On August 15, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary. For the celebration of the Mass, the most common things we can do is pray the propers from the Roman Missal and use the readings for the Assumption Mass. You can also select music that is that is both Marion (but be careful not too make every hymn you sing a Marion hymn-we must also keep in mind that we are celebrating the Paschal Mystery of Christ as well!) Having a wonderful homily can also help the assembly to understand the feast better. In addition, you can set the worship space up differently so that, when people come in, they can see that there is something special about this day. Adding flowers to the worship space or changing the colors of the Altar linens and other…

The answer depends on your employer’s policies, as well as on whether you’re a day care provider, an office worker, or a firefighter, to give just a few possibilities. Some parents, occasionally or regularly, manage to integrate their children into their working environments. Others find it inappropriate or downright impossible. But your question highlights the need for social structures and labor policies that protect and promote the rights of parents and the wellbeing of the family.
Two key principles of Catholic social teaching come into play here: the importance of the family and the dignity of human labor. Parenthood is a vocation, and parents have a sacred duty to care for and educate their children.…

Well, there’s no mention of Spot or Kitty in the Gospels, so it’s hard to say for certain. I’m guessing that pet ownership was not a big thing in Nazareth during Jesus’ lifetime; most families would probably have only been able to afford to keep animals that were useful in some way (food production, etc.). It’s fair to say that Mary wanted Jesus to have an enjoyable childhood and to learn (as all kids must) about responsibility, but having a pet was probably not the way that those things happened.…

The evangelist Luke wrote of a biological relationship between the mothers of Jesus and John the Baptist. Reportedly, the angel Gabriel told Mary “your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son.” (Lk 1:36). The original Greek text does not tell us exactly how they were related, but common tradition has held that because their mothers were related, Jesus and John must have been cousins. After this detail, however, nothing else in our Bible mentions any interactions between the two during their childhoods. Indeed, the description of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist suggests that might have been their first meeting, which could then explain John’s question about Jesus’ true identity…

Schools that require students to wear uniforms know that we take things more seriously when we are dressed for the occasion. Our dress communicates a great deal about who we are and what is important to us. When you dress for mass, you are telling yourself – and others around you – how much you care about what is taking place. Celebrating the Eucharist is the high point of our lives as Catholic Christians – isn’t that worth showing attention and respect?
Acceptable attire at mass varies from culture to culture, place to place and occasion to occasion. In the United States, extremely casual dress has become the norm in almost all public places. But going to mass is different from going to the mall, and it calls…

According to legend in Western Christianity, there were three “wise men,” their names were Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar, and they were of various ethnic/racial origin. However, Matthew’s account of the magi’s visit (which is the only reference in the Bible to these famed visitors) tells us none of these details.
Because Matthew tells us that the magi brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, popular imagination has pictured three gift-bearers, although Matthew didn’t say how many there were. In fact, in the East, tradition has generally pictured 12 magi. It was later tradition, not Matthew, who named the magi. A document dated to about 500 A.D. lists the names of Melchior, Caspar,…

First communion day is very special for children. After a long period of preparation, they will finally receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. There is often a lot happening that day. Your son may find himself sitting in a different place than your family usually sits and doing some things differently than he usually does at mass. He may have a special role to play, such as walking in the entrance procession or helping to bring up the gifts. And he will be aware that he and the other children are receiving special attention that day. Children, just like adults, can get nervous when things are special or different. That’s why the rehearsal is so important. If he knows ahead of time what is going to happen,…

First of all, I’d be wary of saying that Mary is “still appearing,” as that wording implies that there are approved apparitions happening on a daily basis. Though alleged Marian sightings do make for great news stories, only a very few of them have been investigated by the Church and found to be worthy of belief. It’s also important to remember that even the handful of apparitions that are approved of by the Church fit into the category of “private revelation,” meaning that Catholics are not required to believe in them (this is distinct from “public revelation,” such as the teachings of Christ.)
That said, when you look at the apparitions that have been found worthy of belief, common themes emerge.…

A church building is a special place calling for special behavior. While the church is our home and we should feel comfortable there – indeed, the church (small “c”) is a gathering place for the Church, the people of God (capital “C”) – that doesn’t mean that anything goes. Your actions in church show respect for God and for the community that gathers there. If you are stopping by the church to pray, even just for a moment, your actions should respect the place and its purpose.
Spit out your gum, turn off your cell phone, check that you’re appropriately dressed and make the most of the precious opportunity to step away from the ordinary and into a sacred space and time. If you are in the church for mass and…

Sometimes a Catholic who reads from the New American Bible (NAB) can be overheard telling a Protestant who uses the King James Version (KJV) that she has more books in her Bible than he does — as if it’s a bragging right. The KJV has 39 books in the Old Testament, all written in Hebrew. However, the Old Testament of the NAB contains 46 books, including an additional seven (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and Baruch) which were part of an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible called the Septuagint. These seven books are variously referred to as the “apocryphal” or “deuterocanonical” books.
Because the NAB was translated in 1970 — more than 350 years after…

Congratulations on your daughter’s upcoming first communion! Of course you want to make sure that it is special, but don’t lose sight of what is really important. First communion is not about the dress or the pictures or the party – these are merely extras. First communion is about your daughter receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. It should be the first of many receptions of the Eucharist, so that she can continue to grow in her understanding of the great mystery of the Eucharist and be strengthened by Christ’s real presence in her life. She comes to the table of the Lord as part of the Christian community – her faith formation classmates, other first communicants and your entire parish. The pastor has…

The Catholic Church teaches that human sexuality is a beautiful gift from God. It allows us to love others and, in a special way, to truly give ourselves in love to one other person…

Feast days (and solemnities and memorials) are days in the liturgical calendar where the Church highlights and honors an aspect of the Lord, of Mary, or of a particular saint. The Marian days usually fall into different categories. Some of them commemorate a particular event in Scripture, such as the Annunciation or the Visitation. Others highlight various apparitions, such as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe or Our Lady of Fatima. Still others relate to dogmatic statements about Mary, such as the Solemnity of the Assumption, or the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Other feast days are based on popular Marian devotions (Our Lady of the Rosary, etc.).
Similarly, the many different titles of Mary acknowledge…

At a Catholic service, the presiding priest or a member of the parish staff will provide a list of scripture readings from the lectionary from which the couple may choose. The suggestions will include options for both Old and New Testament readings. If the couple has a preference for other biblical texts that are meaningful to them or have a particular significance in their lives, the presider may allow those instead.
The couple is encouraged to reflect on what they feel called to in their lives together and to choose readings that will encourage, console, strengthen and/or challenge them in their calling. Readings that remind them of God’s promise of love and faithfulness in their journey together are also…

It’s good that you’re tackling this issue before first communion day. Make sure your child understands that you expect reverent behavior; do not encourage or tolerate any kind of silliness around the act of receiving communion, even when you are practicing.
Children have a natural curiosity about new things, especially something as special and mysterious as the Eucharist. Give your child an unconsecrated host and let her hold it in her hands, look at it, and take her time tasting it and consuming it. She won’t be able to do this when she actually receives communion, but it will allow her to satisfy her curiosity. Then show her how you receive and ask her to imitate you. Some people, finding the dry host difficult…

Matthew is one of the two gospels (along with Luke) to include an infancy narrative. Unlike Luke, though, Matthew gives a greater emphasis on Joseph than on Mary. Matthew tells the story of how Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant and intended to divorce her quietly, until he received a visit from the angel of the Lord. Matthew is also the only Gospel to include the visit of the Magi, and to share the story of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous designs. Mary is obviously involved in these events, but Matthew’s narrative places a greater emphasis on Joseph’s role than on hers (for example, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in his dreams to warn him, not to Mary).
Mary does appear…

Among the four gospels in the New Testament, Mark is widely accepted as the earliest gospel account. It is dated to approximately 70 A.D, while Luke, Matthew and John were composed in the following 20 years.
There were other gospel accounts written that were not canonized, and these are lumped together under the category of “apocryphal” gospels. The majority of these were almost certainly written decades or even centuries after the four canonical gospels with the exception of the Gospel of Thomas, a list of sayings attributed to Jesus. Some scholars believe Thomas was already in circulation at the time that Mark, Matthew, Luke and John were written and that they used it as a source in their own accounts. Others…

The Rite of Ordination occurs within the context of Mass and therefore there will be some parts of the sacrament that will be familiar to you. Also, if you have participated in any of the sacraments recently you will notices some similarities in the Ordination Rite.
The sacrament itself occurs in between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Bishop, who is the presider (or leader) of the celebration will examine and question each candidate for ordination, much like you might see at a Baptism, Confirmation or Wedding.
Another moment that will be familiar to you is the singing of the Litany of Saints; however, during this litany the candidates lie prostrate before the altar as the community asks…

Question: How difficult must it have been for Mary to teach anything to Jesus? Wouldn’t he already know twenty ways to do whatever she asked?
Your question touches on one of the most intriguing aspects of Jesus: the fact that he was both fully human and fully divine. Admittedly, it’s hard to imagine how being fully God and fully man would work in practical terms, and it’s been a topic of great interest over the centuries. The Catechism says this:
The human soul that the Son of God assumed is endowed with a true human knowledge. As such, this knowledge could not in itself be unlimited: it was exercised in the historical conditions of his existence in space and time. This is why the Son of God could, when he became man,…

Hosanna is derived from a Hebrew term meaning “Save, now!” or “Please save,” as used in Psalm 118:25. Christian usage of the word is typically understood as a shout of adoration or praise, as when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). The celebration of Palm Sunday commemorates this event and conveys the sense of praise.…