Spirituality
Growing our hearts this Lent through a ‘spiritual game plan’
Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, sacred music and devotion to St. Joseph can provide powerful nourishment for souls seeking a closer walk with Christ, writes poet Lindsay Weishar.
Becoming a missionary disciple through Lent
Shifting our gaze from ourselves to the world in need around us, and from those closest to us to those furthest away, is at the heart of preparing for Easter, and for spreading the Gospel.
Readings of the Holy Mass – First Sunday of Lent
Read, listen to or watch videos of the Mass readings with these resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.
Lent turns us inside out to set us straight
Preparing for Easter isn't a march of misery or an exercise in willpower, but a chance to find lasting joy by learning not to pick and choose our crosses, writes Gina Christian.
God wants to open hearts, forgive, heal, pope says
The Gospel story of Jesus healing the leper illustrates "that God is not an abstract doctrine," but the one who is not afraid to come into contact with our wounds," Pope Francis said.
Ashes mark beginning, not end, of new life, says theologian
Suggesting people fast from media during Lent, a noted Italian preacher asked, "what if we were to look people in the eye the way we look at our phones, with the same intensity, how many things would change?"
Readings of the Holy Mass – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read, listen to or watch videos of the Mass readings with these resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.
Mercy reveals God’s power to heal body and soul
We might want to experience healing -- especially from the anxiety of COVID -- on our terms, but God invites us to encounter him through his kingdom and remember his saving action, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior.
A Valentine for all, from the eternal lover
Long before Feb. 14 became an annual celebration of romance, the divine heart chose each one of us to become his beloved in Christ, writes Gina Christian.
A day that begins with prayer is a good day, pope says
Prayer is a reminder that God is nearby and so "the problems we face no longer seem to be obstacles to our happiness, but appeals from God, opportunities to encounter him," Pope Francis said.