Why Do Catholics Use Incense?

 

Why Do Catholics Use Incense?

The smoke rises. The fragrance fills the church. But have you ever wondered why Catholics use incense at Mass?

In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we continue our series The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions and discover that incense isn't simply an ancient Catholic custom—it's deeply rooted in Scripture.

The Psalms compare our prayers to incense rising before God, and the Book of Revelation gives us an extraordinary glimpse of heaven where incense rises with the prayers of the saints.

We'll explore why incense is used to honor the altar, the Gospel, the priest, the people of God, and even the body of a loved one at a Catholic funeral.

Most importantly, incense gives us a visible reminder of something we cannot see:

Our prayers are rising before God.

The next time you see incense drifting toward the ceiling of a church, think of the prayer you're carrying and quietly say:

"Lord, let my prayer rise before You like incense."

Join me for this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns as we uncover another beautiful meaning hidden within our Catholic traditions.

#TheCatholicJourney #CatholicFaith #CatholicTraditions #CatholicMass #DeaconPatKearns

Why Do Catholics Genuflect?

 

Why Do Catholics Genuflect?

We do it almost automatically. We enter the church, find our pew, bend one knee toward the floor, and sit down.

But have you ever stopped to ask why Catholics genuflect?

In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we continue our series The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions by exploring the beautiful meaning behind this simple gesture.

Genuflecting isn't just Catholic etiquette. It's a profession of faith made with our bodies.

When we bend our knee toward the tabernacle, we're acknowledging something extraordinary: Jesus Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Our genuflection quietly says:

"Jesus, You are my Lord. You are my King. I belong to You."

The next time you enter a Catholic church, pause for just a moment. Look toward the tabernacle. Remember Who is waiting there. Then bend your knee and pray the words of Saint Thomas:

"My Lord and my God."

Join me for this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns as we rediscover why this small Catholic tradition expresses one of the greatest truths of our faith:

God is here.

#TheCatholicJourney #CatholicFaith #CatholicTraditions #HolyEucharist #DeaconPatKearns

Why Do Catholics Light Candles?

 

Why Do Catholics Light Candles?

Have you ever walked into a Catholic church, lit a candle, whispered a prayer, and then walked away while the flame continued to burn?

That simple act carries a beautiful meaning.

In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we continue our series, The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions, by exploring why Catholics light candles.

A candle reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World. It can represent a prayer entrusted to God, remembrance of someone we love, hope in the midst of darkness, and our trust that God continues working even when we can do nothing more.

We'll also explore the powerful symbolism of the Paschal candle—lit at Easter, present at our Baptism, and standing beside us again at our funeral.

From the beginning of our Christian life to its earthly end, the message remains the same:

Christ is our light, and the darkness will never overcome Him.

Join me for this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns.

🕯️ Sometimes behind the smallest flame is a very big prayer.

#TheCatholicJourney #CatholicFaith #CatholicTraditions #Prayer #DeaconPatKearns

Why Do Catholics Make the Sign of the Cross?

 

Why Do Catholics Make the Sign of the Cross?

We do it before Mass. We do it before prayer and meals. We may even do it when we're frightened, grieving, or simply don't know what else to pray.

But have you ever stopped to think about what the Sign of the Cross actually means?

In Episode 2 of The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions, we slow down one of the most familiar gestures of our Catholic faith and discover just how much is contained within it.

When we say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we proclaim the Trinity. And as we trace the Cross over our bodies, we proclaim the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It's more than a way to begin a prayer.

It is a prayer.

It's also a reminder of our Baptism and a simple declaration:

I belong to Jesus Christ.

🎧 Join me for this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns and rediscover the meaning behind something you may have done thousands of times.

And next time you make the Sign of the Cross… slow down and mean it.

#TheCatholicJourney #CatholicFaith #SignOfTheCross #CatholicTraditions

The Faith That Refuses to Let Go | Matthew 15:21–28

 

The Faith That Refuses to Let Go | Matthew 15:21–28

Have you ever prayed for something so long that you began to wonder if God was even listening?

In this homily, we encounter the Canaanite woman—a desperate mother who comes to Jesus pleading for her daughter. At first, Jesus seems silent. Yet she does not walk away. She kneels. She trusts. She persists.

Her story reminds us of a powerful truth: God’s silence does not mean God’s absence.

Jesus ultimately tells her, “O woman, great is your faith!” What He praises is not her background, status, or accomplishments, but a faith that refused to quit—even when heaven seemed silent.

This Gospel also challenges us to see others differently. The disciples saw an interruption; Jesus saw a soul. We are called to notice the lonely, forgotten, struggling, and overlooked—and to see them through the eyes of Christ.

If there is a prayer you have almost stopped praying, pick it up again. Bring it before the Lord. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Refuse to let go.

Because sometimes God may seem silent…but He is never absent.

🎙️ The Faith That Refuses to Let Go
Deacon Pat Kearns
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

#CatholicFaith #CatholicHomily #NeverStopPraying #TrustInGod

WHY HOLY WATER?

 

WHY HOLY WATER?
The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions — Episode 1

Why do Catholics dip their fingers into holy water when they enter a church? Is it simply an old tradition—or is something much deeper happening?

In this first episode of The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions, Deacon Pat Kearns explores the beautiful meaning behind holy water.

Holy water calls us back to our Baptism, when we first became members of the Body of Christ. It reminds us that we belong to God, invites us to renew our baptismal promises, and points to the cleansing and life-giving power of God's grace.

And when we bless ourselves with holy water, we aren't performing an empty ritual. We are making the Sign of the Cross and remembering who we are: baptized sons and daughters of God, called to live differently because we belong to Christ.

Sometimes the Catholic practices we perform almost automatically contain profound spiritual truths—if we slow down long enough to understand them.

🎙️ Join me for Episode 1: Why Holy Water? as we uncover the faith hidden within one of Catholicism's most familiar traditions.

The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns
Helping Catholics see life through the eyes of faith.

#TheCatholicJourney #HolyWater #CatholicFaith #CatholicTraditions

Walking with Jesus — Episode 12: Pentecost

 

Walking with Jesus — Episode 12: Pentecost
When the Followers Became the Church

We began in Bethlehem with a child lying quietly in a manger.

Now, after walking with Jesus through His life, ministry, Cross, Resurrection, and the road to Emmaus, our journey reaches its final destination:

Pentecost.

The disciples are gathered in the Upper Room. They have seen the risen Christ, but they are still waiting.

Then everything changes.

A sound like a mighty wind fills the room. Fire rests upon them. The Holy Spirit comes—and the frightened disciples who once hid behind locked doors walk into the streets and boldly proclaim Jesus Christ.

Followers become witnesses.
Disciples become apostles.
And the Church is sent into the world.

But Pentecost isn't only their story.

It's ours.

Through Baptism and Confirmation, we have received the Holy Spirit too. We weren't given our faith simply to keep it safely inside a church building. We were given it so that we could carry Christ into our families, workplaces, communities, and world.

Throughout Walking with Jesus, we have asked:

“What would it have been like to walk with Jesus?”

But in this final episode, the question changes:

“Now that I have walked with Jesus… how will I walk differently?”

We began this series with Jesus saying:

“Come, follow me.”

We end with Him saying:

“Go.”

Go love.
Go serve.
Go forgive.
Go proclaim the Gospel.
Go bring Jesus to someone who needs Him.

Join me, Deacon Pat Kearns, for the final episode of Walking with Jesus — Pentecost: When the Followers Became the Church.

Thank you to everyone who has walked this journey with me from Bethlehem to Pentecost.

But The Catholic Journey continues!

Next, we're beginning an entirely new series:

The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions

We'll explore the Catholic practices many of us have followed our entire lives and discover the Scripture, history, theology, and spiritual meaning behind them.

And we begin with something most Catholics do almost automatically when entering a church:

Episode 1 — Why Holy Water?

You may never dip your fingers into that little font and make the Sign of the Cross quite the same way again.

Come, Holy Spirit.
The doors are open.
Now go.

#WalkingWithJesus #Pentecost #HolySpirit #TheCatholicJourney