Tag Archives: Catholic Culture

Blessing of Paschal Foods/Easter Baskets

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

In some places there is an old tradition of blessing the food that will be eaten on Easter morning (thereby breaking the traditional Lenten fast). These foods are usually brought in a nicely-decorated basket to the church on Holy Saturday … Continue reading →

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Altar of Repose 2019

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

I wanted to share this photo of this year’s Altar of Repose in my parish, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Birmingham, Alabama. This year’s variation includes sheaves of wheat and bunches of grapes (beside and on the candlesticks), as well … Continue reading →

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The Mothers of Lu

Posted on April 18, 2019 by

On this Holy Thursday we consider the two sacraments our Lord instituted this day: the Holy Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. They are intimately connected – no priests, no Eucharist; no love and reverence for the Eucharist, no priests. In … Continue reading →

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Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide

Posted on April 12, 2019 by

Today — Friday before Palm Sunday — is traditionally the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide; also known as “St. Mary in Passiontide”, “Our Lady in Passiontide”, or “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows”. This feast is found in … Continue reading →

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Trust the Church of God

Posted on April 9, 2019 by

An important and helpful quotation from Cardinal Newman — who is due to be canonized later this year: Trust the Church of God implicitly, even when your natural judgment would take a different course from hers, and would induce you … Continue reading →

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How Much Water in the Wine?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by

During the preparation of the chalice (see HERE for another interesting post on this topic), the deacon or priest who is doing the preparation is supposed to add some water to the wine. This is done …as the Council of Trent … Continue reading →

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Passiontide Veiling & Unbleached Candles

Posted on April 6, 2019 by

This morning, after our Saturday morning Mass, our crew of employees and volunteers did the annual veiling of the images and setting out of unbleached candles that we do during Passiontide. (Since we are celebrating a Year of St. Joseph … Continue reading →

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Does Friday Penance Bind Gravely?

Posted on April 5, 2019 by

Today, when this is being posted, is a Friday of Lent — a day of abstinence from meat for all Catholics who have completed 14 years of age. But is it really a sin if one chooses to eat meat anyhow … Continue reading →

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The Realism of Moral Manuals

Posted on April 4, 2019 by

84. Night prayer is the last prayer of the day, said before retiring, even if that is after midnight. That norm, from the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, implies that the prayer of Vespers (Evening Prayer) shall … Continue reading →

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The Priests’ Sabbath Rest

Posted on April 3, 2019 by

The concept of a “day off” for a priest is not foreseen in the Code of Canon Law. From there, one can find many reasons against it: “one doesn’t get a day off from being a father”, “you’re just buying … Continue reading →

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The Placement of the Corporal – and the Hands

Posted on March 21, 2019 by

There is a lot that can be written about the corporal — the square piece of linen that is folded and unfolded in a very particular way, set beneath the chalice and paten during the celebration of Mass. In the … Continue reading →

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A Story about Devotion to St. Joseph

Posted on March 19, 2019 by

An Italian blog that I follow, Cordialiter, regularly posts excerpts from pious writings. I am happy to share this story from a book by Fr. Giuseppe Tomaselli on devotion to St. Joseph, in my translation. Though it may be easy to … Continue reading →

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