What is the first thing you do when you walk into a Catholic church? No, it isn’t genuflecting before entering the pew. Before that. Generally, we first dip our fingers in the holy water font and bless ourselves with the sign of
A reader asks: “What of children who die in the womb or of babies and young children who die before baptism? Can we suppose that they are in heaven?” While the Scriptures do not address such a matter, and God has not
A reader explains that they were running late for their daughter’s baptism. The godparents had taken the baby ahead of them, and when the parents got there, their daughter had been baptized. Was it valid?
Telling parents and godparents to teach their little ones to pray from the time they are small, Pope Francis baptized 13 babies in the Sistine Chapel as their older brothers and sisters looked on -- or got away and ran around.
With his
What does it mean to be a Catholic? What does it mean to be a member of the Church? As young and old Americans alike continue to disavow religious faith and practice at alarming rates, the question is asked with increasing urgency.
Jordan began Christmas celebrations by unveiling a project that could attract 1 million pilgrims annually to the officially recognized site of Jesus' baptism on the east bank of the Jordan River.
An area adjacent to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, as mentioned in the
A reader asks: “I’ve heard that under certain conditions, anyone can baptize or be baptized in a way recognized by the Church. But what does the Church teach about a relative baptizing a baby without his or her parents’ consent?” Monsignor Charles
A reader writes: “A priest in the Diocese of Phoenix for decades used the incorrect formula when conducting baptisms. As a result, the baptisms along with the other sacraments are considered invalid. I’m at a loss as to why the responsibility for
A reader asks: “In John 8:51, Jesus tells the Jews: ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ Does this mean that non-believers will still go to heaven even though they still do not believe that
A reader asks: “Why is baptizing a baby who is named Jesus allowed by priests? Yes, it’s often a family tradition, but I can’t accept using Jesus’ name as it is not respectful, good or holy.” In his latest column, Monsignor Charles