The Catholic Cafe

A lot of Catholics know at least a little about the process for those who who wish to be baptized Catholic or come into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. It is a process formerly known as RCIA, but is now OCIA. However, we can all do a little better job of evangelization by inviting people into the process, people we are in relationship with, our friends and family.

There is an interesting Catholic Tradition that speaks of degrees of glory in heaven. But, many folks might be confused by this concept, especially when we view it through an earthly lens.

Pope Leo, in a recent Angelus address to the faithful, spoke about the prayer that Jesus Himself taught us, what has become known as the Our Father. The Pope beautifully reflected on the importance of the prayer, how the Father loves us and gives us everything we need, but also the responsibility we have to serve and forgive others.

On the 100th anniversary of the famous Scopes Trial in Tennessee that gained national attention dealing with teaching the Theory of Evolution in schools, many folks may still wonder exactly what the Catholic Church teaches about Evolution and Creation.

The Holy Father, Pope Leo, recently addressed attendees of the 5th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. His brief address was filled with messages of Jubilee, wisdom, worth, and most of all, hope...hope for the elderly and wisdom for the young.

The devotion of the wearing of the Brown Scapular, while popular among Catholics, is shrouded in mystery for many. Under the patronage of Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, it is actually an ancient devotion with Old Testament roots leading to its founding in the middle ages.

We are a missionary Church and it is not good enough to sit idly in our pew and relish in the grace we receive at Mass. We are, each of us, called to go and make disciples. And, our mission field may be as close as our work, our grocery store, our community, and even our own home.

When Pope Leo was elected, in his very first public address, he mentioned briefly his concerns regarding Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Soon after, he addressed participants at the Second Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence, where spelled out in more detail the great potential for good...and for evil...that AI has.

When we say Amen when presented the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, we are saying much more than I believe that this host is Jesus or that this cup contains Jesus. We are saying that we desire to be in Holy Communion with Jesus, His Church, His Mystical Body, and that we believe and profess to be true ALL that the Church teaches.

To spend too much time trying to define the Most Holy Trinity is to risk falling into heresy. Humans, with their finite capacity for understanding, have oft times tried to fully unravel the Trinitarian Mystery. However, even though we cannot know EVERYTHING about the Trinity, we can still live faithfully in this divine Mystery, and know God and live in relationship with Him.