| Ordinations: The Great Gift of Priesthood |
"I'm not going to confession anymore!" The man recounting his experience began by telling me that this is what he had said to his mother when he was much younger. "Why?" she asked. He told me that he replied, "Because the priest wasn't nice to me."
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 |
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| Knowing Right From Wrong |
When we look at the morality of human acts, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us we must consider a number of factors. "The object, the intention, and the circumstances make up the 'sources,' or constitutive elements, of the morality of human acts" (1750).
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 |
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| Christian Morality |
In one way or another we all must take responsibility for the world in which we live and the situations that we confront each day. At every turn, decisions are being made that affect all of us. They are being made for us, and too often they are done with at least our tacit permission.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010 |
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| Seeing So Much More |
The radio commentator noted on Ash Wednesday that "the line stretched all the way around the block as people waited patiently to receive their ashes." The same comment could be made for churches all over the world that day.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 |
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| Life in Christ |
How appropriate, as we continue our review the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, we arrive at the section entitled "Life in Christ" precisely on Pentecost. Our new life in Christ is the Holy Spirit at work within us, poured out first on the Church at Pentecost and on each of us in baptism.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 |
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| Sacramentals: Helps to Holiness |
One in a series: The U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults
The Teaching of Christ - By Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 |
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| Sacramentals: Helps to Holiness |
At the entrance to most Catholic churches there is a holy water font, sometimes as large as a baptistry and, at other times, small enough to fit just the fingers on our right hand. On entering any church, we bless ourselves with the sign of the cross by tracing the symbol of our redemption on our forehead, chest and shoulders. The holy water in the font is also a reminder of our baptism into the death and Resurrection of Christ.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 |
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| Spiritual Care of the Ill |
The image in Mark's Gospel account of the woman with the hemorrhage comes quickly to mind when we speak of the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The woman, who is depicted in the reproduction of the mosaic that opens the section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the liturgy and the sacraments, was eager to touch only the Lord's cloak: "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured" (Mark 5:28). The sick person today "touches" Christ the divine physician and experiences his power through sacramental anointing. The results may not always be evident physical healing, but the spiritual restoration is at work.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010 |
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| Anointing of the Sick and Healing |
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are some marvelous fresco paintings by Michelangelo. One of them depicts God the Father in the act of creation reaching toward the outstretched hand of the inert form of Adam and passing on life, giving life. In that gift, the Father gave us the possibility of friendship with himself, a relationship which was lost in the Fall by sin. Sin continues to mar our relationship with God.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 |
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| Parish Self Assessment |
The spiritual and pastoral strength of our archdiocesan Church is measured against the vitality of its 140 parishes. In many of the parishes, with some regularity a self assessment takes place that allows the pastor and parish leadership, together with the faithful, to plan for the future while also identifying and addressing more immediate needs.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 |
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| VATICAN | CATHOLIC RESOURCES | Parishes of the Archdiocese
