Sacraments

I’ll never confess my sins to some man!” I spouted off a bit too forcefully to a Catholic friend. We were discussing what we believed was important for salvation. “I have my Bible and Jesus, and I confess my sins directly to him,” I…

Although it is popular parlance to describe certain events or places as heaven on earth, I find this to be a hard sell. After all, the world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, populated with many who detest the very idea of heaven, life…

In these weeks when spring gives way to summer, many celebrate the ordinations of new priests — new shepherds who, in these difficult days, commit the rest of their lives to the sacred service of God and the people of God. It is also the…

June is a big month for weddings. For those of us planning to marry or are already married to non-Catholic spouses, the journey often ends up more difficult than we could have imagined. Once upon a time, Catholics were usually expected to…

The spiritual virtue of a sacrament is like light: although it passes among the impure, it is not polluted. — St. Augustine

The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself. – St. Peter Julian Eymard

School is out for summer, the kids are home, and my life just got more complicated. I am now balancing their work and sports schedules, my work schedule, their chores and social events. As a busy family with seven children ranging from 3 to…

by Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, OP Q Dear Father: In the wake of the recent scandals in the Church, I’m wondering about sacraments that accused clergy administered before the Church removed them from active ministry or laicized them. Are all of…

BY PAT GOHN The seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony — have five important elements in common. They are the sacraments of Christ. All are instituted and based on the…

For many, our sacraments are being held hostage by the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, by the grace of God, we'll soon see more and more restrictions lifted. Looking to the future, many Catholics will be entering the…