurred during prayer to His Heavenly Father as He prepared His soul for the Cross and becoming the atoning sacrifice for the sin of all humanity.
Crowd 4.11.22: The crowd plays a pivotal role during Holy Week, initially praising Jesus on Palm Sunday, but eventually demanding "Crucify Him" on Good Friday.
Palms 4.10.22: This day is Palm Sunday marking the beginning of Holy Week. Catholics receive blessed palms at this Mass remembering Christ's entry into Jerusalem while the people spread branches of trees on the road, shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21: 9). Because blessed palms are sacramentals, their blessing can carry over into our homes, offices, cars, etc. And its fun to respectfully weave palm branches into a cross.
Clean 4.9.22: Why the saying "cleanliness is next to Godliness?" Because Jesus said "Be made clean," in Mark 1:40, expressing that those who are pure and virtuous are closer to God. Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Cover 4.8.22: Catholics cover crucifixes and sacred images/statues in the Church and our homes during the last two weeks of Lent. This is a Catholic tradition to urge us to make preparations and build longings for Easter Sunday.
Kneel 4.7.22: Catholics emphasize kneeling as a sign of reverence when praying and during the Mass. Kneeling is also a more penitent posture. Furthermore, kneeling during receiving the Eucharist expresses adoration and contrition. Jesus' own kneeling posture during prayer was an indication of his submission to the Will of the Father.
Fruit 4.6.22: Catholics learn the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirt: charity (or love), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity (long-suffering), gentleness, faith, modesty, continency (self-control), and chastity. Matthew 7: Jesus warned to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing--you will know a tree by its fruit, for every good tree will produce good fruits. Be fruitful!
Prays 4.5.22: Catholic saying goes: "The family (or couple) that prays together, stays together." Prayer is the raising of one's heart & mind to God. Catholics pray to develop their relationship with God for strength in virtue over vice. God, in turn, has the power to answer prayers.
Knock 4.4.22: "Knock on wood" is a popular saying; did you know it references the wood of Christ's cross as we call on Christ for protection or good fortune? In Revelation 3:20, Christ invites "I stand at the door and knock [on your heart]." Matthew 7:7, Christ says "Knock and it will be opened to you."
Judge 4.3.22: Catholics believe each human has free will with the right and judgement to make personal decisions. When Judgement Day comes, no one else is responsible. We judge actions, not people, with standards that we will be judged.
Exile 4.2.22: We are reminded that Heaven is our true home, so while we're on earth, we are in exile. The Church, while on earth journeys in a foreign land away from the Lord, is like in exile. This void will only be satisfied when the soul sees God face to face in Heaven.
Bread 4.1.22: Throughout the Bible, bread is life giving. Israelites received manna, or bread from Heaven, in the desert. In John Ch. 6 in the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man....you have no life within you." At Mass as in the Last Supper, the Transubstantiation of bread into the Body of Christ (in the Eucharist) is the 'source and summit of the Catholic life.' When we break bread together, we come together as Christians in peace and good will.
Wines 3.31.22: With more than 300 references in the Bible, wine represents Christ's blood in his crucifixion for our salvation, while vines represent the people of God. At Mass, the Transubstantiation of wine into the Blood of Christ provides Catholics with spiritual nourishment.
Grace 3.30.22: More than the prayer said before meals, Grace is a gift from God that is free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call to become faithful children of God and partakers of His divine nature and of eternal life.
Works 3.29.22: The Bible teaches that a faith without good works is a dead faith. Therefore, bring your faith alive by serving others and doing good works.
Altar 3.28.22: The altar is a focal point in a Catholic Church. Traditionally the altar in the Bible represented a place of sacrifice. Today Catholic altars contain relics from Saints and is where the priest consecrates the bread and wine to become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Found 3.27.22: "The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." 2 Chronicles 15:2
Feast 3.26.22: Catholics love a good celebratory feast for Christmas, Easter, weddings, etc. Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana and often describes Heaven as a wedding feast. Each Saint has a special Feast Day of honor.
Weeds 3.25.22: Bible parables warn there will be naysayers, troublemakers, or atheists who act like weeds and try to choke out the good faith of Catholics. Stay faithfully strong!
Offer 3.24.22: Jesus had to carry and die on the cross for our sins. When we have something difficult to bear, then this is like our carrying our personal crosses, and this allows us to join in the redemption suffering of Christ. That's why Catholics say, "offer it up."
Truth 3.23.22: Catholics call the never changing teachings of Jesus as found in the 4 Gospels as Truth. If it came from Jesus, then it must be true. And if we live in the Truth of Christ then we are truthful with one another and thereby build a society of virtue, a glimpse of Heaven on Earth.
Tools 3.22.22: Just like a carpenter needs tools, Catholics need our practical tools for growing in the Faith. These can include our daily Morning Offering, daily examination of conscience and Act of Contrition, daily prayer, Bible study, Church group, and the Sacraments.
Bible 3.21.22: The Bible contains the collection of writings that the Catholic Church compiled long ago and recognizes as the "inspired Word" of God. As Catholics, we believe we can learn to understand God and what is expected of us by reading the Bible.
Jesus 3.20.22: Long before wordle, "The Word" became flesh and dwelt among us. The founder of the Church, Jesus is God incarnate, meaning He was both fully true God and true man. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to God the Father, except through Jesus. Let's maintain our daily relationship with Jesus; we'll be glad we did 😊.
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