All posts in "HISTORY & ISSUES"

Are Catholics Called to Protect the Environment? Catholic Social Teaching: The Catholic Perspective On The Environment

We as stewards of God’s creation must look into the Catholic social teaching on the environment so that we can understand the role we play in addressing its issues. Now more than ever we are confronted by many pressing environmental problems. We hear about global temperatures rising, with the year 2016 said to be the warmest year on record, ice sheets melting and many species of animals going extinct.

How To Use Holy Water: 10 Ways To Use Holy Water To Sanctify Your Life

Growing up in the Catholic Faith you probably wondered about the water basins put up at the entrance of the church and why the water contained inside it is considered holy. Holy Water is an important part of the Catholic Religion and there are many uses for it. To better appreciate its significance in various Catholic traditions and practices, let’s first understand its history and the meaning of Holy Water.

Do you know how the Catholic Reformation changed the Catholic Church?

The Counter Reformation was a period of spiritual, moral and intellectual revival which the Catholic Church engaged with in response to the Protest Reformation. Sometimes called the Catholic Revival or Catholic Reformation, this movement began in 1545 during the start of the Council of Trent and ended in 1648 during the end of the Thirty Years’ War.

What is the Church’s Stance on the Death Penalty? Do you agree?

The death penalty is a very controversial topic especially within the religious community. The Catholic Church’s stand on capital punishment has been varied. In the past, theological writers like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas have categorized the death penalty as a form of “lawful slaying” and a means of protecting innocent people.

The Meaning of Living By Faith

Faith is at the center of our lives as Catholics but what does living by faith truly mean? To live by faith in today’s world can be quite a challenge especially because contemporary culture conditions us to value hard facts and accuracy and faith is quite the opposite of these things. Faith requires a certain degree of uncertainty and surrender. It can be quite intimidating when we think about it.

Catholic Prayers: Why do Catholics use statues, paintings, and light candles as part of their faith?

Do you light candles after you say your Catholic prayers? Whenever you go to mass, do you notice the religious statues and beautiful paintings that adorn the church? Have you ever wondered what these artifacts and traditions mean and what value they hold to our faith?

Is going to Church every Sunday necessary for Catholics?

Going to church every Sunday is one of the most basic traditions that we associate with our Catholic faith. We have been taught to go to church and attend mass at an early age but is it really necessary for Catholics? Is going to church every Sunday still relevant in today’s times

Origins and History of the Catholic Church

According to the 2017 Annuario Pontifico (Pontifical Yearbook), there are about 1.287 billion Catholics in the world in 2015. As a major world religion, the Catholic Church provides many interesting insights into the religious history of the world. We, as members of the Catholic Faith, will find it useful to know about the history of the Catholic Church so that we can better appreciate its teachings and traditions.

Mother Mary’s Importance in the Catholic Faith

The month of May is the perfect time to celebrate our devotion to Mother Mary. During May, in line with Mother’s Day, we commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary’s extraordinary role as a mother to both Jesus Christ and the whole Catholic Church. Mary is a central figure in the Catholic Faith and her life illustrates how our Almighty Father works in our lives. Mary came from a simple background and yet she was called by God to fulfill a very extraordinary role; that of becoming the mother of Jesus Christ.

The Truth About Spiritual Warfare and Why It is Important To Pray

We live in a world that values cold logic and reason so a term like “spiritual warfare” may seem irrational, even impossible for many “modern” and “intellectual” people. However, spiritual warfare is very real and it is not just limited to exorcisms and casting out demons. As children of God, we engage in an unseen battle every day and what’s at stake is our most prized possession; our soul.

What is the Eucharist?

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

What are the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Sorrows), is a devotion that reflects on Jesus’ final days on Earth—from being condemned to death to dying on the cross and being placed in the tomb.

Catholic Ten Commandments in Modern Times

As the popular adage says, “the times they are a changin.’” Good or bad, there’s no denying that the world is constantly changing—whether it’s politically, technologically, environmentally, socially, etc. One thing that remains unchanged is the relevance of the Ten Commandments even through modern times. Although some of the words and phrases are archaic—thou, false witness, shall not, etc.—the message of these centuries-old commandments are as relevant today as they were when they were first presented by God to Moses, well before Jesus’ time.

Don’t Pray Before Meals? Drop Your Fork and Bow Your Head

Can you recall the last time you ate and thought about how the food is helping to nourish your body and helping it to function properly? How about reflecting on the fact that for so many, food and clean drinking water is a luxury?

What’s a Novena?

The word novena comes from the Latin word, “novem,” which means nine. A novena is nine-day period of prayer (private or public) to “obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or to make special petitions” for yourself or for others. The practice of praying a novena goes back to the days of the Apostles when […]

The Meaning of the Act of Contrition — Admitting We Messed Up

The Act of Contrition is that prayer that brings many of us back to our childhood— to that time when we were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Penance.

The Hail Mary — Reflecting On One of the Most Important Catholic Prayers

What is the meaning of the Hail Mary prayer? Each line of the popular Catholic prayer recited countless times since our childhood—the Hail Mary—is rich in meaning and is meant to lead us to reflect deeply on our faith.

Priesthood Sunday — The Second “Father’s” Day

Did you know that in some Catholic Churches throughout the country they celebrate Father’s Day twice a year? In addition to the well-known Father’s Day held the third Sunday in June each year when children honor their dads (and apologize for all the grey hairs they’ve caused throughout the years) the last Sunday in October is Priesthood Sunday and is set aside to thank our spiritual fathers—priests.

Why Catholics Start Prayers with The Sign of The Cross

What does giving someone the thumbs up, the o.k. sign, and making the sign of the cross have in common? They’re all frequently used gestures that we perform countless times throughout our lifetime. Unlike the first two gestures, the sign of the cross is steeped with religious symbolism. When is the last time you made […]

Catholic Weddings: The Dos and Don’ts

As one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, marriage is more than a legal contract; according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The sacrament of matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church.” A marriage is sealed and strengthened by God’s love and is rooted in the divine plan of creation— the procreation and education of children in the faith.