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Each faith journey is unique to the individual and their relationship with Jesus Christ. We offer small group study courses as well as the information in this e-library which may be downloaded, e-mailed or simply shared with family, friends and others in your life. Information is continually being added, so please check our Learning Center e-Library regularly.

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Faith Fundamentals

Advent
Our shared Catholic traditions stir up great memories and tie our generational family together. Our Advent Adventure booklet will prepare your family for the holy season of Advent. As we continue our St. Peter’s Advent tradition, renew the traditions with some or all of the activities included in the booklet: Advent wreath, Advent calendar, Jesse Tree, Saint Feast days, with a host of blessings for the Advent wreath and Christmas Tree. Fun activities for the entire family, making and renewing Advent season memories for years to come.
All Saints Day
On this day, the Church honors all the saints who have ever lived, the known and the unknown. This holy day on the Church calendar is a lot like American holidays such as Veterans Day or Presidents Day where many people are honored on one day…
Ascension Thursday
Forty days after the Resurrection (at Easter), Christ ascends bodily into heaven within the sight of the apostles. This is recorded in the book the Acts of the Apostles. This feast marks the returning of Jesus Christ to God the Father in heaven and is the final component of the paschal mystery which consists of Jesus’ Passion, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Descent among the Dead and Resurrection…
Ash Wednesday
Following the example of the Hebrew people (who did penance in sackcloth and ashes), our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. As the ashes are placed on our forehead in the form of a cross, we are told "Remember, Man is…
Changes In The Mass - 2011
When the English translation of The Roman Missal is used, you will notice slight changes in the prayers we hear and say at Mass. Download the complete 2011 - Changes in The Mass…
Corpus Christi
According to Catholic Customs & Traditions by Greg Dues, “The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, popularly called by its Latin title, Corpus Christi (“Body of Christ”), is celebrated on the second Sunday after Pentecost. Its origin in the 12th century is connected with…
Easter
Many people think that Christmas is the most important day in the Catholic liturgical calendar, but from the earliest days of the Church, Easter has been considered the central Christian feast…
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
St. Helen began her quest for the true cross of Christ. Her search was unsuccessful until she was told of a temple which tradition held was built over the Savior's tomb. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman…
Fasting and Abstinence - the difference between them
Fasting and abstinence are closely related, but there are some differences in these spiritual practices. In general, fasting refers to…
Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord
The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary, his announcement that Mary had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's fiat—her yes, the willing acceptance of God's holy plan…
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter refers to the occupant, not the chair itself and commemorates Peter being chosen by Christ as the first pope, the first one to sit as the servant-authority of the whole Church…
Good Friday
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, commemorates the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross…
Holy Days of Obligation
The term “Catholic holy days of obligation” contains the word obligation. That's unfortunate. Too many Catholics look on these wonderful feasts with a dreary sense of obligation. They are so much more than that. We celebrate the most important feasts of our liturgical year on these days…
The Holy Rosary
Rosaries or prayer counters have been used in many religions and date to as early as the 4th century. Many started as ropes tied in knots and later beads were added. In Christianity, a prayer rope was used by monks who would recite all 150 Psalms…
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday is the day that Christ celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples, four days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Only hours after the Last Supper, Judas would betray Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, setting the stage for Christ's Crucifixion on Good Friday.…
Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
Many Catholics think that this feast day refers to Mary's conceiving Jesus by the Holy Spirit. It is Mary, herself, who is the Immaculate Conception. In fact, it refers to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by Mary's father, St. Joachim…
Laetare Sunday
Most Catholics today are used to the Mass being conducted in English, and they hardly ever think about the fact that Latin remains the official language of the Catholic Church. But occasionally, Latin reasserts itself, as it does in the case of Laetare Sunday…
Lent
We are all called to be holy. Through our practices and experiences of Lent, we are transformed as we journey toward our heavenly home. We pray that this Lenten booklet will assist you in your journey.
Lent - How are the 40 days calculated?
Lent, the period of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter, is 40 days long, but there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, and Easter…
Liturgy - How Does the Liturgy Shape Our Lives?
The action of liturgy, that is, in the participation in the liturgy, our hearts have to be open to being moved by the Holy Spirit present through the liturgical event. Christ “is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church” (CSL, 7). It is Christ speaking to us, calling us to become better disciples, to become holy…
Mass Terminology
A definition list of common Mass terminology…
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a form of devotion to Jesus, and especially to His Love. This devotion began as a private devotion and is tied to the devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ…
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is September 8. This is a special day celebrating the birth of our Blessed Mother. Mary’s birth is a cause of great joy and is celebrated as she was selected by God to become the Mother of His Son and as such received the special grace of being conceived without original sin…
Ordinary Time
While the word “ordinary” in popular usage is used to describe things that are nondescript or dull, ordinary rather means customary, regular, and orderly. Ordinary Time may also be called Ordinal Time, which means numbered time…
Patron Saint - What is a patron saint?
A patron saint is a saint who has been chosen as a special protector or guardian over a particular group of people or cause such as a country, occupation or an illness. In recent times, patron saints have been named by the popes, but have also been chosen over time based on an interest, a talent or an event that occurred during their lives. Angels may also be named patron saints…
Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost Sunday marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the birthday of the Church. It occurs 10 days after the Ascension (50 days after Easter)…
Sacrament of Confession
Confession is one of the least understood sacraments of the Catholic Church. In reconciling us to God, it is a great source of grace, and Catholics are encouraged to take advantage of it often…
St. Gabriel, the Archangel
The name Gabriel means “God is my might” or “man of God.” St. Gabriel is a special messenger of God and is the patron saint of communication workers…
St. John of God
John always encouraged others by saying: “Work without stopping; do all the good works you can while you still have time…”
St. John, the Evangelist
John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the younger brother of James the Greater. Originally the two brothers were fishermen and were probably first the disciples of John the Baptist…
St. Joseph
Everything we know about the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus comes from Scripture. We know he was a carpenter, a working man. Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage…
St. Katharine Drexel
Katharine Drexel was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988 and on October 1, 2000, he canonized Katharine. She became the second woman born in the United States to be declared a saint…
St. Michael, the Archangel
The name Michael signifies “Who is like to God?” and was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers…
St. Patrick
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Down Patrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints…
St. Stephen
The name Stephen comes from a Greek name (Stephanos) which means crown. St. Stephen was the first martyr of the Church and the first to receive a martyr's crown…
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
By celebrating a “solemnity” dedicated to Mary's motherhood, the Church is highlighting the significance of her part in the life of Jesus and is emphasizing that he is both human and divine…
Stations of the Cross
The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death. It has become one of the most popular devotions for Roman Catholics…
Transfiguration of our Lord
The feast of the Transfiguration of Christ celebrates the revelation of Christ’s divine glory on Mount Tabor in Galilee (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36). After revealing to His disciples that He would be put to death in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21), Christ, along with Peter, James, and John, went up the mountain and there “he was transfigured before them…
The Triduum
The Triduum (TRID -doo-um), meaning “three days” in Latin, is celebrated from the evening of Holy Thursday until Easter morning and is a time when we recall the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus…
What is The Roman Missal?
The Missal is the collection of prayers, chants, and instructions (rubrics) used to celebrate Mass. This includes prayers such as the Sign of the Cross and opening greeting; Collects; Gloria; Creed; Eucharistic Prayers; Holy, Holy, Holy; Memorial Acclamations; and the final blessing…
Why was The Roman Missal Revised?
In 2000, to commemorate the new millennium, Pope John Paul II established a third edition of The Roman Missal. First, this edition includes more ancient prayers and saints’ days that have been established since the publication of the Missal of Pope Paul VI. Second, a considerable amount of time has been spent trying to accurately translate the Latin texts into English in a literal manner…

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