The feast of the Annunciation (also known as the feast of the Incarnation) is another feast common to the liturgical calendar of most major Christian denominations. In fact, the early Church placed a greater emphasis on it than it did Christmas (whose date was predicated on the feast of the Annunciation). The Biblical Story of the Annunciation The story celebrated by this solemnity is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 26-39; that is, the apparition…Continue Reading
The Meaning of Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is perhaps the 3rd most recognisable day in the liturgical calendar observed by a number of churches, including the Roman Catholic church to which I belong. The reason for this notoriety, even among non-Christians, is that many church-goers will be going around all day with ashes on their forehead. Like Christmas decorations and Easter eggs, it is an unmistakable sign that something religious is going on. The true significance of the gesture isn’t to show off how pious…Continue Reading
Why I Love Going on Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Pilgrimages are one of those “Catholic things” that often puzzle our Protestant brethren. In its most strictly Catholic meaning, a pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, such as the places of Jesus’ life in the Holy Land or a shrine. But on a more basic level, it’s also a journey of growth. Pilgrimage as devotion Pilgrimages as devotions date back in the Catholic tradition from as early as the mid-3rd century. This practice echoes the Jewish one of…Continue Reading
My Confirmation Saint
Today’s post comes from Alessia Cesana, a Catholic woman who blogs at The Blond Pond. Choosing a confirmation saint seems to be an established practice of the Roman Catholic Church, which I have no recollection of ever doing. The Sacrament of Confirmation I received the sacrament of Confirmation in my very early teens, when everyone did, and with limited understanding of what it truly meant in the life of the Church. It is, effectively, baptism in the Holy Spirit in…Continue Reading