Spirituality
The Lord is speaking; here are 3 ways to listen to him
In the final hours before Christmas, Msgr. Joseph Prior reflects on how the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent call us to listen for God's word and, as Mary did, say "yes" to God's desire to dwell in and among us.
Get to Mass early; don’t calculate how late you can be, pope says
The words and gestures that open the celebration help the faithful come together as one and prepare them to listen to the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist worthily, he said Dec. 20 during his weekly general audience.
Open wide the doors, even ones without a wreath
It's hard for a busy person such as writer Gina Christian to decorate, even as she hears the Advent call to open the door of our heart to Christ. At times he taps softly. In our most difficult moments he raps hardest to let him in.
Pope: Redeemed Christians are joyful, don’t have ‘funeral wake’ faces
Christians have good reason to be joyful and should let it shine in their faces rather than sport sad, pessimistic looks, Pope Francis said.
Readings of the holy Mass – Fourth 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.
The Ten Commandments and a question about idols
Father Ken Doyle helps clear up for a reader some misunderstandings about the Catholic formulation of the commandments, the role of sacred art in churches and the communion of saints.
As we await the Lord’s coming, we reach a deeper level of joy
"Gaudete Sunday" invites us to move beyond simple holiday cheer and find lasting happiness in Christ, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior.
Readings of the holy Mass – Third Sunday of Advent
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition.
Advent week three: Joy that shines in the darkness
As Christians light the third candle on their Advent wreath and sing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" this Sunday, the call to "rejoice always" in the Lord rings out to a weary world.
Joy from the inside out, courtesy the readings for Mass
If the coming of Christmas feels for you like a photographer's insistence that you "smile" when you don't feel like it, take heart: the Scriptures are a gift from deep within, where Christ dwells and the Holy Spirit moves.