St. Mary's Church Oneonta, NY

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Access today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090226.cfm

08/31/2026

THE THREE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
HOW DOES THE CHURCH INITIATE US INTO THE LIFE OF CHRIST?

When someone becomes a Christian, what actually makes that person a member of the Church? Is it simply believing in Jesus, attending Mass or being given a Christian name?

The Catholic Church speaks of three sacraments as the foundation of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Together, they lead a person into the fullness of Christian life and communion with Christ and His Church.

1. BAPTISM - WE ARE BORN INTO CHRIST
Baptism is the beginning of Christian initiation. Through water and the Holy Spirit, a person is cleansed from sin, reborn as a child of God and incorporated into the Church.

Jesus Himself taught that a person must be born of water and the Spirit, and He commanded His disciples to baptise all nations.

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: John 3:5; Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 6:3–4.

Baptism therefore gives us a new beginning: we die to sin and rise to a new life in Christ.
BAPTISM → NEW BIRTH → NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

2. CONFIRMATION - WE ARE STRENGTHENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Confirmation is closely connected with Baptism. Through the anointing with sacred chrism and the laying on of hands, the baptized Christian receives a special strengthening of the Holy Spirit and is more perfectly bound to the Church.

The Acts of the Apostles records believers receiving the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the Apostles after Baptism.

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: Acts 8:14–17; Acts 19:5–6.

Confirmation does not mean that Baptism was incomplete. Rather, it strengthens and deepens baptismal grace and gives the Christian greater strength to bear witness to Christ.
CONFIRMATION → HOLY SPIRIT → CHRISTIAN WITNESS

3. THE EUCHARIST - WE ARE NOURISHED BY CHRIST
The Eucharist completes Christian initiation in the Catholic understanding.

In the Eucharist, Christ gives us Himself. Under the appearances of bread and w**e, the Church teaches that Jesus Christ is truly and substantially present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Jesus says:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: John 6:51–58; Matthew 26:26–28; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17.

Holy Communion therefore is not simply receiving a symbol or remembering Jesus from a distance. It is receiving Christ Himself and being united more deeply with Him and His Church.
EUCHARIST → CHRIST’S PRESENCE → COMMUNION WITH HIM

4. WHY ARE THESE THREE CALLED “SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION”?
Because together they establish the foundations of Christian life.
*BAPTISM gives new birth.
*CONFIRMATION strengthens the baptized person with the Holy Spirit.
*EUCHARIST nourishes the Christian with Christ Himself and brings Christian initiation to its completion.

The Catechism therefore describes Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist as the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. They are not three unrelated ceremonies but three sacraments that belong together in the journey into the life of Christ.

There is a beautiful progression:
BORN → STRENGTHENED → NOURISHED

5. ARE THEY ALWAYS RECEIVED IN THIS ORDER?
The sacraments themselves belong together, but Catholics do not necessarily receive them at the same age.

In the Latin Church, infants are normally baptised first, while Confirmation and First Holy Communion are celebrated later according to the discipline of the local Church.

For adults who enter the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are ordinarily celebrated together, normally in that order.

In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the ancient order is more visibly preserved: Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation) and Eucharist are ordinarily administered together, even to infants.

So if someone asks:
“Why did I receive these three sacraments years apart?”

The answer is that the timing and discipline can differ, while the three sacraments remain united as the Church’s Sacraments of Christian Initiation.

6. THEY ARE NOT THREE DIFFERENT “LEVELS” OF BEING CATHOLIC
It can sometimes appear as though Baptism makes someone partly Catholic, Confirmation makes them more Catholic and First Communion finally makes them completely Catholic.

That is not the right way to understand them.

Baptism incorporates us into Christ and His Church. Confirmation strengthens our baptismal grace and binds us more perfectly to the Church. The Eucharist continually nourishes and deepens our communion with Christ and His Body.

Each sacrament has its own grace and purpose, but together they form a unified sacramental journey.
And the journey does not end with First Communion.
Christian initiation leads into a whole life of discipleship.

7. THREE SACRAMENTS. ONE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Think of the three this way:

BAPTISM
God gives us new birth.

CONFIRMATION
The Holy Spirit strengthens us for mission.

EUCHARIST
Christ nourishes us with His own life.

They bring us into the life of the Trinity and into communion with the Church.
The goal is therefore not simply to “complete the sacraments.”
The goal is to live the life into which these sacraments have initiated us.

Three Sacraments.
One Christian initiation.
One life in Christ.

And every time we renew our baptismal promises, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and approach the Eucharistic table, we are reminded that Christian life is not merely something we once received.

It is something we are called to live.

SOURCES
*Sacred Scripture: Matthew 28:19–20; John 3:5; John 6:51–58; Acts 8:14–17; Acts 19:5–6; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212: the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213–1284: Baptism.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285–1321: Confirmation.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322–1419: the Eucharist.
*Code of Canon Law, Canons 849, 879, 897–898.

Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
©Catholic Dailies

08/31/2026

THE FOUR EVANGELISTS
WHY ARE THEY SYMBOLISED BY A MAN, A LION, AN OX AND AN EAGLE?

Have you ever walked into a Catholic church and noticed a man or angel, a lion, an ox and an eagle appearing around images of the four Evangelists?

These symbols are not simply artistic decorations. They come from a long Christian tradition that connects the four Evangelists with the four living creatures described in the prophetic and apocalyptic books of Scripture.

But why these particular symbols?

1. THE FOUR EVANGELISTS AND THEIR SYMBOLS
The four canonical Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Christian tradition came to associate each Evangelist with one of four living creatures mentioned in Ezekiel 1:5–10 and Revelation 4:6–8.

The traditional Catholic arrangement is:
MATTHEW - THE MAN OR ANGEL
MARK - THE LION
LUKE - THE OX
JOHN - THE EAGLE

The Bible itself does not say, “This creature represents Matthew” or “This one represents Mark.” The connection developed through early Christian interpretation and eventually became firmly established in Christian art and tradition.

2. MATTHEW - THE MAN OR ANGEL
Matthew is traditionally represented by a man or an angel.
Why?
Matthew begins his Gospel with the human genealogy of Jesus, tracing His earthly ancestry and showing His place within the history of God’s people.

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: Matthew 1:1–17.
His Gospel then proceeds to tell us about the birth of Christ, including the role of the angel who appears to Joseph.

The human figure therefore points particularly to Christ’s humanity and His coming among us as man.
MATTHEW → MAN/ANGEL → CHRIST COMES AMONG US.

3. MARK - THE LION
Mark is represented by a lion.

The reason comes especially from the opening of his Gospel. Mark begins with John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness:
“A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’”

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: Mark 1:1–3; Isaiah 40:3.
The lion became associated with the powerful voice crying out in the wilderness and, more broadly, with the strength and authority of Christ proclaimed by the Gospel.

The lion also became one of the most recognisable symbols of Mark throughout Christian art.
MARK → LION → THE VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.

4. LUKE - THE OX
Luke is represented by an ox.
This connection comes from the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, where we encounter Zechariah, a priest, serving in the Temple and offering incense to God.

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: Luke 1:5–13.
The ox was an animal associated with sacrifice, and therefore the symbol came to represent the priestly and sacrificial character associated with Luke’s Gospel.

Luke also gives particular attention to Christ’s mercy, prayer, sacrifice and saving work.
LUKE → OX → SACRIFICE AND PRIESTLY SERVICE.

5. JOHN - THE EAGLE
John is represented by an eagle, and this may be the easiest symbol to understand.
While Matthew begins with a genealogy and Mark begins with John the Baptist, John’s Gospel immediately rises into the profound mystery of Christ’s divine identity:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

BIBLICAL CONNECTION: John 1:1–18.
Like an eagle soaring high above the earth, John’s Gospel is traditionally understood as soaring into the deepest mystery of Christ’s divinity and His eternal relationship with the Father.

JOHN → EAGLE → THE HEIGHTS OF CHRIST’S DIVINE MYSTERY.

6. WHERE DO THE FOUR CREATURES COME FROM?
The imagery behind these symbols is found particularly in Ezekiel 1:5–10, where the prophet sees four living creatures with faces resembling a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle.
A similar vision appears in Revelation 4:6–8, where four living creatures surround the throne of God.

Neither passage identifies these creatures as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The identification with the Evangelists is a Christian interpretation that developed in the early Church and became an established tradition in Christian art.

This distinction matters.
We should not say that Scripture explicitly teaches:
“Matthew is the man, Mark is the lion, Luke is the ox and John is the eagle.”

Rather, the Church’s tradition interprets and applies this biblical imagery to the four Evangelists.

7. WHY DO CATHOLICS STILL USE THESE SYMBOLS?
Because sacred art often teaches through symbols.
For centuries, Christians have used these four figures to identify the Evangelists and remind believers that the four Gospels, while distinct in their presentation and emphasis, proclaim the same Jesus Christ.

You may therefore encounter the symbols in churches, stained-glass windows, mosaics, paintings, manuscripts, Gospel books and other sacred artwork.

Once you know the symbols, you can walk into a church and recognise the Evangelists without even seeing their names.

THE MAN → MATTHEW.
THE LION → MARK.
THE OX → LUKE.
THE EAGLE → JOHN.

8. FOUR EVANGELISTS. ONE GOSPEL.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John do not give us four different Christs.
They give us four Gospel witnesses to the one Jesus Christ.

Their symbols therefore do more than decorate Christian art. They remind us that the Church received four canonical Gospels, each with its own perspective and emphasis, yet all leading us to the same Lord.

FOUR EVANGELISTS.
FOUR SYMBOLS.
FOUR GOSPELS.
ONE CHRIST.

The next time you see a lion, an ox, an eagle or a winged human figure beside a Gospel image, you will know exactly what you are looking at.

SOURCES
*Sacred Scripture: Ezekiel 1:5–10; Revelation 4:6–8; Matthew 1:1–17; Mark 1:1–3; Luke 1:5–13; John 1:1–18.

*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 124–127: the formation and unity of the four Gospels.

*St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter 11: early Christian reflection on the fourfold Gospel and the four living creatures.

*St. Jerome, Commentary on Matthew: traditional association of the four Evangelists with the four living creatures.

Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
©Catholic Dailies

08/31/2026

Access today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/083126.cfm

08/19/2026

Access today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081926.cfm

07/31/2026

UNDERSTANDING SAINTHOOD
The Difference Between a Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed and Saint

“When the Church announces that someone has been declared a ‘Servant of God,’ ‘Venerable,’ or ‘Blessed,’ many people immediately assume the person has become a Saint. Others think these are simply honorary titles. In reality, they are important stages in the Church’s careful process of recognizing men and women who lived lives of heroic holiness. Understanding these titles helps us appreciate the Church’s wisdom and reminds us that every Christian is called to become a saint.”

The Catholic Church does not rush to declare someone a saint. Instead, she carefully examines the person’s life, virtues, writings, reputation for holiness, and, where required, miracles attributed to their intercession. This process often takes many years and is carried out with great care to ensure that the faithful are presented with authentic models of Christian life.

Let us explore what each of these titles means.

1. WHAT IS CANONIZATION?
Canonization is the Church’s solemn and official declaration that a person is in Heaven and may be publicly honoured and invoked as a saint by the universal Church.

It is important to understand that the Church does not “make” someone a saint. Only God makes saints through His grace. The Church simply investigates the person’s life and officially recognizes that he or she is already enjoying the Beatific Vision in Heaven.

Canonization also presents the person as a model of Christian holiness worthy of imitation by all the faithful.

2. SERVANT OF GOD
The title Servant of God is the first official stage in the canonization process.

When a bishop opens a formal investigation into a deceased person’s life, writings, virtues, and reputation for holiness, that individual receives the title Servant of God.

At this stage, the Church has not yet declared that the person lived heroic virtue or is in Heaven. Rather, she has begun studying the person’s life to determine whether the cause should continue.

3. VENERABLE
If the investigation shows that the person lived the Christian virtues in an extraordinary and heroic manner, the Pope may declare the individual Venerable.

This means that the Church officially recognizes the person’s heroic virtue.

However, a Venerable has not yet been beatified or canonized, and public liturgical veneration is generally not permitted.

The title encourages the faithful to admire the person’s example while the cause continues.

4. BLESSED
After the recognition of a miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession (for non-martyrs), the Pope may declare the person Blessed through the rite of Beatification.

For martyrs, those who willingly gave their lives in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei), a miracle is ordinarily not required before beatification.

A Blessed is recognized as being in Heaven and may ordinarily be publicly venerated within certain dioceses, countries, or religious communities as determined by the Church.

Beatification is therefore an important step, but it is not yet the final one.

5. SAINT
Following another approved miracle after beatification (again, ordinarily required for non-martyrs), the Pope may proceed with Canonization.

At this stage, the person is officially declared a Saint.

Saints may be publicly honoured throughout the entire Catholic Church, and their lives are presented as universal examples of faith, hope, charity, courage, humility, and holiness.

Their names are entered into the Church’s official canon (list) of saints, from which the word canonization is derived.

6. IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
✔ Every Saint first passed through the earlier stages of the canonization process.
✔ Every Blessed was previously declared Venerable.
✔ Every Venerable was first known as a Servant of God.
✔ Not every Servant of God will eventually become Venerable.
✔ Not every Venerable will become Blessed.
✔ Canonization does not make someone holy; it officially recognizes what God has already accomplished.

7. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US?
The canonization process reminds us that holiness is not reserved for priests, bishops, monks, or nuns.

Among the saints are husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, children, students, doctors, teachers, soldiers, farmers, missionaries, kings, queens, and ordinary workers.

Each responded faithfully to God’s grace within the circumstances of daily life.

Their journey encourages every baptized Christian to pursue holiness with confidence, trusting that God continues to call ordinary people to extraordinary sanctity.

TODAY, REFLECT
When you hear titles such as Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, or Saint, remember that they are not simply honours bestowed by the Church.

They reflect a careful discernment of lives transformed by God’s grace and offered as examples for the faithful.

May the witness of these holy men and women inspire us to seek holiness in our own vocation, knowing that the universal call to sainthood is addressed to every Christian.

Now we’d love to hear from you!

Before reading this post, did you know the difference between a Servant of God, a Venerable, a Blessed, and a Saint? Which stage surprised you the most? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.

SOURCES
* Sacred Scripture (Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 12:1–2; Revelation 7:9–17; 1 Corinthians 1:2)
* Catechism of the Catholic Church (828; 956–957; 2012–2016)
* Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium (Chapter V: The Universal Call to Holiness)
* Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister (Pope St. John Paul II, 1983)
* Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – Norms for Inquiries in Causes of Saints
* Code of Canon Law

Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
© Catholic Dailies

07/31/2026

THE ANGELUS EXPLAINED
The Meaning of the Angelus Prayer

“Three times each day, church bells ring across the world. For centuries, Catholics have paused at dawn, noon, and evening to pray one of the Church’s most cherished devotions, the Angelus. Yet many faithfully recite its words without fully appreciating the profound mystery it proclaims. The Angelus is not merely a beautiful tradition; it is a daily meditation on the greatest moment in human history: the Incarnation of the Son of God.”

The Angelus is a prayer that invites us to pause amid the busyness of life and remember that God entered our world through the humble “yes” of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every time we pray it, we proclaim that the eternal Word truly became flesh and dwelt among us for our salvation.

Far more than a routine devotion, the Angelus unites Sacred Scripture, the mystery of the Incarnation, and our daily lives in a prayer that has nourished generations of Catholics.

1. WHAT IS THE ANGELUS?
The Angelus is a traditional Catholic devotion commemorating the Annunciation, the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she had been chosen to become the Mother of the Son of God.

Its name comes from the opening words of the prayer in Latin:
“Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae…”

which means,
“The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.”

The Angelus combines three short biblical proclamations, three Hail Marys, concluding versicles, and a beautiful closing prayer centered on the mystery of the Incarnation.

2. WHY DO CATHOLICS PRAY THE ANGELUS?
The Angelus reminds us that the Incarnation is at the very heart of our faith.

Every day, Catholics pause to remember that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took on our human nature through the humble obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It teaches us that God’s plan of salvation unfolded through Mary’s free cooperation with His grace and ultimately through Christ’s coming into the world.

By praying the Angelus, we sanctify our day by placing Christ’s saving work at its centre.

3. WHY IS IT PRAYED AT 6:00 A.M., 12:00 NOON, AND 6:00 P.M.?
Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed three times each day:
🌅 6:00 A.M. - As we begin the day’s work, we entrust ourselves to God.
☀️ 12:00 NOON - We pause in the middle of our work to remember the Incarnation.
🌇 6:00 P.M. - As the day ends, we thank God for His blessings and renew our trust in Him.
In many places, church bells are rung to invite the faithful to stop briefly and pray.

Although these are the traditional hours, Catholics may pray the Angelus at other suitable times if necessary.

4. THE ANGELUS, LINE BY LINE
Every proclamation in the Angelus reveals an important truth about our salvation.
“The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.”

This recalls the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel brought God’s message to Mary (Luke 1:26–38).

“And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, affirming both His true humanity and His divine origin.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”
Mary humbly acknowledges herself as God’s servant, offering a model of complete trust and obedience.

“Be it done unto me according to thy word.”
Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan opened the way for the mystery of our redemption.

“And the Word was made flesh.”
This is the heart of the Angelus and one of the most profound truths of the Christian faith: the eternal Word, Jesus Christ, truly became man.

“And dwelt among us.”
God did not remain distant from humanity. In Jesus Christ, He came to live among us, sharing our human life while remaining fully divine.

“Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.”
We confidently ask Mary to intercede for us because she continues to lead us to her Son.

“Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord…”
The concluding prayer asks God to grant that, having known Christ through the message of the Angel, we may also share in the glory of His Resurrection through His Passion and Cross.

5. WHY ARE THERE THREE HAIL MARYS?
Each proclamation in the Angelus is followed by a Hail Mary.
These three Hail Marys invite us to reflect more deeply on the mystery of the Incarnation while honouring the unique role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in God’s plan of salvation.

They are not repetitions without purpose but moments of meditation and thanksgiving.

6. WHY IS THE ANGELUS REPLACED DURING EASTER?
From Easter Sunday until Pentecost, the Church replaces the Angelus with the Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven”).

During this joyful season, the Church’s focus shifts from the mystery of the Incarnation to the joy of Christ’s Resurrection.

The Regina Caeli expresses the Easter joy shared by Mary and the whole Church.

7. WHAT DOES THE CHURCH TEACH?
The Church warmly encourages the Angelus as a devotion that keeps the mystery of the Incarnation alive in the hearts of the faithful.

Its daily recitation helps Christians remember that every moment of the day can become an opportunity to encounter God through prayer.

By pausing morning, noon, and evening, we are reminded that Christ is present not only in church but also in our homes, workplaces, schools, and daily responsibilities.

8. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US?
The Angelus teaches us to imitate Mary’s faith, humility, and readiness to do God’s will.

It reminds us that God continues to call ordinary people to extraordinary holiness through simple acts of obedience.

Above all, it proclaims the astonishing truth that the eternal Son of God became man so that we might share in His divine life.

Each time we pray the Angelus, we renew our gratitude for the Incarnation and allow the mystery of Christ to shape our daily lives.

TODAY, REFLECT
The next time you hear the Angelus bell, wherever you may be, pause for a moment.

Remember the Angel’s message, Mary’s faithful “yes,” and the incredible mystery that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

May this ancient prayer help us to sanctify each day, imitate Mary’s trust in God, and keep our hearts fixed on Jesus Christ, who came into the world for our salvation.

Now we’d love to hear from you!
Do you pray the Angelus regularly? If so, at what time of the day do you usually pray it? Share your experience respectfully in the comments.

SOURCES
* Sacred Scripture (Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1–14; Galatians 4:4–5; Philippians 2:6–11)
* Catechism of the Catholic Church (484–511; 963–975; 2673–2679)
* Pope St. Paul VI, Marialis Cultus
* St. Paul VI, Angelus Addresses
* Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (Congregation for Divine Worship)
* Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium (Chapter VIII)

Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
© Catholic Dailies

07/31/2026

Access today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073126.cfm