Spirituality
We can’t keep from singing alleluia forever
After a long Lent without this joyous Hebrew word, the miracle of Easter allows us to exult with the angels at Christ's resurrection.
How to make pisanki, or Polish Easter eggs
The delicate art of decorating an ancient symbol of the Resurrection emerged in Eastern Europe, including Poland. The tradition, which includes a number of variations, remains a vibrant one in the United States.
A recipe for Easter placek, the traditional Polish bread
The rich, sweet loaf is a Slavic Easter tradition that recalls the new beginning offered by Christ's resurrection from the dead.
Why would a pope meet with atheist Stephen Hawking?
A reader displeased that the pope met with the renowned physicist may be pleased to know that four popes did so, writes Father Ken Doyle in his weekly Q&A column. Hawking respected the church's dialogue with science.
Words in the silence
The many words of Holy Week’s liturgies come at a time when savage words at work and in media are beating down writer Gina Christian. As we relive Christ’s passion, we witness his silence and come to our own inner quietude.
Going to confession is getting God’s loving embrace, pope says
God's love is as "visceral" as a mother's love for her child, he said, which means it is a bond that cannot be forgotten.
Purity is seen in how one treats oneself, others, papal preacher says
If Catholic morality in the past seemed so obsessed with preventing sexual sin that it ignored sins of injustice, today "we have gone to the opposite extreme," the papal preacher said.
Reflections on Palm Sunday, the start of our Holy Week journey
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem only days before his death on the cross. This package of stories by our partner Catholic News Service provides a reflective road map for our journey, which leads to Easter joy.
Palm Sunday proclaims an eternal message for a modern moment
At the start of Holy Week, Christians reflect on what it means to "come in the name of the Lord" by uniting themselves with Jesus' death and resurrection.
Exhausting and intense, Holy Week leads us from sorrow to joy
From Palm Sunday to the Easter Vigil, the faithful seem to live at church while celebrating Christ's passion. Yet the demanding liturgies renew us as they culminate in the glory of the Resurrection.