Spirituality
When the world’s tears meet Veronica’s veil
In praying the Stations of the Cross with her parish, Gina Christian realizes St. Veronica's tender gesture of wiping the face of Jesus can be a model of our response to the suffering of people near and far.
The hardest love is forgiveness of the one who hurt you most
Chris Stefanick sees in Jesus' act of love on the cross, and the early Christians' forgiveness of their persecutors, the way that love can not only change our world, but ourselves too.
Funeral Mass isn’t required, but why not celebrate it?
Father Ken Doyle replies to two readers that a funeral Mass is preferred because among other reasons, it reminds those in attendance that God conquers all things, including death.
Salvation comes through the cross, not a magic wand, pope says
"The crucifix is not a decoration," Pope Francis said at morning Mass March 15. "If we want to know the love of God, let us look to the crucifix."
Preach the truth of your goodness to yourself
Don't listen to the lies you hear about your unworthiness and the names you're called, writes Chris Stefanick. Believe in the person redeemed and loved by God, then preach that truth to others.
Can one pray at Mass with open hands, or not?
Questions by readers including whether to hold hands or raise them as does a priest, especially during the Our Father, show continued angst over bodily gestures. So Father Ken Doyle answers them again.
Pray with Pope Francis in March
Watch two videos of the pope's March prayer intentions, for families and persecuted Christians, and see our prayer resources.
God remembers dust, but not sins
Psalm 103 reminds Michelle Francl-Donnay about how God uses the intricate material of dust to remake the universe, and us. He mends the penitent soul without leaving a mark of scar.
Every soul matters because God is in each
You’re kind of a big deal, and so is every soul God puts within your reach, writes Chris Stefanick. Remember that and you’ll change the world.
God leaves us free, even to make mistakes, pope says at Angelus
When it comes to our God-given freedom, "it is up to us to put it to good use. This gift of freedom that God gives us always amazes me," he said March 7 before reciting the Angelus with visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square.