What is the 40 Hours Devotion? - Catholic Straight Answers
WEBThe 40 Hours Devotion remembers that traditional “forty-hour period” from our Lord’s burial until the resurrection. Actually in the Middle Ages, the Blessed Sacrament was transferred to the repository, “the Easter Sepulcher,” for this period of time to signify our Lord’s time in the tomb. The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a ...
What are the origins of Lent? Did the Church always have this time ...
WEBWhen Rufinus translated this passage from Greek into Latin, the punctuation made between “forty” and “hours” made the meaning to appear to be “forty days, twenty-four hours a day.” The importance of the passage, nevertheless, remains that since the time of “our forefathers”– always an expression for the apostles– a forty-day ...
What does the Church teach concerning in vitro fertilization ...
WEBAfter being cultured about 40 hours, the embryos are transferred, one at a time, to the uterine cavity, where hopefully implantation will occur. Recent statistics indicate that pregnancy results 24.1% of the time with a delivery rate of 16.8% of the time.
Catholic Straight Answers by Rev. William P. Saunders
WEBGet the Straight Answers from Fr. William Saunders on your questions about Catholicism and the Catholic Faith.
Is missing Mass on Sunday a mortal sin? - Catholic Straight Answers
WEBYes, such behavior really is indicative of turning one’s back on the Lord and committing a mortal sin. God must come first in our lives. On Sunday, our primary duty is to worship God at Mass as a Church and to be nourished with His grace. The Didascalia, a third century writing, exhorted, “Leave everything on the Lord’s Day and run ...
Page 4 of 16 - Catholic Straight Answers
WEBWhat is the 40 Hours Devotion? The Forty Hours Devotion is a special forty-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. Of course, the focus of this devotion is on the Holy Eucharist.
Fat Tuesday and Questions About Lent - Catholic Straight Answers
WEBThe Council of Nicea (325), in its disciplinary canons, noted that two provincial synods should be held each year, “one before the 40 days of Lent.” St. Athanasius (d. 373), St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386), St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) and Pope St. Leo (d. 461) all mention the 40-day period Lenten preparation.
What is Birthright? - Catholic Straight Answers
WEBThe purpose of Birthright is simply to help mothers-in-need have their babies. In 1973, a group of concerned citizens in Leesburg, including many parishioners from St. John the Apostle Church, met to organize a local chapter of Birthright. Father Joseph Baran (d. 1982), then pastor of St. John the Apostle, provided partial funding.
Should we fast before receiving Holy Communion?
WEBFor instance, Moses fasted 40 days atop Mount Sinai as he received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28), and Elijah fasted 40 days as he walked to Mount Horeb to encounter God (I Kings 19:8). Similarly, Jesus Himself fasted forty days as He prepared to begin His public ministry (Matthew 4:1ff) and encouraged fasting (Matthew 6:16-18).
How many times can a person receive Holy Communion each day?
WEBSuccinctly, a person may receive Holy Communion twice a day. Given this citing of official Church law, we must appreciate the rationale that serves as its foundation. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the celebration of the Blessed Sacrament is “the true center of the whole Christian life both for the universal Church and for the local ...