Question: I get confused about the various uses of the words continence, chastity and celibacy. Are they the same thing? — Name withheld, via email Answer: The words are related but also have distinct meanings. Continence, in the wider sense, simply means
“Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude.” –St. Thérèse of Lisieux German mystic Meister Eckhart once said, “If the only prayer you said your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” Gratitude has that kind
Sherry Weddell’s book “Forming Intentional Disciples” (OSV, $16.95) is, I think, one of the most important Catholic books of this decade. In it, she addresses the core issue facing the Church in our time: How to foster a culture in which all
For many, a novena is thought of as something magical that people do when they want something from God. Many pray novenas when they are in need, but they don’t always get what they want — at least, they don’t always get
To the American media, Pope Francis is an enigma wrapped inside a conundrum. When the present Holy Father condemns unfettered capitalism, the political left cheers, while the political right looks on askance. But when Francis condemns abortion, the left falls silent and
Despite being a worldwide best-seller, the Catechism of the Catholic Church can be a little intimidating to the average reader, with its 900-plus pages and copious footnotes. I know from experience. Several years ago, when I was first asked to put the
It is one of the most important events a Catholic community celebrates in a person’s life, but one so often misunderstood and increasingly ignored. The funeral Mass. The funeral liturgy in a church setting is a final opportunity to commend the deceased
The national rankings of the country’s top high school athletic teams possess a distinct Catholicity. Mater Dei. De La Salle. St. Anthony. St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Pius X. These aren’t the names of parish churches. Catholic high schools are heavily represented on
The Catholic presence stretches around the globe, and its numbers are increasing worldwide, according to statistics from the 2011 Annuario Pontificio (“pontifical yearbook”). Approximately 1.18 billion belong to the big Church, the Body of Christ. In many cases they are also living
“I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” How often have you heard someone say something similar? Or perhaps even said it yourself. In our secular culture, being “religious” is often seen as being narrow-minded, judgmental and a bit of a nutcase. It