Spirituality
A breath of hope in 2018
The new year reminds us to face the future with hope, writes Father Eugene Hemrick. More than mere optimism, this theological virtue sustains us in our faith and in our daily lives.
Every person is worthy of redemption
Even the bars of a prison cell cannot shut out the Lord and his saving love, writes Father Kenneth Doyle. Responding to another reader, he clarifies the "three-Mass limit," which helps preserve the dignity of the Eucharist.
Through the gift of family, we experience God’s love
Christ was born into a human family, where our life of faith is formed and nourished, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior.
Readings of the holy Mass – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with these resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.
The Lord is speaking; here are 3 ways to listen to him
In the final hours before Christmas, Msgr. Joseph Prior reflects on how the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent call us to listen for God's word and, as Mary did, say "yes" to God's desire to dwell in and among us.
Get to Mass early; don’t calculate how late you can be, pope says
The words and gestures that open the celebration help the faithful come together as one and prepare them to listen to the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist worthily, he said Dec. 20 during his weekly general audience.
Open wide the doors, even ones without a wreath
It's hard for a busy person such as writer Gina Christian to decorate, even as she hears the Advent call to open the door of our heart to Christ. At times he taps softly. In our most difficult moments he raps hardest to let him in.
Pope: Redeemed Christians are joyful, don’t have ‘funeral wake’ faces
Christians have good reason to be joyful and should let it shine in their faces rather than sport sad, pessimistic looks, Pope Francis said.
Readings of the holy Mass – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with these resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.
The Ten Commandments and a question about idols
Father Ken Doyle helps clear up for a reader some misunderstandings about the Catholic formulation of the commandments, the role of sacred art in churches and the communion of saints.