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“From the Chapel” is a series of short, daily reflections on life and faith in a time of uncertainty. As people across the world cope with the effects of the coronavirus — including the social isolation necessary to combat its spread — these reflections remind us of the hope that lies at the heart of the Gospel.
For numerous years, I assisted at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass at 6:30 a.m. at St. Mary Oratory in Rockford, Illinois. During that period, there was only one occasion — in the heart of a severe winter storm, with winds gusting at 60 miles per hour outside — when the Mass included solely Father Brian A.T. Bovee and myself.

“From the Chapel” is a series of short, daily reflections on life and faith in a time of uncertainty. As people across the world cope with the effects of the coronavirus — including the social isolation necessary to combat its spread — these reflections remind us of the hope that lies at the heart of the Gospel.
More than 25 years ago, while Amy and I were partaking in services at Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church located in Annandale, Virginia, I initially came across the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian.

I recently marked my birthday. Twenty days following my arrival into the world, my godparents took me to Immaculate Conception Parish in Maplewood, Missouri, for my baptism conducted by the pastor, Father John Ryan.



Mom shared that she and Dad were anxious since they had anticipated a two-week wait but had instead waited nearly three weeks, and they were worried about getting reprimanded!



How much this has transformed! Nowadays, we priests are baptizing “infants” who are sometimes a year old. While I certainly don’t advocate for going back to the two-to-three-week waiting period — as admirable as I think that is — I do question whether we are currently postponing baptism for our infants for far too long.

Question: A Facebook friend’s post presents this viewpoint: God has predetermined the day and time of our demise, hence there’s no point in resisting COVID. God will take my life at the designated moment, and that’s that. This reasoning applies to my neighbor as well, so measures like masking, social distancing, etc., will have no impact, as God has already decided when my neighbor will pass away. My question is, does God “set” the day and time of our passing, or does He simply “know” the day and time of my death? If God has predetermined the day and time of my demise, what rationale do I have for adhering to health guidelines? If my neighbor is destined to die at a specific time, why should I be concerned about contributing to stopping the spread of COVID by following health protocols? What would be the appropriate Catholic response to such a fatalistic post on Facebook?

Question: I understand that the Church instructs that God is entirely spirit. However, do the individuals of the Trinity possess souls? Additionally, in what way does a spirit vary from a soul?
— Name withheld, via email
Answer: The Bible frequently employs the terms soul and spirit as synonyms. Therefore, it can be challenging to provide a conclusive and unquestionable response to your inquiry.
Nevertheless, certain Christian anthropologists have chosen to characterize the soul as the life-giving principle of a living entity. It is what differentiates a living organism—be it a plant, animal, or human—from one that is deceased. Therefore, humans possess souls, but so do animals and plants. Within this anthropological framework, it is actually the “spirit” that sets apart the human individual from animals and plants. The spirit represents the rational dimension of the soul that is present in humans and angels. This aspect of our being allows us to connect with God and empowers us to think, reason, and transcend the physical realm into the metaphysical.

Question: Is it acceptable for a Catholic to participate in Mass while choosing not to partake in Communion? I have come across the comparison made “figuratively” that it might be akin to visiting a restaurant but not ordering food. Would such attendance be considered appropriate or inappropriate?
— K.J.F., Los Angeles, California
Answer: It would be appropriate and necessary. If an individual realizes that they are unable to partake in holy Communion due to unconfessed serious sin or ongoing disagreement with Church doctrine, they are still required to attend Mass. Therefore, they ought to go, as we are mandated to attend Mass every Sunday, although we are not required to receive holy Communion each Sunday. The analogy of visiting a restaurant without eating isn’t quite fitting. People visit a restaurant primarily to dine. However, one attends Mass primarily to honor God and fulfill a duty of gratitude and worship, which we owe out of justice.

Question: As Catholics, we all understand a priest’s promise of poverty. Nevertheless, how does the Church interpret it, and what are the restrictions? For instance, many priests reside in community settings, but do they receive a salary? Who covers their travel expenses? Is there a cap on the number of gifts they may accept? Are they permitted to possess a collection of possessions like books, films, and so forth?
— Kevin, Northridge, California
Answer: First and foremost, it is important to draw a distinction. Diocesan priests do not take a vow of poverty, while priests belonging to religious orders do. Regarding diocesan priests, they are certainly urged to lead a simple lifestyle and not prioritize the accumulation of wealth. Most diocesan priests earn a modest annual salary ranging from $35,000 to $40,000. Additionally, many of their significant expenses are covered by the parish or diocese. This includes housing, food, medical and dental insurance, and a portion of a retirement fund. Typically, priests are responsible for purchasing their own clothing, vehicle, and personal items that are not directly related to their ministry.

Question: I’m curious if you could assist me with an interpretation of the term “again” in the Apostles Creed: “He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead.”
— Ken Theodore, Townsville, Australia
Answer: “Rose again” is the English interpretation of the Latin term found in the Creed, resurrexit. It is a faithful rendering of this Latin verb, which consists of two terms: re (again) and surrexit (he stood up). The Greek term is anastasis and is similar: ana (again) + stasis (to stand).
Your inquiry reflects on the necessity of the term “again” and suggests that simply stating “he rose” from the dead would be enough. Some inquirers throughout the years have also speculated whether this means that the Lord rose multiple times. However, “rose again” is quite a standard expression. For instance, I might say, “Last night I went to bed at 10 p.m., and this morning at 6 a.m., I got up again.” While the term “again” isn’t strictly essential in that context, it is common for us to express ourselves this way; it is a familiar idiom in several languages. From a technical perspective, it signifies a return to a previous state: “I was up, I lay down, I got up again.” This means, “I went back to the condition I was in before I slept.” Therefore, when we say Christ arose again — it indicates that he was alive, he surrendered his life and died, but then he arose, coming back to life once more. This idiom does not suggest that he arose twice, but instead, it emphasizes his return to the condition of being physically alive, which he held earlier. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Actor David Henrie discusses faith as a new film about the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan hits theaters.

“I believe the key takeaway is, does your existence hold significance or not?” Henrie, who appears in the movie, “Reagan,” as a youthful Reagan remarked. “And excel in that, whatever it may be. Do not underestimate God.”

Henrie, a Catholic, discussed the film with Our Sunday Visitor prior to its release in theaters nationwide on Aug. 30. The movie, classified PG-13, chronicles Reagan’s ascent to the presidency and his involvement in the collapse of the Soviet Union, as recounted by ex-KGB operative, Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight). The two hour, 15 minute feature also includes the romantic tale of Reagan (Dennis Quaid) and his spouse, Nancy (Penelope Ann Miller), along with a narrative of belief.

“A core value in my life is participating only in initiatives that enhance truth, goodness, and beauty,” Henrie stated. “I believe this film has a great deal that can achieve that.”

My Faith Can Catholics read ‘Harry Potter’? Shutterstock Have you read the Harry Potter books yet? Perhaps your kids have read them, or are interested in doing so, but you’re unsure about allowing them. Alternatively, you may have heard about these books and require some guidance to determine whether your family should engage with them….

Contemplating the ethics of consuming an Impossible Burger on a Lenten Friday could be the epitome of Catholicism.
“I mean, only Catholics could be experiencing an existential dilemma concerning Aristotelian metaphysics regarding whether something truly exists or not, or in this instance, meat,” remarked William Patenaude, a civil engineer from Rhode Island who writes a blog about Catholic ecology.
Patenaude informed Our Sunday Visitor that he finds it “humorous” that Catholics on social media and beyond are debating the morality of consuming plant-based items designed to mimic the flavor and aroma of genuine beef. Secular news organizations have sought the opinions of canon lawyers and diocesan leaders on whether consuming imitation meat on Fridays throughout Lent qualifies as a mortal sin.
“And everyone is retrieving their textbooks, researching Aristotle, Plato, and Thomas Aquinas,” Patenaude remarked. “It’s quite amusing, and very Catholic.”
For clarity, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states in its Lenten instructions that the Church’s regulations on abstinence assert that meat “is derived solely from animals like chickens, cattle, sheep, or swine.” Birds are additionally classified as meat.
“From my perspective, consuming faux meat adheres to the requirements of abstaining from meat during Lent,” Father Andrew Menke of the U.S. bishops conference’s Secretariat of Divine Worship stated in an email to Our Sunday Visitor.

Question: Can a Protestant admit their sins to a Catholic priest and receive absolution?

—Richard J. Moore, Covington, Louisiana

Answer: Not typically. There are, nevertheless, a few exceptions. The initial exception pertains to the peril of death. Canon law states, “If the peril of death is imminent or there is some other serious necessity, in the opinion of the diocesan bishop or the national conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may validly administer sacraments to other Christians who lack full communion with the Catholic Church, who are unable to consult a minister from their own community, and who independently request it, as long as they demonstrate Catholic faith in these sacraments and are suitably disposed” (No. 844.4).

Viewing the situation through the perspective of C.S. Lewis, examine the ways in which God can aid us in the process of recovery following the loss of a cherished individual.

Question: In a recent confession, the priest advised me that I should refrain from saying, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned”; rather, I should express, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” Is he correct?
— Name, location withheld
Answer: The initiation of confession with the phrase “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned” is a common practice in the United States and certain other areas. In various locations around the globe, different phrases are utilized to commence the confession.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, the former leader of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, stated on Feb. 23 during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference’s annual Ronald Reagan Dinner that “we must stand firm in the sanctity of life, along with all of its consequences.”

Bishop Strickland spoke about the Alabama Supreme Court’s recent decision confirming that human embryos involved in in vitro fertilization will be safeguarded under Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, stating to the crowd at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, “As a Catholic pastor, I must discuss an issue that is relevant today, at this moment.”

“I recognize that in the current debates, a lot of us may lack understanding, but we need to become informed, and we must lead our esteemed politicians, those we trust will steer this nation towards a more promising future,” he stated. “We must direct them in the moral principles surrounding the sanctity of life.”

In response to criticism, Bishop Strickland supports Alabama decision.

Bishop Strickland did not refer to former President Donald Trump directly, but earlier that day, the leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination released a statement urging the Republican Party to endorse IVF access nationwide and for Alabama legislators to follow suit, in light of the criticism regarding the ruling and IVF providers in the state halting treatments.

There is a contradiction in agreeing to IVF treatments, as it is a reality that they lead to significant destruction of embryonic existence. Hence, I endorse the decision that frozen embryos are regarded as children. We cannot alter reality for our own ease – as truth simply does not yield.— Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) February 24, 2024

“We need to assist them in understanding that the disputes currently being reported in the news, this ruling by Alabama’s court was accurate,” Bishop Strickland stated.