Spirituality
In the end, everyone faces God with ’empty hands,’ pope says
God waits for everyone, even the worst sinner who repents only with his dying breath, Pope Francis said.
In church or business, buzzwords can obscure the real work
Let’s come to terms with “missionary discipleship” as we “get granular,” grouses writer Gina Christian. Evangelization (not a buzzword) isn’t about theological eloquence but simple deeds to show the love of Christ.
Only Jesus, in his infinite mercy, would die for sinners, pope says
It might be possible to find someone who would be willing to die for another person who was good and righteous, the pope said. But only Jesus Christ was willing to give his life "for a sinner like me."
Starving children are innocent victims of humanity’s greed, pope says
Pope Francis said Oct. 23 that the day's Gospel reading of the parable of the rich man who stores up treasure for himself "isn't a fairy tale that Jesus invented; it is today's reality." He decried greed, an "idolatry of money."
Think about what you say in the Our Father, pope advises
"I hope that each one of us, as we say, 'Our Father ...,' discover that we are loved, forgiven and bathed by the dew of the Holy Spirit so that we are able to love and forgive every brother and every sister," Pope Francis said.
When we realize that everything belongs to God, we respond with gratitude
Jesus calls us to discern God's providential care in all things, including our worldly obligations and goods. Through this awareness, our lives are transformed into offerings of praise and thanksgiving.
Readings of the holy Mass – Twenty-ninth 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.
Pray that priests never use law to shut door to salvation, pope says
The Pharisees and doctors of the law who claim salvation comes only from fulfilling God's laws are not just biblical figures of the past, Pope Francis said.
Living wills, feeding tubes and some hard decisions
A reader from Levittown asks Father Ken Doyle about how best to make end-of-life decisions, and how the church can guide a family at a crucial hour. He also answers a question on eulogies at funeral Masses.
Not listening to God’s word turns Christians into fools, pope says
Foolish men and women believe they listen but instead do their "own thing always" and they transform the word of God with their own "concept of reality," the pope said.