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From the Catechism
Saintly sound bites and sacraments
Saints’ quotes are some of my favorite things about the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They bring the richness of our faith alive. Besides saints being beacons of holiness and wisdom, their genius is often found in their simple and…
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…
Citizens of heaven living as citizens on earth
If you are baptized, you are a citizen of heaven — your true home. The saints — the citizens of heaven who have arrived there ahead of us — are cheering us on! While the saints remind us of all we could be, more importantly they should…
A Catechism lesson: Discouraged by evil and sin? Take heart!
Discouraged by evil and sin? Take heart! Our Catholic faith helps us understand the spiritual battle between God and evil. We’ve all been victims of evil in varying sinful degrees. That’s why the Gospel is called Good News. The Catechism of…
Priest, prophet, and king — who, me?
Upon witnessing the Baptism of my first grandchild, I once again heard the threefold description in our call to holiness. After the Baptism comes the anointing with sacred chrism oil, wherein the priest or deacon prays these words: As…
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…
Four ways the Eucharist prepares us for future glory
by Pat Gohn There are many, many reasons to love the Eucharist, but let’s focus on one: The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist prepares us — and is indeed a pledge — of our future glory. Yes, the Eucharist is a…