Religion

“O Sacred Sacrament, / O Divine Sacrament, / All honor and all gratitude, / Be each moment yours!”
Numerous parishes join together in reciting this prayer following the reception of Communion. It is a lovely prayer, perfectly suitable for the solemnity of Christ’s Body and Blood celebrated on Sundays. What may be most striking about this prayer is its direct reference to the Eucharist as if speaking to God: “all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!” Through these expressions, we speak to someone: We honor and praise the Eucharistic Lord.
In this inaugural year of the country Eucharistic Revival, we have been invited to deepen our comprehension of Christ’s genuine presence within us in the Eucharist. This Sunday, the Gospel of John aids us in enhancing our understanding of the actual presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Broadway performer Michael Maliakel is stating that his Catholic faith is integral to his career as he prepares for his role in a PBS-televised Christmas program.

“It has played a significant role in my life,” the acclaimed Indian American actor and singer shared with Our Sunday Visitor during a virtual media Q&A session on Monday. “To me, those aspects are simply interconnected.”

Maliakel, renowned for his role in Disney’s “Aladdin” on Broadway, shared his thoughts prior to the airing of “Joy: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir,” where he features as a guest performer. The 21st yearly Christmas event, organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is scheduled to broadcast on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. ET and Dec. 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS Video app.

The 90-minute feature is currently accessible for online streaming until Jan. 1.

The show will additionally be broadcast on BYUtv, a program from Brigham Young University located in Provo, Utah, on Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET, with additional airings leading up to Christmas day. Audiences can also watch it at BYUtv.org and via the BYUtv app.

Today is January 28, the celebration of St. Thomas Aquinas.

We read at today’s Mass, “Through this ‘will,’ we have been sanctified by the sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ once and for all” (Heb 10:10).

One dawn in the 1200s, Thomas of Caserta stealthily entered the chapel of St. Nicholas located at the Dominican priory in Naples. There, concealed from sight, he observed St. Thomas Aquinas in heartfelt prayer before a crucifixA gentle voice emanated from the crucifix, saying: “You have expressed yourself admirably about Me, Thomas. What do you desire as your recompense?”

A journey to producing a music album by a Franciscan friar and a layman commenced at a homeless shelter situated in the Bronx.

Several years back, Father Isaiah Marie Hofmann, CFR, and J.J. Wright started making music for the individuals residing in a homeless shelter located in the Bronx. When the pandemic occurred, they shifted to Zoom jam sessions; now they are launching a complete album together, narrating Father Isaiah’s calling story through music.

Four years ago, Brother Isaiah — Father Isaiah, following his ordination in 2022 — unveiled his debut musical album, Poco a Poco, aimed at assisting listeners in enhancing their prayer experience and their connection with God.

Throughout the pandemic, Brother Isaiah, which continues to be his stage name, started praying and contemplating new music. As he engaged in prayer, he reflected on his personal vocation journey and felt a calling to express how the Lord changed his life through song. Ultimately, he composed 10 tracks that form his latest album, “Mysteries and Medicines.”

As he composed the music, he wished that the album would showcase how God mends the world’s brokenness through His enigmas.

Clinton Correctional Facility, situated in the village of Dannemora, New York, holds a grim reputation. It is the oldest and third-largest penitentiary in New York. In 2015, it gained media attention when two inmates executed a cinematic escape with assistance from a correctional officer and a prison seamstress. Even though it is a maximum-security institution, the duo navigated through tunnels, walls, and a steam pipe below the prison, ultimately emerging through a manhole to attain freedom.
Nevertheless, it’s not those two fugitives that render Clinton significant. Instead, it’s the presence of St. Dismas Catholic Church within the prison, which significantly contrasts with the remainder of the facility. Commemorating its 81st anniversary on Aug. 28, St. Dismas is named in honor of the “good thief,” who implored Christ during the crucifixion, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42-43).
Renowned as the most stunning church in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, St. Dismas is the inaugural free-standing church located within a U.S. prison. In 1937, through no small miracle, Father Ambrose Hyland along with inmates from Clinton constructed the church. Father Hyland believed that the men — and God himself — merited more than a poor-quality auditorium for holy Mass.
Father Hyland’s perspective
In 1937, Father Ambrose Hyland envisioned constructing a Gothic-style church on the grounds of the prison. He believed that a church within the prison would serve as a means to humanize the inmates, offering them a space for prayer and an opportunity for transformation. The establishment of a church would also instruct the men in a trade, preparing them for reintegration into society. After obtaining backing from Gov. Herbert Lehman, Bishop Francis Monaghan, and the prison warden, as well as raising several thousand dollars, the young priest and the inmates commenced construction. Despite facing financial and legal challenges, they successfully built an 8,000-square-foot church featuring a 106-foot tower and an interior embellished with art made by the inmates. In 1941, St. Dismas Church was consecrated.

“Reach out if you require anything.” That’s how my father bid farewell when my family left me at college. A couple of hours later, while I was getting accustomed to my dorm, weighing the decision to head to the dining hall with my new roommate, my dad rang me. “Are you alright? Need anything?” After chatting for a few minutes, during which he mentioned that my mom shed tears for most of the six-hour journey back to Lake Charles from Irving, Texas, he repeated his advice once more. “Reach out if you require anything, Katie. I truly mean it. Contact me when you need.”
Not if. But when. Since he realized I would require his assistance.
I certainly have, indeed. We all do. Require our fathers. It’s not a matter of “if” we require them, but rather when.
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Fathers handling the everyday tasks
A significant portion of today’s society suggests that fathers are not essential. Interchangeable. Unneeded. Be it the clumsy fool of a father in a television program or the absent slacker in a film, or the oddly prevalent notion among Twitter influencers that dads can’t handle even the simplest and most basic parenting responsibilities, there exists a sentiment in culture, a coldness toward fathers that declares, “they aren’t required; in fact, they aren’t even present.”
And still, repeatedly, the necessity to witness devoted fathers, possess caring fathers, and be cherished by loving fathers is clear in a fractured, pained, frequently fatherless society. It’s never a question of “if” good fathers are required but rather when we require them, and whether we have the humility to seek their support.
The popular show “Ted Lasso” (spoiler alert here), which has just wrapped up its third (and seemingly final) season concludes with the main character heading back to Kansas after spending three years overseas, all to be with his young son. After leading a motley crew of skilled yet aimless soccer players, converting the football club into a Champions League contender with sheer achievement and increasing potential, Ted returns home to be a father to his own child, serving as the ultimate ideal conclusion to a series that consistently highlighted the influence of fathers, whether they are flawed, exemplary, or simply part of the narrative.

Choosing a confirmation saint is a significant choice — and it can feel quite daunting! It’s tempting to settle on one of the few saints we know of or to turn to Google without a clear focus. However, if you seek a confirmation saint (or are simply on the quest for a saint to accompany you during this stage of your journey), there are numerous inquiries you can consider to assist you in discovering an appropriate spiritual ally. Whether you’re exploring for yourself or aiding someone else in locating a saintly companion, these questions can steer you toward a saint whose example truly inspires you to trust in God’s everlasting love for you and your vocation to become a saint yourself.
What are my pursuits, pastimes, and enthusiasms?
We frequently think of saints as merely monks and nuns who focus solely on the Blessed Sacrament with no curiosity for anything else, but saints are well-rounded individuals with diverse talents and hobbies. If you’re a sports enthusiast, you might want to learn about saints who participated in athletics; if you’re into music, there are numerous saints who performed with various instruments. There are saints in science, saints dedicated to homeschooling, and millennial saints who utilized the internet. Begin first with the saints who share your passions, then explore their lives to uncover if there’s an even deeper link.
What are the aspects of my life that hold importance to me?
Public domain
Frequently, the saints that we connect with the most are those who encountered experiences akin to our own: saints from mixed families; saints who endured assault; saints with single parents. Some of these circumstances may bring us immense happiness, such as being a working mother or an adoptive parent. Others may represent significant challenges, such as grappling with mental illness, infertility, or addiction. You may seek a saint who shares an intellectual or physical disability similar to yours or a saint whose life was as chaotic as yours. Anything that holds importance to you is important to God, and there is typically a saint who embodies that.

Among my beloved books is Walker Percy’s Christian existential masterpiece, “The Moviegoer,” recipient of the 1962 National Book Award. The main character and narrator of the first-person narrative, Binx Bolling, is engaged in a self-identified “quest.” “What constitutes this quest?”, inquires Binx. “In truth, it is quite straightforward,” he clarifies:

“The quest is what anyone would embark on if he were not immersed in the mundanity of his everyday existence. This morning, for instance, I sensed as though I had awoken to find myself on an unfamiliar isle. And what does such a castaway engage in? Well, he explores the area and he pays attention to every detail.”

In other terms, it is the quest that drives Binx. out of the everydayness of his own existence on a journey toward self-discovery. This exploration is not a pursuit of self-creation. Nor is it a practice in self-absorbed indulgence. Instead, it is Percy’s narration of how we derive significance in our lives via a multitude of resources and experiences, particularly through connections with others.

Binx breaks free from “everydayness” by noticing signposts and indicators that offer insights into his identity. He experiences a sense of clarity in relation to various things and individuals, shaped by how he connects with others. Most crucially, he aims to comprehend himself in connection with one particular person, through a pivotal moment of self-sacrifice. (You’ll need to read the novel to find out who that “other” is, and how both are influenced by Binx’s quest.)

Reasons why physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are not viable solutions.

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