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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Understanding Our Church
Explore this treasury of Arkansas writers discussing the Catholic faith on a wide variety of topics. Find what you're looking for by browsing the whole list or search by keyword or author. All articles have been reviewed for theological accuracy. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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‘Didache’ shows today’s Christians how little has changed in Tradition Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB While he was on a trip to Constantinople in 1873, Orthodox Archbishop Philotheos Byrennios, who had been a professor of Church history, took the opportunity to browse in the ancient manuscript collection of the library of Holy Sepulchre Monastery. |
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Mass is ‘bridge’ that allows participants to enter God’s timelessness Father Erik Pohlmeier In preparation for the Eucharistic Congress last month a number of questions and answers about the Mass were printed in Arkansas Catholic. |
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All Saints' Day is chance for Church to reflect on those already home Father Raphael Kitz, OCD In the Steven Spielberg movie, “E.T.,” there is a touching scene in which the extra terrestrial, with a sad face and a tear in the eye, points upward and murmurs home, home. His anxious longing was to return home with his loved ones to find rest and happiness. |
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Faith rituals not ‘mindless chores’ but means to encounter mystery Father Andrew Smith Catholics are a ritually oriented people. This may be seen as a mixed blessing, depending on how you understand repetition. For some people certain rituals — doing the same thing over and over again — may help to make our lives boring and uninteresting. |
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Answers for Mass, Eucharist questions Father Erik Pohlmeier The following is a list of questions often asked about the Eucharist and Mass. Father Erik Pohlmeier, chairman of the Year of the Eucharist Committee and theological consultant for Arkansas Catholic, provided the answers. Q. What do Catholics mean by “real presence?” |
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Jesus meant what he said about the Bread of Life Father Erik Pohlmeier Catholics are sometimes accused of not relying on the Bible, or of inventing beliefs contrary to the Bible. Of course, neither accusation is true. In this Year of the Eucharist the late Pope John Paul II encouraged all Catholics to become more familiar with the scriptural roots of the Eucharist. |
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Mysteries of rosary focus on all major events that led to our salvation Charles T. Sullivan Along with several friends, my youngest daughter helped organize an informal Catholic girls’ Bible study group in her dorm at the University of Arkansas. |
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Forgiveness, love found in Eucharist; gift empowers us to forgive Father Andrew Smith In the history of the Church, there has always been devotion to the Eucharist, our source of life. But the devotion has taken different forms throughout the centuries. |
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Seven things I learned about Mass since first Communion Judy Hoelzeman I made my first holy Communion when I was 7. I remember my mother’s warning not to fall off my bike — “You don’t want to skin your knees before your first Communion.” |
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Eucharist should be focus of Lenten season Father James P. West As Ash Wednesday approached in 2004, so many Catholic Americans were anxiously awaiting the release of Mel Gibson’s epic portrayal of the final moments of our Lord’s earthly life. |
