Cynthia Trainque

Why We Worship On Sunday: Answering Seventh-Day Adventists and Other Sabbatarians

Have you been asked yet -- either by a Seventh-Day Adventist or a member of other Seventh-Day Sabbatarian groups (and there are many) -- why Christians changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? Quick answer -- the Sabbath is still on Saturday. But most (not all) Christians including Catholics, Orthodox and many Protestants observe Sunday as the Lord's Day.

Read article →

Strange Gods Before Me -- Do Catholics Worship Saints and Statues?

I like to hear and to read about people's conversion stories to the Catholic Church...about the process they've been through in trying to assimilate all that our glorious Faith offers us. More often than not, there tends to be some tension within them about Mary's role in the Church and in praying to her and the saints.

Read article →

The Good News of Easter: I Believe in The Resurrection of The Body and the Life of The World to Come

"Jesus Christ is risen today -- Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day -- Alleluia!" Such is the message we sing today -- this day we call Easter. What makes this day "triumphant"?

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About the Catholic Church -- Part VIII: The Role of Women in the Church

One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is that she is a loving mother, always nurturing her children. I am quite active in the Church, working on my Master’s in Ministry for the Laity. What will this allow me to do? Many things: pastoral associate/minister, college/high school chaplain, hospital/prison chaplain (with additional studies

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About the Catholic Church -- Part VII: The Bible is Catholic

Try explaining to many of our Fundamentalist brethren about almost any tenet of the Catholic faith and you’re likely to hear in response, “Chapter and verse, please”. In other words, of course, they want to know exactly where that teaching is found in the Bible because they adhere to what is spelled out and therefore only such teachings are retained by them.

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About the Catholic Church -- Part VI: The Sacraments of Service

In my last article we looked at five of the seven sacraments of the Church. This week I shall explain about the two great sacraments of ministry: Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About the Catholic Church -- Part V: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Sacraments of Healing

Seven sacraments—seven great gifts of love from God to his Holy Church. Anyone aged 50 and over can easily recall from their Baltimore Catechism: “A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace”.

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About The Catholic Church -- Part IV: The Role of the Saints

Having the family background that I do (I am the only one in my family of origin that is still Catholic—everyone else now worships at the local Assembly of God) I have been asked, “Why do Catholics pray to and worship saints?” I have been told that it is idolatry and it takes away from Jesus’ role as the “one mediator between God and mankind” (1 Tim. 2:15).

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About the Catholic Church -- Part III: Why We Love Mary

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary” is what some could call the one who is so misunderstood in her various titles: Mother of God; the Immaculate Conception, Mary Ever-Virgin and others. Far from worshipping Mary the Church highly venerates Mary as the fairest among creatures. Let’s unpack these and see where it is that Mary fits in with Catholic teaching.

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About The Catholic Church -- Part II: The Mass

The Mass—from the Latin, Missa; in Greek, Leitourgos, meaning “the work of the people”. It is the most sacred and solemn action whereby heaven and earth meet. It is the place where Catholics find their weekly (even daily) sustenance before heading out anew to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in whichever milieu we find ourselves. It is the holiest of hours.

Read article →

Eight Things to Love About The Catholic Church -- Part I: The Role of the Bishop in The Church

For the past 41 years—since I received the Sacrament of Confirmation (or there about)—I am the only one in my family of origin who is still Roman Catholic.

Read article →

What Catholics Should Know About Islam

With all of the news stories reporting recent the atrocities being committed by ISIS, Boko Haram and other extremist groups you might be wondering -- Where does the Catholic Church stand in its relationship with Islam?

Read article →

The State of Our Catholic Schools

The good news about Catholic schools is that -- according to the website for the USCCB -- "National test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance and other data show that Catholic schools frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors".

Read article →