Spirituality
Is it right to hope prayer will ‘change God’s mind?’
Without presuming to know the mind of God, Father Ken Doyle explains to a reader Jesus' invitation to pray to the Father, who listens to us and yet already knows what we need.
Getting more out of Mass
The Mass is central to our life in Christ, but our liturgical experiences often leave us uninspired. In this series we look at how we can more actively and effectively participate in the eucharistic celebration.
In word and action, the Mass is rooted in Scripture
The word of God, from both the Old and New Testaments, infuses the liturgy from start to finish.
To get more out of Mass, give more of yourself
Full participation in the Mass requires a willingness to live a eucharistic life, one in which we sacrifice ourselves to God and to others.
Switching from autopilot to active participation at Mass
When regular Mass attendance becomes a dull routine, simple changes -- such as sitting in a different pew or joining the choir -- can energize our liturgical experience.
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.