Spirituality
Marian apparitions: Determining what is ‘worthy of belief’
It can take centuries for the church to approve a reported apparition. Church leaders consider Christians' desire for tangible signs of faith and the skepticism many people hold for "supernatural" phenomena.
Devotion to Mary stems from earliest days of the church
Marian devotions and apparitions -- including one in Wisconsin -- should express the love within the Holy Trinity and encourage Christians to witness to the saving message of Jesus, writes catechist Daniel Mulhall.
Miraculous Medal reminds us to stay close to Jesus
While the medal that writer Kelly Bothum received 30 years ago is gone, she never lost her belief in the power of Marian apparitions like the one witnessed by St. Catherine, to whom Mary revealed the medal.
Mary’s appearances on Earth lead all to belief in Christ
Although Marian apparitions have been reported in the thousands, the Vatican has authenticated fewer than 20. See our package of stories on the link between apparitions, devotion to Mary and the path to her Son.
Hospitality and its ‘better part,’ prayer, keep us on road to God
Msgr. Joseph Prior explains two important aspects of Christian discipleship in the readings for this Sunday's liturgy. Both lead us on the path and the destination of love.
Readings of the holy Mass – Sixteenth 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.
Pray with Pope Francis in July
CatholicPhilly.com offers monthly videos of Pope Francis’ prayer intentions, from the Apostleship of Prayer. Watch this month’s video here and pray the prayer intentions below.
Christ, and a priest, could help a person past purgatory
Father Ken Doyle reflects on Christ's forgiveness of the repentant thief and the "apostolic pardon" of the church to explain how the cleansing state of purgatory might be bypassed before heaven.
On tragedies big and small, learn the meaning of ‘offer it up’
We've all got crosses to bear -- be they common irritation or real agony -- but offering them up through Christ opens the way to grace and redemption, writes Gina Christian.
The littlest acts of mercy might be the biggest
Msgr. Joseph Prior unpacks the readings for this Sunday's liturgy, including the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan. We might not face such urgency today, but we're all called to show compassion every day.