Every Roman Catholic might not observe all the traditional, religious practices associated with the death of a loved one. And, chances are, every Jewish believer does not carry out each prescription … more

Precious Blood Sister Joyce Ann Zimmerman, in her succinct publication “The Ministry of Liturgical Environment” rightly notes that the contrast of the church building as the Domus Dei (House of … more

I probably would have written this article anyhow, so distressed was I. But then I received an invitation to attend a fundraising luncheon for presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, and that absolutely confirmed my decision. The fundraiser is scheduled for Providence next week. For $500 I could attend a reception with the former New York City Mayor. For $1,500 I could attend a reception with a photo op. The first thought that came to my mind is that I’m not charging enough for my Confirmation photos! more

Answer: God made the world. Question: Why did God make you? Answer: God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. Question: What is a Sacrament? Answer: A Sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ to give grace. more

Sometime in the 1960s, a news item appeared indicating that in the event of nuclear war in Europe, Pope Paul VI would take refuge in Quebec City, Canada, assured of a welcome and warm reception in … more

Any curious person picking up the Christian Scriptures and reading them with an open mind must be struck by the prominent role that St. Peter holds throughout the Gospels, Acts and various letters … more

Older Catholics will certainly be familiar with the concept of “Easter duty,” a phrase that describes the obligation of Catholics to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, specifically during the Easter Season. more

If one can believe the conservative Web logs on the internet, every priest in Christendom will soon be offering the old Tridentine Latin Mass in parish churches and private oratories throughout the … more

The festivities of the Christmas holiday and the solemnities of Holy Week might at first glance seem to have nothing in common. Christmas is all wreaths and lights and sleigh bells and presents and … more

Without a doubt, Holy Week marks the high point of the liturgical year. It’s a very significant time for every Catholic, as we follow Jesus with a lively faith and strive to share once again in the fullness of the Paschal Mystery. As the Preface for the Passion of the Lord reminds us: “The days of his life-giving death and glorious resurrection are approaching. This is the hour when Christ triumphed over Satan’s pride, the time when we celebrate the great event of our redemption.” more

A local politician explained his stance on same-sex marriage by saying, "If two people love one another, who am I to stand in the way of their marrying?" The truth is that marriage is about much … more

A bishop on the West Coast entertains his candidates for Holy Orders by regaling them with tales about his dealing with other bishops and then informs the candidates that he would not be surprised to … more

Depending on your point of view, it’s either the most significant archeological find in history, with enormous theological consequences, or just another fraudulent publicity stunt aimed at promoting a silly television program. I vote for the latter. more

The premier English language poet of the last century, T.S.Eliot, was quoting Beaudelaire, the distinguished French language poet of the 19th century, when he wrote, "The spirit kills; it is the … more

Sts. Matthew, Mark and Luke write of Jesus' glorious transfiguration on Mount Tabor in their Gospel accounts. St. John characteristically makes no mention of this incident since, for the Fourth … more

You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world . . . Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt 5:13, 14, 16) When Jesus addressed these words to His disciples, He made it clear that He expected them to make a difference in the world. And so it is with us. If our faith is real, it touches every aspect of our life. And if our faith is real, we should share it with our family, friends and neighbors; we should live it to the hilt, in our homes, in our schools, in the places we work and recreate. Question: Do other people know you are a Catholic? Do they recognize you as a follower of Christ? more

Whenever I visit our Catholic schools, occasionally one of the students will ask me what my favorite Bible verse is. The answer varies, depending on which verse comes to mind first, for in fact I have more than one favorite. Some of them are as follows. (Part I – Old Testament) more

His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze of Rome, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has distinguished himself lately as a defender of Roman Catholic … more

Soren Kirkegaard, the Danish Lutheran 19th century philosopher, understood Christianity to be an "either/or" proposition. Christians could have either heaven or earth, either spirit or flesh, either … more

Three years ago, the novel "The DaVinci Code" prompted me to write a commentary denouncing it, which The Providence Journal kindly printed. Always looking for new ideas and voices, the then-executive … more