Category: Catechesis

Render unto Caesar
0

Render unto Caesar

by

by on Oct 18, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Despite their flattering words, they were trying to trap him, to force him into a no win situation. Consider the circumstances.  They are living under the iron boot of a brutal empire which filled the earth with its idolatry.  Patriotic Jews longed to throw off the tyrants’ yoke.  They prayed for an anointed king who […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
0

Front Row With Francis: Christian Hope

by

by on Oct 17, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, The Shepherd's Voice
Print This Article

Pope Francis’ General audience this past Wednesday was about hope. Like many other virtues, hope can be twisted into many different definitions. Pope Francis clarified, “Christian hope is not simply a desire a wish: for a Christian, hope is expectation, fervent, passionate expectation for the final definitive fulfillment of a mystery, the mystery of God’s […]

The Synod and Being Afraid of the Gospel
6

The Synod and Being Afraid of the Gospel

by

by on Oct 17, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Live in Christ, Marriage
Print This Article

As editor here at Catholic Lane, we’ve received a lot of submissions regarding the synod. Our correspondent Karee Santos has been busy giving you her thoughts on the Synod from the standpoint of someone who deals with marriage prep in the real world. I’ve received several submissions from readers who wish to offer their own […]

Reflections for Sunday, October 19, 2014
0

Reflections for Sunday, October 19, 2014

by

by on Oct 15, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96:1,3-5,7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21) Moving Forward in Faith through God’s Open Doors Thus says the Lord to his anointed … opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred. (Isaiah 45:1) “A new door will open for you today.” Have you ever […]

Marriage and the Cult of Momentary Well Being
0

Marriage and the Cult of Momentary Well Being

by

by on Oct 13, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Marriage, The Catholic Family
Print This Article

The current crisis in marriage and family life arises from “a cult of momentary well-being,” stated Cardinal Peter Erdö, the relator general of the 2014 Synod of the Family. In his opening speech, one which traditionally sets the tone for the whole synod, the Cardinal emphasized that “many look upon their lives not as a […]

The Sneakiest of the Seven Deadly Sins
0

The Sneakiest of the Seven Deadly Sins

by

by on Oct 11, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

At age 16, life was about rock ‘n roll. If my own band was not performing on Saturday night, I was out in the audience, watching another band. It would have never occurred to me to spend my Saturday nights at a Catholic conference or retreat. True, no matter how late I was out, I’d […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
0

Front Row With Francis: On the Unity of the Church

by

by on Oct 11, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, The Shepherd's Voice
Print This Article

Pope Francis called all Christians to unity during His General Audience Catechesis. He challenged us not to remain resigned to this division, but to take the step towards reconciliation and full communion. “Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou has given me, that they be one, even as we are one,” (John 17:11) […]

Reflections for Sunday, October 12, 2014
0

Reflections for Sunday, October 12, 2014

by

by on Oct 08, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) Accepting Jesus’ Invitation to Say Yes to Him Cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. (Matthew 22:13) How crowded is heaven? How about hell? Theologians have debated this question for […]

Imitation of the Saints
0

Imitation of the Saints

by

by on Oct 04, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

One aspect of the Catholic religion that many non-Catholics don’t understand is our devotion to the saints.  Many of our ‘separated brethren’ can’t comprehend our veneration of the Roman Church’s holiest members.  Some think that we worship them and regard us as idolaters.  This isn’t true: we believe in one God which we profess every […]

Peace and Security
0

Peace and Security

by

by on Oct 04, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

A few years ago, I toured northern England.  There, stretching 73 miles from coast to coast, the Roman Emperor Hadrian built a massive wall.  Constructed of stone, it was built to last, since it marked the northernmost boundary of the greatest empire the world had ever known.  Soldiers from every corner of the world were […]

Why the Pope of the Poor Thinks Marriage Matters
0

Why the Pope of the Poor Thinks Marriage Matters

by

by on Oct 03, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Marriage
Print This Article

While Pope St. John Paul II was called the Pope of the Family, Pope Francis is called the Pope of the Poor. So why did the Pope of the Poor choose marriage and family as the focus of his papacy’s first synod of bishops, scheduled to start this Sunday, October 5, in Rome? Because stronger marriages […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
0

Front Row With Francis: Charisms in the Church

by

by on Oct 03, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Anyone who has ever observed young children opening gifts on Christmas morning has witnessed the sheer delight that receiving a gift can bring. Their unbridled enthusiasm as they tear open their presents brings joy to the hearts of their parents who have painstakingly sought to find the perfect gift for each child. The greatest gifts […]

Review of Catholic Courses' "God of the Old Testament"
0

Review of Catholic Courses’ “God of the Old Testament”

by

by on Oct 02, 2014 in Catechesis, Education, Featured, On Media
Print This Article

I just finished Dr. Paul Niskanen’s wonderful Catholic Courses class, The God of the Old Testament. It’s delightful. Full of “ah-hah” moments on a range of topics from historical oddities (I had no idea where the name “Jehovah” came from) to deep theological revelations, it packs some serious scholarly punch—all delivered in an engaging and […]

Reflections for Sunday, October 5, 2014
0

Reflections for Sunday, October 5, 2014

by

by on Oct 01, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43) Living Out Our Faith in Christ Think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) When you begin taking piano lessons, you begin by finding middle C. Then you learn how to read the notes on a page and how each note […]

St Paul: Building Bridges, Not Fences
0

St Paul: Building Bridges, Not Fences

by

by on Sep 27, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Following my ordination my bishop assigned me to work in two yoked parishes.  “Yoked” churches share a pastoral staff but are not merged.  The pastor and myself worked to merge the parishes. One parish was Irish.  The other was Puerto Rican.  The linguistic and traditional differences were palpable.  Often I reflected on the sixth chapter […]

Talk is Cheap
0

Talk is Cheap

by

by on Sep 27, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

There will never be a shortage of words.  Words are plentiful because talk is cheap.  It’s easy to make a promise.  Keeping a promise is an entirely different matter, as this Sunday’s gospel makes abundantly clear. There are over a billion people on the planet who have solemnly promised to live a life of loving […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
0

Front Row With Francis: On Martyrdom

by

by on Sep 26, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, The Shepherd's Voice
Print This Article

At his weekly Wednesday General Audience this week, Pope Francis spoke about martyrdom. Francis summarized the age-long contradiction of Christian martyrdom when he said that “the martyrs are not the defeated but the winners: shining in their heroic witness is the omnipotence of God who always consoles His people, opening new ways and horizons of […]

Reflections for Sunday, September 28, 2014
0

Reflections for Sunday, September 28, 2014

by

by on Sep 24, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 25:4-9; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32) Living a Life in the Spirit as Jesus’ Disciple Regard others as more important than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) We live in a world that urges us to think in modules. We have a module for church and prayer. We […]

The Bad Evangelist Club: Do Protestants Have the Holy Spirit?
5

The Bad Evangelist Club: Do Protestants Have the Holy Spirit?

by

by on Sep 23, 2014 in Apologetics, Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

Here at the Bad Evangelist Club, we are trying to do more than just correct some misguided ideas you hear from a lot of apologists and evangelists.  In addition to pointing out what not to think, it helps to remember what we should think.  When it comes to the topic of Protestants and Ecumenism, it is […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
0

Front Row With Francis: Catholic and Apostolic

by

by on Sep 22, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

“Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” -St. Ignatius of Antioch Pope Francis continues his catechesis this week going over what it means when we proclaim that the Church is both Catholic and Apostolic. In using these […]

St. Paul: Dying to Live
0

St. Paul: Dying to Live

by

by on Sep 21, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

Saint Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians about a year before he died in prison at Rome.  In the letter he states concisely what he believes the human heart most longs for, that is, the meaning of life: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.” Paul wasn’t suicidal but he did […]

The Generosity of God
0

The Generosity of God

by

by on Sep 20, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

“But that’s not fair!”  Most parents have heard this phrase umpteen times.  The notion of fairness, also known as justice, is wired into us.  It makes us aware that each of us has certain rights that need to be respected. But it also means that we each have duties.  If others have the right to […]

Reflections for Sunday, September 21, 2014
0

Reflections for Sunday, September 21, 2014

by

by on Sep 17, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
Print This Article

Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) Bringing Glory to God by Our Thoughts and Actions Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27) Paul speaks today about his desire to bring glory to Jesus by the way he thinks […]

The Greatest Love of All
0

The Greatest Love of All

by

by on Sep 17, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith
Print This Article

“Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). St. Paul’s love discourse is most associated with matrimonial love because it speaks of love’s permanence. It’s often the selected reading at weddings because it teaches the betrothed how to give of themselves and resolve differences by means of the greatest spiritual gifts: faith, hope and love. But since […]