What is an acolyte?
An acolyte is a non-ordained person in the Roman Catholic Church who assists with the performance of worship services by lighting candles and carrying out other duties. The Anglican Church also has acolytes who assist their clergy in the various rituals of the service. The term acolyte derives from the Greek akolouthos, meaning “follower” or…
Should Catholic tradition have equal or greater authority than the Bible?
Should church traditions be accepted as equally authoritative as Scripture? Or, should church traditions be followed only if they are in full agreement with Scripture? The answer to these questions plays a large role in determining what you believe and how you live as a Christian. It is our contention that Scripture alone is the…
What is inculturation?
In religious contexts, especially within the Roman Catholic Church, inculturation refers to the adaptation of church doctrine and ritual to unreached or non-Christian cultures. In Catholicism, inculturation involves the adaptation of the liturgy to different cultures and the tolerance of various pagan practices that are deemed part of the traditional culture. But inculturation is not…
What are the Holy Days of Obligation?
The Holy Days of Obligation are set times, according to the Roman Catholic Church, when the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. On the Holy Days of Obligation, Catholics are also supposed to avoid work or anything that keeps them from resting and worshiping God. According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law,…
Why can’t Catholics eat meat on Fridays during Lent?
Catholics practice various acts of penitence and spiritual self-discipline during Lent, the (approximately) forty days leading up to Easter. One of those disciplines is a fast that requires Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. The rule is based on the authority of the Church, not on the authority of Scripture. The rule…
Who are the Franciscans?
Franciscans are members of a religious order that follows the teachings of Francis of Assisi, a Catholic friar, mystic, and “saint.” Franciscans are usually Catholic, but there are some Anglicans and Lutherans who also follow the Franciscan Rule. Franciscans usually add some rules to those of St. Francis, observing some of the teachings of other…
Should a non-Catholic Christian participate in a Catholic Mass?
There are two ways to look at this question. First, what does the Catholic Church teach about who can participate in Mass (communion)? Second, what should a Protestant consider? First, according to Catholic teaching, there are five requirements for Catholic communion: 1) The individual must be in a “state of grace” (1 Corinthians 11:27–28). One…
What is iconoclasm?
Iconoclasm literally means “icon-breaking,” which includes the religious as well as political destruction of images or monuments, usually—though not always—those of another religious group. Iconoclasm is frequently a component of major domestic political or religious changes. Iconoclasm is the belief that there should not be religious pictures or sacred images or religious monuments because they…
What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
Divine Mercy Sunday and its associated feast are the Sunday after Easter and are observed by many Roman Catholics and some in other churches. Divine Mercy Sunday is based on the visions and diary of a Polish Catholic nun, Maria Faustina Kowalska, also known as Saint Faustina (1905—1938). The point of Divine Mercy Sunday appears…
What is a novena?
The word novena derives from the Latin word for “nine.” A novena is a series of prayers prayed over a nine-day or nine-hour period. The prayers are repeated to obtain special graces or as a sign of devotion to God. Usually a novena involves making a specific request or expressing a specific intent. Prayers may…