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Who may be a godparent?

By Robert J. Matava

A godparent is someone who serves as a sponsor for a person being baptized. A sponsor is a member of the church community who supports the person being baptized in his or her faith life. This practice reflects the ecclesial nature of faith: Baptism is a sacrament of faith, and while each member of the church must confess the faith insofar as he or she is able, Catholics do not have faith individualistically. Rather, we receive faith as a gift from God within the community of faith, the church. 

9/17/19
Reading Time 3 min

God’s longing and active pursuit

By Fr. Jack Peterson, Ya

We are graced this Sunday to ponder three unique parables in Luke’s Gospel that bring into clear focus the longing God has for us to be close to him as well as his active pursuit of us.

9/13/19
Reading Time 3 min

A life of peace

By Elizabeth Foss

As long as we live, there is still time. It’s true that never again will we utter the words, “I have no regret.” But with every mistake offered to him with contrition, we have a new opportunity to live in the present. 

9/13/19
Reading Time 3 min

The exaltation of the self

By Soren Johnson

Be honest. What does this churchy bunch of words — "Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross” (Sept. 14) — mean to you? Deep down, how do you relate to the cross, your cross, or the crosses of others? 

9/11/19
Reading Time 3 min

The feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

By Fr. William P. Saunders

The feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary originated in Spain and was approved in 1513. In 1683, Pope Innocent XI extended the celebration of the feast day to the universal church, to be celebrated Sept. 12, four days after the feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother. Although removed in 1970 from the universal calendar, Pope John Paul II reinstituted the celebration as an “optional memorial” in the Roman Missal in 2003.

9/11/19
Reading Time 3 min

Toleration or freedom of religion?

By Russell Shaw

In years gone by, church-state conflicts in America commonly focused on the first of the First Amendment’s two religion clauses: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Tussles over public funds for parochial schools and prayer in public schools were typical no-establishment fights. Now the emphasis has shifted from the first religion clause to the second, which bars government action “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. State infringement on free exercise and resistance to it by religiously motivated institutions and individuals are the new battlefront in church-state warfare.

9/4/19
Reading Time 3 min

Care for creation

By James Starke

This year marks the fifth “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” Sept. 1. For Catholics, the day has its roots in Pentecost Sunday in 2015, when Pope Francis promulgated the Encyclical Letter on Care for our Common Home, “Laudato Si’ ”. It is no coincidence that the letter was given on the day that we proclaim in the entrance antiphon, “The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world” (Wis 1:7), and we implore in the responsorial psalm, “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104). 

8/30/19
Reading Time 3 min

In secret you will be repaid

By Brett Robinson

St. Augustine was a "seller of words." Prior to his conversion, he was a professor of rhetoric in Rome, making money teaching students how to speak well and persuade audiences. When the great saint found his way to Christianity, he realized that he had to abandon his "chair of lies."

8/30/19
Reading Time 2 min

Walk humbly with your God

By Fr. William P. Saunders

No matter who we are, we all die, leave behind everything of this world, and face judgment.  Therefore, better to live always as the humble servant of the Lord now and be recognized as such on judgment day.

8/30/19
Reading Time 3 min

Learning to trust in providence

By Sr. Constance Veit

For the past year, the Little Sisters of the Poor have been celebrating the 150th anniversary of our congregation’s arrival in the United States. 

8/28/19
Reading Time 3 min

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