Spirituality
Bishops must be blameless servants, not princes, pope says
A bishop must be "blameless" and at the service of God, not of cliques, assets and power, especially if he is ever to "set right" what needs to be done for the church, Pope Francis said.
Sacraments are not for sale, pope says at Mass
The sacraments are gifts from God that are given freely and are not a way for the church to fill up its coffers to cover expenses, Pope Francis said.
Jesus calls all to live in the kingdom of God
Christ offers an eternal citizenship that we can claim by trusting in him, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior. When the Lord is truly the ruler of our lives, we experience peace and security.
Readings of the Holy Mass – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.
Black Catholic History Month offers insight and inspiration to all
The annual celebration, observed each November, recalls the lives and contributions of African-American Catholics. In this set of articles from our partner Catholic News Service, we present thoughtful and informative overviews of the American black Catholic experience.
In choosing Catholicism, African-Americans returned to ancestral Christian traditions
Over the decades, a diverse array of African-Americans have chosen to become Catholic, for an equally diverse number of reasons. Their rich experiences and significant contributions to the faith gave rise to National Black Catholic History Month, now celebrated each November.
Black Catholics were at the forefront of the American civil rights movement
A Villanova University professor notes that during the 1950s and 1960s, scores of young black Catholics worked with leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. to oppose racism in U.S. society -- and in the church, where they desegregated the nation's all-white seminaries and convents.
All heaven in a hazelnut
Across six centuries, the solitary Englishwoman Julian of Norwich noted the contrast between her troubled world and Christ’s constant reassurance that “all shall be well,” which remains a lesson for today, writes Gina Christian.
How often do you have to go to confession?
Father Kenneth Doyle advises a reader on church teaching about the sacrament of reconciliation, which offers a true path to spiritual healing and health. Father Doyle also counsels a second reader who cannot understand her parish priest due to his heavy accent.
People unwilling to be challenged by God’s mercy will grumble, pope says
The sin of grumbling and complaining is often triggered by a desire to avoid being challenged or upset by seeing Christ's unexpected mercy at work, Pope Francis said.