Category: Ascension

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 201 – The Confessor’s Role


If God is the one who forgives our sins, why do we need priests as confessors? The Catechism teaches us today about the role of the priest as the minister of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We learn that priests ought to be “servants” of God’s mercy rather than “masters” of God’s mercy. Fr. Mike invites us to pray for all priests’ hearts, encouraging gentle, loving, and truthful confessors. Lastly, Fr. Mike clarifies the purpose of excommunication and the sacramental seal. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1461-1467.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/FiJArFHwTLw

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 200 – The Confession of Sins

When we confess our sins, we’re not telling God something he doesn’t know; we’re giving God access to something he doesn’t have: permission to heal our wounds. Today we learn why the act of confessing our sins is an essential part of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Mike also clarifies the difference between absolution, penance, and satisfaction. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1455-1460.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/hn6lQF0L4Rc

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 199 – The Sacrament of Forgiveness


Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Specifically, we explore the origins and structure of the sacrament that we use today. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although some of the ways we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation have changed, the essential elements have always remained the same. He also explores the importance of understanding the differences between perfect and imperfect contrition. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1446-1454.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/Ti8Udi38ks8

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 198 – Reconciliation with God

We continue our examination of the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that sin, above all else, is an offense against God and his Church. It damages our communion with both. He also unpacks how important it is that God has extended his ability to forgive sins to his apostles and their successors. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1440-1445.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/9_YAGXuny4E

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 197 – Forms of Penance

Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. In particular, we explore the different forms of penance, such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, as well as other things people can do that orient their hearts towards conversion. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of taking up our own personal cross, accepting the suffering that is given to us by the Lord to carry with him each and every day. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1434-1439.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/JMlJQTvW4bY

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The Tragic Reality of Child Sex Trafficking

In our world today, there are millions trapped in slavery and sex trafficking. The most horrific and devastating example of this is the sale of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, our children.

Today, Fr. Mike shares his honest review of the film, “Sound of Freedom,” currently in theaters, and offers a word of encouragement for how each of us can confront this terrible reality head-on and proactively do something about it.

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Do Miracles Still Happen?

The Bible is chock-full of miracles, which are often positioned as “signs and wonders” (wonderful signs that point you to something important). We read about supernatural works of God throughout the Old Testament and plenty of well-attested miracles wrought by Jesus and accomplished through his apostles in the Gospels.

But… today doesn’t look like that. Does it?

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary and Fr. Columba Maria Jordan take a deep dive into the reality and the purpose of modern day miracles—and the reasons some people want to convince you that they don’t happen.

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 196 – Conversion of the Baptized

We continue our examination of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike explores that interior conversion, or conversion of the heart, is a radical reorientation of our whole life. Conversion is so much more than just going through the motions or checking off the boxes. He emphasizes that interior conversion and repentance requires an active hatred for sin. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1427-1433.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/5iBovbP21Ew

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 195 – Penance and Reconciliation

Together, with Fr. Mike, we begin the chapter on the sacraments of healing, starting with the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christ has given the Church the power of the Holy Spirit to continue his earthly ministry of healing and redemption with the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. He also points out that through Reconciliation, we not only receive God’s forgiveness, but are also reconciled to the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1420-1426.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/Z1yAPFE0Z4o

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 194 – Summary of the Sacrament of the Eucharist

The Catechism has spent considerable time unpacking Holy Communion—the “sacrament of sacraments”—with us, and now she summarizes the most essential truths that we must internalize and move forward with. Fr. Mike takes this “nugget day” to tell us that God desires to feed us. He has given us his Son so that we might be filled with him and made whole again, in unity with him for all of eternity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1406-1419.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/d3AttEMJfSA