Hanging above the altar at OLMC is a large crucifix, with a 6-foot-tall corpus of Christ painted in the Ionic style. As I'm sure you know, OLMC is not alone in having a crucifix, as every Catholic Church is required to have a crucifix on or near the altar for the Mass. But why is that?

Dear Friends,

In the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; Whoever eats this bread will live forever; And the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." And again He said ... "Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."(John 6:51,53-56)

At the Mass, there are many things said or read throughout the Mass, but around 70% of everything that is said is not being said to us in the pews. So to whom are these words being addressed?

Dear Friends,

This is a continuation of the story, which I began in last week's article.

The Cross is not merely a religious symbol that we wear around our necks, place in our homes, or display in our churches. The Cross is the throne from which Christ conquered sin and death. It is the place where divine love was poured out completely for our salvation.

The sixth chapter of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) is dedicated to sacred music. The document states that: "The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy“(SC,, 112).

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from a very fulfilling three-month sabbatical, for which I am deeply grateful to God and to you, my dear parishioners, for your prayers, love, and support that sustained me throughout those months. I am very happy to be back home and once again among you, ready to serve.

I have so much to share with you about my sabbatical experience, and hope to do so in the weeks and months ahead. But let me begin with one incident that has profoundly stayed with me and deepened my appreciation of the power of the Cross of Christ.

Throughout lands of the former Roman Empire, one will encounter triumphal arches: a very large stone archway supported by two massive stone piers, sometimes with two accompanying smaller archways on each side of the center large one, with a passageway running through it below the arch, but not made for the purpose of supporting any structure above it crossing the passageway.

Dear friends,

In our daily lives, misunderstandings and conflicts can easily arise within families, friendships, workplaces, and even our faith communities. We may be tempted to talk about someone's faults with others before having the courage to speak to the person directly. We can all take a wrong turning in our lives.

In the Encyclical Mediator Dei, Pope Pius XII states that it "is not a cold and lifeless representation of the events of the past, or a simple ... record of a former age. [The liturgical year] is rather Christ Himself who is ever living in His Church. Here He continues that journey of immense mercy which He lovingly began in His mortal life ... with the design of bringing men to know His mysteries and in a way live by them. These mysteries are ever present and active" (III Divinum Officium et Annus Liturgicus, II Cyclus Mysteriorum).

Dear friends,

In John's Gospel Jesus says: "In my Father's House there are many dwelling places...and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be." (John 14:2-3) Prior to His Passion Jesus gave out conditions for Discipleship: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mathew 16:21)

The Catholic Church not only ranks its members in a hierarchy, but its buildings too. Not every large and impressive church is a cathedral, and not every small local church you attend Mass at may be a parish.

Dear friends,

Wise people say, "Those who do not forgive break the bridge on which they have to pass." This is because everyone needs forgiveness. In response to Peter's question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." (Mathew 18:21-22)

I said in an article a few weeks ago that Auxiliary Bishops are bishops of their own dioceses; however, the "titular dioceses" these bishops belong to no longer have any jurisdiction over a geographical area or any people.

Dear friends,

We are called to a life of Holiness.

Holiness as a noun means "the state of being holy." It is "a life of holiness and a total devotion to God" (Definition from the Oxford English Dictionary). Holiness is an essential attribute of God, and it reflects His perfect and unblemished nature. Literally speaking, living a holy life means that the Christian is set apart, reserved to give glory to God. It is a life of discipline, focus, and attention to matters of righteous living.

Immediately after recalling Jesus' Last Supper, [Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) of the Second Vatican Council] speaks of the Eucharist in Augustinian terms. For Christians, taking part at the Lord's table means being "instructed by God's word and ... nourished ... [giving ] thanks to God"(cf. SC, 48) ... The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Kingdom that is to come. It is the Bread for the journey that leads us to our heavenly homeland, until that blessed day when "God will be all in all" (1 Cor 15:28).

Dear Friends,

One fascinating Biblical story for me in the Old Testament is that of the burning bush, where Moses met God in a mysterious way (Exodus 3:1-12). The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were facing a real crisis in Egypt, where they were forced to live in slavery. It was not easy for anyone to speak about God nor to experience His presence in suffering. However, while in exile shepherding his father-in-law Jethro's flock, Moses saw the bush on fire which was not getting consumed; he became curious about it, saying, "I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?"

The Church has two types of public prayer it offers to God on behalf of all the world: the Holy Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is the daily prayer of the Church, marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer. The Hours are a meditative dialogue on the mystery of Christ, using scripture and prayer.