Holiday Celebration

As we enter the Advent Season, it is common to wonder just how Christmas preparation is appropriate so that we do not ignore the spiritually valuable character of Advent. There must be a good balance between the secular and spiritual aspects of holiday seasons.

If you have ever wondered why the Church keeps an annual liturgical calendar of feasts and celebrations, you are not alone...Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Triduum, Easter, Ordinary Time. This cycle that seems to be on permanent repeat each and every year is actually a great gift that the Church bestows upon us.

It seems to be a common occurrence in families that one of the kids, or maybe even one of the spouses or other family members, has wandered away from Holy Communion with the Church. People seem desperate for answers about what do do and how to convince them to return. The answers are usually not that simple. But, there are some simple places to start, like prayer and personal witness.

Most of us are quite familiar with the biblical story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. No business allowed. Only worship. This is certainly true, but there is also another interesting perspective that relates to the prophesy of the Church found in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. The free flowing of grace from the Church is vital to the transmission and transformation of life.

We are very familiar with All Saints Day, and of course, its precursor All Hallows Eve, but many are less familiar with the history, meaning, and purpose of the following feast day, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, better known as All Souls Day.Let us remember all those faithful family and friends who have gone before us and are in need of our prayers.

Triumph of the Heart, a moving and hopeful movie, set in a prison cell in Auschwitz, tells the story of the final days of Saint Maximillian Kolbe and his companions. Though the subject matter may seem dark and disturbing, it is actually a story of the triumph of hope over darkness.

If you have ever wondered why the hands of the priest are consecrated, and why they are subsequently empowered to do the work that God has planned for them, you need only to look to the Book of Exodus for a clue. But, it also has a direct connection to Jesus asking us to pray without growing weary.

Join us for another Top Ten list from the Luxurious Corner Booth. This time, we talk about our top ten suggestions to kick it up a notch and enhance your praying of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, continues to be in the news as it continues to grow more potent and more prominent. Both secular and religious corners of society are rightly focusing attention on the ethical, moral, and practical concerns for AI. Answering whether it is good, or bad, or a little of both, is something everyone should be considering.

While all suffering is painful, some suffering seems worse than others. We particularly struggle with suffering that lasts a long time, and can even extend to years. This type of long suffering can sometimes cause discouragement, depression, and may even lead us into the sin of despair.