MSI Press Blog

If you walk into a Catholic church during Lent, you’ll often see people quietly moving from station to station, pausing before small images on the wall. This ancient practice—the Stations of the Cross —is one of the most beloved Lenten devotions in the Church. But what exactly is it, and why do Catholics do it? 1. A pilgrimage without leaving your parish The Stations of the Cross are 14 moments from Jesus’ Passion , beginning with His condemnation by Pilate and ending with His burial. Early Christians in Jerusalem walked the actual path Jesus took to Calvary. Over time, as travel became impossible for most people, the Church brought the pilgrimage home. Parishes installed “stations” so the faithful could walk with Christ spiritually, even if they could never set foot in the Holy Land. It’s a pilgrimage of the heart. 2. A way of slowing down the Passion The Gospels tell the story of Good Friday with stark simplicity. The Stations invite us to linger —to notice the falls, the face...

  What is a  book jewel ? A sometimes-overlooked book with remarkable insight and potential significance. Each month, we share near-daily, or as often as possible, reviews of the monthly book jewel - short, succinct reviews that can be read in 1-2 minutes with links to the reviewer by reviewers whose words are worthy of being heard and whose opinions are worthy of being considered. Sometimes a couple of minutes contains more impressive thought than ten times that many. We will let you decide that. This month's book jewel is, appropriately,  Christmas at the Mission  by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission. Description: Sula the Cat does it again! Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, is a cat with a special mission: to comfort people in need. Every morning, she spends time with St. Francis, patron saint of animals, and receives guidance for the day. During Masses, led by the Holy Spirit, she seeks out whomever God wants her to comfort, and they report that sh...