Before the concept of inculturation was even invented, Mary wisely started to inculturate Christianity. Had it not been for Mary in her apparition as Our Lady of Guadalupe, for example, Christianity would have had a much harder time taking root in the Americas. No wonder Our Lady of Guadalupe has since been declared the patron saint of the Americas and thus shrines dedicated to her have appeared in many churches.
Read moreCategory: Devotions and Sacramentals
Book Excerpt: What’s The Smoke For? Part One
In recent times we have become more aware of the importance of the senses. Remember, for example, how the slightest whiff of a certain perfume can whisk you off to a totally different place and time, as it reminds you of a certain person or event. Similarly, incense is used as a reminder of the sacred so that every time we smell it we are reminded that we are at prayer.
Read moreSt. Teresa of Avila at 500
Teresa is not only one of the most remarkable women of the Christian tradition but also one of its greatest theologians of prayer.
Read moreToo Many Masses? Pastoral-Liturgical Practice on Ash Wednesday
Given the history of Ash Wednesday’s emergence and various morphings over the centuries as a ritual-symbol inaugurating a season of penitence, I simply do not see why, in the Roman Catholic Church, at least, the most apt liturgy would not be based on the sample penitential services (basically, liturgies of the word) found at the end of the Rite of Penance.
Read moreLenten Devotion Goes Digital
Lentsanity, Lectio Divina Lent, and CRS Rice Bowl are just a few of the many Lenten and devotional apps for iOS and Android.
Read moreJanuary 7: A Convergence of Feasts
Liturgy was preceded by a few carols, the choir usually sang well, and after liturgy, the choir would gather at the rectory for two hours of caroling and festive foods prepared by my grandmother and mother. We agreed that “Ukrainian” Christmas was the “religious” observance of the holiday.
Read moreA Marian Season
The celebration of Anna’s conception of Mary is a cause for joy because it begins a series of messages that establish our faith that we belong to God’s communion.
Read moreAll Souls — Gathered as the Living, Remembering the Dead
An old friend of mine, living in Germany, described to me over the phone what had just happened in the village we had lived in
Read moreThe Sacramentality of Second Marriage: Divine Mercy after Divorce?
The guidelines state that the bride’s gown may not be white, her father may not give her away, there is to be no bridal procession, and the clergy are not to attend the dinner. From the outset, a sense of gravitas permeates the entire celebration.
Read moreRe-Reading Sacrosanctum Concilium: Article 79
“The sacramentals are to undergo a revision which takes into account the primary principle of enabling the faithful to participate intelligently, actively, and easily; the circumstances of our own days must also be considered. When rituals are revised, as laid down in Art. 63, new sacramentals may also be added as the need for these becomes apparent.”
Read more