Insights By Dodoh Okafor Here is what most of us Christians would hardly admit: our faith has come under intense threats in the last couple of decades. This scenario is getting worse with the younger generation as millions of them- even in a deeply religious society like ours- continuously feel a great disconnect between them and the faith that was taught them in their toddlerhood. Millions of young men and women are quietly tuning away from the Christian religion and there is no suggestion that things will get any better in the years......
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The Sacrament of Confirmation is a sacrament of anointing by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity; he is the comforter and helper that Jesus promised to send his Apostles, who came to them on the day of Pentecost. The sacrament of Confirmation is the bestowal of Pentecost into the soul of every baptized Christian, and it is final sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church. The bishop or priest prays for those being confirmed to receive the Holy Spirit and his Seven Gifts.......
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The Cost of Life Insight by Dodoh Okafor Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Around this time last year, I followed a close friend to the National Hospital Abuja where his son at the time was admitted at the paediatrics ward for diseases related to the heart. The small boy, diseased from birth had one of his many emergencies......
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,” which is experienced by those “who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified” (CCC 1030). It notes that “this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1031). The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal......
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O my most holy Mother. I see the graces which thou hast obtained for me; and I see the ingratitude of which I have been guilty towards thee. An ungrateful soul is no longer worthy of favors; but I will not on this account distrust thy mercy, which is greater than my ingratitude. O my great advocate, pity me. Thou dispensest all the graces which God grants to us miserable creatures, and for this purpose he has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so benign. He has done so, that thou might......
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Mass Etiquette; Dos and Don’ts while at Mass Fast: It doesn’t even really feel like a fast anymore since its just an hour. The Church requires every communicant to begin preparing to receive Jesus by observing an hour fast (from food) unless they’re aged or sick. Won’t really cost much to give this little to receive God into your soul would it? Come early, recollect yourself: Sometime ago i asked on our Facebook page “When is one late for Mass” some said with confidence “When they come later than the Sign of the......
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To a Catholic; an exhortation to Confession Exhortations My dear, it is important to understand that sin is a very serious thing. It should never be easy to go to confession as such. Since you already have that “sense” to realize how hard it is to confess, may it also spur you on to avoid sin when occasion presents itself. Confession demands among three other things (i.e. Repentance, FULL confession, without hiding anything, and restitution, i.e. making up for what you have spoilt with the sinful act) Courage and filial trust in God’s......
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