The Sacrament of Reconciliation

From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope The word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they …

Read moreFrom the Rector, Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 9/26/21

Liturgical Colors by Father Block One of the most obvious differences in the Mass from season to season and feast to feast is the color of the vestments worn by the priest and the covering over the chalice. The colors were not chosen by the Church at random, nor are they simply decoration, rather, each …

Read moreLiturgical Colors by Father Block

Capital Sins: Part I Compiled by: Fr. Rene J. Schatteman   It seems like we just left the Christmas Season and we realize that Ash Wednesday is less than a month away. I was hoping this article (a three part series) on Capital Sins would help us during the next three weeks to evaluate where …

Read moreFrom the Rector: Capital Sins: Part I

The Meaning of Priestly Vestments (Adapted from a Vatican Document on the Liturgical Vestments) The Vestments and the Prayers 1) The priest begins with the amice, a rectangular linen cloth, which has two strings and is placed over the shoulders and around the neck; the strings are then tied about the waist. The amice has the …

Read moreFrom the Rector, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 8/8/2021

Fittingly, this Sunday will be the conclusion for the annual Young Men’s Discernment retreat. It is fitting, because, even though it falls on a Sunday this year, 4 August is the liturgical memorial of St. John Marie Vianney, the patron saint of priests. It is a good reminder that we ought often to pray for …

Read moreAugust 4, 2019, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time