Angels among us

by Pat Gohn There are angels among us. Yet too often, we ignore their existence. Meanwhile the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has much to say about these remarkable spiritual creatures. The Bible uses the word angel to…

Tips for personal prayer

Encountering God is the heart of Catholic life. We are invited to pray, not just on Sundays at Mass, but every day! Our Father in heaven is the one who loves us 24/7, even if we sometimes forget this. Jesus came to earth to show us the face…

God Became Man

As Catholics, we profess our belief in the Incarnation in the Nicene Creed: Jesus Christ “came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” The Incarnation is a unique and singular event. Its…

Symbols of the Spirit

Part of the richness of our Catholic sacramental life is its tangibility — its appeal to our senses. Natural elements like water and fire are used in our sacraments to remind us of holy intangibles. Yet these symbols aren’t things that…

The witness of Sts. Peter and Paul

It’s well known that at times St. Peter, the first pope, and St. Paul, “the great apostle,” had disagreements (see Acts 15:1–35, Galatians 2:11–16). Yet they shared the same Lord, the same faith, and the same preaching inspired by the Holy…

Death Penalty Teaching Revisited

BY PAT GOHN Back in August 2018, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Pope Francis’ approved revision to the Catechism of the Catholic Church with regard to paragraph 2267 on the use of the death penalty. This revision…