How Catholics Worship

Listen to or download lessons in the Luke E. Hart Series. Topics in lessons 11-20 reflect upon matters like liturgy, sacraments, the Lord’s prayer and Mary. Clicking on play or the play arrow icon delivers a streaming version of each podcast. PC users may save these podcasts to their computer by mousing over the Download link, right clicking their mouse, selecting “Save Target as” and saving to their desktop or a destination file. Mac users can right-click the Download link, select “Download Linked File” and save the file to anywhere on their hard drive. If not already installed on your system, you will need an MP3 player, such as Windows Media Player or RealPlayer for Windows systems, or iTunes for Macintosh.

Introduction to Catholic Liturgy: Lesson 11 September 6, 2007 The sacred Liturgy is not just the Mass, but the Mass is the Liturgy with which most Catholics are familiar. Often, it is such a regular part of life that the simple and fundamental questions are overlooked. What exactly is a Liturgy? Why do we do it? We’ll survey the different answers that have been given to just what Liturgy is, learn the Church’s teaching, and develop our understanding of this basic activity of the Church. Our gratitude goes to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week’s music. Play OR Download

Introduction to the Sacraments: Lesson 12 September 13, 2007 A sacrament is a sacred sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Each word in this concise definition is chosen with precision and bears a great deal of meaning. This lesson explains exactly what is meant by “sign,” what is meant by “grace” how sacraments “give” grace, and how sacraments are not life magic. The requirements for a valid sacrament, the proper minister of the sacraments, and sacramentals will also be discussed in this lesson. This week’s music is provided by the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir. Play OR Download

Baptism and Confirmation: Lesson 13 September 20, 2007 For many of us, Baptism and Confirmation were sacraments we received a long time ago. What did they do for us? Do you know how important they are? Sometimes Catholics are criticized for baptizing infants – find out why the Church encourages this practice. We’ll also discuss which is better, immersion or pouring, and what Noah has to do with this topic. The Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir provide this week’s music. Play OR Download

The Eucharist: Lesson 14 September 27, 2007 The source and summit of the Christian life, the sacramental center for Catholics, is the holy Eucharist. Like Christ, the holy Eucharist is controversial and divisive. When Jesus initially taught crowds of people about the holy Eucharist, many of them left (see the Gospel of John 6:60). Today, the question still comes to us: “will you also go away?” (John 6:67). Is the holy Eucharist actually a sacrifice? Should we worship the Eucharist? Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week's music. Play OR Download

Penance: Lesson 15 October 4, 2007 Christ invites us to respond to evil, first of all, with a serious examination of conscience and the commitment to purify our lives. In effect, people and societies that live without ever questioning themselves have ruin as their only final destination. Conversion, on the other hand, while not preserving one from problems and misfortunes, allows one to face them in a different ‘way.’” Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week’s music. Play OR Download

Matrimony: Lesson 16 October 11, 2007 The vocation to Matrimony is given by God the Father which “unites man and woman in an unbreakable bond of love and peace.” The Church also teaches that marriage is an “outpouring of love in the new covenant of grace is symbolized in the marriage covenant that seals the love of husband and wife….” Professor Peter Kreeft explores the Catholic Church’s theology of marriage, the state of marriage today and the virtues of the married state. Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week’s music. Play OR Download

Holy Orders & Anointing of the Sick: Lesson 17 October 18, 2007 This podcast deals with two sacraments: Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick. All baptized people are called to contribute to the work of salvation. In the Church, priests of Jesus Christ are dedicated to the service of communion. So what is a priest? The letter of Saint James says that if someone is sick we are to call the priest so that they can pray over the sick person anointing him or her with oil in the name of the Lord. What do we believe about the sacrament of anointing? Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week's music. Play OR Download

Prayer: Lesson 18 Octover 25, 2007 What do you understand about the role of prayer in the Christian life? Pope Benedict XVI writes, “The Christian who prays seeks an encounter with the Father of Jesus Christ, asking God to be present with the consolation of the Spirit to him and his work.” The subject of prayer is discussed in this lesson, Prayer. Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week's music. Play OR Download

The Lord's Prayer: Lesson 19 November 1, 2007 The Lord’s Prayer is “the summary of the whole gospel,” Tertullian said. And we dare to pray it regularly. The Catechism teaches us that “The Lord’s Prayer brings us into communion with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. At the same time it reveals us to ourselves. Praying to our Father should develop in us the will to become like him and foster in us a humble and trusting heart” (2799-2800). Essential to our Christian formation is the important fact: the Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves. Indeed, Christ reveals us to ourselves. Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week's music. Play OR Download

Mary: Lesson 20 November 8, 2007 Mary’s place in salvation history was made clear in Pope Benedict XVI's homily at the Canonization of Frey Antônio de Sant'Anna Galvão in Brazil on May 11, 2007: “Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, stands particularly close to us at this moment.... She, the Tota Pulchra, the Virgin Most Pure, who conceived in her womb the Redeemer of mankind and was preserved from all stain of original sin, wishes to be the definitive seal of our encounter with God our Savior. There is no fruit of grace in the history of salvation that does not have as its necessary instrument the mediation of Our Lady.” In this lesson we learn of Mary’s place in Catholic theology and her place in our lives. Thanks to the Saint Gregory Society and The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Choir for providing this week's music. Play OR Download