Catholic Church

By Terence Sweeney, First Things - Why ring at all? It has been a long time since people set their watches to the noon-day pealing, and we hear of good news and bad by means of phone alerts rather than church chimes. Perhaps we do it in order to make our own contribution to the sound of the city. Daily we hear honking, laughter, sirens, birds, trolleys clanging, and the occasional drum circle. And now we hear the sound of bells, a small reminder that our urban landscape can be a spiritual landscape.

By Gretchen Filz, GetFed - The below prayer of dedication of a family to Our Lady was composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori. St. Alphonsus is a Doctor of the Church and author of one of the classic theological works on the Blessed Mother, the Glories of Mary, from which this prayer is taken. If possible, recite this prayer with the whole family together, led by the head of the household, before an image, statue, or other reverent depiction of the Blessed Mother.

By Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D., Catholic Exchange - Holiness consists in faith, hope, and especially divine love. These are “virtues,” literally “powers,” given by the Spirit. To top it off, the Spirit gives us seven further gifts which perfect faith, hope, and love, making it possible for us to live a supernatural, charismatic life…. wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, piety, fortitude, and fear of the Lord… standard equipment given in baptism, that all are called to be “mystics.”