The Liturgy of the Hours is a small but bulky and intimidating-looking red-bound prayer book with lots of confusing multicolored ribbons. It is that, but of...
Liturgy
Read U.S. Catholic articles on liturgy, sacraments, and worship. Explore expert commentary, reflections, and resources for parish and personal prayer.
Thomas Lynch, the poet undertaker, explains why a good funeral is “a signature of our humanity.” Many writers have day jobs—some wait tables...
Liturgy is a river: We come to the same spot many times, yet never enter the same water twice. With the river, it’s because the water’s always in motion; the...
A priest prone, his face to the floor, his arms stretched like broken wings. The chapel silent and expectant. Thorny-voiced Isaiah: “He was despised and...
When the church gathers on the night of Holy Thursday, its business is to leave the 40 days of Lent and enter the Triduum, the three days at the heart of the...
Those of us in our 60s and beyond remember something like this from our youthful Good Fridays: After what seemed like an eternity of Latin readings (mostly...
The translators of the new Mass prayers have neglected one cardinal rule: Consider your audience. As the days dwindled before their triumphal entry, the new...
How did we arrive at this translation of the Mass? As Catholics in the United States get accustomed to new responses and prayers at Sunday Mass, many will...
Both actions are very ancient and began as practical necessities, but eventually the necessities disappeared and were even forgotten. Later when Christians...
Some families and households hold hands to say grace before meals. Maybe this practice migrated to church, as the Our Father is the final “grace” that we say...
