Spirituality
Can a gay person distribute holy Communion?
Father Doyle advises a reader who wants to know if a same-sex attracted person can become an extraordinary minister at Mass. He counsels another reader with post-traumatic stress disorder, for whom the sights and sounds of Mass can be jarring.
From birth, Christ reveals the Father and his love for the poor
A child's sculptures and a meeting with a Mary lookalike inspire Patrick Walsh to reflect on the reality of the Nativity, in which salvation’s story begins with a clear line to those on the margins of society.
God’s love and mercy, in person of Jesus, pierces through darkness
The Third Sunday of Advent, on which Msgr. Joseph Prior reflects in his column, is cause for great joy because Christians have been born into the Kingdom of God, which promises life in the face of death.
Advent is a lesson in being vulnerable
Waiting means submitting to an "other" who may or may not come through for us, writes Gina Christian. But Christ shows us how to lower our heads in humility, so that we can raise them in confident expectation of his saving love.
Confessions from a face-to-face confessional
Returning to the sacrament of penance after decades, April McMurray Aiello was rusty but found her good-natured priest helpful and wise. Her confession was anything but perfect, but that's the whole point.
Be consoled tenderly by the Lord in confession, pope says
The Lord draws near to those in need with the tenderness of a father, and anyone who wants to experience his consolation simply needs to go to confession, Pope Francis said at morning Mass.
Do what you can, when you can, to witness to the truth
John the Baptist, Oscar Romero and Maura Clarke all confronted injustice with courage and love, writes Father Thomas Higgins. Advent is a time to follow their example, in ways great and small, to bring God's light to the world.
Justice, peace won’t happen without hard work
The Second Sunday of Advent calls us toward a world of harmony, and to endurance in the struggle to bring it about. Much work is still to be done, so writer Mike Nelson urges, "Let's get busy."
What we can learn from John the Baptist, a man for Advent
The Baptist who cries out "Prepare the way of the Lord" is a figure rooted in the Old Testament and an example of one driven by the Spirit that Christians witnessed after Jesus' resurrection.
Readings of the Holy Mass: Second Sunday of Advent
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with these resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.