Why do Catholic Church bells ring in the morning, at noon, and in the evening?
The bells at those times are meant to remind Catholics to say a brief prayer called the "Angelus" or "Regina Caeli" during Easter time. Any Catholic priest will be happy to tell you how to recite these prayers. T he times for these prayers were chosen to sanctify the entire day, even for those who find themselves generally unable to attend daily Mass. The hours were chosen initially to recall in the morning Christ's resurrection, at noon His crucifixion, and in the evening, His birth at Bethlehem.
Reprinted from April 25, 1997
Somebody in my church leaves little pieces of paper that contain some prayers
that are suppose to be said. Then the person who says these prayers is to
leave such pieces of paper in nine other churches and (these papers say) then
his petitions will be granted. What do you think about this?
I think it is rank superstition and nonsense. If you find such pieces of paper, burn them or turn them over to your pastor. Pay no attention to such things. They are akin to "chain letters" and other forms of superstition.
Reprinted from August 1, 1997
How should one properly dispose of broken or partial rosaries, old tarnished,
blessed religious medals, and old blessed palms?
The palms should be burned. The medals and rosary parts should be buried someplace, where they will not be disturbed. If this is impossible for you or very hard to do, bring these things to your pastor, who will help you to dispose of them properly.
Reprinted from April 11, 1997
In my parish when the rosary or other prayers are recited they are said
so fast that there seems to be no thought behind the words being said. Isn't
this defeating the purpose of prayer?
Certainly, we must strive always to accompany our prayers with corresponding thoughts and avoid deliberate distractions and undue speed. When the rosary is recited, of course, our thoughts should be about the mysteries rather than on the words of each "Hail Mary." I suggest you talk to your pastor about the situation and work with him to correct it, if it needs correcting.
Reprinted from February 14, 1997
In our parish we pray the rosary before Mass. I notice people have stopped
saying "Amen" at the end of the prayers. When did this start?
It is proper to say "Amen" at the end of the prayers during the Rosary. The reason for your parish change of practice might be found in the Lord's Prayer or Our Father recited during Mass, when it is not proper to add the word "Amen", since the "great Amen" is said just before and the Our Father is followed by the doxology. Perhaps your people have just carried over the habit from the Mass into the prayers of the Rosary. The word "Amen" ("so be it") is a kind of solemn affirmative, saying, in effect, "I agree and affirm what has just been said" or "What I have said or will say is a very solemn truth."
Reprinted from January 3, 1997
Why are there some added words to the "Our Father", such as "for
thine is the kingdom, etc."?
The doxology at the end of the Our Father or Lord's Prayer is very ancient. It is found in the "Didache" an old Christian document dating from about the year 90 AD. Some New Testament manuscripts have that doxology as a gloss in their text. However, all Scripture scholars agree that the words of the doxology do not come directly from Jesus. They are not in the "Our Father" as our Lord composed it. Saint Matthew and Saint Luke give slightly varying texts for the Lord's Prayer (Saint Luke has only five petitions, while Saint Matthew has seven.), but neither have the doxology in them. Protestants often include the doxology in their praying the "Our Father", while we Catholics do not, simply because those words are not the words of Jesus. There is, of course, no problem if a Catholic wants to add the words of the doxology in his private praying of the "Our Father".
Reprinted from December 6, 1996
When did the practice of praying for the dead begin?
The Catholic Church, from the time Christ founded her, always prayed for the dead. This practice, since its importance was already revealed by God in the Old Testament, however, was also present in ancient Judaism. The earliest Christian liturgies (worship services) contains prayers for the deceased. Tomb inscriptions and all the evidence from the catacombs indicate that the earliest Christians prayed for their dead and had Masses offered for the repose of their soul. Writing in the year 211 A.D. Tertullian said, "We offer sacrifices for the dead on their birthdays and anniversaries". Rejection of the doctrine of purgatory only came about when Martin Luther abandoned the Catholic Church and invented the Protestant Religion. There are indications of prayers for the dead in the New Testament (2 Timothy 1:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:29-30).
Reprinted from November 8, 1996
Where can I learn more about praying and prayer?
One of the best sources for such knowledge is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the entire fourth part. Also, such great Christian classics as the "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A. Kempis, the "Introduction to a Devout Life" by Saint Francis de Sales, and similar works could be very helpful. I suggest you consult your parish priest or your priest-confessor about this. Your Catholic bookseller might also be able to help you.
Reprinted from August 27, 1999
Would it be wrong for a wife to spend all her time in church and praying
with various groups and in this way not taking care of her husband and children?
Certainly it wrong for her, as you describe the situation. People who have a secular vocation must strive to find God's will for them in the work their vocation assigns them to do. However, some prayer should be usually possible even in the busiest kinds of lives. What the wife you write about needs is a proper balance in her life and sometimes this is best achieved by finding and following a good spiritual director. A priest who hears confessions can sometimes indicate where such a director could be found. I would recommend also that if there is a quarrel about these things in your family, you read together the last part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, from number 2558 on.
Reprinted from December 10, 1999