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The Triple Sign of the Cross
✝️ WHY THREE SMALL CROSSES BEFORE THE GOSPEL? Before the Gospel is proclaimed at Mass, Catholics make a small Sign of the Cross on the forehead, lips, and heart. Each is a simple prayer: ✝️ Forehead: Lord, help me understand Your Word. ✝️ Lips: Lord, help me proclaim Your Word. ✝️ Heart: Lord, help me…
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Archbishop Sheen to be Beatified
🎉 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen — Prophet, Preacher, and Soon-to-Be “Blessed” And after that Mass, we can properly call him: Blessed Fulton J. Sheen The Vatican specifically confirms that beatification gives him the title “Blessed.” For him eventually to become Saint Fulton J. Sheen, ordinarily another miracle attributed to his intercession after beatification would need…
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What is Grace?
The Catechism describes grace as the “free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call” (CCC 1996). Through grace, God shares His divine life with us and gives us the help we need to grow in holiness. The Church helps us understand grace in several ways: Sanctifying Grace is the gift…
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Is it Ok to Chew the Eucharist?
What Catholics Should Know About Receiving the Eucharist Whether you receive the Host on the tongue or in the hand, whether you chew it or allow it to dissolve, your heart should recognize the extraordinary mystery taking place. The real question should not be: “Did I chew or did I allow it to melt?”The better…
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Saints, Prayers and Intercession
Why Do Catholics Ask Saints for Help? Catholics do not believe that saints perform miracles or answer prayers on their own. God is the source of all grace. When we ask a saint for help, we are asking that saint to pray for us—to intercede with God on our behalf, just as we might ask…
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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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Ten Ways to Honor Our Dead at St. Mary’s and Fatima
Remembering and Praying for Our Dead 10 Ways We honor those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith….at St. Mary’s & Our Lady of Fatima Mission These aren’t simply parish traditions. They are expressions of a beautiful truth of our Catholic faith: Our love and our prayers do not end at…
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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…
Being Catholic