Catholic

Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church. In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Confirmation is normally administered immediately after baptism, so one...

Many Catholic churches have an area or a small separate altar that contains a statue of either Jesus or the Virgin Mary, with small, often white candles in front. Those are votive candles. Votive...

The Roman Catholic Church's influence was felt across all of Europe during the Middle Ages. Spain especially was deeply affected by this institution. From religion to women's fashions, the...

A Catholic novena is a series of specific prayers that are said for a special request, intention, or grace. Most novenas are said every day for nine days (the word "novena" is based on...

Founded by Spanish Franciscan priests in 1786, Mission Santa Barbara began as a few small adobe buildings. It eventually grew to encompass 10 acres that included a church, kitchen, fountains,...

Like a civil annulment, a Catholic Church annulment voids a marriage and makes it as if it never occurred in the first place. But the grounds for a church marriage annulment are significantly...

If you are fortunate to been given the gift of faith, and to have been a child of parents who nurtured this, it's important that you use that gift effectively and productively. How can this be...

The Roman Catholic Church needs a steady supply of priests, but the route to priesthood can be arduous. Carefully consider the emotional and psychological requirements necessary for becoming a...

Holy Communion is one of the sacraments of initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Holy Communion is administered at the same time as baptism, so...

Some homes already have a pair of rosary beads in them. In my case, I inherited rosary beads from family members because, according to Catholic tradition, they should never be discarded...

To know the miraculous story of the four leaf clover, you must read the following yourself. The following article will take you through step by step the beautiful story of faith that resulted...

The Vatican City is the official the headquarters of the Holy See for the Roman-Catholic Church. However, outside of religion, its influence in modern Rome is rooted in culture and history.

The Roman Missal is the volume that contains all the prayers recited at the Roman Catholic Mass. The General Instruction for the Roman Missal (GIRM) describes the rubrics, or instructions, on how...

Upon the birth of their children, many parents choose to select godparents. These individuals often have religious ties and carry responsibilities that include participating in the baptism...

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City--known in Spanish as Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María--is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. Built over a...

In times of sorrow or joy, some people find themselves in need of spiritual guidance. Priests offer those services, including counseling, marriage ceremonies and funerals.

The standard way of praying the rosary, with its Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and (added by John Paul II) Luminous Mysteries has been around for centuries. But there are other ways of praying the...

Throughout its history, the Catholic Church has powerfully impacted western civilization.

A scapular medal, a small metal medallion, is a symbol of the Roman Catholic faith. It is a spiritual "descendant" of the cloth scapular.

Whether your parish needs money for new stained glass windows or you're just trying to fill the food pantry, there's no question that today's economy is draining collection baskets across the...

Have you attended church? Have you been in prayer? Have you ever just wondered how the Pastor does it so effortlessly and easy? Have you listened to the miracles and gifts they have received just...

There are many ways that God answers prayers. There are many of us that feel our prayers go unanswered. They don't. Now you may not get the answer you want and didn't recognize it. But this...

How to become a true Catholic.

Confirmation is a rite of initiation a young adult takes to join the Catholic church. Because the Catholic church follows the tradition of infant baptism, the child is not able to make an informed...

Starting a prayer group can be a challenge but it is also a rewarding experience. In difficult times people can gather together with friends, family and neighbors and give support to each other,...

The Celtic cross, also known as the Irish high cross, can be found in Ireland, Wales and Scotland. It is composed of a normal cross with a ring traveling around the four cross pieces. Originally...

First Communion is a very special day for a child; he or she has reached the age where they come to understand the Blessed Sacrament. It is a celebration of the first taking of communion and an...

Joining the Roman Catholic Church is a decision which must not be made lightly. Nevertheless, many people who choose to become Catholic find the yearlong catechumenate, the time in which they...

In recent years, the Catholic Church has been criticized for its uncompromising stands on political issues. These issues include abortion, same-sex marriages and the sexual abuse cases involving...

Rosary beads are a Catholic tradition used in prayer for centuries. The translation from Latin is "garland of roses." The rose is a representation of Mary, the blessed mother of Jesus, and the...

The Catholic Church in Ireland has a colorful history that dates to the time of St. Patrick. Surviving invasions and revolts, parliaments and kings, the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland is still a...

The origins of the Catholic rosary are shrouded in mystery, as befits an item used to meditate on the mysteries of life. Between the legends and the unknowns, there are a few clear facts about the...

Catholic parents, pastors and youth ministers face a universal challenge: to keep young people interested and excited about their faith. Luckily, there are many resources--and even a national...

A christening is a religious ceremony in which parents present their baby to Christ and to the Christian faith. Taking time to learn the guidelines and christening etiquette of your church will...

First Communion is a right of initiation into the Catholic church of children around second grade. Typically, the child's family is invited to church to witness the First Communion, and then most...

Lent is a time for children to learn about the sacrifice Jesus made for them and the love God showed for them. It is a time for children to learn what it means to be a Christian. A variety of...

This article will teach you how to pray the Holy Rosary with the prayers included. Use the photo below as a guide as to which bead to hold while you are praying. Click on the photo so you can see...

According to the Catholic Source Book, "Catholic" means "universal" and comes from the Greek words katholikos, which can be translated as "concerning the whole." This article looks to explain what...

The Law of the Innocents, or Lex Innocentium, is another name for a set of laws originally called the Cáin Adomnain. It is named after Saint Adomnán of Iona, the Irish abbot and...

The Liturgy of the Hours, otherwise referred to as Divine Office or Breviary, is the official daily prayer schedule of Catholicism that involves praying at certain times of the day. While clergy...

Learning to pray the rosary can seem like a daunting undertaking because you have to remember so many prayers and what order the Mysteries come in. You also have to remember what day or time of...

The cross is the symbol of Christianity. It's a visible reminder of the death of Jesus Christ, the event Christians believe brought about the salvation of the human race. While the cross in...

Confirmation is the second of the seven sacraments a person will go through as part of the Catholic religion. There is no specific age for a child's confirmation, but it usually comes around the...

The Roman Catholic Church believes in the sanctity of all human life, and its ministries inside and outside the church building reflect that: Helping the poor, the homeless, the uneducated, and...

Are you wanting to find time to pray what is called a novena? A novena is usually a nine day prayer to a saint of your choice. This article will explain how to find time to set aside to pray your...

A.D., B.C. and C.E. are terms used to define years in the Gregorian calendar, which is the most common calendar used.

When a member of the Catholic faith dies, her family will plan a Catholic funeral Mass. Catholic faith holds that the body is a temple of the Lord and is to be treated with the utmost respect...

Few man-made structures in the world are as storied and as recognizable as France's Notre Dame de Paris ("Our Lady of Paris"), which sits in the fourth arrondissement (administrative division) of...

Teaching children about Catholicism can be a tricky feat. The seriousness of religion is sometimes lost on the little ones, but if presented to them in ways that they can understand children can...

Scenario: You are going back to your home country this Christmas and you are now eager to find and buy gifts for your family. Did you know that you can save money by planning ahead on what to...