What is the feast of the Presentation? February 1, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Worship & Sacraments According to the Church’s liturgical calendar, the feast held on Feb. 2 each year is in honor of the Presentation of the Lord. Some Catholics recall this day as the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary because such was the feast day named until the 1969 changes in the Church’s calendar.
Getting to know our sacred space January 29, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Worship & Sacraments Each of the objects, the surroundings in our Catholic churches, has a purpose and a history. Here is an overview of some of those sacred areas, objects and surroundings.
Worry vs. divine providence January 22, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary Throughout the Bible, the Scripture writers describe many worrisome situations, but somehow the difficulty ends well because of God’s ever presence.
Why we shouldn’t leave Mass early (or get there late) January 9, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Worship & Sacraments By showing up late or leaving early, we not only trivialize the real presence of Jesus, not only trivialize the Eucharist, but we also miss the full richness of the Mass.
The Immaculate Conception and the evolution of dogma December 6, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marian Devotion Even after nearly 2,000 years, we still have trouble fully appreciating the beautiful church teaching about the conception of Mary.
‘One mightier than I is coming’: Advent with St. John the Baptist December 2, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Saints While we celebrate both John’s birth (on June 24) and death (Aug. 29), it is during Advent that the liturgy amplifies John’s role as the precursor of Christ. It is John who, as God’s instrument, tells the world to get ready, the Messiah is coming; it is John who will then single out the Messiah living in the midst of man.
What does World War I have to do with the solemnity of Christ the King, which marks a century this year? November 15, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, Catholics celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. A relative newcomer to the church calendar — established in the 20th century — this feast is designed to give special recognition to the dominion Christ our Lord has over all aspects of our lives.
The history behind All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days October 28, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints All Saints is a churchwide holy day of obligation and normally celebrated on Nov. 1. If the first day of November falls on a Saturday or Monday, at least in the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated. All Souls’ Day takes place on Nov. 2, unless it falls on a Sunday, then the celebration is held Nov. 3.
How a Norbertine nun’s visions led to the feast of Corpus Christi June 19, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, News, Saints, World News Beginning in 1208, Jesus would use a pious, holy and humble nun, St. Juliana of Cornillon, as his instrument to take advantage of the increasing visual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and, at the same time, return the People of God to regularly receiving holy Communion. Juliana would be Christ’s source to establish the feast of Corpus Christi.
Fathers of the Church: The Greek (or Eastern) Fathers June 10, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News The Catholic Church has long honored early Christian leaders, theologians and teachers from the East (Greek) and West (Latin) as Fathers of the Church. Unlike doctors of the church, there is no official list of Church Fathers.
The origins of our sacred creeds June 9, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Every Sunday through the Nicene Creed, we Catholics profess our faith in Jesus Christ and express our complete conviction to the divine persons of the Most Holy Trinity.
Guide to the ecumenical councils of the church June 8, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Many sacred beliefs of our Catholic faith can be traced to the 21 ecumenical councils held since the fourth century.
