The Prophets, by Ryan P. Hanson The Prophets were the messengers of God. He told them what he wanted the Jews to know. Some of the prophets told of the coming of the Messiah, others about exile and how they would be conquered. There are two different classes of prophets: the Major Prophets, who are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and the Minor Prophets, who are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi....
Heresies: and Introduction, by Thomas M. Cabeen Heresies are an evil that can easily be thought of as a thing of antiquity. On the contrary, heresy is as present in our age as it has been from the early Church, the very first of which was condemned in the Council of Jerusalem, which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. When one thinks about heresy the mind can be brought to many events of the past, both far and near: there are the complicated names, such as Arianism and Pelagianism, and councils such as the Council of Trent and of Nicaea....
Blessed Alice Kotowska, by Evelyn Wagner Blessed Alice Kotowska was born on November 20, 1899. Her birth name was Maria. She had 8 siblings and was born in Warsaw, Poland. Her father was an organist at her church and his holiness affected her throughout her life. The two most important things in her life were God and Country because she was born in a time when Poland was trying to free itself from the captivity of other nations....
Bring Back the Slap! By Thomas M. Cabeen Blows on the cheek are not commonly associated with sacramental ceremonies nowadays, but until 1965, every confirmed Catholic received such a brief reproval. This action is known as the “Confirmation Slap”. Why it existed, why it doesn’t in the current Roman Rite, and why I think it should be brought back will be treated in this article. Up until the Second Vatican Council in the mid- 1960s, during the ceremonies (that is, the actions that surround a sacrament but are not necessary for the validity of the sacrament) of Confirmation, the confirmandi would receive a “brief blow on the cheek” by the bishop after being anointed with the Sacred Chrism....
Christening a Church, by Ryan P. Hanson When a new Catholic Church is built, it cannot be used right away; it begins as just a beautiful building. For it to become a church it has to be christened by the bishop of the diocese. This happens by giving the new church three things that reflect the Sacraments of Initiation, that is, Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. The Baptism of a Church happens when the bishop sprinkles holy water on the new building and on the people, called the living stones of the church, and the altar....