If someone asked you what was said in the Nuptial Blessing at a wedding, would you know? Probably not. This rather lengthy prayer is tucked between the Exchange of Consent and the Our Father and if you aren't paying attention, you may miss one of the most beautiful...
If you're a parent and you've ever taken a child to Mass, you've been there. Just as the priest elevates the host, your toddler slips and bonks his head on the pew. You frantically try to comfort and silently smother the loud screams of your child at the same time....
The eternal debate: receive the Eucharist on the tongue or in the hands? The great debates Catholics get into can be rather heated (and honestly quite entertaining at times), but let's start with this - Receiving the Eucharist on your tongue vs. in your hands isn't...
Non-believers often challenge Catholics by asking them why so much money is spent on Church buildings instead of being given to people who are starving to death throughout the world. What many fail to realize is that throughout history, the Catholic Church has...
It’s Easter! Yes, really, it is STILL Easter. The Church, in her great joy and celebration of Easter, celebrates eight full days of solemnities in honor of the Resurrection of Christ called the Easter Octave. The most obvious signs of this celebration are found in the...
The Mother of All Vigils The Easter Vigil is the most extraordinary liturgy of the entire year in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. The Roman Missal guides the celebration of this great night and even refers to the Easter Vigil as the “mother of all vigils,”...
Use this Catholic Bible Study for your own personal spiritual growth or with the apostolate you are involved with. Matthew 20:17-28 Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time 17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to...
Mass With Kids: A Seemingly Impossible Task Parenting young children at Mass seems like an undoable task. How can they be expected to be still and silent for an hour or more? Should I take turns with my spouse and do Mass in shifts? Will the other parishioners be...
Whether you’re a regular Mass-goer, or you attend Church once a year at Christmas, chances are high that you have come across a liturgy that either had a boring homily or painful music. If not these, then perhaps you have witnessed a priest introduce liturgical...
The Holy Mass There are two main parts of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: the liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that these two main parts “together form ‘one single act of worship… (CCC 1346).’” Let’s...
Historical Introduction of the Nicene Creed We call the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is professed every Sunday at Mass in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. In the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church and in our separated...
This week on Liturgy Live we talk about Wisdom, the Word of God, and the cost of discipleship. In the book of Wisdom, the Word is a "fierce warrior bearing the sharp sword", we see throughout the gospel how people hear the Word and are cut to the heart. Some don't...
Fr. Brice Higginbotham from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux provides excellent insight into the meaning and significance of the altar as he answers many of the questions you've probably never even thought to ask about this fixture present in every church. Take a minute...
Archaic. Backward. Ignorant. That’s what some people think of tradition. They outright reject it purely for the sake of rejecting it, but that’s as bad as following tradition without knowing what makes each tradition so wonderful. When I hear tradition, I either...
This week we look at the readings in light of the scandal rocking the church and discuss what they mean from our perspective in our culture and in the time and culture they are written in. In this episode, we look at the persecutions of those who follow Christ and...
We are pleased to announce that our show Liturgy Live will now be a part of the expanding lineup of podcasts at Breadbox Media! We are happy to be a part of their team. Looking for the BEST in Catholic podcasting? Check out Breadbox Media! Liturgy Live can now be...
I was recently blessed with the opportunity to try out the new subscription box service Catholic Family Crate and I am beyond impressed. I have to confess that I have a secret obsession with these types of subscription boxes. I've given all types a try - from...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page. Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live. Did you know that Liturgy Live has its own...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page. Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live. Did you know that Liturgy Live has its own...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page! Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live! Questions for reflection: Do you grumble...
“They say that one who is satiated cannot understand someone who is hungry; to that, I would add that one hungry person does not understand another hungry person.” - Dostoevsky Every one of us hungers. Every one of us seeks for something that will nourish us. We...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page! Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live! Questions for reflection: Do you have a hard...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page! Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live! Questions for reflection: Can you identify...
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday's at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page! Click on the notifications button so you will be alerted when we go Live! Questions for reflection: Did you know who...
Liturgy Live discussion for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Discussion questions: Do you see the typological connection to the Baptism of Jesus in the first reflection? Have you had an experience of divine energy? What experiences have you had where suffering has...