This week, Monsignor Charles Pope explains that lists within Catholic teaching — such as the nine choirs of angels, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit — are more than just lists for memorization. Rather, these
Parishes that offer Mass in the extraordinary form are booming, including those run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Writer Brian Fraga recently attended a Latin Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Providence, Rhode Island. He writes that “the Catholic Church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sacred liturgy is meant to help the people of God conform their heart, mind and actions more closely to Christ, Pope Francis said. “We know that it is not enough to change liturgical books to improve the
Question: This Sunday for the first time, the carafe containing the wine for the parishioners was placed on a table off the altar, right in front of the pews. After the consecration, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist poured the wine into
Many have walked through the doors of church and immediately been asked if they’d be willing to “take up the gifts” during Mass. The laity carrying the bread and wine to the altar — the bread and wine that will become the
During a recent RCIA class, the instructor provided a handout that included three basic Catholic prayers: the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. One of the class participants immediately said: “Hey, your Our Father doesn’t include, “For thine is
In ancient Rome, the emperor draped himself in regal purple, the priests of Mars wore crimson vestments to honor the bloody god of war and families in mourning shrouded themselves in black. But when Christian bishops, priests and deacons stood at the