Why Do We Celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on the Same Day?
St. Peter and St. Paul are two of the most well-known saints and are often spoken of as the two men most responsible for spreading the…
What Is the Ascension?
The Ascension refers to the day celebrated 40 days after Easter when Catholics celebrate the fact that Jesus returns to God after being with his…
Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays?
Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday in Lent (including Good Friday). Fish is often used as a…
Why Do We Go to Midnight Mass on Christmas?
Keeping vigil has always been a spiritual practice in Catholicism. This is what we are essentially doing by attending any “Vigil” mass, we wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Savior.
There is also a Biblical reference here that can be included. The Shepherds in Luke’s infancy narratives in his Gospel were keeping watch over their sheep on the nightly vigil. In a sense, we are the same shepherds today and we are entrusted to keep watch over one another.