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Remembering Loved Ones at St. Mary’s and Fatima
Remembering and Praying for Our Dead 🕯️ As Catholics, we don’t simply remember those we love who have died—we pray for them. Here at St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Fatima Mission, there are many beautiful ways we pray for our faithful departed, honor their memory, and entrust them to the mercy of God. 🙏 Have a…
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Ah, Catholics Live Here!
If Someone Walked Into Your Home, Could They Tell You’re Catholic? There isn’t a required checklist for a Catholic home, of course. But traditionally, Catholic homes often contain visible reminders that this home belongs to Christ. Things you might find include: A Catholic home isn’t Catholic simply because it contains Catholic things. The crucifix, rosary,…
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Responding to Everyday Life
Oh, yes…. those little instinctive Catholic responses to ordinary moments—ways of turning everyday life into prayer. There are so many good ones. Here are some ideas: What would you add? Catholics have many little ways of turning everyday moments into prayer. Did your parents or grandparents teach you one? Is there something you still do…
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We Pray for the Souls in Purgatory
Being Catholic: Praying for the Dead Why Do Catholics Pray for the Dead? From the earliest days of Christianity, the Church has prayed for those who have died. Catholics believe that those who die in God’s grace and friendship, but who are not yet perfectly purified, undergo a final purification before entering the fullness of…
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Not All Sins are Equal
The Catholic Church teaches that not all sin has the same gravity. Sacred Scripture and the tradition of the Church distinguish between mortal sin and venial sin. Mortal sin is a grave violation of God’s law. It destroys charity in the heart and turns us away from God by choosing something contrary to Him. For…
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Vestment Colors
The Meaning of Liturgical Colors The colors of a priest’s vestments help reflect the meaning and spirit of each liturgical season or celebration. 🤍 White — Joy & CelebrationUsed during Christmas, Easter, celebrations of the Lord (except those connected with his Passion), and feasts of saints who were not martyrs. White symbolizes joy, purity, and…
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Holy Days of Obligation
Holy Days of Obligation are special solemnities on which Catholics are called to participate in the celebration of Mass, just as we do each Sunday. The Church sets aside these days so that we may celebrate and enter more deeply into some of the great mysteries of our faith and honor important events in the…
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✝️The Spiritual Works of Mercy
The Spiritual Works of Mercy have long been part of the Christian tradition. Just as Jesus cared not only for the physical needs of those He encountered, but also for their spiritual well-being, we are called to do the same. The Spiritual Works of Mercy teach us practical ways to love our neighbor by caring…
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✝️Corporal Works of Mercy
In Catholic teaching, corporal works are acts of mercy that care for the physical and bodily needs of other people. The word corporal comes from the Latin corpus, meaning body. So the Corporal Works of Mercy are ways we serve Christ by caring for the bodily needs of our neighbors—food, water, clothing, shelter, companionship in…
Being Catholic