St. Catherine of Siena

This Sunday our gospel hails from St. Matthew (15:21-28), in which we hear of the account of the Canaanite woman who approached Jesus and called out to Him: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is tormented by a demon.” In this short statement and powerful action, she broke from the social rules of the day, yet she did it out of love, and deep faith—belief in Christ—and for her persistence!

For Roman Catholics, the Mass is sacred. It is a time to focus on Jesus Christ and His call for each one of us to follow Him into salvation, which is accomplished through receiving His Real Presence in our lives by way of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. And even though the Mass is a singular sacred celebration, there are both distinct parts of the Mass and a hierarchy of sacredness among the various parts of the Mass. Let’s take a quick run through the Mass as a refresher:

Are we required to make the sign of the cross when we pass by a Catholic church? This simple gesture—often done almost out of habit—carries a profound meaning of faith and reverence. Many Catholics do this act consciously. Crossing oneself in front of a church is not an empty tradition but an act of respect and recognition of Christ’s real presence in the Tabernacle

The Matthean Gospel, 13:1-23, finds us joining the Lord as he sits down at the sea, conversing with His disciples and Apostles. He spoke to them in the language they understood, with stories that were faith-filled yet applicable to their everyday lives. That is why He related His understood. No Latin. No St. Thomas Aquinas, No Origin. Just this-and-that with moral, loving and life-giving meaning, lessons and ideals that hit home.