A couple disturbing revelations I’ve run into of late, suggesting a grave misunderstanding of what “Church” is: Many of America’s Protestant megachurches don’t have Christmas services. This means that, when Christmas falls on a Sunday (like it will next year), this second-holiest of Sundays of the year is one these churches don’t celebrate. In place… Continue reading The All-American Church of Me
Tag: liturgical year
Why an “Obligation” to attend Mass on Sunday?
A friend asked me yesterday about the basis for “the Sunday obligation.” It’s a good question: the Catholic Church says that, as Catholics, we must attend Mass on Sunday (or the Vigil Mass the night before, which can be considered part of Sunday, based on the Jewish calendar), and that if we deliberately skip without good… Continue reading Why an “Obligation” to attend Mass on Sunday?
Behold, I Make All Things New
Today’s first reading comes from Ecclesiastes. There’s some debate over how to understand the sayings of Qoheleth, but I think the correct understanding is that the Book explores the futility of life without God: that even if you try and “live life to the fullest,” without God, that’s ultimately a pretty empty thing. As a… Continue reading Behold, I Make All Things New
Yom Kippur for Christians
Tomorrow night, twenty minutes after sunset, Yom Kippur begins. It’s the Jewish Day of Atonement, described at length in Leviticus 16, and referenced in Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9, and Numbers 29:7-11. It lasts about twenty-five hours. For the Central Time Zone, then, if I’m not mistaken, it runs from 7:17 pm Friday until 8:17… Continue reading Yom Kippur for Christians
Lord, I am Not Worthy…
Yesterday’s Gospel is one of my favorites. It’s Luke 7:1-10, When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,… Continue reading Lord, I am Not Worthy…
Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!
I. The Sacred Heart of JesusToday’s the Feast of the Sacred Heart, a special reminder that Jesus loves us. Talking about sin, hell, and damnation is important, and has a vital place in our Faith — particularly given how much secular culture has forgotten about the reality of Hell — but it shouldn’t occupy the… Continue reading Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!
Christ is Passing By!
Yesterday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. After Mass (in which we did part of the incredible Lauda Sion), there was a procession from the church to the cemetary, where we prayed a rosary. Along the way, we sang Pange Lingua. It was beautiful and… Continue reading Christ is Passing By!
Ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus
Yesterday was an absolute feast on the subject of ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus at Mass. I. Acts 23:6-11, the Wages of Disunity The first reading was Acts 23:6-11 (with a prologue from Acts 22:30, setting the scene): Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the… Continue reading Ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus
St. Paul Summarizes the Old Testament
I. Acts 13Today’s First Reading, from Acts 13, finds St. Paul and his companions in the synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath. After “the reading of the law and the prophets,” the men are asked if any of them has “a word of exhortation” to share. Paul then gets up, motions with his hand, and says… Continue reading St. Paul Summarizes the Old Testament
The Music of Holy Week and Easter
I’m not musically gifted at all, but I enjoy good music. And the music of this time of the church year is simply unsurpassed. Here are my top three picks — all of them no-brainers — for the best songs of each part of Holy Week. If for some reason your church didn’t play these… Continue reading The Music of Holy Week and Easter