Updated Articles and Resources

By Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide since 2007

Pentecost Sunday - Feast of Pentecost Sunday Created: Friday, May 25, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Pentecost Sunday marks the end of the Easter season and celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Virgin Mary. Learn more about Pentecost Sunday.
When Is Ordinary Time? - When Is Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church? Created: Monday, January 10, 2011 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
When is Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church?
All Souls Day - November 2 - Feast of All Souls Day Created: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
All Souls Day is a solemn feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory.
What Is the Easter Duty in Roman Catholicism? Created: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
The Catholic Church requires all Catholics to receive Communion at least once per year, during the Easter Season. Find out why, and learn the requirements for fulfilling your Easter duty.
Pentecost 101 - Everything You Need To Know About Pentecost in the Catholic Church Created: Sunday, April 13, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Learn more about this holiday that is often called the
The Ascension of Our Lord - Ascension Thursday Created: Thursday, May 17, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
The Ascension of Our Lord occurred on Ascension Thursday, 40 days after Easter Sunday, when the risen Christ ascended bodily into Heaven.
Why Does the Catholic Church Have So Many Man-Made Rules? Created: Friday, May 18, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
If Christ came to free men from sin and bondage to the Law, why does the Catholic Church have so many man-made rules?
When Is All Souls Day 2012? - Date of All Souls Day 2012 Created: Saturday, November 21, 2009 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
All Souls Day is a solemn feast commemorating those who have died and are now in Purgatory. Find the date of All Souls Day 2012.
The Obama Administration's Contraception Mandate Created: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
A concise history of the Obama administration's contraception mandate, requiring religious institutions to provide contraceptive coverage to employees.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders - Roman Catholic Holy Orders - The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Roman Catholic Church Created: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles. The three levels of the sacrament are the episcopate, the priesthood, and the diaconate.
Catholic Bishops - The Office of the Bishop - The Role of the Bishop in the Catholic Church Created: Monday, June 04, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
The bishop is a successor to the Apostles, deriving his authority directly from Christ's Great Commission to
Saint Nicholas of Myra - Bishop and Wonder-Worker Created: Friday, December 05, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Saint Nicholas of Myra is a Christmas icon and one of the most beloved saints of all time. Learn more about this bishop and wonder-worker.
Prayer for Government - A Prayer by Archbishop John Carroll for Government Created: Friday, July 04, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
This prayer, written by Archbishop John Carroll in 1791, is good to pray as a family or as a parish on national holidays, such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga - Patron of Youth - Jesuit Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Created: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of youth, students, and sufferers of pestilence, lived a short life dedicated to prayer, study, and the care of others. He is a very popular saint for young boys to ...
Why Can't Women Be Priests? - Why Women Cannot Be Priests in the Catholic Church Created: Sunday, June 01, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Advocates for the ordination of women say it is simply a matter of justice, and the lack of such ordination is proof that the Catholic Church does not value women. The Church's teaching on this ma...
Requirements for Marriage in the Catholic Church - Catholic Marriage Requirements Created: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. As such, it is a supernatural institution, as well as a natural one. The Church, therefore, restricts sacramental marriage to men a...
Pope John Paul II's Beatification Mass - May 1, 2011 Created: Sunday, May 01, 2011 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
On May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI presided at the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Find the full text of Pope Benedict's homily at the beatification of Pope John Paul II, as...
On Extreme Unction and Holy Orders - Lesson Twenty-Fifth - Baltimore Catechism No. 2 Created: Saturday, June 27, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Lesson Twenty-Fifth of the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 discusses the sacraments of Extreme Unction and Holy Orders. Lesson Twenty-Fifth contains 11 questions and answers, numbered consecutively with ...
The Papacy in the Catholic Church - The Office of the Papacy - The Role of the Papacy in the Catholic Church Created: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
The papacy is the term for the office and the authority of the pope of Rome, the successor to Saint Peter as bishop of Rome and head of the universal Church. The pope is the spiritual head of all ...
On the Church - Lesson Eleventh - Baltimore Catechism No. 2 Created: Saturday, March 21, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
Lesson Eleventh of the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 discusses the Church, the primary means through which Christ shares His Redemption with us. Lesson Eleventh contains 8 questions and answers, number...
Pope John Paul II to be Beatified on May 1, 2011 Created: Friday, January 14, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 08, 2012
On January 14, 2011, the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints announced that Pope Benedict XVI would preside at the rite of beatification for Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sun...
When Is Annunciation 2012? - Date of Annunciation 2012 Created: Monday, March 01, 2010 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
The Annunciation celebrates the angel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary that she had been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. Find the date of Annunciation 2012.
Catholic Liturgical Calendar for Lent 2012 - Catholic Lenten Calendar 2012 Created: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Lent is a time of preparation for the death of Christ on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The following is a list of the dates of the Sundays and major feast days that fall in Le...
Palm Sunday - Solemnity of Palm Sunday Created: Friday, April 03, 2009 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest on Holy Thursday and His Crucifixion on Good Friday.
Ash Wednesday in the Catholic Church Created: Monday, February 19, 2007 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Most people know that Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the time of preparation before Easter. But how is it celebrated? And why do Catholics wear ashes on their foreheads on this day? Fin...
When Is Mardi Gras? - Date of Mardi Gras Created: Thursday, January 20, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Mardi Gras is the final day before Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Find the date of Mardi Gras.
Catholic Liturgical Calendar for Lent 2013 - Catholic Lenten Calendar 2013 Created: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Lent is a time of preparation for the death of Christ on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The following is a list of the dates of the Sundays and major feast days that fall in Le...
When Is Ash Wednesday? - Date of Ash Wednesday Created: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
The date of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, changes every year. Find the date of Ash Wednesday.
When Is Trinity Sunday 2012? - Date of Trinity Sunday 2012 Created: Sunday, October 12, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Trinity Sunday falls one week after Pentecost Sunday, and it is the day that the Catholic Church has set aside to honor the most fundamental of Christian beliefs—the Holy Trinity.
When Is Ascension 2012? - Date of Ascension 2012 Created: Sunday, October 12, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
The Ascension of Our Lord celebrates the day that Christ, in the presence of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven. Find the date of Ascension Thursday 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for May 2012 Created: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012
Find Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for May 2012.
Litany of the Saints - A Litany in Honor of the Saints Created: Thursday, October 11, 2007 Updated: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Litany of the Saints is one of the oldest prayers in continuous use in the Catholic Church. Find the text and history of the Litany of the Saints.

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