Church Teaching

Jesuit Father Peter Ryan, professor of moral theology and director of spiritual formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, provided answers to a few questions regarding same-sex marriage after the issue was highlighted when President Barack Obama announced he has settled his "evolving position" to support same-sex marriage.

As we enter into the final week of Lent -- Holy Week -- Catholics are called to unite their own sufferings with Christ's. Thousands of years ago, He suffered and died for the salvation for humankind, yet, somehow, he must have known that the events of our modern time would occur.

This is my final article on the seven signs of a vibrant Catholic parish. I believe that parishes are Alive in Christ when: 1) the holy Eucharist and the sacraments are at the center of parish life; 2) they are schools of prayer and spirituality; 3) they hand on the faith to future generations; 4) they reach out beyond parish boundaries; 5) they proclaim the Gospel in action as well as in words; 6) they have collaborative leaders and exercise good stewardship of all God's gifts; and 7) they transform parishioners, making a real difference in the way they live on a daily basis.

Last weekend we celebrated Gaudate Sunday. The Latin word gaudete means rejoice. In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul tells us to rejoice always because the Lord is near. Christians should always be filled with joy, but we rejoice in a special way during the Advent and Christmas seasons because the Lord is near.

What do we mean when we say that the Lord is near?

Jesus was born. So what?

We all know the birth of Christ means retailers are happy that their stores are packed in November and December.

But the real reason for Christmas, the Incarnation — the Son of God being conceived in the womb of Mary as true God and true man — had moral and ethical dimensions and consequences for those who inhabit the world.

Redemptorist Father Donnell Kirchner, who has a degree in moral theology at the Alphonsian Academia in Rome and taught for many years in Brazil, lists nine of these differences that resulted from Christ’s birth.