Spirituality
The ‘hard saying’ of the Eucharist explained for a child
The Eucharist really is the body and blood of Christ, and Father Ken Doyle writes that there are ways of explaining that to the young and not so young.
Gospel readings shouldn’t be edited at will
Father Ken Doyle explains to a reader that a priest or deacon may choose a shorter approved reading, but may not avoid verses seen as controversial or challenging.
Pope: God feels compassion for everyone, sent his son to heal humanity
There is a difference between compassion and pity, he said at the Mass in the chapel of his residence Oct. 30. "I can feel pity for a dog that is dying," he said, but compassion, especially God's compassion, is a whole different thing. It is putting oneself in the other's place "with the father's heart."
Marked with the sign of faith, we’re bound in life and death
A small cemetery in the rough countryside of Ireland reminds Michelle Francl Donnay of the obligation – from the Latin word "to bind" – to pray on All Souls Day for all the dead, be they family or the unremembered.
Why the bias for a priest at Communion time?
No answer of Father Ken Doyle to readers' questions has generated more response than this: It's the same Eucharist no matter whether a priest or lay person distributes it, and it's not worth worrying about.
Just how poor must one be to follow Jesus?
Father Ken Doyle writes that it's hard living Gospel poverty in America, but the challenge is how one uses money.
As Rome synod continues, pope speaks of obedience
Preaching on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila Oct. 15, Pope Francis spoke of Jesus' "very harsh" language concerning the "doctors of the law." They try to limit God's limitless love, the pope said, adding obedience is a response to God's love.
Explaining forgiveness for abortion via confession
Father Ken Doyle responds to a reader that the pope's announcement about absolution for abortion was not intended to minimize the gravity of the sin but to highlight God's willingness to forgive anyone who is genuinely sorry.
St. Teresa: A teacher of prayer for today
On the 500th anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila’s birth on Oct. 15, Father Gus Puleo finds that for Teresa, the object of prayer is not to get something, but to become something -- what God wants us to be.
If you’re living right, God is laughing
Effie Caldarola suggests imagining the work we do in life as not just our obligation but something in which God takes delight, and in which we are doing his will.