Faith & Spirituality

The Light That Shines in the Darkness

(Photo: Lightstock) "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.” Isaiah 9:2 Every December, as our homes and neighborhoods begin to sparkle with lights, our hearts are drawn again to this ancient prophecy from Isaiah. The glow that fills our streets and sanctuaries is more than seasonal cheer; it reflects a far greater truth. That great, true light has indeed shone among us: the light of Jesus Christ, the Word made...

Jesse Trees and Giving Trees: Living Traditions of Advent Hope and Giving

(Photo: Lightstock) As Advent draws near, many Catholic homes and parishes are preparing more than wreaths and lights. They’re setting up a Jesse Tree — a beautiful, hands-on tradition that invites families to journey through salvation history, reflect on Christ’s coming and serve those in need. A Tradition Rooted in Scripture and History The Jesse Tree takes its name from the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his...

Blessing the Thanksgiving Table: A Catholic Tradition of Gratitude and Grace

(Photo: Lightstock) As Thanksgiving draws near, families across the archdiocese are preparing their tables for Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. For some of those families, the preparations take on a holy hue through the rich and beautiful practice of bringing food to church to be blessed before it is shared. Roots in the Eucharist and Harvest Feasts The Church’s call to give thanks is ancient. In fact, the very word Eucharist comes from the Greek...

Asked to Pray Grace this Thanksgiving? Five Prayers to Consider

(Photo: Lightstock) It's that time of year again, and you might be prepared to be put on the spot another year in a row. "You're Catholic, right? Why don't you pray before dinner?" "You go to Mass all the time, right? You pray!" But what do we even begin to say?? Do we do the simple "Bless us, O Lord..." and head to the culinary races? Or do we seize the opportunity of spiritual openness and give a little more? No matter where your family is spiritually, those moments before the first cut of...

Planning for a Holy Death: A Catholic Guide to Advanced Age and End-of-Life Decisions

From living wills to the sacraments, the Church guides us to prepare for death not with fear, but with faith and hope in the Resurrection. (Photo: Unsplash) By Deacon John Volk, MD   There’s an old saying: “Don’t rehearse for bad news.” While that can be good advice, sometimes it is wise to have a discussion with loved ones about how to approach medical decisions in the later years and at the end of life. In my experience as a family doctor, often medical conditions arise suddenly, and...

Accompanying at the Threshold: Lessons on Death, Dying and Hope

(Photo: Unsplash) By Deacon Ernest Martinez Director of Deacons Archdiocese of Denver As I reflect on End-of-Life Month  in our Archdiocese, I find myself looking back over two distinct callings in my life: first as a police officer, then later as a deacon. They might seem worlds apart, but both have placed me face-to-face with the mystery of death and the beauty of the human soul’s longing for God. From the Streets to the Sanctuary During my years in law enforcement, I stood countless times...

10 Saint Quotes to Strengthen Your Heart During End-of-Life Month

(Photo: Unsplash) Throughout November, the Church reflects on the mystery we will all one day face: the passage from this life to our eternal home in Heaven. Locally, in the Archdiocese of Denver, we observe End-of-Life Month, inviting the faithful to reflect on the hope of the Resurrection, to accompany loved ones with dignity, and to learn from the wisdom of the ministries uniting to form the newly established Catholic End-of-Life Network.  Comprising the Catholic Foundation, Catholic...

Preparing for Death: A Brief Imaginative Pilgrimage

Dante Alighieri with Florence and the Realms of the Divine Comedy (Hell, Purgatory, Paradise), fresco by Domenico di Michelino (1465, after Alesso Baldovinetti), Florence Cathedral. (Photo: Heroldius/Menkin AlRire, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)   November, the month of the dead, calls us to remember our own death and to prepare for eternal life. We may be tempted to think of this preparation in minimalist terms — avoiding mortal sin and fulfilling a basic set of obligations, such as...

Soldier-turned-bishop St. Martin of Tours celebrated Nov. 11

St. Martin of Tours sharing his cloak with a beggar by François Joseph Thomas De Backer. (Photo: François Joseph Thomas De Backer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) By CNA Staff On Nov. 11, the Catholic Church honors St. Martin of Tours, who left his post in the Roman army to become a “soldier of Christ.” Martin was born around the year 316 in modern-day Hungary. His family left that region for Italy when his father, a military official of the Roman Empire, was transferred there. Martin’s...

From Last Rites to First Rite: Reimagining the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Msgr. Edward L. Buelt, J.C.L.   A Midnight Call The nursing home’s night nurse called me in the middle of the night, waking me from a sound sleep. She asked that I come immediately to administer the last rites to a non-responsive, near-death resident.   When I arrived, the woman’s daughter explained her mother’s condition. She was certain her mother would not live to see the morning. I sat beside the woman, greeted her softly and found that she did not respond. She was...

Gratitude and Love: What the Catholic Church Teaches About the End of Life

Catholic teaching reminds us that human dignity endures until our final breath, and that preparing for death — either ours or that of a parent or loved one — is an act of both gratitude and love. Extremae Unctionis Sacramentum by Pietro Longhi, c. 1757. (Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons) By Father Scott Bailey   I recently anointed a man who was dying by himself in a nursing home. He was unresponsive, but I think he knew that I was there. His wife of 50+ years is homebound and could not...

Thirsting for Transcendence: The New Age and the Call Back to Christ

While searching for control and connection, those who practice New Age spirituality — from tarot to Reiki, from manifestation to astrology — are led astray, into anxiety, depression and conflict. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Cecilia Dietzler Across the Western world, New Age spirituality has seen a dramatic rise. From meditation apps to hair salons offering Reiki treatments, it seems to be a constant in our society. Yet, beneath the aesthetic appeal and trendy buzzwords, these practices carry real...