Spirituality
Victory of love: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has power for our lives
Commenting on the readings for Mass this Sunday, Msgr. Joseph Prior explains how the Ten Commandments codify in the law our relationship with God and each other, and how Christ's self-offering fulfills that law.
Readings of the Holy Mass – Third Sunday of Lent
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.
Protestants can receive ashes, but draw a line at the Eucharist
The reception of ashes is a praiseworthy attitude common to all Christians during Lent, explains Father Ken Doyle. But only Catholics may receive Communion, which is a sign of unity that does not fully exist among all Christian faithful.
Confessional is a place of forgiveness, not threats, pope says
God "does not want to beat us and condemn us," but rather "he always looks for a way to enter the hearts" of those who are repentant, the pope said.
Repentance: A Lenten reflection
Lent is a time to delve deeply into our lives during this season of penance and to give a thorough look at what our values are and how we live them. See our package of stories about this way of living "within the dialogue of salvation."
Our response to the Father’s love and forgiveness
Repentance is an encounter with an honest assessment of ourselves and a deep trust in what God can do in us, for he is always reaching for us. It is a process, something we return to over and over again.
Prayer of repentance
Lent presents Catholics with an opportunity and an obligation to examine where their lives are modeling the Lord's example and where they are failing to help bring about the kingdom of God.
Repentance in the early church
For the first 800 years of the church, those who had fallen into grave sin, which was abnormal, would for a prolonged period seek the prayers of the community. Sins were confessed to the bishop, but penance was a public affair.
God’s love is for all, and for each one of us
Lent invites us to grow in our awareness of the Lord's mercy, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior. Christ offered himself to the Father not only for humanity, but for every individual.
Readings of the Holy Mass – Second Sunday of Lent
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.