Tag: Jesus Christ

An early church document, the Didache, seems to include a record of how the early Christians celebrated the Eucharist at the end of the first century. Fr John Flader takes a look at this remarkable and and sometimes moving document.

Now that the theme for the International Eucharistic Congress has been announced - what comes next?

As we approach the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 in Sydney, we are called to deepen our devotion to, and friendship with, our Eucharistic Lord by spending time in company with the Blessed Sacrament. To this end, University Catholics are hosting Abiding in Love, a night of adoration at St Patrick’s Church Hill, on November 28 from 5.30pm. 

In the Maronite church, the Sunday of the Consecration of the Church is a reminder of the marriage vows, the price Christ paid for his bride, the price Christ paid for the redemption and liberation of every one of us, writes Fr Eliah Abboud.

People query why they should make the effort to attend Mass when there are so many other pressing demands upon our time, yet upon reflection, that attitude nevertheless loses sight of the reality at hand.

Love means caring enough to have the courage to fight for the truth. This does not mean we should be provocative or careless: free speech is also prudent speech and we need to choose our words and pick our battles carefully. But God expects us to pick some.

Fr Flader, my name is Natalia and I was wondering whether there is a St Natalia. Can you help me?

On the Cross, Jesus did not just suffer, he won. He crushed sin, defeated death, and opened the door to heaven. That is why we do not simply carry the cross, we lift it high. Because it is not only pain, it is power. Not only sacrifice, it is salvation.

Each family and parish community should, hopefully, be a font of living water diffusing the joy that is life in Christ into the world around them by whatever means providence might supply. Let’s grow and strengthen mutually-enriching bonds between them in the lead-up to the International Eucharistic Congress 2028.

Every second chance brings both responsibility and hope. It doesn’t erase the disappointment of the week before, but it does mean the story isn’t finished yet.

We want to be right all the time. We want to win our stupid online arguments. We want to see our pundits “destroy” their opponents. But if you are a follower of Jesus, you must be prepared to lose – whether it’s an argument, or your entire life.

As organisers of the next International Eucharistic Congress, we hope it will be a symphony of prayer; an outpouring of grace that will spur a renewal of hearts, parishes and dioceses across the country.