The Washing of Feet: A Torrent of Love
Catholic Exchange
by A. G. Sertillanges
3h ago
The paschal supper might begin at any moment after the appearance of the first three stars; often it began a little later. It is therefore already dark, and the time on that account more propitious for intimate revelations. They will have chosen a lamb, one year old, without spot or blemish. It will have been offered on the altar in the Temple, and it will have been cooked and served in accordance with the rites of which we still find traces in the Mishnah. While the lamb was being eaten, the head of the family had to explain solemnly, in answer to the question of the youngest child the symbo ..read more
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How to Receive Christ With Love in the Eucharist
Catholic Exchange
by John A. Kane
3h ago
In Holy Communion, we touch and taste our Lord and our God. A very significant sentence of St. Augustine, in which he records Christ’s words to him, defines the chief effect of eating the Bread of Angels: “Thou shalt not change me into thine own substance, as thou changest the food of thy flesh, but thou shalt be changed into mine.” There is not, and there never can be, a closer union. The reality of Christ’s Presence is a fact founded on His infallible word and almighty power. But bewildering is our perplexity when we try to ascertain the mode of His eucharistic indwelling. The nearer He app ..read more
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We Always Need Regular Spiritual Checkups
Catholic Exchange
by Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV
1d ago
I received lots of messages when I clocked 50 years a few weeks ago. There were many greetings of congratulations and even some humorous messages of condolence. I also received a message of caution from a dear friend: “Now that you are fifty, please remember to have regular medical checkups.” I took special note of that last message. We all know the value and importance of having regular medical checkups as we age. Once we have persistent symptoms of sickness, we stop self-medicating and go for a medical checkup. We seek the help of health professionals to catch and deal with any adverse medi ..read more
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Let Confession Move You to Feel Sorrow for Your Sins
Catholic Exchange
by Fr. Philip Dion
1d ago
After examining our conscience, the major portion of the preparation time for Confession should be devoted to the most important part of our confession: being sorry for our sins. There are circumstances in which our sins can be forgiven without our examining our conscience. For example, if we were struck unconscious by a car, a priest could give us absolution and forgive our sins, even though we did not examine our conscience at all. As a matter of fact, we could not do so, because we would be unconscious. So, there are circumstances in which sins can be forgiven without our examining our con ..read more
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Sin, Prayer, and Forgiveness
Catholic Exchange
by Dr. Donald DeMarco
2d ago
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we find King Claudius being tortured by his sins.  He has killed his own brother and deceives the people of Denmark to his advantage by telling them that King Hamlet died of natural causes.  Therefore, he is a murderer and a liar.  By marrying his brother’s wife, he becomes Hamlet’s father-in-law in addition to being his uncle.  He has good reason to be wracked with guilt. “O, my offence is rank,” he states in his soliloquy, “it smells to heaven.  It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t:  A brother’s murder.  Pray can I not:  Tho ..read more
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Five Films to Watch During Holy Week
Catholic Exchange
by Amelia Sims McKee
3d ago
For centuries people have used art during Holy Week to meditate on the mysteries of Christ’s passion and death. Great art complements the great liturgies of Holy Week and can itself be a kind of contemplation that draws us more deeply into the liturgical reality of Christ’s passion. Film does not have to be passive popcorn entertainment or gritty antihero relativism. At its best, it can combine visual poetry, narrative and music to lift our minds and hearts to God. Although these suggestions are not what you would call “Jesus movies,” all confront our own worldly egoism and immerse us into th ..read more
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Palm Sunday: Studies in Contrast
Catholic Exchange
by Gayle Somers
6d ago
In our Lenten journey, have we discovered that we are studies in contrasts?  Did we begin with great aspirations and are now feeling more than ever our fickleness?  If so, we are truly ready for Palm Sunday. Gospel (Read Mark 14:1-15:47) Today, in the universal Catholic Church, we rise during Mass to hear a full reading of the Passion of Christ.  What is our disposition today, having spent nearly 40 days praying, fasting, and doing acts of generosity?  Most of us start Lent with some sense of seriousness about our relationship with God.  We welcome a whole s ..read more
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Holy Week and Easter: The Fact of Our Redemption
Catholic Exchange
by Russell Shaw
6d ago
Holy Week and Easter bring with them liturgies of great beauty and solemnity suitable to the momentous significance of the events they recall. That significance is of course redemption. And for assistance in explaining it, I turn to three highly qualified  commentators—Blaise Pascal, St. John Henry Newman, and St. Augustine. Start with Pascal. “There are two truths of faith equally certain,” says this 17th century French mathematical genius and religious philosopher. “One is that man, in the state of creation or in that of grace, is raised above all nature, made like unto God and sharing ..read more
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Sharing Catholic Culture
Catholic Exchange
by Louise Merrie
6d ago
A few years ago, one of my friends decided that she would like to study philosophy. She asked me to ask a priest I am friends with, who is a retired philosophy professor, if he would be willing to teach a course to small group of students. As he enjoys teaching, he readily agreed, and my friend and I told several of our friends and acquaintances about the upcoming classes. About ten people came; most came regularly. The professor, Father Julian Davies, OFM, taught us in the same way as he would have taught a college-level class, but the class was less formal, as we did not have to take any te ..read more
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Christ Uses Our Sufferings for Good
Catholic Exchange
by Constance T. Hull
1w ago
The Christian life is a long progression of letting go of our own wants and desires in order to live in greater union with Christ and to love as He loves. This is a painful purification process for all of us that most often comes about through suffering. Jobs are lost. Successes come and go. Relationships fall apart. Medical diagnosis or old age take away our health. It’s during these times that the Lord is reminding us that we are made for him alone. Suffering is never wasted. The Lord uses it for our deeper conversion and put love in the world where it is most needed.  Lent is a microc ..read more
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