Spirituality

Readings of the holy Mass – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.

Government: It’s God’s idea, but our task to make it better

God calls for good governance of his people on earth, but not for a specific form, writes Gina Christian. Though she will vote Nov. 8 with a heavy heart, she knows the ballot box can lead to an encounter with our divine king.

Was John the Baptist free from original sin?

While Father Ken Doyle explains the doctrine that only Mary was conceived free from sin, he points to signs that the Baptist was freed from original sin after conception, but before birth.

Early Fathers of the Church

One of the greatest ways to grow in the spiritual life and be imbued with the Catholic spirit is to read the writings of the early Church Fathers.

The Fathers of the Church: Who they are and why they matter

Almost as soon as anyone begins to explore Christian heritage, he or she invariably runs across references to "the Fathers of the Church" or "early Church Fathers." One gets the clear impression that whoever they are, these people are important!

The baptism of St. Augustine by St. Ambrose

St. Augustine.s baptism climaxed one of the greatest conversion stories ever. He arrived at the baptismal font only after an agonizing process of deliberation.

The Fathers of the Church and the Bible

The fathers may not be well-known, but, thanks to them, the church survived in an age of persecution and established the basic beliefs of Christians, such as one God and Jesus as redeemer of the world.

Parish landscape is changing rapidly, to a Catholic’s chagrin

Father Ken Doyle replies to a parishioner who finds his parish offering fewer Masses, fewer sacraments and no parish activities, and what can be done in an era of change.

Jesus’ intercession is the cornerstone of the church, pope says

"On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays; on the cross he prayed; his life ended in prayer," the pope said. "And this is our security, this is our foundation, this is our cornerstone: Jesus who prays for us! Jesus who prays for me."

Seek Jesus, and life will never be the same again

Zaccheus, the corrupt tax collector, looks for Jesus and listens to him with an open heart, and is transformed, as Msgr. Joseph Prior explains this Sunday’s Gospel reading.