Spirituality
Pope Francis says he goes to confession every two weeks
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said he goes to confession every two weeks, knowing that God never tires of forgiving those who repent, but also knowing that having a priest say "I absolve you" reinforces belief in God's mercy.
Pope prescribes daily rosary for what ails you
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis admitted he wasn’t a pharmacist, but he didn’t hesitate being the spokesman for the heart-healthy benefits of 59 little pills strung together: the rosary. “I want to recommend some medicine for all of you,” the pope said Nov. 17 at the end of his Sunday Angelus address. “It’s […]
Can cremated remains be buried at sea?
Q. There was a photo in our local Catholic newspaper of a pastor presiding over a burial at sea. Please clarify the church's teaching on cremation and the proper final resting place of the cremated remains. (I thought that the "cremains" were to be buried.) (Davenport, Iowa) Q. I am a longtime practicing Catholic, but there is a question that has been bothering me: with respect to the canonization process for Pope John Paul II. How did the devil's advocate treat the issue of the clergy sexual abuse scandal? (Marlboro, N.J.)
Learning to accept and surrender
The silence of God when you need him most is one of the most difficult mysteries a person of faith will ever have to face. Yes, prayer works, and we absolutely need to rely on the Lord's strength when troubles come, but many of us lose confidence in God's love when he doesn't do exactly what we want.
Pope says purported visions of Mary can lead people away from God
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Purported visions of Mary, if taken in the wrong spirit, can sow confusion and distance people from the Gospel, Pope Francis said. Curiosities distance people “from the Gospel, from the Holy Spirit, from peace and hope, from God’s glory and God’s beauty,” the pope said Nov. 14 during a homily at […]
Confession renews grace of baptism, Pope Francis says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With baptism, Christians are cleansed of sin, but the sacrament doesn’t wash away human weakness nor the obligation to ask forgiveness when they make mistakes, Pope Francis said. Baptism is “God’s powerful intervention in our lives to save us. This saving intervention of God doesn’t remove our human nature and weakness; […]
God may scold, but he never slaps, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God’s hands are never used for violence, Pope Francis said. “I can’t imagine God slapping us,” the pope said. “Scolding us, yes, that I see, because he does do that, but he never, ever hurts us.” God shows love and tenderness, “even when he must scold us; he does it with […]
‘Putrid’ hypocrisy worse than mere sin, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God loves and forgives sinners but abhors and condemns “putrid” hypocrites who lead others to sin, Pope Francis said. The pope spoke Nov. 11 during a morning Mass he celebrated in the Vatican guesthouse, where he lives. “We should all call ourselves sinners, yes, all of us,” he said, but “not […]
He was unfaithful, now despairing; can he be forgiven?
Father Ken Doyle answers the question of a man who was unfaithful to his wife and has suicidal thoughts. The man can be forgiven and should seek the sacrament of penance right away, as well as counseling.
All Saints, All Souls feasts are time to renew hope, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At the end of the feast of All Saints, just before the sun set, Pope Francis celebrated an outdoor Mass at Rome's Verano cemetery and urged Christians to hang on to hope as they reflect on the promise that earthly life ends with eternal life in heaven. In his homily at the evening Mass Nov. 1, Pope Francis set aside his prepared text, looked out at the thousands of people gathered between long lines of tombs and told them, "We reflect and think about our own future and about all those who have gone before us and are now with the Lord."