Spirituality
Is there a path toward holy Communion for a remarried Catholic?
Q. I am a divorced and remarried Catholic, married now for more than 20 years to my second wife. I continue to attend Mass, but since my marriage have been unable to receive holy Communion. It seems to me that, if a priest can forgive a murderer -- assuming that the person is truly repentant -- he should also be able to forgive someone for remarrying after a divorce. (I am truly sorry for what I did to contribute to the divorce, and in particular for the pain which the divorce caused our children. But the situation is irreversible now; I cannot simply leave my present wife, whom I love very much.)
Vatican II texts critical for navigating troubled world, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Though they were written a half-century ago, the documents that came out of the Second Vatican Council are indispensable for helping today’s Christians navigate their way in a stormy world, Pope Benedict XVI said. Unfortunately, the council’s 16 landmark documents have been buried under “a mass of publications, which, instead of […]
The relevance of religious faith in the world of business
I meet monthly as a facilitator for a small group of active and retired business professionals who have one thing in common: a desire to reflect on the relevance of their religious faith to their business and professional responsibilities. At our most recent meeting, we began, as we always do, with a short Scripture reading followed by a few moments of quiet reflection and then an open exchange of insights prompted by reflection on the text. The reading at our previous meeting was from Ephesians 3:14-21 and the lines that caught the attention of all were the words "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" followed by the assertion that God "is able to accomplish far more than we all ask or imagine."
Christ, not priest or faithful, is at center of the liturgy, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A liturgy is not Christian if Christ is not the center of the celebration, Pope Benedict XVI said. “The conviction must grow in us every day that the liturgy is not 'our' or 'my' doing, but is God's acting in us and with us,” he said Oct. 3. The pope spoke […]
Rosary key to evangelization, helping families, says Marian expert
ROME (CNS) -- As the church is set to begin the Year of Faith and a synod on the new evangelization, the rosary can play a key role in strengthening and spreading the word of God, said a leading American expert in Marian studies.
On crying babies and offering Mass for a deceased atheist
Q. Not too long ago, I moved to a different town and now attend a new parish. I have a question about the behavior of children at Mass. In my old parish, the priest would stop Mass and have the ushers assist a mother with a crying baby to a separate (and soundproof) “cry room,” […]
Advice on church dress code and a man’s last wishes for Communion
Q. I attend a small parish in a small town. I moved here recently and am surprised at the low-cut tops, short shorts and short skirts worn by women at Mass. Isn't there some kind of dress code? (Iowa) A. On the topic of proper dress for Mass, there are probably as many different opinions as there are readers of this column.
Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer intentions for October
General Intention: New Evangelization: That the New Evangelization may progress in the oldest Christian countries. Missionary Intention: World Mission Day: That the celebration of World Mission Day may result in a renewed commitment to evangelization.
In yourself and in the Church, look at the good that outweighs the bad
I want you to look in the mirror and tell me what you see. Do you see a generous, giving person that tries hard to be good? Do you see the many sacrifices you've made for others and the noble instincts that have inspired your loving service? In many ways, you are a saint and you don't know it. But before I go on, let me ask another question. Do you also see the dark side of your personality, the part you wouldn't want printed in any newspaper? The truth is that when you look in the mirror, you are looking at both sides of yourself: the good and the bad.
What’s with the unity candle in a Catholic wedding?
Q. I've heard that the Vatican does not approve of the lighting of the unity candle at wedding ceremonies. Is this true? (Albany, N.Y.) A. For those unfamiliar with it, the ritual of the unity candle is sometimes inserted into a Catholic wedding ceremony following the exchange of vows and rings. The bride and groom each take a smaller lighted candle. Using those candles, they together light the larger candle in the middle. That's referred to as the "unity candle."