“Lex orandi, lex credendi”. That latin sentence can be understood in a number of ways, but what it comes down to is this, I think: our liturgy guides the way we pray and the way we believe. Courses in theology, scripture, spiritual books and devotions are fine but they don’t supplant the liturgy of the church for building our faith.

The liturgy is the most important way to explore our faith and grow in faith. It’s a catechism were called to follow through its feasts, its seasons, its prayers and the example of the saints. The chapel above is my present classroom.

Our recent feasts, for example. The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome (Nov 9). First of the great churches built after Constantine brought an end to Christian persecution in the 4th century. Why do we have churches anyway? We seem to be closing them in this part of the world, or going to them less and less.

Pope Leo (Nov 10) is called great because he led a church threatened by barbarian armies who were chopping into pieces the Roman world in the 5th century. Yet there he was firm as a rock in a storm. Does his feast tell us God always provides the leaders we need, especially in a storm?

Martin of Tours(Nov 11), the soldier who gave half of his cloak to a freezing beggar, later revealed to be Christ. Martin asks: what are you doing for the poor? November is a month we prepare for winter. Are we putting aside something for the poor?

Josephat (Nov 12)  was a bishop seeking the unity of Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. He suffered martyrdom for his efforts. We’re challenged to work for the unity of our churches, keeping them big, not small.

Mother Cabrini ( November 13) a dynamic little Italian nun,  championed poor Italian immigrants who came to the United Stats expecting streets paved in gold, but found hard cold cobblestones instead. Who’s championing immigrants today? 

The saints are part of our catechism. They’re joined by daily readings from the scriptures that bring us the wisdom of the Old and New Testament. We bring them our questions, and they question and challenge us in return.

Above all, the liturgy brings us into the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.The liturgy is a school that has Jesus Christ as its Teacher and Lord. We are blessed.