Catholic

Rosary bracelets are small one-decade rosaries designed to be worn around the wrist. A one-decade rosary consists of 10 Hail Mary beads and one larger Our Father Bead. Most rosary bracelets are...

The Daily Roman Missal is a book containing the various prayers and readings for the Roman Catholic Mass. These prayers and readings are used in various cycles. Each feast day has its own readings...

Incense is used as a spiritual tool in many cultures and religions. The Catholic Church uses certain kinds of incense in prayer and ceremonies.

The high altar is the most sacred part of Cologne Cathedral. Here the Mass is offered, the most important liturgical service of the Catholic Church.

The Daily Roman Missal is a prayer book that contains all the prayers and readings of the Roman Catholic Mass. You can use it to prepare for Mass by reading and reflecting on the Liturgy to come....

The Roman missal is for the use of lay persons in the Catholic Church and helps congregants follow along with the liturgy from start to finish. The Roman missal has readings for each day, prayers,...

The First Holy Communion is an important event to a person of the Catholic faith. Often a formal occasion, the First Holy Communion has deep symbolic and religious meaning that is very significant...

St. Anthony of Padua (1195 to 1231) is the patron saint for finding lost things. Artists often portray Anthony holding a lily (a symbol of purity and innocence), the baby Jesus (who is said to...

Since the time of St. Francis, brothers of the Catholic Church have pledged themselves to lives of service through vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The essence of their vocation is...

Religious beliefs that strike many as superstitious or weird can hold a fascinating appeal for others. Such is the case with collecting relics, the ancient Christian practice of revering the body...

Attending church on a regular basis is one way to hear an excellent sermon, but there are alternatives. If you can't make it to church, or would like to hear a new pastor without changing...

There are 195 Catholic archdioceses and dioceses in the United States according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. More than 18,000 Catholic parishes or churches in cities across...

The "Little Flowers of St. Francis" is a collection of tales about the life and works of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers. Each of these tales can be considered one of the "flowers."

The religious followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire venerated the holy figures displayed in the paintings, frescoes and murals that decorated the interior of churches....

The region of Moravia in Central Europe is the homeland of the Moravian people which now lies in the Eastern portion of the Czech Republic. Moravia not only gives its name to its people but the...

Making a First Communion banner can be stressful. You want everything to be perfect for your child's special day. But making a First Communion banner doesn't have to be an ordeal. It can be a fun...

The Christian Catholic Church observes the sacrament of holy matrimony, also known as marriage. According to the American Catholic Church, it is one of only two of the seven sacraments that is...

The translation of the word 'catechism' is 'teaching.' Catechism is local. It's teaching the church's beliefs to the young and those new to the church as both grow in their faith. It is also...

While in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is an increasingly popular method for helping infertile couples become pregnant, many Americans are unaware that the Catholic Church considers IVF immoral and evil.

The word "passion," defined as "an outburst of strong emotion or feeling," also is used to describe the Gospels' accounts of Jesus' sufferings. Passion Week commemorates the passion with which...

St. Sebastian is a Roman Catholic saint who was martyred for his Christian faith. Very little is known about Sebastian, and accounts of the various details of his life are more apocryphal than...

Palm leaves obtained from church on Palm Sunday are blessed, so they should be treated with a certain amount of reverence. Blessed items should never be discarded in the trash. The proper way to...

In the Catholic Church, votive candles, also known as vigil lights, are burned to demonstrate special devotion or to make a specific appeal. According to the New Advent and Catholic encyclopedia,...

The headquarters of the Catholic Church is Vatican City, which is a city inside of Rome. Therefore, there are numerous seminaries of many countries inside of Rome for anyone considering entering...

A novena is a popular Catholic devotion consisting of prayers recited for nine days to obtain from God a special favor such as the healing of someone who is ill. The novena is addressed to Jesus,...

The pope gives certain priests the title of "monsignor" in honor of their service and dedication to the Catholic Church. A monsignor does not have any special duties outside his responsibilities...

Albertus Magnus, or Albert the Great, was a German theologian whose efforts to interpret Aristotle and connect the natural sciences with Christian thought made him a Catholic saint.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...