Category: Being Catholic

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 of God’s own life within our souls. We first receive sanctifying grace in Baptism. It is lost through mortal sin and restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Actual Grace is God’s help at particular moments in our lives. It may prompt us to do something good, resist temptation, forgive someone, pray, or turn back toward God.

Sacramental Graces are special gifts associated with each of the seven Sacraments, helping us live out the purpose of that Sacrament.

Charisms are special graces of the Holy Spirit given for the good of others and the building up of the Church. These may include gifts for teaching, service, leadership, encouragement, or other ways of serving the Body of Christ.

Grace Is a Gift

We do not earn God’s grace. We cannot purchase it or make God owe it to us. Grace begins with God. Even our desire to turn toward Him and do what is good is made possible by His grace.

Yet God does not force us. He gives us the freedom to respond to His grace and cooperate with it.

That means grace is not simply something we receive at Baptism and never think about again. God’s grace is at work throughout the Christian life—calling us, strengthening us, forgiving us, and helping us become the people He created us to be.

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23

St. Augustine: “The law detects, grace alone conquers sin.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Give me only Your love and Your grace, with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.” 
St. Anthony: “Let us therefore pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that he give us the grace to seek His Kingdom and to build within ourselves a moral Jerusalem.” 

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 question is: “Did I receive Jesus understanding that this is the real presence of Jesus…., body, soul and divinity?

Jesus is fully present under the appearance of simple bread and wine so should never be treated casually.
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 Catholic Church does not prescribe one method over the other. Neither practice, by itself, makes someone more holy.

You are receiving Christ.
Receive Him with faith.
Receive Him with reverence.
Receive Him with love.

“May this Holy Communion bring about a perfect union with You, the one true God, and at last enable me to reach eternal bliss when You will call me.” ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

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 a friend or family member to pray for us.

So when we say, “St. Anthony, help me find what I’ve lost,” we are asking St. Anthony to join his prayers with ours and bring our need before God.

We pray with the saints, and we ask the saints to pray for us. We worship God alone.

Which saint do Catholics traditionally turn to for…?”

Here are some of the most familiar ones:

Here are some of the most familiar ones:

• St. Anthony of Padua — lost things
• St. Christopher — travelers and safe travel
• St. Joseph — workers, fathers, families, and a happy death
• St. Jude — desperate or seemingly hopeless causes
• St. Francis of Assisi — animals and care for creation
• St. Thérèse of Lisieux — everyday needs; doing small things with great love
• St. Michael the Archangel — protection against evil
• St. Peregrine — people with cancer and serious illness
• St. Padre Pio — healing, suffering, and difficult illnesses
• St. Dymphna — people experiencing mental or emotional suffering
• St. Monica — children and loved ones who have fallen away from the faith
• St. Gerard Majella — expectant mothers, pregnancy, and childbirth
• St. Anne — mothers, grandmothers, and families
• St. Valentine — engaged couples and happy marriages
• St. Cecilia — musicians and singers
• St. Francis de Sales — writers and journalists
• St. Isidore the Farmer — farmers and agricultural workers
• St. Florian — firefighters
• St. Luke — physicians and healthcare workers
• St. Matthew — accountants, bankers, and financial workers
• St. Joseph of Cupertino — students taking exams
• St. Blaise — ailments of the throat
• St. Lucy — eyesight and people with eye problems
• St. Nicholas — children
• St. Rita of Cascia — difficult and seemingly impossible situations

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 Mass offered for a loved one.
Mass intention cards are available through the parish office. The names of those for whom the Mass is offered are published in the bulletin and remembered at Mass.

⚰️ Celebrate the Catholic Funeral Rites.
When a loved one dies, the Church accompanies the deceased and the grieving family with prayer. The Funeral Mass commends the deceased to God’s mercy and offers the Eucharistic sacrifice for his or her soul. At the cemetery, the Rite of Committal provides the Church’s final prayers as the body is laid to rest in the hope of the resurrection.

🍽️ Gather for a funeral luncheon at St. Mary’s.
Following a funeral, St. Mary’s offers a luncheon for the family and friends of the deceased in Frederick Hall. Parish volunteers lovingly prepare and serve the meal, set beautiful tables, and take care of the cleanup, allowing the family time to gather and share memories after saying goodbye to their loved one. There is no charge for the luncheon. Families may make a voluntary offering if they wish and are able.

It is another beautiful way our parish community surrounds a grieving family with faith, compassion, and loving service during a difficult time.

🕯️ Light a candle in prayer.
Candles may be lit in remembrance of loved ones. See one of our ushers before or after Mass for assistance.

❤️ Attend our November Remembrance Mass.
Each November, St. Mary’s celebrates a special Mass of Remembrance. The names of parishioners who have died during the previous year are read aloud as we remember them in prayer.

📖 Remember our loved ones in the Book of the Names of the Dead.
During November, our Book of the Names of the Dead, also known as the Book of Remembrance, is placed in a place of honor in the church. The book is maintained and kept up to date by our parish secretary, preserving the names of our faithful departed as we remember them in prayer throughout the month.

⛳ Honor someone through the Charles and Susie Middleton Golf Tournament.
Deceased loved ones may also be honored through sponsorship of our parish golf tournament, with their names included among those remembered.

🕯️ Dedicate the Sanctuary Candle.
Parishioners may request that the Sanctuary Candle burn in remembrance of a deceased loved one. These intentions are published in the bulletin. Sanctuary Candle memorials are available at both St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Fatima Mission.

✝️ And at every Mass, we pray for the dead.
During the Eucharistic Prayer, the Church specifically remembers those who have died and asks God to welcome them into the light of His presence.

These aren’t simply traditions. They are expressions of one of the beautiful truths of our Catholic faith:

Our love and our prayers do not end at the grave.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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 crucifix — often prominently displayed, especially in bedrooms or a main living area.
• 🕯️ A prayer space — perhaps a small table or shelf with a crucifix, candle, Bible, holy cards, or statues.
• 📖 A Catholic Bible
• 📿 Rosaries — on a bedside table, near a favorite chair, or in a prayer area.
• 💧 Holy water — sometimes kept near the entrance or in a small holy-water font.
• 🌿 Blessed palms from Palm Sunday — traditionally placed behind a crucifix or religious image.
• 🖼️ Sacred images — Jesus, the Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy, the Blessed Mother, the Holy Family, or favorite saints.
• 🕊️ Statues of Mary or the saints.
• 🕯️ Blessed candles — especially candles blessed at Candlemas.
• 🏠 A house blessing — some families have their home blessed by a priest or deacon.
• 🚪 Epiphany chalk blessing over the doorway — the traditional inscription such as 20 + C + M + B + 26.
• 🌾 Sacramentals and blessed objects — medals, scapulars, crosses, holy cards, relics, or other devotional items.
• 📚 Catholic books, prayer books, or a Catechism.
• 🕯️ Reminders of loved ones who have died — memorial cards or photographs that encourage prayers for the deceased.
• 🍽️ Faith at the dinner table — perhaps a crucifix nearby and, most importantly, the practice of saying grace before meals.
• 🌟 Display a Nativity scene (crèche) at Christmas — Place a crèche in a prominent place in the home as a reminder that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Some families wait until Christmas Eve to place the Christ Child in the manger.
• 🕯️ Use an Advent wreath — Light the candles throughout Advent as the family prayerfully prepares for the coming of Christ.
• 📿 Keep rosaries visible — Rosaries may hang from a bedpost, rest beside a favorite chair, sit on a prayer table, or be displayed near a crucifix or statue. Keeping them visible reminds us that the Rosary is meant not simply to be owned, but to be prayed.
• 📅 Display a Catholic calendar — A Catholic calendar keeps the rhythm of the Church year visible in the home, marking feast days, solemnities, saints’ days, and liturgical seasons throughout the year.
  🌹 Create a Mary Garden — Dedicate a small flower garden or outdoor space to the Blessed Mother. Place a statue of Mary among the flowers and use the space as a quiet reminder to pray.
  

A Catholic home isn’t Catholic simply because it contains Catholic things.

The crucifix, rosary, holy water, sacred images, and blessed objects are sacramentals—visible reminders that help turn our hearts toward God.

The greatest sign of a Catholic home is the faith that is lived inside it.

What Catholic things or traditions are found in YOUR home? What did we miss?

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:

• 🚑 Hear a siren → Pray a Hail Mary for the person in danger, the family, and the first responders.
  A parishioner shared to say “ Jesus, Mary and Joseph” as she did in Catholic School.
• 🔎 Lose something → Ask St. Anthony for help finding it.
• 🚗 Pass an accident → Pray for everyone involved, especially anyone injured.
• 🚑 See an ambulance → “Jesus, be with the person inside.”
• 🚒 See a fire truck racing somewhere → Pray for the people whose home or property may be in danger and for the firefighters.
• ⚰️ Pass a cemetery → “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”
• 🚙 See a funeral procession → Pray for the deceased and the grieving family.
• ⛪ Pass a Catholic church → Make the Sign of the Cross or simply say, “Jesus, I adore You,” remembering His presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
• ✝️ Pass a crucifix or religious image → Briefly turn your thoughts toward Christ.
• 🔔 Hear church bells → Offer a short prayer or remember that the day belongs to God.
• 🍽️ Sit down to eat—even in a restaurant → Make the Sign of the Cross and say grace.
• 🌩️ Become frightened or anxious → “Jesus, I trust in You.”
• 😠 Someone irritates you → Pray for that person rather than rehearsing the irritation. (Possibly the advanced-level Catholic response. 😂)
• 📰 Hear that someone has died → Immediately pray, “Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord…”
• 🤒 Hear that someone is sick → Ask Our Lady of Lourdes or St. Peregrine to intercede, depending on the illness.
• 🧳 Begin a trip → Ask St. Christopher for intercession and pray for safe travel.
• 🅿️ Need a parking space → St. Anthony gets recruited for this one too in many Catholic families. 😄
• 🌅 Wake up in the morning → “Thank you, Lord, for another day.”
• 🌙 Get into bed at night → Thank God for the day and pray for those who will die during the night.
• 😴 Wake during the night → Pray for someone who comes to mind; perhaps there is a reason they came to mind.
• 💒 See a bride and groom → Pray for their marriage.
• 👶 See a newborn or pregnant mother → Pray for the child and family.
• 🧑‍⚕️ See a hospital → Pray for the patients, families, doctors, nurses, and those who are dying.
• 🏫 Pass a school → Pray for the children and their teachers.
• ⛪ See a priest or religious sister/brother → Pray for their vocation and perseverance.
• 🌄 See something extraordinarily beautiful in nature → “Glory be to the Father…” or simply, “Thank you, God.”
• 🙏 Hear someone use the Lord’s name carelessly → Quietly say, “Blessed be the name of Jesus.”
  
  
  

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 today?

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 heaven. The Church calls this Purgatory.

Purgatory is not a “second chance” after death, nor is it another destination besides heaven and hell. Those undergoing this purification are already destined for heaven. Their purification prepares them to enter completely into the holiness and presence of God.

“Nothing unclean will enter it.”
— Revelation 21:27

Our Prayers Can Help the Faithful Departed

Because Christians remain united in the Communion of Saints, death does not sever the bonds of love between us.

The Catechism teaches:

“From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1032

This is why Catholics:

• Have Masses offered for the deceased
• Pray for deceased family members and friends
• Visit cemeteries and pray at graves
• Offer sacrifices and works of charity for the departed
• Pray the Eternal Rest prayer
• Remember the faithful departed especially on All Souls’ Day

This Practice Has Biblical Roots

The practice of praying for the dead did not originate in the Middle Ages. Sacred Scripture records prayers and offerings being made for those who had died:

“Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.”
— 2 Maccabees 12:46

The Catechism specifically points to this passage when explaining the Church’s ancient practice of praying for the dead. (CCC 1032)

An Ancient Christian Tradition

St. John Chrysostom, who lived in the fourth century, spoke of remembering the dead during the celebration of the Eucharist:

“Not in vain did the Apostles order that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries.”

His words testify to how ancient the Christian practice of praying for the departed—particularly during the Eucharistic celebration—really is.

What Does the Church Teach About Purgatory?

The Catechism explains:

CCC 1030: Those who die in God’s grace and friendship but are still imperfectly purified are assured of eternal salvation, but undergo purification after death.

CCC 1031: The Church calls this final purification of the elect Purgatory.

CCC 1032: From the beginning, the Church has prayed for the dead, particularly through the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that they may be purified and attain the beatific vision of God.

CCC 958: Our prayer for the dead is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.

Can the Dead Pray for Us?

Yes. The Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints reminds us that the faithful on earth, the souls being purified, and the saints in heaven remain united in Christ.

The saints in heaven intercede for us before God. And the Catechism beautifully connects our prayers for the faithful departed with their intercession for us:

“Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.”
— CCC 958

And if the person for whom we are praying is already in heaven, our prayer is never wasted. God receives every sincere prayer offered in faith and love and applies its fruits according to His perfect wisdom.

A Simple Prayer for the Dead

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

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 a sin to be mortal, all three of these conditions must be present:

1. Grave matter — the act involves something seriously wrong.
2. Full knowledge — the person knows that the act is seriously sinful.
3. Deliberate consent — the person freely chooses to commit the act.

A Catholic who is conscious of having committed a mortal sin should not receive Holy Communion without first receiving absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, except in the circumstances provided for by the Church.

This teaching is rooted in Scripture. St. Paul gives a serious warning about receiving the Eucharist unworthily:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:27

St. Paul continues by telling Christians to examine themselves before receiving, warning that those who eat and drink without discerning the Body eat and drink judgment upon themselves (see 1 Corinthians 11:28–29).

This is why the Church takes our preparation for Holy Communion so seriously. The Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, and receiving Him should never be treated casually.

Venial Sin and the Eucharist

Venial sin wounds our relationship with God but does not destroy charity in the soul or deprive us of sanctifying grace.

A Catholic may receive Holy Communion while having venial sins. In fact, one of the beautiful effects of receiving the Eucharist is the forgiveness of venial sins.

The Catechism teaches: “The Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1393

The Eucharist strengthens the charity within us, and this living charity wipes away venial sins. Through our union with Christ in Holy Communion, we receive grace to resist sin and grow in holiness.

The Catechism further explains that the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life, and this living charity wipes away venial sins (CCC 1394).

It also teaches: “By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins.”
— CCC 1395

This is an important distinction:

Mortal sin ordinarily requires sacramental Confession before receiving Holy Communion. Venial sin does not prevent us from receiving the Eucharist. Rather, the Eucharist is itself a powerful remedy for venial sin.

The Penitential Act at Mass also disposes us to celebrate the sacred mysteries and can obtain forgiveness of venial sins. It does not, however, replace the Sacrament of Reconciliation for mortal sins.

Don’t Be Discouraged by the Struggle

The Christian life is not a life without falls. We may struggle repeatedly with the same weaknesses and become discouraged by our failures. What matters is that we continue turning toward Christ, seeking His mercy and allowing His grace to strengthen us.

As Father Paul Hubert, LC, beautifully reminds us:

“It does not matter if we fall a thousand times, as long as we love the fight and not the fall.”

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC 1854–1855: The Church distinguishes between mortal and venial sin according to their gravity. Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart; venial sin wounds it but allows charity to remain.

CCC 1857: For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

CCC 1393–1395: The Eucharist strengthens our union with Christ, cleanses us from venial sins, strengthens charity, and helps preserve us from future mortal sin.

The Eucharist does not merely nourish us—it heals and strengthens us in our continuing struggle against sin.

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 & Celebration
Used 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 Christ’s victory over death.

❤️ Red — Holy Spirit & Sacrifice
Used on Pentecost, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and celebrations of martyrs. Red symbolizes the Holy Spirit, Christ’s Passion, and the blood of martyrdom.

💚 Green — Hope & Growth
Used during Ordinary Time. Green represents hope, life, and our continuing growth in faith.

💜 Violet — Preparation & Penance
Used during Advent and Lent. Violet symbolizes penance, preparation, and conversion of heart. It may also be used for funerals.

🩷 Rose — Joyful Anticipation
May be worn on Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. Rose expresses joy and encouragement as we continue our preparation.

🖤 Black — Mourning & Prayer for the Dead
Black may be used at funerals and Masses for the dead. It expresses mourning and our prayerful remembrance of those who have died.

Liturgical Colors Click here