“We need the priesthood. We need the Eucharist. But what happens if those things are taken away?” The history of the Catholic Church in Japan is complex. For various reasons, the first missionaries had difficulty preaching the Gospel to the Japanese people. Their time in Japan was short – only a little more than forty years after Francis Xavier arrived […]
Between the Sundays
A Blog by Joannie Watson
The Messiah’s Human Heart
“To love with a human heart is to accept the possibility of a broken human heart.” I stood on the Mount of Olives and looked across at Jerusalem, the skyline a mix of old and new. The light blue dome of the Holy Sepulchre seemed to almost touch the dominant gold Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall was […]
Gratitude for the Eucharist
“May we never receive the Eucharist again in a distracted manner, bring Him into lukewarm hearts, or take Him for granted.” What he did at supper seated,Christ ordained to be repeated,His memorial ne’er to cease: And his rule for guidance taking,Bread and wine we hallow, makingThus our sacrifice of peace. This the truth each Christian learns,Bread into his flesh he […]
Will they come back?
“The situation surrounding coronavirus didn’t cause this. It may have accelerated it.” While parishes are busy sanitizing and taping off every other pew, I find myself wondering… will they come back? It is not a question I raise because people fear the virus. I’m not referring to whether people may be weighing whether next month is safer to return. I […]
The Holy Spirit and the Old Testament
“The readings at the Vigil introduce us to the Holy Spirit and His mission through Old Testament typology and prophecy.” The Extended Vigil for Pentecost Many years ago while studying in Rome, I was able to attend an extended Vigil Mass for Pentecost. While not many parishes take advantage of the option, the current Roman Missal has brought back an extended option […]
Life After the Ascension
“God does not call us to a mission without giving us what we need to accomplish it.” Right before the Ascension in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says something intriguing before leaving: I am with you always. An interesting way to say goodbye. I am with you always. Seems a big contradictory, doesn’t it? Jesus has spent three years with these men, […]
Cultivating Gratitude – Even Now
“Everything I have at this moment is a complete gift from God.” There have been several studies on the way gratitude changes our attitude and even rewires our brain. It can relieve stress and anxiety and even increase dopamine production. Doesn’t this sound exactly what we need right now? And yet, precisely when we need it, the crosses and sufferings […]
Offering Spiritual Sacrifice
“As priests, we are united to Christ and His sacrifice in the offering we make of ourselves and our daily lives.” This Sunday’s second reading is a continuation of the trek through 1 Peter that we began after Easter. This week, we are reminded of our baptismal calling to be his witnesses as priests, prophets, and kings. Peter’s audience, many […]
5 Ways to Stay a Sane Catholic
“Even though we may not be able to receive Him sacramentally, He is with us.” Most of us never thought we would live through a time when we did not have easy access to the sacraments. How do we remain grounded in our faith and our relationship with Christ and His Church when our lifelines seem cut? In a time […]
A Concrete Church in a Virtual World
“We just had not dared to imagine what He could do.” Matter matters For an incarnational faith, one that is rooted deeply in a sacramental worldview with bodies, bread, wine, and water, this time of social distancing and isolation presents some unique difficulties. As Catholics, our relationship with God is not merely spiritual but is lived out in tangible, material […]