Spirituality
True peace is found in a relationship with the Father through Christ
Violence is as real now as it was in Jesus' time, yet we are called to "have no anxiety" -- a serenity we can only attain through spending time with God, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior.
Readings of the holy Mass – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.
Don’t ‘dine and dash’ from the Lord’s table
Early exits from Mass prompt Father Kenneth Doyle to stress the importance of giving thanks after receiving Communion. He also advises a reader on alerting a Catholic school about a parent with a violent criminal past.
Ask God for courage to follow him to the cross, pope says
When Jesus set out to go to Jerusalem, he knew he would face humiliation, suffering and death there, as his disciples would each fall away and not accompany him, the pope said Oct. 3 during morning Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae.
When your baptismal sponsor turns out to be an atheist
A child's baptism was valid, even if the godparents weren't suitable sponsors, writes Father Kenneth Doyle. He reassures another reader that the anointing of the sick can be administered more than once during an illness.
Two months in one: Respect Life and Domestic Violence Awareness
October is a time to look at what it means to value all human life, from conception through natural death. Resources and prayers can help parishes and individuals honor both themes in October and beyond.
Love both Mom and her baby
A former pro-choice Catholic now sees the beauty of loving, and supporting, expectant mothers before and after they've given birth. A truly pro-life attitude rejects choosing between the rights of the baby and the needs of the mother.
Domestic abuse: A parish response
One in four women and one in seven men are victims of physical violence by their partner. When pastors talk about it in their parishes, a great many parishioners will respond. That is why resources for parish leaders are now available.
A celebration of life in the Bible
There are many examples in Scripture of how life was not only chosen, but fully celebrated among God's people. The preciousness of life until natural death is a joyful song that echoes throughout the Bible.
Pray to archangels for protection from devil, pope says
While the three archangels serve the Lord and contemplate his glory, God also "sends them to accompany us on the road of life," the pope said in his homily at morning Mass.