When it comes time to baptize a child, it is also time to select the godparents. This is a major decision. It is a spiritual matter, and the choice should be based upon spiritual criteria.
Archive for Category: "The Lesson Plan"
What’s in a name? Plenty if you’re a Christian
With a pregnancy, the birth of a child and the celebration of the sacrament of baptism, a name must be chosen for the child. A name is a word that identifies an individual, a personal designation. This is a not a decision that should be taken lightly. The selection of the name is the duty of the parents.
Eucharist enables us to offer our lives more fully to the Father
The following is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict’s XVI’s remarks in English at his weekly general audience Jan. 11.
From the Pope
The following is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks at his weekly general audience Dec. 28.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
On Dec. 9, 1531, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, an indigenous Catholic convert, was walking to the city of Tlaltelolco in central Mexico to attend Mass. As he approached a hill called Tepeyac, a rainbow appeared amid shimmery white clouds and he heard a woman calling his name.
St. Nick: Patron of Christmas gift-giving
Dec. 6 is the feast day of St. Nicholas (c. 280 – 345 A.D.), one of the most popular saints for Advent and Christmas. St. Nicholas, or St. Nick as he is often called, is the inspiration behind Santa Claus and a big reason we exchange gifts at Christmastime.
God demands that our priorities never usurp his rightful place
“I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me.” This prophecy of Isaiah is as crucial to proclaim now as it was during the reign of King Cyrus 2,500 years ago.
Stewardship: Responding to the call of discipleship
As members of the church, we are called to be disciples, followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. This has astonishing implications as Jesus does not call us as nameless people in a faceless crowd — rather he calls each one of us individually by name.
To whom do you give credit for the fruit of your labor?
An old gardener was digging his plot as the priest came walking along.
Stewardship – Gratitude glued to action
With the understanding of stewardship as “gratitude glued to action,” we want to share with you a few stories of faithful Catholics from across our archdiocese who are inspiring examples of living stewardship as a way of life every day in their service to God, church, and their brothers and sisters.
Why stewardship?
Stewardship as a way of life has astonishing implications for our relationships and our daily lives.
Sacrament of the Sick: It’s not just for emergencies
10 suggestions for understanding the Sacrament of the Sick
What’s the big deal about natural family planning?
Priests have a thousand concerns in the parish — gathering God’s people together, forming them in the truth, loving them and staying with them in their sorrows.
NFP – Enhancing an appetite for intimacy
To mark Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, July 24-30, The Catholic Spirit is featuring testimony about NFP from two couples and a pastor.
Confession: It puts you straight with everyone
Penance, aka confession, is the sacrament of the forgiveness of sin. You can’t beat it for convenience. It’s available practically whenever.
Really, truly, substantially present
What is the origin of this distinctively Catholic conviction that Jesus is “really, truly and substantially present” under the eucharistic signs of bread and wine?
Dress up, not down for Sunday Mass, even in summertime
Every year, this sensitive summer subject crops up: What to wear for church.
St. Joseph, the Father’s Day Saint
St. Joseph is the patron saint of fathers, and the ideal saint to feature for Father’s Day. As the step father of Jesus, the Messiah, and the husband of Mary, the Blessed Mother, Joseph stands out as the father above all other fathers in the New Testament.
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