Rhode Island Catholic

The table of the Lord is the heart of Catholic parish life

“How Green Was My Valley” was a 1941 film production of a 1939 novel about the Morgan family, a Welsh household in the late nineteenth century who faced challenging work in the coal mines … more

5/20/21

Christ founded his Church and Christ will maintain his Church

A recent decree from the Vatican announced that henceforth private Masses would not be permitted at the numerous side altars in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The edict was immediately … more

5/13/21

Every Mass should advance the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the assembled worshippers

This June will mark 10 years that I have been retired from the active ministry. Well, sort of. Immediately upon my retirement Father Bernard Healey hired me to assist at St. Ambrose Church in Albion, … more

5/6/21

Faith and charity are the foundation stones on which the Christian life rests and grows

Catholic piety has traditionally pictured St. John the Apostle as a young man of mild disposition. The reference to St. John as the one whom Jesus loved and the allusion to his leaning close to Jesus … more

4/29/21

God’s mercy is the gift of Divine Providence

When the Italian community first moved into Woonsocket, these newcomers were allowed to offer their own Mass in the basement of St. Charles Borromeo Church in that city, but not at the main altar in … more

4/22/21

Filling our soul with grace, on earth and in heaven

In the thirteenth century St. Thomas Aquinas composed a brief antiphon to be sung at vespers for the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The angelic doctor’s select phrases summarized … more

4/15/21

Finding inner peace while confronting our sins

St. Mary’s Trappist Abbey in nearby Wrentham welcomes visitors not only to its gift shop and candy counter but also to the public transept in its chapel. Daily Mass at an early hour and the … more

4/8/21

This Easter Season accept the graces of the Risen Christ

The Providence of God wisely determined that Jesus Christ should rise from the dead during Israel’s springtime. And Christ rose not only in the spring but also in a garden. Succeeding … more

4/1/21

Christians encounter and affirm Christ’s Divine Sonship at Mass each Sunday

Although his Gospel account is considerably briefer than the narratives of his fellow evangelists, St. Mark goes into great detail relating the humiliation that Jesus Christ experienced before … more

3/25/21

Blessed Charles de Foucauld assumed a life of quiet, dedicated service to God’s Will

Blessed Charles de Foucauld was a well-to-do nineteenth century French military man. He travelled extensively with the French Foreign Legion in Africa and always kept a soft place in his heart for … more

3/18/21

St. Joseph brings solace in times of turmoil

Although the Italian people date back at least to Roman times, the country identified today as Italy only traces back about a century and a half. Before 1870 Italy consisted of the Kingdom of the Two … more

3/11/21

‘One God, forever and ever’

The Catholic Mass is clearly addressed to God the Father. As the first or Roman canon solemnly proclaims, “To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through … more

3/4/21

Prayer and the nearness of God

When a believer has finished saying his or her prayers, it is most likely then that the pious soul really has begun to pray. Traditional prayers are the lullaby, if you will, that quiets down the … more

2/25/21

Lent: A time to strengthen our bonds with God, promote charity with neighbors

“God is love,” St. John notably wrote in his first epistle. The apostle shortly makes clear what is meant by love: “Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is … more

2/18/21

Sustaining graces in stressful times

One couple opted for jig-saw puzzles as a way to pass the abundance of recent time on their hands. Supermarkets quickly sold out of five-pound bags of flour as homemakers tried their skill at … more

2/11/21

True faith will respect the earth’s many inhabitants just as sincere Christians always have

Pope Benedict XVI took the papal name Benedict in hope that his good example would inspire the nations of Europe to recall and appreciate their Christian roots that had been preserved from ancient … more

2/4/21

Louder and sharper Catholic voices must be raised in defense of the true faith

Recently, Catholics in the United States of America were awarded a new patron saint. No, it is not Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, nor is it the heroic World War II … more

1/28/21

Sincere Catholic soul searching

While every word in the Bible is truthful, not every word in the Bible is factual. Think of all of Jesus’ parables. They certainly expressed the truth but they surely were not factual. The good … more

1/21/21

Like St. Andrew every Christian is given a vocation to live the Gospel in one’s own circumstances

The apostles Peter, James and John were certainly favored by Christ to witness incidents which the other apostles did not observe. The transfiguration of Christ on the mountain, the raising of … more

1/14/21

Fraternal charity has been the hallmark of Christianity since revelation took shape

Will and Owen are young brothers only a couple of years apart in age. They are also happily good friends who might resolutely fight over the sharing of toys but also amicably agree on a video to … more

1/7/21