Spirituality
I believe: Every tongue, every land, united in heart
Our faith resides not in historical happenings nor in a big book of rules, but in the heart -- with one accord in the love of God, writes Michelle Francl-Donnay.
Use a tool from St. Ignatius this Lent to see handprints of God
Only in dim light could Effie Caldarola see the handprints of her granddaughter on a mirror. God's presence in the world is like that, and she recommends the Ignatian examen to see find those signs.
Prayers, care for sick are common ground for believers, pope says
In his message for the World Day of the Sick, celebrated Feb. 11, the pope expressed his hope that the day of prayer -- and the entire Year of Mercy -- would promote an encounter of people of different religions and lead to greater understanding among them.
Reader wants to move sign of peace, squelch singing at Communion
Father Ken Doyle answers two readers' suggestions for changing the Mass by pointing out what the church allows and encourages in the liturgy.
See Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2016
Read the pope's message in which he traces the history of mercy in God's covenant, through Mary the model of evangelization and to the works of mercy. He advises all not to waste the season of Lent.
The poor are at the center of the Gospel, pope says
Evangelizing the poor is central to the Gospel message and is less about giving social assistance than about converting hearts and healing wounds, Pope Francis said.
A jealous heart is an ugly, tormented heart, pope says at morning Mass
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jealousy and envy are ugly sins that grow like weeds in one’s heart, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass. A heart that is envious is not only tormented, but can even “lead one to kill,” the pope said Jan. 21 during the Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae. […]
No one is excluded from the mercy of God, pope says at audience
Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians are called to work together in order to be a visible sign that God's mercy excludes no one, Pope Francis said during his general audience Jan. 20.
No saint has a sin-free past, no sinner is hopeless, pope says
"We are often the slaves of appearances and allow ourselves to pursue appearances," he said during Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. "But God knows the truth."
To forgive ISIS terrorists, or not?
Father Ken Doyle answered a question about the Paris bombings a few months ago, and got a mail bag full of responses, mostly negative. So he dives back into the topic, asking: If God's forgiveness is conditional, is it wrong for our own to be?