Being a Disciple of Christ

We call ourselves disciples of Christ but what does this really mean? Let’s start with asking what it means to call ourselves “Christian.” The term is generally applied to anyone who is baptized and/or says they believe in Christ. Yes, a Christian is one who believes in Christ. It is rooted in the Sacrament of …

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13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16aPsalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19 (2a)Romans 6:3-4, 8-11Matthew 10:37-42June 28, 2020 We are Christians.  We believe in Jesus.  We need to take this seriously.  Jesus himself tells us the we must love him more than our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters.  Remember Jesus tells us that the …

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Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura

Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura are two Latin terms that became popular among the Protestant Reformers. “Sola Fide” means “by faith alone.” Ultimately, we cannot save ourselves. It is God who saves us through Jesus sacrificing his life for us on the Cross. The Protestant reformers misunderstood Catholic teaching to think that Catholics believe we …

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Being Civilized in the Midst of Challenges

We face challenges in our world today.  Of course, there has been challenges as long as there has been people making bad choices with their free will.  There has also being illnesses that challenge us but do not know why they exist.  The challenges come in various forms.  We are becoming more and more a …

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12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AJeremiah 20:10-13Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 (14c)Romans 5:12-15Matthew 10:26-33June 21, 2020 “Jesus said to the Twelve, “Fear no one.” Fear can be a powerful thing.  Often, we might seek the approval of those who we hold in high regard.  We fear rejection.  We might seek affirmation of our work.  …

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Our Catholic Understanding of Mary

While all Christianity honors Mary as the mother of Jesus, not all denominations hold Mary in the same regard as we Catholics do. Many Protestants misunderstand what we believe about Mary. Some of them interpret our devotion to Mary as giving worship to Mary. We do not worship Mary. We worship only God. We venerate …

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The Significance of the Altar

One finds a lot of different items in Catholic churches. The stained windows, paintings, statues, and other artwork are there to help remind us of important things in our faith. The two most important items found in Catholic churches are the Tabernacle (where the Blessed Sacrament (the Body of Christ) is reserved for Communion to …

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How Often Should I Go?

Prior to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) it was common for Catholics to go to Confession at least monthly if not every other week. Some even went weekly. For some it didn’t matter if they didn’t know of any mortal sins they had committed. You went because you were supposed to. After the Second Vatican …

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The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year A – Homily

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year ADeuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16aPsalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 (12)1 Corinthians 10:16-17John 6:51-58June 14, 2020 It has been a while since we have been able to gather together physically to celebrate Mass.  We have each had to deal with the Coronavirus according to the circumstances of our own lives.  …

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