May has traditionally been called the “Marian month” in the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Above all, it is a month to honor Mary as the Mother of God, with connections that can be made to the time of the ancient Greeks when May was dedicated to the god of fecundity or fertility. In different eras, like the medieval and the baroque periods, there were different ways of giving Mary the honor she deserves as both the “sinless one” and the “Mother of Jesus” who is the second Person of the Holy Trinity made man. That’s why Mother’s Day is always in May.

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., once offered a reflection on Mary where he made an interesting distinction between the “Mary of Devotion” and the “Mary of Scripture.” The “Mary of Devotion” is held fondly in the heart of Catholics, and she is the one to whom we show love in the recitation of the Rosary, in the installation of her statues in our churches and homes, and in the different types of novena devotions. She is the one who prays with us while we are still “mourning and weeping in this valley of tears!” It is always interesting to see how every time there is a Marian apparition, it is always to those who are meek, humble, and lowly – the “nobodies” in society. Mary has never appeared to a Hollywood star, a captain of industry, or a leader of a country. Her choice has always been children, many of whom were uneducated (at least theologically), and those who had trouble conveying her messages to the authorities. Indeed, her predilection is for the poor, and she is indeed a mother of the poor and the humble.

But the “Mary of Devotion” cannot just be reduced to pure sentiment and romance. If so, we Catholics can end up being very theologically sloppy in the way we hold Mary in such high regard. Devotion to Mary has strong theological foundations that we must never abandon and forget in preference to the way we show her our fond devotion. Pure sentimentality runs the risk of being reduced to a superstition that is feeling or fear based, which can end up making Catholicism more cultish than a religion that is rational.

It is also the “Mary of Scripture” that we must always seek to get our grounding right. The writers of the gospels give us good reason to maintain our healthy Marian devotion, and she helps us to become true and proper disciples of Jesus, as she is indeed the model disciple. But we must be very attentive to how her character reveals her ideal discipleship qualities in the gospels, as these are subtle. For example, this is revealed when Jesus says that all those who listen to God’s word and obey it are His mother, brother, and sister. Mary never took umbrage at these words, which any earthly mother easily would. Marian theologians have always called her the second Eve whose pure and unconditional “yes” contrasts so clearly against the “yes” of the first Eve when she chose to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The first Eve didn’t want to live in mystery, while the second Eve – Mary – welcomed mystery and showed a readiness to live in the unknown.

Mary’s model discipleship is shown by her willingness to carry her cross with great love all her life. And the way she carried her cross mirrors the way her Son carried His: willingly with grace, trust, and strength. Mary’s stance at the foot of the Cross exemplifies humility as we do not see her shaking her fist at heaven and screaming out for vengeance for her innocent Son’s death. Her agony at Calvary mirrors her Son’s. Her Son’s agony opened Heaven’s gate for us, and her agony could be interpreted as her labor pains, akin to a mother’s pains when she undergoes the incredible pain of childbirth. Calvary needs to be seen as humanity’s labor ward, where her pain resulted in her being the Mother of all humanity.

It is this Mary that Marian devotions honor, and it is this Mary who is crowned the Queen of Heaven and Earth. How blessed we are to be able to call her Our Mother. So let us, while fervently reciting the Holy Rosary in this month of May, try to imitate Mary wholeheartedly.

Not even the worst sinner in the world would say that his or her goal is to be a “worse” sinner; on the contrary, he still desires to be a better person. Unfortunately, many of us, though longing to be much better in our spiritual trajectory, often falter on the way and eventually end up abandoning the whole process of attaining spiritual heights. This is the story of almost all of us. We are captives in the prison of the “fall,” not knowing how to get free.

Be not disheartened. St. Ignatius comes to us in rescue! Among his teachings of the rules of discernment, I prefer Rule 5. Even if you forget all his other rules, I beg you to not forget Rule 5. Our main problem in spiritual life is that, in times when we get discouraged or disheartened, we fall back or let our progress go. In this rule, Ignatius offers what we should not do in times of desolation. Here is Rule 5: “In a time of desolation, never make a change but be firm and constant in the proposals that you had in place in your spiritual life before this desolation began.”

Let’s consider the following hypothetical situation: I called the priest, who is my spiritual director, on Tuesday, and I scheduled a Friday appointment with him to talk and make my confession since I’m undergoing an inner struggle and I need his guidance deeply. I am looking forward to this. I have done this several times before, and it has been enormously helpful to me. Then, I received a phone call on Wednesday, and I was made aware of some serious conflict between my siblings involving a false accusation against me. This issue greatly weighs on my heart. The heaviness and anxiety of it, which profoundly disturbs me, causes me to let my prayer slip and makes me feel like everything that I do is meaningless. Now, on Thursday evening, in the heaviness of this spiritual desolation and the thoughts arising from it, I find myself saying, “Why waste the priest’s time? How many times have I tried to change or grow in this particular aspect of my life? How many times have I confessed? What’s the use so far? He’ll say nice things to me to mend my heart; he’ll be very patient. Yet he’ll know and I’ll know that nothing really is going to change. I think what I’m going to do is just call him and say that I’m too busy to come tomorrow.”

Now, let’s ask two questions: Am I in spiritual desolation? The answer, obviously, is yes. Am I thinking of changing my spiritual proposal, which was in place before the desolation began? Of course, I am! What does Ignatius tell me I should do at this moment? Never make those changes! So, what should I do? Get myself there on Friday exactly as planned. Stick to my usual prayers, stick to the Rosary, stick to the Bible reading, and remember that Ignatius stresses the word “never.” There’s no exception to this unless you’re physically seriously ill. Rule 5 doesn’t mean that we never ever make changes to spiritual plans and proposals in our spiritual journey. A time of peace and tranquility or spiritual consolation could be times in which we could make such changes with wisdom. Even then, when considering making helpful changes, one should do so carefully, wisely, prayerfully, and, if necessary, with the consultation of a spiritually mature person.

If we never forget Rule 5 of St. Ignatius and if we keep it as a friend for the rest of our spiritual journey, it will protect us from many deceptions of the “enemy” who is the “tempter.” This would lead us to many spiritual heights and would set us captives free.

Prayer Attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola: Anima Christi
(certainly one of his favorite prayers that he used and taught often)

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds, hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from You.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to You,
that, with Your saints, I may praise You for ever and ever. Amen.

In this season of Lent, it is always good to experiment with new spiritual ventures. Ignatian spirituality introduces various meditation practices. Let me share one simple meditation practice concerning Jesus’ hour in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here are the steps:

1. Preparation for Prayer: Sit or lie comfortably, aware of any tension in the neck, shoulders, and hands and any tightness in the chest and muscles. Allow them to relax. Look around the room and house – your “Garden of Gethsemane” – through the window, at the world now closed to you. Allow God to enter your garden and your life.

2. What do you want? Can you express how you are right now in a few words or an image? How would you like God to be there for you today? Ask God to open your mind and heart to what He wants to give you today.

3. Prayer of Introduction: “Dearest Lord, over the years, I have witnessed Your care for others, and I have felt Your love for me. I can see in my life that we have a history together – which You can see more clearly than me! What I ask for today from You is the gift of “Trust:” the Trust that You had in Your Father. May I trust You to stay with me and help me face my fears and failures. With this gift, I can overcome all challenges in life. Amen.”

4. Scripture Readings and Reflection:

   1. ​​​​​St. Matthew 26: 36- 46 (NABRE): In the Garden of Olives (Gethsemane), after celebrating the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus confronts His worst fears head-on: “The Son of Man will be handed over […]” He grapples with His fears, admitting His weakness. This is not a one-off event; that night, He has to go through it, again and again, before He finally surrenders and conquers. He surrenders His avoidance of pain and loss; He surrenders to the forces of violence poised over Him; He surrenders His natural inclination to flee and His desire that His future be different from what it will be. He surrenders His life and dreams into the Father’s hands; He conquers any wavering trust in God. Jesus is alone in this struggle. He draws three of His friends to His side, but they don’t even stay awake. They cannot face reality. It is too hard for them. Yet He only berates them gently.

   2. Psalm 91 (NABRE): The Psalm expresses the prayer of a person who is in distress yet trusts in God just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Psalmist is convinced that God will act on his behalf. However, we might question his position that God will save him from disaster, pain, and death. That is the lesson that Jesus taught us. He allowed for the possibility that He, the Son of God, might indeed die at the hands of His enemies, and He still believed that ultimately, perhaps on the Last Day, God would put things right. Jesus – acting with complete integrity until His last breath – left His life entirely in God’s hands. Are you feeling almost crushed in spirit? Are you afraid that all your efforts will bear no good fruits? Do you feel painfully alone even with some company? Are you struggling with desires for freedom from pain and for happiness as you have known it before? This is your “Gethsemane.” This is your moment to make a gift of yourself to the Father. And Jesus – alive, risen, conquering – is with you. He has opened the way through death into the presence of the Father. He has already made up the difference for what you cannot do. Jesus is not asleep, nor are the Saints and your beloved deceased who look over you. In their loving company, tell God exactly what you feel. Allow your body to express it. Tell God what you desire above all else: to act in love and trust through all that is ahead.

5. Concluding Prayer of Thanks: “Father, I thank You for Jesus and for so many others, who show me that You are to be trusted and that You do save us when we call on You. Help me to accept that I cannot determine my future and the future of those I love. Keep me always in the company of Jesus so that as I suffer as He did, so will I also be raised to live with Him. Amen.”

6. Reflection on Prayer: Spend a few minutes looking back at your prayer. Don’t try to judge whether it was a success or a failure; no attempt to pray is a failure. But recall the places where your heart was stirred: by love, anger, anxiety, or other feelings. Hold those moments out to God. If it is helpful, write them down.

Let me share with you some intriguing thoughts that still resonate in my mind after reading Dangers to the Faith by Al Kresta.

As Catholics, we must love our mission field. We are missionaries in a land where we have enemies that we must learn to love. Many of us haven’t yet come to grips with the fact that, as observant Catholics, we are a “bona fide” (authentic) minority. As a minority, we are prone to the spiritual temptations of anger, resentment, bitterness, and vindictiveness. These assault minorities because they feel the dominant culture exercises undue power over them. Those things that matter most to us are often the object of mockery. Our leaders are trivialized. Our doctrines are misstated and then called ridiculous. And yet, we know our worldview is rational — even some aspects, self-evident. Yes, observant Catholics are a clear minority: the pressure to let the dominant culture define us and then conform and accommodate evils that will prevent human flourishing. How bad is it? You tell me. The Catholic Church is accused of:

• Mythmaking in an age of science.

• Sexual repression in an age of erotic emancipation.

• Rigid hierarchy in an egalitarian society.

• Monarchical tendencies in a democratic age.

• Insisting on accommodation to religion in a secular age.

• Calling for a universal voluntary sharing of goods in an age celebrating personal acquisition and private property as absolute.

• Highlighting the futility of violence in an age stabilized and entertained by inhuman wars.

• Talking about corporate personality and communitarian ethics in an age of individualism.

• Believing in a universe of design and purpose in an age that believes in purely naturalistic forces acting with no prevision of the end they are achieving.

• Urging the priority of the personal in an age of bureaucratization.

• Insisting on prudence in a world impressed with flamboyance.

Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), in his “Introduction to Christianity,” tells the story of a traveling circus in Denmark that catches fire. The clown, already made up and dressed for a performance, speeds into the neighboring town to fetch help and warn the inhabitants. As he is calling “Fire,” the townspeople take his pleas as an excellent bit of advertising intended to lure them to the circus. They begin laughing, and, as his agitation grows, their humor rises until they are tearing up, applauding the clown for his performance. The clown is also in tears, but weeping for his inability to communicate effectively, and this amuses them more. He can’t get them to take him seriously because he is, after all, a clown. Finally, as the flames begin to catch their fields on fire, they realize that the clown’s message is authentic, but now the circus and the town burn to the ground.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Matthew 11: 15

All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day, which most likely began as All Martyrs’ Day, can be traced to the earliest Christians. By the third century, the followers of Christ were annually honoring their brothers and sisters who had given their lives while witnessing for and defending Jesus Christ. Typically, on the anniversary of a martyr’s death, those living would gather to remember and offer prayers at the tomb or place where the deceased had died. Tombs were decorated and altars were built over the tomb. Beginning in the third century, the anniversary of a martyr’s death was called his/her “birthday.” The belief among first Christians was that believers who died defending Christ were carried by angels to heaven and are face to face with the living God, in the presence of the beatific vision. In those early centuries, especially during the savage reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305), there were countless Christians who accepted death at the hands of the Romans rather than deny Christ, rather than worship false gods or the personage of the emperor. Thus, the number of martyrs became greater than the opportunities to give each one an anniversary celebration, and the need for a common feast day was recognized. By the fifth century, in cities such as Antioch, there is evidence of the fledgling Church having set aside the first Sunday following Pentecost to collectively honor these holy and courageous people.

The Pantheon

In 609, during the reign of Pope Boniface IV, the Eastern Emperor Phocas gifted a temple in Rome to the Holy See. The temple, still standing today and still known as the Pantheon, was originally built in the first century. It was a public place to worship all the gods and goddesses of pagan Rome: a spectacular monument. Pope Boniface removed all the statues of false gods and, according to legend, relocated and buried the remains of hundreds of Christian martyrs beneath the Pantheon. Pope Boniface then consecrated the Pantheon as a Christian church to the Blessed Mother and all the Holy Martyrs. The consecration took place on May 13, 609, and that was the annual date of the feast of All Martyrs for the next 125 years. On November 1, 735, Pope Gregory III (731-741) dedicated an oratory in St. Peter’s Basilica to house the relics of the Apostles, Martyrs, Saints, and Confessors. Thereafter, November 1 became, at least for the churches in Rome, the feast of All Saints. Eventually, Pope Gregory IV (827-844) assigned November 1 as the date of the feast of All Saints throughout the Latin Church and proclaimed it a holy day of obligation.

Today, All Saints’ Day is a solemnity and holy day of obligation when the universal Church honors the martyrs, the saints, and the confessors, known and unknown: all who have gained the reward of Heaven.

All Souls’ Day

Offering prayers for those who have died is ancient in origin. In the Old Testament’s Maccabees II, written around 100 B.C., Judas Maccabeus orders his army to pray and offer sacrifices on behalf of their fallen comrades. Tombs found in the Roman catacombs are inscribed with prayer requests for the deceased.

The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls’ Day, evolved onto the Church calendar long after All Saints’ Day. Between 998 and 1030, St. Odilo, the abbot at the Benedictine Monastery in Cluny, France, encouraged all the monks to pray for the souls of all those who have died, those who are waiting for the joys of Heaven. He instituted this commemoration on the day after All Saints’ Day, and soon other religious orders and churches began, on that same date, to remember all who had died.

On All Souls’ Day, the universal Church prays for all those in purgatory, people who were much like us, whose offense may have been less than ours. By pleading for them, we are inspired to lead purer lives. On that day and during the entire month of November, we ask for Masses to be celebrated, visit the cemetery where they are buried, attain indulgences for them, and give alms to the poor: all on behalf of those close to us and to others we may have neglected during the year. We also light candles, and church bells are sometimes chimed to remind everyone to pray for the poor souls in purgatory.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

Fall is my second favorite time of the year here in the U.S. Colorful leaves carpet the lawns in our neighborhoods. I enjoy seeing trees transform and watching animals prepare for winter. Reflecting on autumn, I received a profound revelation: the first half of October contains an all-star lineup for saint feast days! Five of my personal favorite saints, and historical favorites among Catholics, have a feast day in the first part of October. On top of this amazing realization, October is also dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: October 1

According to St. Thérèse, “Our Lord does not so much look at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.” Known as the “Little flower,” the Saint offers words that provide a fresh perspective on our daily living and struggles. When we focus on problems as something to be overcome, we often highlight the amount of effort we have to put forth. Perhaps, we also struggle with desiring recognition for the work assigned to us. Instead, if we can focus on love as St. Thérèse teaches us, our lives will be more joyful!

Guardian Angels: October 2

Every day, I ask for the intercession of my Guardian Angel, and I’m sure that you do the same. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God” (336). God sends His messengers from Heaven to keep us safe and remind us of His presence with us. Unless and until I seek and ask my guardian angel’s intercession, how can His presence become an experience in my life?

St. Francis of Assisi: October 4

Francis said, “Preach, and if necessary, use words.” He teaches us that the Bible is not a book to be read but a text to be lived, just as we do not discover the authentic Mozart by reading his scores but by performing them or hearing them performed. The prophetic element in the life of Francis was to exemplify the “simple way of Jesus,” compared to the luxurious pretensions of medieval churchmen. To be a “Franciscan” does not require that someone accept a robe and cord and go about barefoot in the world. To be a “Franciscan” is to learn those radical words of Jesus who offers us simplicity, poverty, humility, and genuineness in both love and the cross. To be a “Franciscan” is to learn how to embrace a profound gospel paradox.

St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: October 5

Faustina has made a large impact in my life along with the other 20th century saints like Padre Pio and Maximilian Kolbe. Known as the “Apostle of Divine Mercy,” the Polish nun is to the 20th century what St. Paul was to the Gentiles. Faustina is probably the biggest influence on seeing God as a “merciful Father” as opposed to a “vengeful judge.” Through St. Faustina, I heard God’s truth in her words, “Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.”

St. Teresa of Ávila: October 15

The final heroic example of holiness in early October is St. Teresa of Ávila, a Carmelite nun. Her experience of a 180-degree type of conversion reassures us that whatever sinful state we are in can be converted into a state of holiness if we really persevere through prayer. Teresa’s “The Interior Castle” is a profound spiritual work that explores the vastness of our spiritual journey. In Teresa’s time, many monasteries functioned as social hubs for the affluent. She was determined to reform these monasteries into more focused institutions, but she was frequently met with opposition, criticism, and even slander. Upon her deathbed, her final words were, “O my Lord, now it is time that we may see each other!”

While Autumn is akin to a second springtime, my communion with the saints during October is like a second “Spiritual Springtime” for me. I pray the communion of saints will continue to guide you in your path toward holiness and ultimately lead all of us closer to God!

As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, I wanted to share this poem about the Holy Trinity. - Fr. Dinesh

I am here to tell you a story, the story of love untold.
It is the story of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
the story that leaves my eyes wet when I think of its depth.
When we were nothing at all,
when there was no sign of us to be,
the Father out of His love brought us into being.
He did it all out of His benevolence,
not because He needed us,
since in Himself He was Self-contained Being
with His Son who was His voice, His Word
and Being with the Spirit
who was the love shared between the Father and the Son.

As time went by, we became familiar with Him and His creation
and slowly lost the sense of wonder
and started exploiting nature
which He created to be of use to us.
Not only did we exploit nature,
but we ended up exploiting our own kind,
leading to a chain of sin and crime
that no man could redeem.
And in the nick of time He sent His Son,
His beloved Son - making Him leave
the comforts of heaven - the heaven
that is ruled only by “love” to come
and reveal that love to a “loveless humanity!”
With compassion, He brought us near to His love
and He died for us.

But our strength could not be sufficient
to sustain the salvation won for us
by Christ Jesus our Lord on the cross
so He still did not leave us alone.
He sent His Holy Spirit to sanctify
and keep us in His love!
With this, God’s love story for humanity was Consummated:
He gave His all in creation (as the Father),
He gave His all in salvation (as the Son),
and He gave His all in sanctification (as the Holy Spirit)!
That is why I give glory to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

- Fr. Eustace Siame, S.D.B.

Do you feel bored or weary while reciting the Holy Rosary every day? Do you feel that it’s meaningless to do so? The month of May is approaching. This month carries a special devotion to the Blessed Mother through the recitation of the Holy Rosary in a specific manner. I thought it would be appropriate to share with you the powerful promises of our Blessed Mother in order to gain vigor and enthusiasm through your recitation of the Holy Rosary, which would certainly dissipate the boredom and meaninglessness that you may have experienced so far.

As a reminder, recitation of the Holy Rosary is done Monday through Friday at 8 AM at Immaculate Conception Church, led by one of the Legion of Mary members, and at Assumption Church (bilingual: English and Italian) at 7 AM.

Literature regarding the Fifteen Promises of the Blessed Mother to those who recite the Holy Rosary daily can be found at the exits of both churches

Easter Triduum: The prefix “tri” means “three”, as in triangle, a shape with three sides. The Easter or
Holy Triduum is the three-day period that begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. It is the high point of the Church year, for it celebrates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday): Palm or Passion Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week. On this day, palms are blessed, and people hold them aloft during the
processional at Mass to commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Gospel reading is an account of the Passion and Death of Jesus.

Palm: A palm is a sacramental when it is blessed on Palm Sunday. On that day, it is distributed at Mass to commemorate when the people spread palm branches before Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. Palms, sometimes fashioned into crosses or flowers, are placed in homes. Blessed palms are burned to make the ashes that are used on Ash Wednesday.

Paschal Candle: The Paschal or Easter Candle is the large white candle that is decorated and lit at the Easter Vigil. It is also called the Christ Candle because it stands for the light of Christ. The priest carves a cross and traces the Alpha and Omega as well as each numeral of the current year. He embeds five grains of incense into the candle to symbolize the five wounds of Jesus. The congregation’s candles are then lit from its flame. The Paschal Candle remains lit throughout the Easter season and for Baptisms and funerals.

Forty Hours of Devotion: The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and adored for forty hours. The forty hours refers to the time that Jesus spent in the tomb. This devotion started in the sixteenth century. St. John Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia, promoted it in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century after he heard Jesus encouraging him to do so.

Fasting: Fasting is refraining from or limiting food or drink (or anything that gives pleasure to the five senses). Religious reasons to fast are to show devotion to God, to do penance, and to practice self-control. Catholics are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by taking a main meal and two lesser meals that together are less than the main meal. We also fast from food and drink, including gum, for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Before His public ministry, Jesus fasted for forty days. Fasting is one of the three main Lenten practices (the others: prayer and almsgiving).

Calvary: Calvary is the hill outside the walls of old Jerusalem on which Jesus died for us. “Calvary” comes from the Latin word for “skull”. In the Bible, Calvary is called Golgotha, which is “skull” in
Aramaic. Some people think that the skull of Adam is buried there. Today, in the Basilica of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem, visitors can view the rock of Calvary behind glass and touch it through a hole
under the altar.

Holy Hour: A holy hour is a devotion consisting of an hour of prayer before the exposed Blessed
Sacrament. It originated with St. Margret Mary Alacoque in the seventeenth century. She had a
vision where Jesus taught her that making holy hours would show devotion to the Sacred Heart. By this practice, we answer Jesus’ question in the garden of Gethsemane: “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)

What do you think? What does it mean to be “Catholic,” to call the Church “Catholic,” or to describe ourselves as “Catholics”? If we want to live as good and happy Catholics, we must at least understand what it means, mustn’t we?

The Bible reports that it was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). But nowhere does Scripture refer to Christ’s disciples as “Catholics.” Where does the name come from?

At the root, “catholic” with a small “c” means “universal.” So, the word “catholic” denotes something that is present everywhere or in all things. Coincidentally, the city of Antioch is also connected with the first recorded use of “catholic” to designate the Church. In A.D. 110, Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, was martyred by wild animals in the arena of Rome. On his way to the arena, he wrote to the Christians at Smyrna: “Where Christ Jesus is, there is the catholic church.”

What does it mean, then, that the Church is catholic or universal? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says that the Church is universal in two senses (#830). St. Ignatius summed up the first sense: Christ’s presence causes the Church to be universal because Jesus, the Lord of the universe, founded it and lives in it. Thus, we are not speaking here of geographical extent. The One who is present everywhere, who keeps everything in existence, and in whom the fullness of God dwells ‐‐ Christ Himself — makes the Church “catholic” (Col 1:17‐19).

Secondly, the CCC says, the Church is universal because Christ gave it an unlimited mission (#831). It is the Catholic Church because Jesus assigned it the responsibility to proclaim the Good News to all people and make disciples of all nations (Mk 16:15).

When we declare ourselves Catholic, we are not merely expressing a “religious preference" nor are we just saying that we attend a Catholic parish on Sunday mornings, although that is certainly part of it. As the Church is Catholic because Christ lives in it and unites it, we are Catholics because of our relationship to Him. Jesus made us members of the Church by linking us to Himself. “I am the vine, you’re the branches” (Jn 15: 5). Branches get their “vine” life from the vine, and we get our “Christian” life from Christ.

Finally, remember, Catholics are joined to Christ and to each other in the Church by these bonds:

• Profession of Faith: we must believe in Catholic doctrine.

• Participation in Sacraments: these are our sources of Christian life, especially the Eucharist.

• Surrendering to authority: which gives us teachings and pastoral direction.