Corpus Christi Blog

On September 29th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. The Feast of the Archangels is sometimes referred to as “Michaelmas” and has been celebrated since the 5th century. Originally, it commemorated only St. Michael, but the 1969 revision of the Roman calendar combined the feasts of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael into one celebration. This day invites us to reflect specifically on the role of the heavenly beings in God's plan and in our lives. Let us explore the significance of the archangels through Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching of the Church.

Have you ever noticed how we are so constantly surrounded by noise that when we unexpectedly find ourselves in a moment of silence, it's deafening? In our fast-paced world, we are hit with noise from all kinds of various sources, all competing with one another for our attention. We are bombarded with technology, news, work, family, tasks, busyness, images, relationships, and more. It can be overwhelming. Moreover, because we sit in silence so infrequently, it can be uncomfortable, so we often even seek out noise to distract us from our discomfort. While noise isn't necessarily bad and is even sometimes necessary, it is not conducive to improving our spiritual health. Silence is essential for spiritual growth, inner peace, and a deeper connection with the divine.

The Church designates the third Sunday of September, “Catechetical Sunday” as an opportunity to remember and pray for those who dedicate themselves to the ministry of catechesis and to renew our commitment to the ongoing formation of disciples. While we do have designated, formal catechists to provide faith formation at all levels, every Catholic is called to be a catechist, depending on the person’s state in life. When we were baptized, we were conformed to Christ in his three-fold role of priest, prophet, and king. These baptismal promises should compel us to lead others to Jesus and share the truth of who he is. To that end, today is a good day to reflect on the nature and importance of catechesis so that we better serve the Church's mission in the salvation of souls.

As Catholics, we are called to put our faith into practice in all aspects of our lives, including our professional endeavors. These days, there can be complexities in bringing your Christian values into the workplace, particularly if you work in a secular profession where you interact with people from a variety of belief systems. However, now more than ever, the world needs authentic Christian witnesses to be “salt and light” across all sectors. By integrating our faith into our professional lives, we can transform our work into a means of glorifying God, serving others, and growing in holiness. As St. Paul says, “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others” (Col 3:23). By approaching our work with this perspective, we can genuinely make our professional lives a testament to our Catholic faith.

Today is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, so it is an excellent opportunity to discuss the care of creation through the lens of our faith. There is a great deal of emphasis on environmental issues in the secular world these days. We hear a lot about sustainability, climate change, and whether humans can successfully inhabit other planets if the earth is rendered unlivable. However, most of these conversations are human-centric and primarily focused on environmental health as the means for humanity's longevity.