POPS FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY
I hope you found some helpful instruction and inspiration in last week’s presentation of the first half of Pope Francis’ recent apostolic letter entitled Desiderio Desideravi. It’s an opportune moment for us all to reflect on the importance of liturgy in our spiritual lives as we return to participating in the Eucharistic Celebration in person after being deprived of it for a time due to the coronavirus pandemic. As I noted last week, this apostolic letter also helps us to understand why Pope Francis and so many bishops around the [...]
POPE FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY
POPE FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY We all know that the liturgy is the source and summit of our faith. As the Second Vatican Council declared so clearly, it is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed and, at the same time, the font from which all her power flows” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, § 10). Recently, Pope Francis offered the universal Church some powerful reflections on the liturgy and especially the Eucharistic Liturgy in his apostolic letter, Desiderio Desideravi, promulgated on 29 June 2022, the Solemnity [...]
THE TIME TO BEGIN THE WORK OF BUILDING A POST-ROE AMERICA
In response to the Supreme Court of the United States issuing its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement: This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether [...]
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/REFINISHING CHURCH TERRAZZO FLOOR
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Although we live in the wealthiest country in the world, here is an urgent need to care for millions of poor people right here in our midst. And, for more than half a century, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has demonstrated the Church’s solidarity with the poor in America, supporting community organizations that work to ease poverty and promote human development. The CCHD is the national anti-poverty and social justice program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). CCHD was begun in 1969 [...]
TRINITY SUNDAY
n the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is how we Christians begin all our prayers because we believe in and worship a triune God. But, what do we actually mean when we say that God is a Trinity? As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, allow me to offer some reflections on this very important mystery of our faith. First of all, it is important to realize we are dealing with a mystery, a reality that is well beyond our total understanding, just [...]
PENTECOST SUNDAY
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4) With this dramatic description from today’s first [...]