Theology of PenanceParagraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1485 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,” Jesus showed himself to his apostles. “He breathed on them, and said to them: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, First Sunday of Lent, 2/26/2023
“Fasting and Abstinence” Adapted from D. D. Emmons at “Simply Catholic” Why fast and abstain? Pope Clement XIII in 1759 said that “penance also demands that we satisfy divine justice with fasting, almsgiving and prayer and other works of the spiritual.” The purpose of our fast is to not become physically weak or lose weight …
Read moreFrom the Rector, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2/19/2023
Lectio Divina: Praying with Scripture (especially for Lent) From Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 87 87. I would like here to review the basic steps of [lectio divina]. It opens with the reading (lectio) of a text, which leads to a desire to understand its true content: what does the biblical text say in itself? …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, February 12, 2023, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Liturgy of Baptism Paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1235 The sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross. 1236 The proclamation …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2/5/2023, Cycle A
Theology of Baptism Paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1275 Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ’s Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ. 1276 “Go therefore and make …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1/29/2023
Introduction to the Sacred Liturgy Paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1110 In the liturgy of the Church, God the Father is blessed and adored as the source of all the blessings of creation and salvation with which he has blessed us in his Son, in order to give us the Spirit of …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1/22/2023, Cycle A
Introduction to the Sacraments •Grace: What is it, and what does it do? • Divine life (CCC 1996-1997, 1999, 2000) •Free and undeserved gift •Heal and perfect •Sanctifying, habitual, actual •Sacramental (CCC 1129, 2003) •Sacraments (CCC 1115-6, 1123, 1131; SC 59-61; LG 11) o Mysterion and Sacramentum o CCC 1131: Efficacious signs of grace •Sign, …
Read moreFrom the Rector, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1/15/2023
From a letter to Diognetus No man has ever seen God or known him, but God has revealed himself to us through faith, by which alone it is possible to see him. God, the Lord and maker of all things, who created the world and set it in order, not only loved man but was …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, 12/18/2022, Third Sunday of Advent
Sin and Vice 1870 “God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all”(Rom 11:32). 1871 Sin is an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law (St. Augustine,Faust 22: PL 42, 418). It is an offense against God. It rises up against God in adisobedience contrary to …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, December 11, 2022, Cycle A
Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit 1830 The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy 1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of …
Read moreFrom the Rector/Catechesis, Second Sunday of Advent, 12/4/2022
