Confession is a different sacrament with its own distinct focus, and it would seem to be pastoral common sense that those seeking specifically the forgiveness of any kind of sin would most fruitfully do so in the sacrament that was "custom built" for that purpose.| Catholic Review
The church does in fact allow Holy Communion under the form of wine to be taken to the sick in some cases.| Catholic Review
Though the St. Michael prayer is no longer mandated in our post-Vatican II Mass, it can still be a beautiful and spiritually beneficial custom to pray it after the final blessing as a community.| Catholic Review
"Parish administrator" is distinct from the office of pastor, but this distinction probably will not make much of a practical difference in your day-to-day experience of parish life.| Catholic Review
A person does not need to be Catholic or even Christian to have a valid marriage, provided that in their matrimonial consent they committed themselves to a union that would broadly match our Catholic understanding of marriage: namely, as a permanent, faithful, and exclusive union ordered fundamentally towards children and family life.| Catholic Review
It seems unlikely that these men would have been willing to suffer so intensely and give up so much if they themselves did not sincerely believe in the truth of what they were professing. Reasoning it out, what would have been the Apostles' motivation for making up a new religion if it meant that they had everything to lose but nothing in this world to gain?| Catholic Review
Peter and Paul could not have been more different from each other. But the liturgical wisdom that brought these two towering saints together in a shared feast underscores the fact that the church needed both the fisherman and the Pharisee -- and still does.| Catholic Review
Utterly life-changing was the day I learned that the Hebrew word most frequently used for "sin" (hhatah) is understood by scholars to mean "missing the mark."| Catholic Review
Life asks us to say yes through the pain. Jesus asks us to follow where we do not want to go.| Catholic Review
The U.S. Supremes kicked the can down the road in St. Isidore. But the cause of school choice continues. And it will ultimately prevail, because it’s the will of “We, the People.”| Catholic Review
Pope Leo has assumed the Petrine ministry as old ecclesial divisions have reared up anew and as heightened polarization has weakened the church's unity and mission.| Catholic Review
“I guess I created a monster,” our adult daughter mused, as I lined up yet another episode of “The Amazing Race.” I knew that when she moved back in with us to save money for her upcoming wedding, she’d bring her tastes in entertainment — and her streaming logins — with her. What I didn’t realize was how much I’d be using them.| catholicreview.org
Q: Recently my cousin got engaged and is in the planning process of her wedding. She is a baptized Catholic and has received both first Communion and confirmation. Over time my cousin slowly fell away from the Faith. The man she is marrying is a great guy — however, he is not Catholic. From the looks of it, the wedding is not going to be in a Catholic Church and more along the lines of a beach wedding or at a fancy hotel.| catholicreview.org
