The Bread and Wine of Catholic Faith

The word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving, and that is why the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the celebration of the Blood and Body of Christ. It is the time where Christians could show their unending gratitude. From the appearance of bread and wine, our Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received. Christ is constantly present in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Mass is also the time when all the faithful could be with God, to tell Him all of their praise and ask for guidance and help.

The Significance of the Bread and Wine

The Holy Mass is a ritual that is full of metaphors and images that signifies the presence and the Holiness of Christ. The Catholic faith is a faith that relies on representations and images to convey the subliminal and inexpressible Being, and that is God. The Bread and the Wine signifies the Body and Blood of Christ. Through the Holy Eucharist, people will be able to receive the Holy Blood and Body of Christ, to be one with Christ. Receiving the Holy Eucharist also cleans the soul and washes away our sins.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Healers of Souls

A very unique and a beautiful aspect of Catholicism is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ created and established the Sacrament of Confession to help us sinners receive forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and with the Church. The Sacrament of Confession can be seen as a way of cleansing our soul and washing away the sins that has made our soul heavy and dark. This is the way the God created for us to help us find the path that leads to him. A step in faith, the Catholic Church welcomes you back and calls you to participate in this wonderful sacrament of healing. 

 

Helps You Know Thyself Better

St. Augustine and many other doctors of the Church talk about how important knowing ourselves is. Once we come to know ourselves better, we would see how fallen we are and how lacking we are from God’s grace.

 

Bringer of Peace

Having guilt from all the sins we commit would make us feel heavy-hearted and confused on what to do next. Eventually, you would lose your peace. Once you heard the forgiving words of God through Confession, all the burdens, all the chains that has been chaining you down would vanish and peace would return to your heart.

It’s More Than Just Beads

The rosary is a biblical form of prayer, a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary, and one of the most symbolic objects to Catholics. Devotees recite the rosary because they believe that it is a powerful intercession through Jesus’ mother, Mary. Thus, they carry the rosary as a reminder that she is with them. 

Praying the rosary has been a tradition in the Catholic Church for a very long time. There are conflicting views about the history of the rosary. According to sacred tradition, the rosary was given to Saint Dominic in a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Monastery of Notre Dame de Prouille in France.

Experience and feel the holy presence of the Lord at the Old St. Mary’s Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Understanding the Spiritual Gift of Giving

In every moment, we are given the opportunity to give, regardless of circumstance. The gift of giving is a pure selfless act. These people enjoy sharing their blessings that God has given them. 

It’s good to know that there are a lot of people who give because they want to help and care for others without conditions; however, there are those who have different interests not aligned to the core mission.

 

Characteristics of a Giver

Someone who has the gift of giving takes delight in discovering needs that are overlooked by most people. A giver chooses stay out of the limelight; he gives anonymously in order to avoid attention or recognition for his gestures. He gives purely for the benefit of others and not for his own.

 

A generous heart, regardless of his economic status, hardly spends more than he makes. He loves to encourage other people to save and to give generously.

Jesus left an example for us that we should follow His steps. He submitted his life as ransom for our sins. Old St Mary’s is the third oldest Roman Catholic Church in Detroit and the first German Church. Understand and develop your spiritual gifts with us as we share the good news and serve those who are poor in spirit and in resources.

Celebrating Christmas as One

Christmas is a time for celebration: we celebrate our faith, we celebrate in the spirit of giving, and we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. What many remember about the word “celebration” is the connotation of happiness; what many forget is the connotation of togetherness.

God’s Love Is Everywhere

It is easy to dismiss the importance of going to a gathering to celebrate one’s faith. After all, it is said that God is everywhere, so He can hear our prayers wherever and whenever they are uttered. This is true, of course: wherever hands can be folded, heads bowed, and hearts opened, He can hear and listen. 

Church is Home to a Bigger Family

But one’s voice can only carry so far. The meaning behind the celebration does not just lie in the fact that the Lord receives our message; there is also meaning in delivering the message as one. One soul certainly is not insignificant, but many souls speaking as one certainly have a greater weight. And certainly, as one sees how many people share in his or her devotion, that person’s devotion is reinforced and strengthened. Those whose voices waver in loneliness may find themselves shouting louder, emboldened by the knowledge that they are part of a family.

At Old St. Mary’s Church in Detroit, it is our constant mission to ensure that people, wherever they are from, are free to become part of our Catholic church. It is as Saint John Chrysostom said: “You cannot pray at home as a Church, where there is a great multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the union of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity.” A Catholic is Catholic wherever he or she is, but every one of them needs a home, something bigger than himself or herself to belong in.

The Heart of Christmas

Once more, we’re coming up to that time of year: Christmas. It is the season of smiles, the season for sharing, and the season for giving. The experience may be totally joyful for many, but for others, it can be a time of worry.

Giving Usually Hurts…

We cannot deny that for many, life can be harsh. Perhaps they are in a place in their lives when they feel that things are out of their control; they are experiencing many misfortunes that takes away what little they have in the way of luxury and pleasure. Bills go before dinners out; work goes before play. And in this kind of situation, it is easy to slip into the trap of thinking that whatever one gives others, however little, takes away from one’s happiness.

…But It Is Usually Worth It

What many fail to consider is the payoff from their sacrifice. Every act of sacrifice is an act of love. You pay your bills to keep your family secure; you work so that your children can play. The happiness you bring them, in effect, is your gift, and being able to give is something from which one can derive immense satisfaction. In the spirit of love that comes with the Christmas season, as well as the spirit of the Catholic Faith, it is important to not lose sight of this.

At Old St. Mary’s, we celebrate the spirit of giving not just during Christmas, but every day. Jesus Christ’s life was a testament to the power of giving. He performed healing miracles; he taught lessons to many, while inviting all to listen; and he died on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. As members of the Catholic Church, we must remember the importance of his example, and follow it always. Everyone is invited to be part of our institution, a home for traditional Catholics to follow the spirit of their beliefs.

How Do We Become Angry?

Unhappiness roots from the most unlikely places--whether you’re not achieving a goal or you’re faced with an uncomfortable circumstance. The emotion can last a day or a lifetime depending on the issue. Not being able address it instantly can make the unhappy feeling turn into anger. 

What Anger Can Do to You and Others

Anger triggers heart pains both figuratively and literally, activating the body’s fight or flight response. This causes a person to generally feel uneasy all the time. Physically, one can easily get irritated that leads to depression and conflicts with others. While anger has a purpose, and it’s a part of life to experience it, what’s unhealthy is holding it in.

The Healthy Response to Anger

A proactive first step is identifying the cause of the anger by creating a journal or talking to a friend and maybe a psychiatrist about it. This helps narrowing down what’s bothering you. It’s also important to make an informed decision on the actions you’re willing to take towards easing your anger. Although all your problems can’t be solved overnight, getting rid of a few counts as a win. Obsessing over the remainder does not help.

Prayer Can Help

Surprisingly, talking too much about your problems can also stress out your friends. That’s why changing the conversation once in a while is good, to give them a break. Prayer a viable alternative and there’s no harm in trying it out. Surrendering your problems to the Lord can change your perspective. With a calmer mind comes lucidity that helps you figure out what to do.