Spirituality
Christians without mercy live like worldly pagans, pope says
Christians are not defined by their baptism but by whether they live their lives according to God's command to love their enemies, Pope Francis said.
To hear from God, we must first learn to listen
By pondering the Scriptures and by spending time in prayer, we can encounter the voice of the Lord, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior. When God whispers, we need to move closer to him.
Readings of the Holy Mass – Twenty-third 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.
Silence is Christ’s response to lies, divisiveness, pope says at Mass
"With people lacking goodwill, with people who seek only scandal, with those who look only for division, who want only destruction," he said, the best response is "silence. And prayer."
What is a synod of bishops?
With an October 2018 synod of bishops set to focus on young people, we take a closer look at this ancient tradition of gathering, listening and dialogue among the church's shepherds.
Synod of bishops marks a journey together
Listening, dialogue and collaboration are all part of Pope Francis' vision for gatherings of bishops, and for the church itself as it enters the third millennium.
Synodality means walking together as a church
Pope Francis seeks a broader communion between clerics and laity, with an emphasis on listening and moving forward as one body in Christ.
Travel light when walking with Jesus
Sin weighs us down, making it difficult to walk in God's path to new life, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior. By letting go of all that is not loving, we are free to follow the Lord.
Readings of the Holy Mass – Twenty-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.
Better to go to church or be kind? A false choice to avoid
Choosing church attendance or acts of daily kindness is not an "either-or" proposition, Father Ken Doyle replies to a reader. In fidelity to Jesus we do both, and thereby make steady progress in the Christian life.