Little is known about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents. Neither Joachim nor his wife, Anne, is mentioned in the Scriptures. They are, however, referenced in extra- Biblical sources like the Protoevangelium of James, a non- canonical text of unknown authorship that originated in the second century. This text is not …

We do not hear much about the “last things” anymore. Death, judgment, heaven, and hell are often passed over. We hear even less about that state that many will experience before heaven, which is called purgatory. This purification after death has been a consistent part of Catholic teaching for hundreds …

I have heard there are four marks of the Church: one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic. Because there are many forms of Christianity, what does “one” mean in this context? Before his Crucifixion, Jesus prayed for his followers’ unity: “That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me …

The Mass readings frequently draw from the Old Testament prophets. These messengers from God called people to repentance and greater fidelity. Knowing that such a message is needed in every age, we may wonder if prophets existed after the Old Testament. The short answer is: the age of the prophets …

Have you heard of Polycarp, Justin, Tertullian, and Irenaeus? Although not exactly household names, they should be: they are among the early Church Fathers, who lived directly after the apostolic age. After the apostles, they are the first witnesses to the Christian faith. As St. Irenaeus said, they had “seen …

Our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, is the latest in a long line of popes who have chosen that name. The thirteen previous popes named Leo date from the fifth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. The last pope with that name died in 1903. Leo is …

How can Jesus be God and God’s son? One of our Catholic faith’s greatest mysteries is the Trinity: God in three Persons. The word “trin- ity” is not found in the Bible, though God the Father, Son, and Spirit are mentioned by name and in relation to each other according …

What’s the difference between an archbishop and other kinds of bishops? Bishops fulfill a fundamental office in the Church, an office instituted by Christ when he called the apostles. Through apostolic succession, today’s bishops continue to fulfill roles of governing, teaching and sanctifying. Though every bishop receives a single episcopal …

What are the origins of the Stations of the Cross? When were they first placed in churches? The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross and the Via Crucis, is a Christian devotional practice that commemorates the events of Good Friday, specifically Jesus’ journey from …

The priest who baptized me has left active ministry and no longer functions as a priest. Does that invalidate my baptism? Early in its history, the Church struggled with the question of whether a sacrament’s validity was impacted by the minister’s personal faith, devotion or moral state. Some argued that …