This time of year, Christians frequently declare, “Keep ‘Christ’ in ‘Christmas’!” It’s a good motto to follow. But just as important for Catholics is to remember to “Keep ‘Mass’ in “Christmas’!” Similar to the oft repeated phrase, “You can’t spell ‘C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s’ without Christ,” one also can’t spell it without “mas” – i.e. “mass.” According to TheWordOrigin.com, the word “Christmas” is derived... Continue Reading →

During Advent and Christmas seasons, Catholics’ attention focus mainly on “baby” Jesus and secondly contemplate the Virgin Mary. But there is a third member of the Holy Family who should garner some attention from all in December and on his two designated feast days in March and May. And Catholic dads and husbands should give... Continue Reading →

The four weeks of Advent are set apart by the Church as a season of special prayer mixed with joyful expectation. Advent is also a time for penance and it marks the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year. This would actually be a perfect time to begin a special, pious practice – weekly fasting.   Historically,... Continue Reading →

Although most children (and many adults) want to skip the season of Advent and go straight to the culminating event of Christmas, it is vital that Catholics embrace the monthlong period of Advent. It is to be both a time of joy-filled, anticipatory celebration of the arrival of Jesus and a preparatory period of repentance,... Continue Reading →

November will soon be ending and December beginning. To most people that erroneously means it is Christmas season. Catholic families trying to live counter-culturally know that this approaching time of year is actually Advent season.  It is difficult for parents and children alike to resist the tendency to think of nothing but Christmas starting no... Continue Reading →

A common name many Protestants and Evangelical Christians call themselves is “Bible Christians.” These same Christians criticize Catholics for not knowing their Bibles, reading their Bibles, and referencing their Bibles enough.  However, the truth is Catholics are indeed Bible Christians. Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Church maintains that Scripture,... Continue Reading →

The family is the essential cell of society, the basic building block of civilization. Without the family there can be no well-ordered society.  In the world today there are evil, perverse, and dangerous enemies who want to attack society, and they know the straightest line to their objective is to get to the family. You destroy... Continue Reading →

A trifecta of special days happen every October 31 through November 2. Catholic parents trying to raise their children counter-culturally would do well to instruct and involve their family in all three of them and not simply focus on the secularized, commercialization-aspect of one of them.  Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day are... Continue Reading →

Too many Catholics have deemphasized the lay faithful’s pious postures and mannerisms during the Mass which past generations understood as significant and purposeful. We need to be resolute and diligent in teaching our younger generation the proper gestures to take at Mass.  During my years as a Catholic school principal, each spring we had our... Continue Reading →