Author Archive
The Catholic Telegraph
The Body and Purity of Heart
Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on Pope St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” (TOB). In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus reaffirmed the sixth commandment and brought it to fulfillment by teaching that one must refrain not only from overt acts of adultery but also the interior …
St Ann Hamilton
Did you know St. Ann Church, Hamilton, was in grave danger of being closed after just five years as a parish, when its construction debt was two years in arrears and amounted to a whopping $350 (almost $10,400 today) per parishioner? 1908 St. Ann organized as a mission of St. …
Refresher on the rules of fast and abstinence during Lent 2024
Ash Wednesday is February 22. 2023. Below are some of the rules and regulations binding on Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday and throughout the penitential season of Lent. Summed up succinctly, Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 14, 2024 and Good Friday, March …
These 17th century monks did a beer fast for Lent
By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Mar 8, 2019 / 12:25 am (CNA).- With the Lenten season here, Catholics immerse themselves in 40 days of abstaining from sweets, technology, alcohol and other luxuries. But did you know that Catholic monks once brewed beer specifically for a liquid-only Lenten fast? Back in …
7 Practical Ways to Observe Lent as a Family
by Rebecca Sontag There is no Easter without Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting can be tough for anyone. And meditating on the Last Four Things (death, judgment, heaven and hell) is a heavy task at any age. While it is tempting to ignore the tough spiritual preparation that results in …
Seek the Lord for February 2024
In his homily for the opening of the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI said, “The Church exists to evangelize. Faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ’s command, his disciples went out to the whole world to announce the Good News, spreading Christian communities everywhere” …
Lenten Devotions as a Lifestyle
When my husband and I started a family, I was hopeful we could live differently from the status quo, more reflective of love and peace. There will always be work, laundry, dinnertime and taking care of each other; but it’s easy to lose sight of the point in these routine …
A Closer Look: Ash Wednesday and the End of Lent by Kenneth Craycraft
As most Catholics are well aware, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. And, of course, almost everyone associates Lent with giving something up, even if they do not understand the penitential importance of the season. “I gave that up for Lent” is a common refrain, …
Dave Campbell: Religion Teacher, Leaders in Discipleship
by John Stegeman Dave Campbell has taught religion at Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller High School for the past 13 years, and it’s fair to say he loves his job. “I really enjoy teaching religion,” he said. “I think so many kids have come up through the Catholic schools, and some of …