"It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
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Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and their Biblical Roots
Scott Hahn
In Signs of Life, Scott Hahn walks through forty customs of the Catholic Church through the lens of mystagogy, which means “guidance in the mysteries.” Hahn explains, “mystagogy enables new believers to see beyond the signs to the things signified – to see beyond the here and now and glimpse the divine mysteries that will one day be fully visible to us in heaven but even now are truly present in the church.” In the Gospels, “Jesus’ word brought about the realities it signified.” When Jesus healed the paralyzed man (Mark 2:3-12), he made it clear that the physical healing was an outward sign of a greater healing (the forgiveness of the paralytic’s sins). In the ministry of the Church, that same divine Word still has the power to transform the things of creation and the moments of our lives. The church uses ordinary things such as bread and wine, gestures, oil and water, to bring holiness into our lives.
The book is especially practical if you want to know the significance behind the sacraments, sacramentals (any object set apart and blessed by the Church to lead us good thoughts and increase our devotion - such as scapulars, medals, and the Rosary), and devotions. He addresses grace at meals, candles, incense, relics, and sacred images. Hahn discusses guardian angels, novenas, and certain types of prayer. Why do we use Holy Water? What does each move of the sign of the cross mean? These Catholic customs will become more meaningful after reading Signs of Life. In the end, each of these Catholic customs serve one purpose - to make us holier. Learn how to create more holy moments in your life through these customs.