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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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New Year is an opportunity to cherish gift of life and Christ’s coming Msgr. Richard Oswald One week ago we celebrated the beginning of the year 2005. It was a day to thank God for the gift of life and for a new year in which to live it. It was a day to reflect on the past and dream of the future. |
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At Thanksgiving we can celebrate the Eucharist, ‘God’s greatest gift’ Father Erik Pohlmeier In many ways Thanksgiving is the model holiday. It is a time of gathering with family and friends for good food and good memories, but without the commercial blitz of Christmas or the aisles and aisles of Halloween costumes and candy. |
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Eucharist signifies communion between Christ and his Church Father Andrew Smith When we eat his body and drink his blood, we are given a share in Christ’s life. When we share the body and blood of Christ we are united to him and to each other. |
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Catechesis is ‘stirring the flame’ God has placed in our hearts Sister Mary Glynn, SJC One day while I was in Ireland this past summer I visited my brother and his family. His daughter, Anna, who is very creative, was working with scraps of material and doing very beautiful work. |
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‘The Da Vinci Code’ inaccurately claims Constantine chose Gospels Msgr. Richard Oswald “The Da Vinci Code,” authored by Dan Brown, has been at the top of bestseller lists for more than a year. In the introduction to the fictional murder mystery Brown states that all of the supporting elements of the story are factual. |
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Celebrations throughout liturgical year reflect course of Christian life Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB Though we hold all the truths of the faith continually and try to live the Gospel life fully every day, we need the special days and seasons of the Church year to remind and renew us in what we profess. |
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In spite of mystery, Trinity offers conversion by experiencing its reality Msgr. Richard Oswald One of the joys of teaching children is the delightful way in which they ponder our instruction, synthesize it as best they can, and then come up with questions that force us to dig a bit deeper in both our understanding and the way in which we express it. |
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Our need to be close to God is completed in intimacy of Eucharist Father Andrew Smith In Latin the words sacra (holy) and facere (to make) form the basis for the English contraction into the word sacrifice, a word that denotes “to make holy” more than it denotes destruction or annihilation. |
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Luminous mysteries great way to meditate on life of Christ in rosary Betsy Wiederkehr Huss As the Year of the Rosary, declared by Pope John Paul II, draws to an end in October, I wonder how the new luminous mysteries have affected our Church and its people. These five new mysteries of light focus on Jesus’ public ministry and his life between childhood and the passion. |
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In saying ‘Amen’ we proclaim we will do all the Lord has told us Msgr. Richard Oswald Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, as the priest speaks the words of consecration, we hear Christ’s words: “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” In the Old Testament “covenant” is the name given to the promises God makes to his people and to the promise |
