Spirituality
Being Easter people informs how parish prays and acts
At Father Herb Weber's parish, the conviction that the resurrection of Jesus has made a difference in his parishioners' own lives affects the way the parish gathers for worship and performs works of service.
The origins of Lent and Easter
The ancient liturgical celebrations of Holy Week and Easter have changed over the centuries, writes a Catholic professor, but bishops then and now recognized the great status of this time of common worship by believers in Christ.
The resurrection through Mary’s eyes
Judging by the great suffering of Mary, the mother of Jesus, during his passion and death, how great must her exuberance have been about his resurrection? Marge Fenelon invites a meditation on Mary's joy at Easter.
The liberation Easter brings
Easter begins in the darkness and at night, when the great vigil Mass for this central Christian feast is celebrated. Yet Easter is all about moving from the night "full of gladness" to daylight -- a "new day" in time.
Easter recipe: Pomegranate marinated lamb roast with gremolata
Lamb is the quintessential symbol of sacrifice and renewal that pays homage to our Judeo-Christian roots and honors Jesus, the Lamb of God. This recipe presents roasted lamb as the perfect centerpiece for the Easter table.
Easter treats and crafts for family time
Kelly Bothum shares three fun and simple Easter crafts that, while not replacing the Easter baskets, have helped her kids keep a connection with their Catholic faith.
With talk of gender change, a reader wonders, is it moral?
Father Ken Doyle explains church teaching that rejects "gender reassignment" hormone therapies and surgeries, while expressing compassion and care for persons "struggling with gender dysphoria."
Closer to the Blood, drop by drop
Following an old prayer card, Gina Christian considers the blood that Jesus lavishes in this Holy Week -- and the sinners who need it most. Will we humbly draw close to Christ so we may be washed in his torrent of love from the cross?
Readings of the holy Mass — Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
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.
At Palm Sunday, an unflinching look into the Passion of Jesus
Our package of stories from partner Catholic News Service looks into the symbols and lessons from the account in the Gospel of Matthew that may be overlooked amid the shouts of joy and cries of sorrow in the narrative.