Podcasts about holy communion

Canon Stephen Sharpe, ICKSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained in 2020. In Today's Show: If someone we know is in sin, should we rebuke their actions instead of showing false kindness? Do priests need to drink out of the chalice? Are Catholic disciplines too legalistic?  How can we defend the Catholic church against governments that are conspiring to harm the faith? How can we get ahead in this world without usury? Was the illness St. Therese had a sign of possession? Should the laity be distributing Holy Communion to the homebound? What do ICKSP priests do when they want to swim? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer. This weekend the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—the Body and Blood of Christ. In John 6, Jesus makes an astonishing promise: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.” These words reveal the incredible gift of the Eucharist. Where sin brought death into the world, Jesus now offers His very life to us through Holy Communion. In this reflection, Fr. Jonathan shares: The beauty of Corpus Christi and Eucharistic devotion Why the Eucharist is the heart of Catholic life A touching story about children counting their Communions How gratitude can transform our relationship with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Take some time this week to sit with John Chapter 6 in the presence of the Eucharist. Allow the Lord to deepen your love for this great gift and to renew your gratitude for His Real Presence. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” Discussion questions for this week's readings can be found at:

During the First Friday gathering in Saginaw on May 1, Bishop Gruss quoted Pope Francis and reminded listeners that every baptized person is called to be a missionary disciple.“A missionary disciple is someone who knows Jesus personally, loves Him deeply, follows Him faithfully, and shares Him boldly,” he said in his talk. (View the video below or watch it HERE.)He stressed that evangelization is not about having all the answers, but about sharing one's encounter with Christ.“A witness is someone who says, ‘I have met the Lord and He has changed my life,'” Bishop Gruss said.Bishop Gruss reflected on the Sacrament of Confirmation and missionary discipleship, and encouraged Catholics to rediscover the power of the Holy Spirit already at work within them through the Sacraments. He emphasized that Confirmation is inseparable from missionary discipleship. “The Spirit was poured upon the Church for one reason,” he said. “To evangelize.”“Wake Up the Sleeping Giant”Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and rely less on self-sufficiency. “The Holy Spirit is already in you,” he said. “But perhaps He's dormant. Wake up the sleeping giant in your life. You have everything you need to live as a disciple of Jesus in the world today.”First Friday attendees were encouraged to pray simple prayers each day asking the Holy Spirit to become more active in their lives.He also encouraged young people preparing for Confirmation to approach the Sacrament with openness and courage. The Sacrament of Confirmation is meant to be a life-changing moment in one's life and call to discipleship, as it was for the disciples of the early church."“Don't be afraid to live an extraordinary life in Christ,” he said. “Christ is calling all of us to be saints.”Speaking during the Diocese's confirmation season, Bishop Gruss reflected on visiting parishes across the Diocese to celebrate Confirmation with young people. “Confirmation is not an ending. It doesn't complete anything. It's a beginning,” Bishop Gruss said.He explained that Catholics often reduce the Sacraments to events they attend rather than encounters with Jesus Christ himself. “When we look at the Sacramental life merely as events, then we have diminished them by 99.9%,” he said.Instead of saying, “I'm going to Mass,” Bishop Gruss suggested Catholics think differently: “I'm going for an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.”Jesus Is the One Who ConfirmsBishop Gruss reminded attendees that Jesus himself is the minister of every Sacrament. “Jesus baptized you. He confirmed you. He gave himself to you in Holy Communion,” he said. “In the Sacrament of Confirmation, he uses my thumb.”Reflecting on his own Confirmation and Baptism dates, Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to learn and celebrate those dates as important milestones in their lives of faith. “These are two of the most important dates,” he said, “more important than your birthday.”He urged Catholics to contact the parish where they were baptized to obtain their Sacramental records and reflect more intentionally on those moments of grace.Confirmation and the Holy SpiritDrawing from the Acts of the Apostles, Bishop Gruss compared Confirmation to the transformation experienced by the apostles at Pentecost. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles hid in fear. Afterward, they boldly proclaimed the Gospel.“Peter went from fear and denial of Jesus to being a strong, faithful witness of the Gospel,” Bishop Gruss said. “Everything changed.”"That same Holy Spirit is given to the disciples is given to each person in the Sacrament of Confirmation, not diminished in any way. This is why it should be a profound life-changing experience."Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to ask the Lord to “bring alive the grace” of Confirmation again in their lives.“The Spirit is never dead,” he said. “Ask the Holy Spirit to ignite your faith.”

Pastor Colins Nwosu continued our teaching series with The Lordship of Jesus (Part 2), further exploring what it truly means to submit to Christ as Lord. Reading from Romans 14:8–9, we were reminded that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord because Christ died and rose again to establish His Lordship over all. Today's teaching emphasised that acknowledging Jesus as Lord goes beyond verbal confession; it requires a life of complete surrender and obedience. Using the account of Saul in 1 Samuel 15, we saw that partial obedience is ultimately disobedience. Although Saul was explicitly commanded to destroy everything, he kept the choice livestock and spared King Agag, proving that partial obedience is nothing more than complete disobedience. We learned that to God, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Drawing also from James 1:22–24 (NLT), we were challenged to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, warned against looking into the mirror of God's Word and immediately forgetting what we have seen. True alignment with the Lordship of Christ means following His instructions completely, even when they challenge our preferences or personal desires. Pastor Colins concluded with a powerful reminder from missionary S. M. Zwemer: "Unless Jesus is Lord of all, He is not Lord at all." The call was clear and personal: Christ's Lordship must extend to every area of our lives, not just the parts that are convenient or comfortable. Confession: Lord Jesus, I surrender every area of my life to Your Lordship. Help me to obey You wholeheartedly, not selectively, and to build my life upon the solid foundation of Your Word. May my actions reflect my confession, and may Your will be done in me completely. Amen.

Shame affects us all — but do we truly understand it? In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Rev. Dr. John Kleinig, author of From Shame to Glory: God's Surprising Remedy for Injustice and Failure. Dr. Kleinig draws on decades of pastoral experience to help us understand what shame is, how it differs from guilt, and how Jesus frees us from its weight through baptism, Holy Communion, and the blessing of the Church.Episode Timestamps1:51 — Introduction — Welcome & book overview2:00 — Guilt vs. shame: the key differences — behavior vs. identity, actions vs. wounds9:00 — What caused Dr. Kleinig to start thinking about shame?13:50 — Dr. Kleinig's story: his Wendish ethnic minority background and experiences of discrimination25:30 — How Jesus frees us from shame: Holy Communion, the blood of Christ, and John the Baptist's words29:00 — Jesus as the Lamb of God who bears and carries the sin of the world33:00 — The divine service as the ongoing remedy for shame; blessing vs. absolution34:10 — Encouragement for listeners struggling with shame — and how to use the bookAbout the GuestRev. Dr. John Kleinig is professor emeritus at Luther College, Adelaide, SA, Australia. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cambridge University, Doctor of Divinity from Fort Wayne (1998) and Concordia University, Irvine (2014). He is the author of numerous articles and books. Dr. Kleinig and his wife, Claire, have four children and many grandchildren.  Resources MentionedFrom Shame to Glory: God's Surprising Remedy for Injustice and Failure by Rev. Dr. John Kleinig — cph.orgConcordia Publishing HouseBringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world.

Can suffering or illness in our family be a punishment from God for our sins? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists address this difficult and deeply personal question before exploring a wide range of theological and pastoral topics. The discussion covers whether Catholics may hold the Genesis Gap Theory, how the Church can better evangelize people with disabilities, and why Catholic teaching on the death penalty has developed over time. Additional questions examine the extraordinary endurance of St. Paul, the purpose of offering prayer intentions with the Rosary, why Catholicism claims to be more than just another denomination, and why sacramental confession is necessary before receiving Holy Communion in certain situations. A thoughtful conversation on suffering, grace, Church authority, and the sacraments. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered:  01:12 – Is it possible that God punishes my continuous sin through my son’s disease?    04:19 – Can a Catholic hold to the Genesis Gap Theory? Or is it heretical?   12:41 – How can the Church evangelize to those with disabilities? What are good resources that can help me get started?    19:28 – Can we in good conscience support the death penalty? I can’t seem to understand why the church changed this. In theory can’t the church's teaching on this revert?    28:37 – Is there a miraculous quality to St. Paul recovering from the stoning at Lystra or from all of the other beatings he suffered? It seems any number of the rods, stonings, etc. could have disabled him and made his long-distance travel impossible.    32:49 – How does setting a prayer intention before praying a rosary differ from just praying for that intention directly without praying a rosary, does it have something to do with the merit involved with praying a rosary? Thank you!    36:40 – Why can't Catholicism be just another denomination among the denominations? I think Protestants see Catholicism as a Christian denomination, thus no need to make the move if they are already happy where they are.   43:02 – If priests have the sacramental power to ordain, why has this actually happened so rarely in Church history?    46:50 – Why is it mandatory to go to a priest for confession before one can go for Holy Communion. Why isn’t going to God directly sufficient for this?  If someone sits on his seat because he hasn’t gone for confession, everyone would see that he hasn’t gone to confession, it would elicit some kind of shame on this person. 

Mother Miriam Live - May 19th, 2026 Mother Miriam reads from Bishop Strickland's writings on "the crisis of forgetting." Mother Miriam answers questions about a homosexual man serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, the sin of filming your confession, and why many seem to struggle to respect both Traditional Latin Mass and Novus Ordo

Fr. William Rock, FSSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. He was ordained in October of 2019 and serves as a regular contributor to the FSSP North America Missive Blog. Fr. Rock is also currently contributing to TAN Books “Year of the Latin Mass.”  Fr. Rock's video contributions can be found on TAN Books YouTube page. Show Resources: Tan Books: Year of the Latin Mass In Today's Show: Is missing Sunday Mass a mortal sin? Should someone who is discerning between marriage and the priesthood date? What does Matthew 5:22 mean? Should a parent who allows their child to move in with a boyfriend or girlfriend receive Holy Communion?  When priests say Mass, is it like “going to work” for them? Do you have to consult a priest before consecrating yourself to Jesus? Is using sacramentals to combat lustful thoughts cheating? Is using acupuncture against church teaching? And more.  Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 18th of May, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in Psalm 37:31: ”The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Then we go to 1 Corinthians 11:25. Jesus says: “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” I am talking about Holy Communion. It's very important for us to remember the ordinances, commandments, and laws of God. That is what keeps you and me on the straight road, on the right road. Do you know what a phylactery is? A phylactery is something that the Orthodox Jews use when they have time with the Lord. Many years ago, I was flying in an Israeli airline to Jerusalem, and an Orthodox Jew was sitting across the aisle from me, and during the night, I saw him get up and put a shawl around his head. He took a leather band and he put it around his left hand with a little box on it. He took another leather band, put it around his head, with a little box on his forehead, and inside those two little boxes are Holy Scriptures. He does it during his quiet time. Why? Because he wants to remember the Lord, his God. Now, Jesus said every time you and I have Holy Communion, we do it and we remember what Christ has done for us. Gill and I have communion often, on our own, in the house. Maybe after breakfast, sometimes maybe after lunch, depending on our situation, just the two of us. And we take bread, we break it, and we remember the body of Christ broken for us, and then we take the cup, a little glass of grape juice, and we remember the blood of Jesus shed so that our sins would be washed away. We need to remember and not forget what the Lord has done for us.Many years ago when I was a man of twenty years old, I was a cowboy. I was in Australia. When we knocked off work, these were rough and tough men, but the salt of the earth, we would go into the local pub and there'd be a lot of chatting and talking and smoking, etc. Then all of a sudden, six o'clock every single night, everybody would become quiet, and there would be a little light in one corner of the pub, and then a voice would come over, ”Lest we forget. Let us remember.” We would stand there for, I don't know how long it was, maybe a minute or two, and remember all the fallen soldiers that had died for the Australian people, and they would stand there. Not one person would say a word (because if anybody did it could probably cost him his life), but they remembered those that had given their lives for their country.You and I need to remember that Jesus Christ died for us on the cross of Calvary so that we might have everlasting life.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day and don't forget. Goodbye.

Join us at 8 or 10:30 a.m. for worship as we raise our voices and sing in praise of God, learn how to more deeply experience God, and partake of Holy Communion. Pastor Katrina preaches about “eternity life” and uses an analogy of kneading bread and folding deeper into God.

Today is day 136 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 136. What is expected of you after partaking in Holy Communion? I should continue to grow in holiness, avoiding sin, showing love and forgiveness to all, and serving others in gratitude. (Leviticus 20:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14–32; 1 Peter 4:1–11) We will conclude today with Prayer 105. After Receiving Communion on page 676 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Send us Fan Mail[A poor shepherd boy kneels in the grass when distant church bells ring and, without seeing the altar, he adores anyway. That single image captures why Saint Paschal Baylon still matters, especially for anyone longing for a real Eucharistic revival that goes beyond slogans and becomes a daily way of life.I'm Brother Joseph, and I walk you through Paschal's journey from 16th century Spain into the quiet corners of a Franciscan monastery, where holiness looks like sweeping floors, tending a garden, and slipping away to the chapel whenever the tabernacle calls. Paschal never chases status. He chooses the path of a lay brother, and his hidden fidelity becomes his loudest sermon. Along the way, we reflect on how silence, poverty of spirit, and small acts done with love can form a heart that recognizes Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.We also explore why Paschal earns the title “Apostle of the Eucharist” and how he defends the Real Presence of Christ with clarity and charity during a time of confusion and conflict. You'll hear about his intense Eucharistic adoration, his simple but piercing wisdom on Holy Communion, and the traditions of Eucharistic graces and miracles connected to his life. The goal is practical: strengthen your Catholic faith, renew reverence at Mass, and take one concrete step toward deeper devotion to the Eucharist.If Saint Paschal Baylon's story stirs something in you, share this with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find these journeys of faith and grow closer to Jesus in the Eucharist.]View complete article hereOpen by Steve Bailey Support the showChat with US 24/7 Ask us anything https://chatting.page/mjxs9aerrtgm3lmpndlcepmbyosntrjnDownload Journeys of Faith App for Iphone or Android FREE https://journeysoffaith.com/pages/download-our-appJourneys of Faith brings your Super Saints PodcastsPlease consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith Help us Grow!Why you should shop here at Journeys of Faith official site!New Mega Search Engine!Lowest Prices and Higher discounts up to 50%Free Shipping starts at $18 - Express Safe Checkout Click HereCannot find it let us find or create it - - Click HereRewards Program is active - click Here

Today is day 135 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 135. What is required of you when you come to receive Holy Communion? I am to examine myself: Do I truly repent of my sins and intend to lead a new life in Christ? Do I have a living faith in God's mercy through Christ and remember his atoning death with a thankful heart? And have I shown love and forgiveness to all people? (Leviticus 10:1–5; Psalm 50; 1 Corinthians 11:27–32) We will conclude today by praying the Exhortation on page 147 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This episode is a study from the book of 1 Corinthians, with Pastor David Rosales of Calvary Chapel Chino Valley. This message was taught on February 4th, 2026. Support us by checking out our other social media platforms! Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@CCChinoValley⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠www.calvaryccv.org⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelChinoValley⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/calvaryccv⁠⁠

Can human reason alone lead us to the conclusion that God is personal, even without divine revelation? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists tackle deep philosophical and theological questions about God, authority, and the Church. The discussion explores whether Eastern Orthodoxy has a singular teaching authority comparable to the papacy, why Catholics often receive only the host and not the chalice at Communion, and whether extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are sometimes overused. Additional topics include whether Adam was a single historical person or a group, how to evangelize someone immersed in New Age spirituality, and whether the early Church taught any doctrines no longer held today. A thoughtful conversation on Catholic theology, Church practice, and apologetics. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 12:36 – Is there a way to arrive at the conclusion of the personhood of God without resorting to revelation?   21:46 – Does Eastern Orthodoxy have a singular authority like we do?  29:07 – How come everyone takes the host for communion but not everyone gets the chalice?  32:07 – Are extraordinary ministers of holy communion only to be used in emergency situations? My priest doesn't always give communion at mass. He lets the EMs do it. Is that an abuse?  39:35 – Was Adam one man or a group of men?  43:00 – How do you start a conversation with someone who's kind of a “new age junkie?” Like they're always looking for a spiritual high or buying the next big self-help book, but can't be bothered to open the Gospels?  48:54 – Is there something that the early church believed in terms of doctrine that isn't taught today? 

Today is day 134 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 134. What benefits do you receive through partaking of this sacrament? As my body is nourished by the bread and wine, my soul is strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ. I receive God's forgiveness, and I am renewed in the love and unity of the Body of Christ, the Church. (1662 Catechism; Psalms 28:6–9; 104:14–15; Jeremiah 31:31–34; John 6:52–56; 17:22–24; Revelation 19:6–9) We will conclude today with Prayer 107. After Communion found on page 677 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Today is day 133 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 133. What is the inward gift signified? The inward gift signified is the Body and Blood of Christ, which are truly taken and received in the Lord's Supper by faith. (Deuteronomy 8:1–20; Psalm 78:17–29; John 6:52–56; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, 16–18) We will conclude today with Prayer 104. Before Receiving Communion found on page 676 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Today is day 132 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 132. What is the outward and visible sign in Holy Communion? The visible sign is bread and wine, which Christ commands us to receive. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26) We will conclude today with The Collect for Maundy Thursday found on page 561 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Send us Fan MailA child in medieval Italy begged for Jesus in the Eucharist so intensely that her longing became the center of her life and, according to witnesses, the moment of her death. We share the moving story of Blessed Imelda Lambertini, patroness of first communicants, and why her simple faith still speaks to Catholics navigating First Communion preparation, catechesis, and everyday reception of Holy Communion.We walk through Imelda's early years in Bologna, her time living inside a Dominican convent as a student, and the strict Church discipline of the era that delayed children from receiving the Blessed Sacrament. Her response is the heart of the story: not resentment, but hours of prayer, tears before the tabernacle, and a love so direct she tells the sisters she cannot understand how anyone could receive Jesus and not die of love.Then we recount the Eucharistic miracle tied to Ascension Thursday in 1333, when a luminous host appears above Imelda's head and the chaplain gives her First Communion. From there, we trace what happens after her death, including devotion at her tomb, later recognition by the Church, and how Pope Pius X points to her example when lowering the age for First Communion to the age of reason.If you want a deeper, more reverent approach to the Real Presence and a clearer way to teach children what the Eucharist truly is, this story delivers. Subscribe for more, share this with a parent or catechist, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Open by Steve Bailey Support the showChat with US 24/7 Ask us anything https://chatting.page/mjxs9aerrtgm3lmpndlcepmbyosntrjnDownload Journeys of Faith App for Iphone or Android FREE https://journeysoffaith.com/pages/download-our-appJourneys of Faith brings your Super Saints PodcastsPlease consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith Help us Grow!Why you should shop here at Journeys of Faith official site!New Mega Search Engine!Lowest Prices and Higher discounts up to 50%Free Shipping starts at $18 - Express Safe Checkout Click HereCannot find it let us find or create it - - Click HereRewards Program is active - click Here

Selfie mirrors, chocolate fountains and parties costing thousands, journalist Tanya Sweeney tells Oliver that modern Holy Communions have become mini weddings.

Today is day 131 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 131. Why did Christ institute the sacrament of Holy Communion? He instituted it for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his atoning death, and to convey the benefits of that sacrifice to us. (Exodus 24:1–10; Psalm 23:5–6; Luke 22:17–20; John 6:25–51; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17) We will conclude today with The Collect for Maundy Thursday found on page 561 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! What a radiant and holy custom it is that, here in the United States, we set aside a day in honor of our mothers. And rightly so.Consider what she endures for the sake of her child. Long before we first behold the light of the sun, we are carried beneath her heart, hidden within her very being for those mysterious nine months in which life itself is woven together in secret. And then comes the hour of birth — that fearful and glorious threshold where she willingly passes through suffering, and even the shadow of death, so that another life may enter the world.Nor does her giving cease when the travail is ended. Having poured out her strength, she continues to sustain the child from the substance of her own body, feeding the helpless little one with nourishment only she can give. It is a love so profound and sacrificial that one is almost compelled to hear, echoing faintly through it, the words: “This is my body, given for you.” The cover of this Sunday's bulletin recalls the radiant joy of last Sunday's First Holy Communion. The young girls, clothed in garments of brilliant white, and the boys, with ties neatly fastened and collars straightened, came not merely to a ceremony, but to a profound divine encounter. For what greater marvel can be given to mankind than this: that God should feed His children with His very life? Not symbol alone, nor distant memory, but His Body offered for the life of the world. Yes — His flesh; His Body.First Holy Communion ought therefore to be celebrated with trembling gladness and with majesty befitting heaven itself. The child approaching the altar steps nearer to the heart of the universe than kings upon their thrones or conquerors in their triumphs. Here is Love made tangible. Here is Eternity stooping low to nourish the weary children of earth.And so we celebrate this sacred feast much as we celebrate Mother's Day because both bear witness to self-giving love. Every Mass is another encounter with that divine charity which spends itself entirely for the beloved. Christ desires nothing less than union with each soul. At every reception of Holy Communion, He whispers again the words that shattered history and remade the world: “This is my body, given for you.”That is why we Catholics genuflect. The bending of the knee is not mere habit, nor empty ritual, but a holy reminder to distracted minds and wandering hearts: Love Himself is here. In the Holy Eucharist we stand in the presence of the living God, who still gives Himself away for the life of His people: “This is my body, given for you.” --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

Pastor Bobby Schuller teaches on the concept of sacraments and sacramental acts, exploring three powerful ways believers experience the true presence of God: Scripture, worship, and Holy Communion. Embrace the knowledge that, through Communion, you are touching the very same Body of Christ that was crucified, buried, and rose again to wipe your proverbial slate clean, with today's message: "The Order of Melchizedek."

Check out this show from May 17, 2022 Acts 14:19-28 When has the Church been strong? Jn 14:27-31a What was one of the great messianic expectations? Letters What is the Holy Communion fast? What's Father's take on Ez 20:25-26? Listener talks about her experience of confession and forgiveness Listener asks Father Simon about Milton's Paradise Lost Word of the Day: Believe! Callers When we die do we go right to heaven? Is it a sin to go to a Protestant service, while also still going to mass on Sunday? Is it a sin to not play music for mass, when you have the ability to do that? I'm a cabinet maker, and I have Indian clients that want me to build a temple. Is that okay? I'm unclear about the Gods like Zeus, Jupiter; did they have power?

This ALC Podcast transcript captures a high-energy church service led by a pastor who emphasizes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker shares a prophetic message based on a personal dream, declaring that the month of May serves as a divine turnaround for the congregation. He encourages believers that recent hardships were actually a strategic setup by God to elevate them to a higher spiritual and material level. Throughout the session, the pastor performs prophetic ministrations, leads traditional worship songs, and administers the Holy Communion. The text concludes with a call for sacrificial giving and an invitation for attendees to make a fresh commitment to their faith.

Today is day 123 and we are studying The Sacraments. 123. What sacraments were ordained by Christ? The two sacraments ordained by Christ that are “generally necessary to salvation” (1662 Catechism)are Baptism and Holy Communion (also called the Lord's Supper or the Holy Eucharist). These are sometimes called “sacraments of the Gospel.” (Articles of Religion, 25; see also Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 22:14–20; John 6:52–58; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22) We will conclude today with Prayer following the Litany of Ordinations for a Bishop found on page 500 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sponsored by Fidei Email:https://www.fidei.emailSources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Canon Stephen Sharpe, ICKSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained in 2020. In Today's Show: Why doesn't the Catholic Church believe in the rapture? Why is confession only required once per year? When does it become just for Catholics to rise up in defense of the faithful? ​​In John 20, Thomas was not present when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto the Apostles. Is this significant? How did the giants come to be? What teachings from Vatican II are the hardest to reconcile? How should non-Catholics go up to receive a blessing during Holy Communion? What are the best resources to learn Latin for the TLM? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Send us Fan MailA pope with a rough hair shirt and a Rosary in his hands doesn't sound like the kind of leader who shifts the course of empires, but Pope Pius V does exactly that. We tell the story of the “Rosary Pope,” from his humble childhood in northern Italy to his Dominican life of prayer, study, and hard-won discipline that quietly prepares him for one of the most turbulent seasons in Catholic history.We walk through the heart of his mission: real Church reform rooted in personal holiness. That means implementing the Council of Trent, calling clergy back to integrity, renewing confession and Holy Communion, and restoring reverence in worship. We also explore his enduring liturgical legacy through the Roman Missal of 1570 and why unity in the Holy Mass mattered so much when the Church faced confusion and division. If you care about Catholic history, Counter-Reformation saints, or why the Tridentine Mass is connected to Pope Pius V, this journey brings the context to life.Then we arrive at the moment that still stuns listeners: the Battle of Lepanto. As the Ottoman Empire threatens Christendom, Pius V rallies a different kind of army, a continent-wide Rosary crusade, trusting the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The victory leads to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and leaves a question that lands in our daily lives: what changes when we treat prayer as our first response, not our last resort?Subscribe for more stories of saints and share this with a friend who needs hope, then leave a review to help others find the show. What part of Pope Pius V's witness do you want to imitate this week?Pope Pius V Writings and moreOpen by Steve Bailey Support the showChat with US 24/7 Ask us anything https://chatting.page/mjxs9aerrtgm3lmpndlcepmbyosntrjnDownload Journeys of Faith App for Iphone or Android FREE https://journeysoffaith.com/pages/download-our-appJourneys of Faith brings your Super Saints PodcastsPlease consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith Help us Grow!Why you should shop here at Journeys of Faith official site!New Mega Search Engine!Lowest Prices and Higher discounts up to 50%Free Shipping starts at $18 - Express Safe Checkout Click HereCannot find it let us find or create it - - Click HereRewards Program is active - click Here

Patrick answers a cascade of listener questions spanning holy water, blessings, rosary habits, church customs, communion practices, and the challenge of family sacramental struggles. With each call, he responds directly, clarifying traditions, debunking misconceptions, and offering practical advice rooted in Catholic teaching. Genuine curiosity meets clear, steady guidance on everything from receiving communion to etiquette in the Mass procession. Jules - If I bless my home with Holy water is that better or worse than having the priest bless it? (00:48) Sig - How were people in the Old Testament forgiven of Original Sin and got sanctifying grace? (06:11) Ray - What do you say to people who say that 'Jesus didn't start a 'religion''? (08:37) Emmitt - I teach my kids to interrupt their day to pray the Rosary. In regards to bowing to the priest, I thought we were supposed to bow because the priest is wearing vestments and that makes him another Christ. (15:03) Bowing to the Priest at Mass? Not every reverent gesture is actually traditional - By Patrick Madrid - https://patrickmadrid.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-bowing-to-the-priest Michael - Kneeling to receive the Eucharist on the tongue. I want to do this but fear drawing too much attention to myself. Do I need to change churches? (23:17) Phillip - My daughter wants to baptize her child in the Lutheran Church. Is that ok? (29:59) Jose - My sister has been married legally for 10 years to a non-Catholic, and now she wants Holy Communion. What are her options? (33:22) John - The devil didn’t lie when he said that we could become like gods. This bothers me. Can you explain this? (38:44) Loretta – I put a Rosary App up to my mom's ear and she started praying it. (42:05) Patrick in Hayword, CA - People always get down on their knees during Mass when the priest passes. What is the etiquette for that? (44:05)

Friends of the Rosary,Today, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Tuesday, is the feast of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716), whose life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary.Totus tuus (completely yours) was his personal motto; Karol Wojtyla chose it as his episcopal motto, too.Born in the Breton village of Montfort, near Rennes (France), Louis was a diocesan priest who preached throughout western France, ministered to the poor, and led a simple life, which sometimes got him into trouble with church authorities.In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended frequent, even daily, Holy Communion (not the custom then), and imitation of the Virgin Mary's acceptance of God's will.Louis founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (for priests and brothers) and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick.His two books, The Secret of the Rosary and True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, have become a classic explanation of Marian devotion.Louis died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, where a basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947.Alleluia! Christ is Risen!Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• April 28, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

A sermon preached by Ed Crump with Foundry UMC, April 19, 2026, the second Sunday of Easter.   Texts: Isaiah 51:1–6; Luke 24:13–35 April 19, 2026 Good morning. Will you pray with me, May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing to you God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.   There are moments in life when everything you thought was solid… suddenly isn't. Plans collapse. The future you trusted no longer exists. Many of us have had those moments since January 20, 2025. Some of us are dealing with illness or a sick loved one. Some of us have experienced heartbreak. Some of us are lonely. Some of us are feeling financial insecurity. And when we experience those things, usually all we can do is put one foot in front of another.   In our text from Luke this morning, that's where we meet the disciples: Not triumphant.  Not celebrating resurrection.  Not even waiting in hope. They are walking away from Jerusalem. Away from the place where everything fell apart. Away from the cross. Away from hope. Two friends walking away together. They say, “We had hoped…”  And note they use the past tense. “We had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.”   Not just grief, but disorientation.   Their understanding of God, of justice, of the future has all unraveled. The Jesus they were presented with did not meet their expectations, so they had difficulty recognizing and accepting him. And if we're honest, many of us know that road. We know what it is to say, “I had hoped…” And for some communities, that sense of “we had hoped” is not just a moment or a season, but a painfully long history. A history of displacement, of promises broken, of identity challenged or erased.   Today, as we mark Native American Ministries Sunday, we remember that Indigenous peoples across this land are not abstract names from a history book. They are living communities, with real histories, sacred languages, deep wisdom, and enduring resilience with cultures that existed for thousands of years before their land was taken from them. And many carry stories of disruption and loss that echo, in their own way, that same cry: “we had hoped.” On this special Sunday during Easter Season, I want to read Foundry's WE ARE ON NATIVE LAND statement: When we gather for worship and ministry on the corner of 16th and P, we do so upon the sacred, traditional, and unceded lands of the Anacostan, Massawomack, Susquehannock, Piscataway, and Pomunkey peoples, who were forcibly removed from this area to allow for English settlement. As occupiers of their territory, we recognize them as the original and perpetual stewards of this land and gratefully acknowledge our responsibility for a more honest recounting of our history that empowers us to work for the thriving of all people!     Now hold that ugly, inconvenient reality alongside the voice from the prophet Isaiah we read this morning: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness… look to the rock from which you were hewn.” Isaiah is speaking to a people who are also disoriented. They are exiled, displaced, unsure of who they are anymore. In the wake of the Babylonian Exile, everything that once defined them: land, temple, nation, has been stripped away. They are not just geographically displaced; they are spiritually disoriented, wondering if they are still God's people at all. And into that uncertainty, God does not begin with explanation but with invitation: “Look to the rock from which you were [cut].” Isaiah says to remember Abraham and Sarah, how God brought life out of barrenness, promise out of impossibility. In other words, Isaiah is saying, your identity is not determined by your present loss, but by God's enduring faithfulness. Scripture tells us that every human being is made in the image of God. That's why we proclaim that truth in rainbows and banners right out front:  “No matter anything, you are welcome here to be met by our God, who knows you by name, and who loves you, and who wants to have an ever deepening relationship with you. Welcome.” That means no people, no culture, no community is less-than.   Even now, God says, salvation is on the way, not just for you, but as a light for all nations. What feels like an ending is, in God's hands, still unfolding. The prophet Isaiah says: “For the Lord will comfort Zion… will make her wilderness like Eden.” What looks barren is not the end of the story. But here's the tension between our texts from Isaiah and Luke today: On the road to Emmaus, the disciples know the story. They know the Scriptures. They know the promises. And still…they're walking away. They really don't understand what's going on. And then, all of the sudden, without announcement, Jesus comes alongside them. And they don't recognize him. He's not what they expected. Not what they had “hoped for.” Luke tells us, “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” The risen Christ is right there walking beside them, and they don't recognize him. [PAUSE]   Why don't they know it's Jesus? I don't think it's because they're actually foolish. And I don't think it's because they completely lack faith. Rather, I suspect it's because sometimes grief closes our vision. Sometimes disappointment narrows what we can imagine God doing; or loved ones doing; or our ability to persevere.   And what does Jesus do when the disciples don't recognize him?  …and I think this is one of the most instructive parts of this passage… Jesus listens. He lets them tell the story. Cleopas basically says, ‘Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what happened to Jesus?' …to Jesus. …and what's really amazing is, Jesus lets them tell HIS OWN story and he just listens…he doesn't jump in and say, well of course I know the story, it's about me! He keeps quiet. He lets them name their grief. He lets them speak their dashed hopes out loud. And only then does he begin to reframe things. “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he reframes the story. Not as failure. Not as defeat. But as part of a larger unfolding, where suffering and glory are somehow, mysteriously intertwined. This is where Luke and Isaiah meet. Isaiah says: Do not trust only what you see. God's future is bigger than your present reality. Jesus says: You are reading the story too narrowly.   But even after this incredible moment of teaching…the Disciples still don't recognize Jesus! Not yet. It's not until they reach the village. Not until there's an invitation. Not until they sit down. Not until they share a meal. In a text clearly designed to evoke the image of the Eucharist it says, “He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them.” Then, and only then, do they recognize him. Not in the explanation. Not in the argument. But in the breaking of the bread. In the shared table. In an act of community. And this is exactly why John Wesley refers to Holy Communion as a “means of grace.” An opportunity to have a real encounter with God and Spirit.   According to the UMC website, a “means of grace” in the Methodist and Wesleyan tradition is: “...an ordinary channel—such as prayer, Scripture, or Communion—through  which God invisibly works to strengthen, sanctify, and convey [God's] love to believers. These practices, categorized as works of piety and devotion; mercy and compassion, are not meritorious acts but instruments for receiving grace and cultivating personal and communal holiness.” And in our tradition we celebrate the Eucharist in an “open table” where we invite all who desire to be Christlike—regardless of denomination, membership, or baptismal status—to partake in Holy Communion. And that tells us something about how we understand God's vision. In the Interpretation Bible Commentary on Luke, Fred Craddock notes something profound,  “...Luke here tells us that the living Christ is both the key to our understanding the Scriptures and the very present Lord who is revealed to us in the breaking of bread. His presence at the table makes all believers first-generation Christians and every meeting place Emmaus.” The table is not a place where difference disappears. It is a place where difference is honored, and still, there is room for everyone.  The Gospel is Good News precisely because it declares this inclusiveness and abundance.  There is more than enough in God's economy. And then, just as suddenly, just at the moment they recognize who Jesus is, he vanishes. But something is different. Something has changed in them: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” The recognition was not just about realizing it was Jesus. It was about becoming people who can fully understand who Jesus is. People whose hearts are awake. People who remember who they are called to be and act accordingly.  And what do they do after they recognize Jesus? They get up, immediately, and go back. Back to Jerusalem. Back to the place they had fled. Because resurrection doesn't just comfort us. It sends us. It calls us to service in the priesthood of all believers. And when it sends us, it sends us not just with ideas, but with action.   The question for us is:  How do we recognize Jesus like the disciples did? How do we live into the love of Christ we are called to embody?     The Wesleyan answer to that question is — of course — through various “means of grace” like prayer and Holy Communion. Let me give a specific example…   One of the most helpful practices I've found to help me improve my conscious contact with God, allowing me to more fully perceive God's presence is Centering Prayer.   Centering Prayer is a simple form of silent, contemplative prayer that invites us to rest in God, not through lots of words or scripted prayers, but through quiet consent to God's presence.    The practice is to choose a “sacred word” like peace, love, grace, or Jesus, and use the word to pray with and connect to God, gently returning to the word whenever our mind wanders.   So the practice is to sit in silence, letting thoughts come and go, always returning to our sacred word as a way of opening ourselves to God.   I want to invite everyone to try Centering Prayer now for a couple minutes to get a taste for the practice:   Sit up straight - comfortable and alert Choose a “sacred word” Take a deep breath in and out And silently introduce your sacred word as a simple prayer.  This is like “placing yourself” in God's presence without effort or expectations.   [2 MINUTES OF SILENCE]     What many people discover is that, over time, this practice makes God's presence more accessible—especially in difficult moments. The sacred word becomes “top of mind” and can readily remind us that God is always here.   What I most of all want to do this morning is encourage all of us to explore various means of grace as we journey through life. To find practices that help us improve our regular conscious contact with God.    [PAUSE] So what does this all mean for us today? It means: Christ meets us on the road we didn't plan to walk. Christ listens to the stories we tell, even when they are full of disappointment. Christ reinterprets our lives in light of a larger hope. And Christ is made known, not just in grand moments, but I think mostly in simple acts: Breaking bread. Sharing space. Welcoming one another. In quiet moments of prayer, meditation, and contemplation. And it also means this: We are ALL invited to be part of what God is doing in the world. Not just as charity. But as a partnership. Not as rescuers. But as people willing to listen, to learn, and to walk alongside.   So if you find yourself today somewhere on that road— Carrying grief… Holding disappointment… Wondering where God is in all of it… …or walking alongside someone who is struggling… Pay attention. Because today's Scriptures tell us we do not walk the road alone. Who is representing Christ to you on your journey?  As we begin to fully perceive, we may also begin to see Christ in one another: in acts of compassion; in truth-telling; in shared table; in repaired relationships. May we, with God's help, not only recognize Christ walking with us, but also be willing to imitate Christ in lives of love, compassion, justice, humility, and shared humanity. Amen.

Full Text of Readings Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter Lectionary: 279 The Saint of the day is Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort's Story Louis's life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and mother of the Church. Totus tuus (“completely yours”) was Louis's personal motto; Pope John Paul II chose it as his episcopal motto. Born in the Breton village of Montfort, close to Rennes, France, as an adult Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort identified himself by the place of his baptism instead of his family name, Grignion. After being educated by the Jesuits and the Sulpicians, he was ordained a diocesan priest in 1700. Soon he began preaching parish missions throughout western France. His years of ministering to the poor prompted him to travel and live very simply, sometimes getting him into trouble with Church authorities. In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended frequent, even daily, Holy Communion—not the custom then!—and imitation of the Virgin Mary's ongoing acceptance of God's will for her life. Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary, for priests and brothers, and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick. His book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin has become a classic explanation of Marian devotion. Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, where a basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947, and his liturgical feast is celebrated on April 28. Reflection Like Mary, Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with Saint Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Sulpician Father Raymond Brown described her.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

In this powerful Fourth Sunday of Easter sermon, Pastor David Balla proclaims the rich comfort of Acts 2:41–42, revealing how the early Church was devoted to the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. This Lutheran sermon on Acts 2 highlights the heart of the means of grace—Baptism, God's Word, Holy Communion, and prayer—as the gifts through which Jesus Christ sustains His Church.If you are searching for a biblical sermon on the early Church, LCMS preaching, means of grace sermons, or Christ-centered Lutheran teaching, this message shows how Christ serves His people through Word and Sacrament, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation.This sermon emphasizes that the Christian life is not built on our devotion to Christ, but on Christ's devotion to usthrough Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the preached Gospel.Support this ministry here:

Canon Benjamin Norman, ICKSP, was ordained in 2018. He currently serves at Most Holy Rosary Chapel (St. Vincent's School For Boys) in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. In Today's Show: Is breaking the first three commandments the worst crime one can commit? When and why did the distribution of Holy Communion in the hand begin? Is it possible to pray perfectly? What is Canon Norman's opinion on the Divine Mercy Novena? ​​How can a layman best live the spirituality of the ICKSP living in the world, in the midst of their manifold duties? Can secular work be gratifying and not just toil? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Eternal life begins here on earth through Holy Communion

Tuesday of the Third Week of EasterApril 21, 2026  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to John. The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.”      Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”The gospel of the Lord.Homily Today's readings ask us to examine where our lives of faith are grounded. Are they grounded in the words and actions of Jesus or are they simply a set of practices with which we have become comfortable? In the gospel the crowd asks Jesus for a sign to believe in him. Remember, Jesus had just fed the crowd with the five barley loaves and two fish the day before. But they wanted something like the manna which had accompanied their ancestors in the desert for forty years, which they called bread from heaven. Jesus tells them that the true bread from heaven is what God is prepared to give them now, which will not just sustain the body, but will give life to the world. Of course, the crowd responds asking him to give them this bread always. Jesus then says to them: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” When we hear these words, we immediately think of receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion; but Jesus is not speaking just of the Eucharist. He is calling each of us to share in his way of being: to love as he loved, to forgive as he forgave, to relate to God as his beloved children and to see in others our brothers and sisters and bring them consolation and healing as he did. That is just as difficult for us today as it was for those listening to Jesus' words. The bishop St. Augustine liked to tell his people: “become him whom you eat.” One who did just that was Stephen, whom we hear about in today's first reading. St. Luke tells us that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and fearlessly proclaimed Jesus as the Lord and Savior promised by God through the prophets. This did not sit well with the elders and the scribes of the Jewish people. They thought they were done with Jesus by crucifying him, but Stephen accuses them not only of being blind to the law of God, but also of being in the line of those who murdered the prophets. He then proclaims Jesus not only as risen, but seated at the right hand of God. This was all too much for them. They threw Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. In this moment of facing death, Stephen remained a faithful witness to Jesus. He shared Jesus' way of being by his attitude toward his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And he died as Jesus did: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” A young man named Saul witnessed the stoning and may even have incited it; but I am sure he was affected by the manner of Stephen's death, because when Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus, he was quickly converted. The question for us is whether our lives witness to the power of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus? In a world where our Pope and bishops are being attacked by figures in authority who feel threatened by their preaching the gospel, may our way of living and speaking in and of Christ Jesus be a witness that can transform the world. May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

Fr. Evan answers your questions on the necessity of believing in the Resurrection, advice for combating repeated sins, how to receive Holy Communion in a different jurisdiction, the liturgical differences between Orthodox traditions, and how to view pre-Baptismal sins in this week's episode of Orthodoxy Live!

Fr. Francisco Nahoe, OFM Conv., has served the Church and the Franciscan Order in Catholic education, campus ministry, parochial ministry, and catechesis. He is a chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, and focuses his scholarly efforts on Renaissance rhetoric and Polynesian ethnohistory. In Today's Show: Why isn't it considered receiving Holy Communion twice when you receive it in both species? How can you study seriously? Is Cleophas from Luke 24:18 the same from John 19:25? What does temporal punishment look like? Did the devil know Jesus is the Son of God? Can Catholics eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent? Is there such a thing as a "born again" Catholic? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Fr. John Brancich, FSSP, is the pastor of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. He was ordained into the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter in 2004. In Today's Show: ​​What is the best way to end a confession? Should you wait to sit at Mass until the priest sits? Does the church offer Holy Communion to those with dementia, Down Syndrome, or other mental impairments? Historically, how were deaf people able to assist at the traditional Latin mass? Is it ever ok to swear to express frustration? Why have people tried to change the Canon of the Mass? How do Catholics interpret the relationship in the Song of Songs? What is a Mass stipend? How many Masses should be said for a deceased loved one? Is there a difference between praying to God the Father and Jesus? How do Jesus and Mary feel about gay people? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Full Text of Readings Thursday of the Second Week of Easter Lectionary: 270 The Saint of the day is Saint Bernadette Soubirous Saint Bernadette Soubirous' Story Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, the first child of an extremely poor miller in the town of Lourdes in southern France. The family was living in the basement of a dilapidated building when on February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. Bernadette, 14 years old, was known as a virtuous girl though a dull student who had not even made her first Holy Communion. In poor health, she had suffered from asthma from an early age. There were 18 appearances in all, the final one occurring on the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, July 16. Although Bernadette's initial reports provoked skepticism, her daily visions of “the Lady” brought great crowds of the curious. The Lady, Bernadette explained, had instructed her to have a chapel built on the spot of the visions. There, the people were to come to wash in and drink of the water of the spring that had welled up from the very spot where Bernadette had been instructed to dig. According to Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the Lady of her visions was a girl of 16 or 17 who wore a white robe with a blue sash. Yellow roses covered her feet, a large rosary was on her right arm. In the vision on March 25 she told Bernadette, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” It was only when the words were explained to her that Bernadette came to realize who the Lady was. Few visions have ever undergone the scrutiny that these appearances of the Immaculate Virgin were subject to. Lourdes became one of the most popular Marian shrines in the world, attracting millions of visitors. Miracles were reported at the shrine and in the waters of the spring. After thorough investigation, Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions in 1862. During her life, Saint Bernadette Soubirous suffered much. She was hounded by the public as well as by civic officials until at last she was protected in a convent of nuns. Five years later, she petitioned to enter the Sisters of Notre Dame of Nevers. After a period of illness she was able to make the journey from Lourdes and enter the novitiate. But within four months of her arrival she was given the last rites of the Church and allowed to profess her vows. She recovered enough to become infirmarian and then sacristan, but chronic health problems persisted. She died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35. Bernadette Soubirous was canonized in 1933. Reflection Millions of people have come to the spring Bernadette uncovered for healing of body and spirit, but she found no relief from ill health there. Saint Bernadette Soubirous moved through life, guided only by blind faith in things she did not understand—as we all must do from time to time.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Mother Miriam Live - April 14th, 2026 Mother continues with Dom Prosper  Guéranger's "Paschal Time." Mother answers questions about whether Protestants can be saved, who can distribute Holy Communion, the morality of distancing from a relative who committed slander, whether men with pornography addictions should be allowed to get married, discerning a vocation, the sin of dating a married Catholic who is separated but has not obtained an annulment, and whether to confess disrespecting the Novus Ordo.

Today is day 104 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the fifteenth line: “The Communion of Saints”. 104. How are the Church on earth and the Church in heaven joined in worship? Through union with Christ, as celebrated in the sacrament of Holy Communion, the Church on earth participates with the Church in heaven in the eternal worship of God. (Exodus 24:9–11; Psalm 148; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; Hebrews 12:18–29; Revelation 19:1–9) We will conclude today with Prayer 106. For Spiritual Communion found on page 677 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Friends of the Rosary,Alleluia! Christ is Risen!Today, April 12, is the Sunday of Divine Mercy, the Octave Day of Easter. We meditate upon the mystery of God's mercy, the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God, and a gift to humanity, as St. John Paul II wrote in Dives in misericordia.Overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy. The Risen Lord, the Living Christ, offers His love that pardons, reconciles, gives peace, and converts hearts to love.We need to repeat: Jesus, we believe in You, I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.On Good Friday, 1937, Jesus requested that St. Faustina make a special Divine Mercy Novena. Jesus also asked that a picture be painted according to His vision as the fountain of mercy. He gave her a Chaplet of Divine Mercy to be recited and said that it was appropriate to pray the chaplet at three o'clock each afternoon (the Hour of Great Mercy).Saint Faustina, a Sister of Mercy in Poland who initiated the Divine Mercy devotion, received the request from the Lord to set the feast of the Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of Easter.On May 5, 2000, five days after the canonization of Saint Faustina, the Vatican decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter would henceforth be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.Happy Easter!Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York–Jesus to Sr. Faustina – Excerpted from Diary of Sr. M. Faustina Kowalska"On one occasion, I heard these words:"My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity.The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy."[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice."From all My wounds, like from streams, mercy flows for souls, but the wound in My Heart is the fountain of unfathomable mercy. From this fountain spring all graces for souls. The flames of compassion burn Me. I desire greatly to pour them out upon souls. Speak to the whole world about My mercy."Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠April 12, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Read OnlineNow Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. John 20:30–31Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through that belief you will inherit eternal life? Belief begins with an intellectual assent but must continuously deepen. The belief Saint John speaks of in today's Gospel is one that draws us deeper into the mystery of Christ's Paschal Mystery—His Life, Death, and Resurrection—so as to receive the gift of His abundant and transforming Mercy.Today is the eighth day of Easter. The Church, in Her wisdom, celebrates the most important days of the liturgical year for eight days. Historically, there were a number of feasts celebrated with octaves: Easter, Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Ascension, All Saints, and in some locales, the Sacred Heart and various Marian feasts. After Vatican II, the Church focused on two—Christmas and Easter—so as to give greater emphasis to the core of the Paschal Mystery.In the year 2000, the Octave of Easter took on a new focus when Saint Pope John Paul II instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy on the eighth day of Easter. This was done in response to Jesus' personal request, communicated to the Church through a humble cloistered Polish nun. Canonized in 2000, she is known as Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.Between 1931 and 1938, Sister Faustina received numerous mystical visions that she recorded in six notebooks, now referred to collectively as Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. Almost two years before her death, Sister Faustina recorded the following entry in her diary:On one occasion, I heard these words: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flows are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary #699).When we reflect on this beautiful private revelation in the light of today's Gospel, we are invited to consider that even though the Gospels present us with all we need to know in order to come to faith in Christ and share in the new life He bestows, the treasure of His Divine Mercy is inexhaustible. Just as “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book,” so also the depths of His ongoing work, His Divine Mercy, will only be seen in Heaven.Divine Mercy Sunday is a day on which we are to profess our belief in this Mercy. To do so, we must ponder these inexhaustible treasures, probe their depths with the aid of Saint Faustina's private revelations, and then allow our Lord to reveal them to us within the depths of our souls. Reflect today on the infinite and inexhaustible treasures found in the Person of Christ and His Divine Mercy. His Mercy draws us into countless unrecorded and glorious graces that we are called to receive and rejoice in. Believe in His Mercy. Be open to it. Call upon it today, and receive it more abundantly. Most Merciful Jesus, Your mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I pray that You will pour out Your Mercy upon me and on the whole world. Fill us with the grace You won through Your Paschal Mystery so that all people will come to believe in You as their Lord and God. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Divine Mercy Jesus Christ Stained Glass Style Christian Vector Illustration with Red and White Rays by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineThat very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13–16Why were these two disciples prevented from recognizing Jesus when He appeared to them on Easter Sunday? Earlier that morning, as Luke recounts (Luke 24:1–12), Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary—the mother of James—and other unnamed disciples found the tomb empty. While they were there, “two men in dazzling garments appeared to them” proclaiming that Jesus had risen. When the women told the rest of the disciples, their story “seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe them.” Surprisingly, for some of the disciples, Jesus' Resurrection was not immediately a cause for rejoicing—it was a cause for uncertainty and, sadly, disbelief.Today's Gospel recounts what happened later that day when two disciples who had heard the women's testimony took a seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. In John's Gospel, when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she didn't recognize Him until He said her name, “Mary!” (John 20:16). By speaking her name, Jesus not only showed He knew her but also revealed His resurrected presence to her.When Jesus appeared to the two disciples walking to Emmaus, He revealed Himself in a different way. He walked with them, allowed them to express their confusion and even doubt, and then interpreted the Scriptures to them, beginning with Moses, so they understood how the Scriptures pointed to Him as the Messiah.So back to our original question: Why were the eyes of these two disciples prevented from recognizing Jesus when He appeared to them? Because faith in the Resurrection doesn't come from physical sight alone; it comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God, which opens our hearts to believe. Jesus preached the Gospel to these two disciples, and through that preaching, they came to believe.The story of Emmaus not only recounts an encounter with the risen Christ but also offers a model for our own encounter with Him in the Mass. First, the Word of God is read and preached. Then, the bread and wine are consecrated into the True Presence of Jesus, which we consume. In the story of Emmaus, Jesus' preaching inspired faith in these disciples. Once they understood and believed, Jesus “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30–31). In this breaking of the bread, they recognized Him. Jesus had given them faith through the Word of God and nourished that faith with the Eucharist.Why did Jesus vanish at that moment? Because He now dwelled within their souls—a presence sustained each time we receive Him in the Eucharist, His True Presence entering our own hearts and lives. His bodily presence was no longer necessary for them; they now carried Him within. The Word of God instills faith, preparing our hearts, and the Eucharist brings us into intimate union with our Lord, who dwells within us.Reflect today on how you encounter Jesus in the Mass. At Mass, Jesus appears to us in the exact way we need Him, through Word and Sacrament. When we listen to the Word of God, internalize it, and let it spark deeper faith in our hearts, we have truly met our Lord. When we kneel before the Eucharist and consume Him in Holy Communion, Jesus is even more intimately present to us than if He were physically before us. Each Communion infinitely blesses our souls, for through this gift, Jesus enters and makes our souls His sanctuary.My Eucharistic Lord, You truly come to us every time we participate in the Mass. Please help me to make my participation in the Mass a reflection of the encounter of these two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Open my mind to the gift of faith as I hear Your Word proclaimed and preached. With faith, may I then receive You openly in Holy Communion, so that my soul will become a sanctuary in which Your resurrected presence may dwell. Jesus, I trust in You and welcome You with all my heart.Image: Christ's Appearance to the two Disciples journeying to Emmaus.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineThough the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was not offered yesterday, the faithful received Holy Communion during the commemoration of the Lord's Passion. Today, however, the Church falls into profound silence. No liturgical services are celebrated during the day; the tabernacle remains empty, and the Church waits in expectant stillness for the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection. This silence invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ's descent to the dead and to reflect on the unfathomable depths of His sacrifice.For those who attend daily Mass, this day often brings a sense of emptiness—a longing for the Eucharist that reflects the soul's spiritual hunger. Yet, in Her wisdom, the Church withholds both the Mass and the reception of the Eucharist. Why? Because Holy Saturday, in itself, communicates a distinct grace. The stillness of this day is not a deprivation but a profound way of receiving; a gift offered in silence, inviting us to trust, wait, and hope.The Triduum reveals that the liturgical year itself is a source of grace, with each of these three sacred days unfolding the Paschal Mystery in stages. Saint Thomas Aquinas explains it this way: “The figure ceases on the advent of the reality. But this sacrament is a figure and a representation of our Lord's Passion, as stated above. And therefore, on the day on which our Lord's Passion is recalled as it was really accomplished, this sacrament is not consecrated” (Summa Theologica III.83.2). In other words, Good Friday, through our participation in the Lord's Passion, communicates to us the full grace of His redemptive sacrifice, making the celebration of the Eucharist unnecessary on that day.Similarly, Holy Saturday bestows a unique grace that draws us into the mystery of waiting with hopeful anticipation. Though no liturgical celebrations occur until the Easter Vigil, this day of silence invites us to rest in the hope of Christ's ultimate triumph. We are called to remain with Our Lady and the disciples in their vigil, trusting that even in the stillness, God is at work and the promise of the Resurrection will soon be fulfilled.In our lives, hopeful anticipation is an essential spiritual gift, offering the grace to persevere through trials, endure hardships patiently, and remain steadfast in hope, no matter the struggles we encounter. Hope is one of the three theological virtues, grounded in faith and inspiring us to put faith into action, which gives rise to charity—the greatest of all virtues. Without supernatural hope, we cannot fully attain or sustain charity.Yet, hope is far more than wishful or optimistic thinking. Supernatural hope is anchored in God's promises, received through faith, and nurtured by prayer and trust. Our Blessed Mother exemplifies this hope. On Holy Saturday, her heart was not filled with doubt but with an unshakable hope that moved her to keep vigil in prayer, awaiting the fulfillment of her Son's promise. This hope did not end in mere anticipation but blossomed into supernatural charity—a love rooted in God's will, bearing fruit even in the face of grief and uncertainty.Reflect today on the silence of Holy Saturday. As you do, consider the anxieties, impatience, or hardships you might be enduring. Pray for hope in the midst of these trials, and anticipate the fulfillment of God's saving promise in your life. Trust Him, wait on Him, and allow your faith and hope to fill you with the love of God and others, necessary to pass through Christ's Passion into the glory of His Resurrection.My silent Lord, as You lay in the tomb, Your body rested while Your spirit descended to those faithful souls who had died before You. For them and for all who would follow in faith, hope, and love, You opened the gates of Paradise. On this day of silent anticipation, fill me with hope, especially when I am tempted to despair. May I place all my trust in You and receive the abundance of Your grace this Holy Saturday. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus Christ lying death in his grave, with his mother MarySource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Patrick responds to honest questions about Jesus’ Resurrection, the Church’s teaching on indulgences, and struggles families face with transgender issues and cultural artifacts at home. He listens closely, offers clear explanations on Holy Communion for those with celiac disease, unpacks confusion around paying for spiritual benefits, and approaches each dilemma with warmth and candor. Michelle (email) - On Easter Sunday, when they found Jesus's tomb empty, his body and soul went to heaven. What happens when we die? Why do our bodies not go as well when we are buried? (01:51) Liz - I have always struggled to understand why we could get an indulgence. How is it that someone who has more money could get to heaven faster? (08:17) Matt - My son is dating a Protestant girl who has celiac disease. She is hesitant to receive the Eucharist. How can we guide her? (17:29) Joe - What do I need to do spiritually in place of Mass? I wasn't able to make Mass because Mass was not offered at my local parish today. (20:26) Yvonne - My parents have a lot of Native American pottery in their house. A lot of their friends say they shouldn’t have them in their house. (24:27) Maria - My son is transgender and we struggle to have a good relationship with him. My daughter constantly says he is wrong. I feel this is not helping. (36:21)

Patrick answers questions from listeners, moving between Catholic teachings, personal faith stories, and challenges like anti-Semitism and priestly celibacy. He offers warmth and clarity, sharing moments of encouragement and candor as callers wrestle with issues of reverence, conversion, and interfaith relationships. Keith - How do bad angels and good angels fight each other? They are not physical beings but there was a battle in heaven. How did they take form? (00:40) Susie - I am not Catholic. I hope that you would mention that blessings are given at Catholic Churches for people who are not Catholic. Do priests still give blessings? (03:40) Patrick in Kansas - How can I convince my friend not to bury a statue of St. Joseph? (07:22) Mark - I married a Catholic woman and converted 7 years later. I also was Jewish. (11:58) Kim - We went to a Basilica in London, Ontario, and we noticed that people were standing after Communion. What does this mean? (21:29) Jamie - What do I say to someone who thinks Holy Communion is like cannibalism? (30:29) Maria - I heard that men have one less rib than women. Is that true? (37:59) Shannon - What is your take on the Church teaching on marriage for priests? (42:31)