Religion

Anointing oil, called chrism in the Catholic church, is a fragrant oil blended with olives and balsam and has received appropriate blessings. Anointing oil is poured in the course of some...

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.

No matter what faith you belong to, there are things you can do to strengthen your faith and your relationship with God.

Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church. Every baptized Catholic should eventually receive the sacrament of Confirmation. To prepare for the reception of the...

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...

The word apostolic, found in the Nicene Creed, has many different meanings to different Christian churches around the world. Here is a brief overview of how the word is understood by churches...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church was not prompted by a theological dispute. In fact, he was a staunch Catholic early in his reign. His decision to establish the Church of England...

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 decision to adopt children is a significant and life-altering choice. Thousands of children in the United States and overseas need safe, loving homes. Catholic Charities is one agency that...

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, purgatory is a condition or a geographical location of temporary punishment reserved for those who have died without being redeemed from all of their sins.

The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Seven Capital Sins, are considered "deadly" because individuals who commit these sins are likely to commit other sins that are far worse and lose the...

In the life of a young child entering the Roman Catholic Church, or someone converting to the religion, First Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist, is an important and spiritually...

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...

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...

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...

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...

First Communions are Christian ceremonies at which a child receives the Host (bread and/or wine) for the first time. This ceremony is very important in the child's spiritual and religious journey,...

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...

The differences between the Catholic and Protestant bibles took shape in the 4th century AD with a disagreement between two early saints. St. Jerome saw the Hebrew translation of the Old Testament...

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...

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...

Gift giving is a chance to show a person that you care and think about them. There are several times in a Catholic person's life when gifts of religious expression can be of tremendous importance....

When a person, usually a teen, decides to be confirmed in the Catholic church they are choosing to become a member of that church and stating that they believe in what the church believes in. It...

Mystery and legend surround the beginnings of the Catholic rosary, but it is one of the most widespread devotions of the Catholic Church. It is embraced by believers around the world.

According to the 2008 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, being Catholic means you are a member of the largest Christian denomination in the world. What it means to be a Catholic goes much...

Unlike some other Christian faiths, the Catholic faith is inundated with books. Besides the Bible, there's the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic...

The Catholic Church is descended from the sole Christian Church as handed down to the Apostles from Jesus Christ. Early uses of the word "Catholic" in reference to the Church were broader...

In the Roman Catholic Church, a marriage is viewed, in the best of cases, as a covenant between two people to create a lifelong, inviolable union with God blessing the couple's act of unity. Many...

"The history of the Catholic Church is so closely woven into Christian civilization that the one cannot be told fairly without the other," wrote Fr. John Hardon S.J. for the Catholic Education...

For Catholics, the Holy Mass is a special event. It's a beautiful combination of the physical with the spiritual. One of the places where these two realities meet are in the music of the Mass --...

St. Patrick's Day is an annual holiday celebrated on March 17 in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. Whether you attend Mass, a St. Patrick's Day parade or enjoy an arts and...

According to Britannica Online Encyclopedia, "The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Over the course of centuries it developed a highly sophisticated...

For Catholics, the spiritual life is like a mountain. Either one is climbing or one is going down. Advancing in the spiritual life leads to holiness. Holiness leads a Catholic to heaven.

Each year, World Youth Day (WYD) brings Catholic young people together to celebrate their faith on a local, regional or national level. In addition, every 3 years, individuals 16 to 35 are also...

Baptism is the sacrament by which your child will be cleansed of original sin, infused with sanctifying grace, and formally enter the community of the Roman Catholic Church. If you are a Roman...

The Internet has a wealth of Catholic catechism resources especially designed for children. There are many printable lesson plans and activities designed to teach children about the catechism of...

RCIA, or the rite of Christian initiation for adults, is the traditional method for people to become Roman Catholic. The process includes regular meetings, spiritual reflection and participation...

The phrase "Lumen Gentium" refers to one of the main documents issued by the Second Vatican Council in 1964 and is considered the dogmatic constitution of the Roman Catholic Church. Directly...

Rosary beads are one of the most beloved tools of the Catholic religion. Said to have been handed down by the Blessed Mother (Mary) herself to Saint Dominic in the 12th Century, and its importance...