FAQ

Each year on August 15 we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is true we celebrate the real presence of Jesus — body, blood, soul and divinity — in the Eucharist of every Mass. Our annual celebration of the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi, helps us to deepen our appreciation of this graced encounter with the personal presence of Jesus.

The meaning of the Easter Candle has evolved and deepened over the centuries.

Peoples in the ancient world believed that the births and deaths of earthly kings were marked by corresponding heavenly events. Non-biblical sources identify the Magi as Persians trained in astrology and the interpretation of dreams, among other things. With this background to Matthew’s passage, we can ask two important questions.

Yes, this month we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran (November 9). In a real sense, the cathedral church of Rome is a mother who has been teaching us what it means to be church for more than 1,700 years. It is worth listening to the lessons this church has to offer us in the Pacific Northwest today

What a great question — yet not an easy one to answer. The simplest response would be to say that the Holy Spirit decided. But that doesn’t explain the wonderful way in which the Spirit acted.

The church celebrates the saints not just because of what they did long ago, but because their example continues to be relevant for our lives today. Even if they lived 2,000 years ago, the gift of faith is timeless, and so is friendship with Jesus

Holiness is God’s invitation for every human being. The Lord created us to know, love and serve him in this life and to be with him forever in eternal life.

How concerned should we be about a priest shortage? And how can I support vocations? This is a great question to pray about and act on during the month of June, since this is when new priests are typically ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle. With these ordinations, our thoughts naturally turn to the gift of religious vocations and how essential they are to the life and ministry of the church.

I don’t really ‘get’ the Holy Spirit — I’m more comfortable praying to Jesus or the Father. How can I make the Holy Spirit more a part of my life? This is a very common issue. Western Christianity has historically focused more on the study of Jesus (Christology) than the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology), due largely to the particular early heresies confronted in the West.