Focus on Faith

The familiar dialogue between the angel Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Gospel of Luke is the centerpiece of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Even the Mass’s Opening Prayer (aka “collect”) sounds familiar, because it’s prayed at the end of the Angelus.

Anyone who says evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours regularly recites the Magnificat from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Named for its first word in Latin, this canticle is one of only four places in the Gospels where the Blessed Virgin’s words are recorded. And the Magnificat contains more words than the other three passages combined.

The liturgical calendar is omnipresent in Catholic life.

What do you desire? What do you long for?

Deacons share in the one apostolic ministry of the bishop who has the fullness of holy orders. Deacons assist the bishop and his priests as they exercise ministries that derive from the bishop’s roles as priest, prophet and king, and his apostolic duties to sanctify, teach and govern.

The possibility of hell is a troublesome truth. Not only does it run counter to what I believe to be the basic assumption of many believers these days: that is, that in the end all are saved except for the most hardened and obvious of cases. It also seems to run counter to what we do in fact know about God, and what we rightly emphasize in our efforts at evangelization — he is all good, all loving and all merciful.  Does this not preclude the prospect of his condemning men and women to eternal death?

Q) I’ve been told that I can pray to God, and that he hears my prayers and answers them. I’ve been frustrated though, because it seems like it doesn’t do anything. Am I missing something?

As I write this reflection in late October, the leaves are at their peak. As you read this, those same trees are undoubtedly barren; the once-beautiful leaves are withering on the ground if not turned into mulch or compost.