Understanding Our Church
A Treasury of Arkansas Writers Discussing the Catholic Faith
Official Website of the
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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Do not be sorry for apologetics teaching; focus on its hopeful message Matthew Glover The field of Catholic apologetics has gotten a bad rap in some circles as of late. Some of that may be well-deserved. To be sure, apologetics is not the end-all and be-all of living a fully Catholic life. |
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Learning about God’s callings in Scripture helps us see our life mission Deacon Mike Cumnock In the Scripture readings leading up to Lent, we learned a lot about people who heard and responded to “the call.” |
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Witness of holy life is most important tool for evangelization Father Erik Pohlmeier As a diocesan priest who grew up in the shadow of a monastery, I am grateful for the ever present witness of those men dedicated to the work of God and the pursuit of holiness. |
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Jesus’ baptism allows us to reflect on own sacramental commitment Deacon Chuck Ashburn The Church has celebrated Jesus’ baptism since the second century. But it was not until recently that the celebration of his baptism became a separate liturgical event. |
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Prioritize Advent over the holiday season Msgr. Richard Oswald In most parishes it is customary for parish organizations and ministry groups to have a party during the month of December as Christmas approaches. |
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Humanae Vitae key to life-giving marriage Father Erik Pohlmeier July 25th marks the 40th anniversary of the encyclical Humanae Vitae. |
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Spiritual communion available when unable to receive Eucharist Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB In his encyclical, "Ecclesia de Eucharistia" ("A Eucharistic Church"), in April 2003, Pope John Paul II encouraged th |
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Foundation of Catholic rituals, practices is found in Jewish tradition Dr. Linda Webster From the altar to the procession up the aisle, from the scriptural prayers of the liturgy to our belief in almighty God, we Catholics owe much to our Jewish brethren. |
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Role of deacons varies, but call to serve others is key to their ministry Deacon John Marschewski From the beginning, the diaconate were called to serve those in need. As we will hear in next Sunday’s first reading from Acts (Chapter 6), the original call for deacons occurred in the early stages of the Church. |
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Though many forms of prayer exist, most important is to just do it Judy Hoelzeman We Catholics pray in every way imaginable. Our prayer lives are as diverse as we are. Our different personalities, abilities and limits make our prayer intensely personal. We pray in so many ways, too, because we are influenced by two millennia of rich spirituality and holiness. |
