Church Teaching

Q. It's often difficult to get all our children ready and still get to Mass before it starts. How late can I get to Mass and still fulfill my obligation?

In today's scriptural readings, God's revealed word is depicted as God's life-giving antidote to the death-dealing forces at work within our unredeemed human nature.

We see this very clearly in today's first reading from the Book of Kings. Elijah is despondent and depressed. Jezebel is hunting him down, seeking his life. Filled with self-pity, he escapes into the desert to sleep under a broom tree. He asks God to take his life.

"All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers"(Acts 1:14). 

After the birth of our Savior in Bethlehem, and Christ's passion, death and resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles is perhaps the greatest surprise our God has ever given mankind.

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.