Spirituality
Wealth obscures power of God’s word, free gift of salvation, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A church that is rich and lacking in praise for the Lord is an old, lifeless church that neglects the true treasure of God’s free gift of grace and salvation, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. “Proclaiming the Gospel must take the road of poverty,” the pope said at Mass […]
Why would God allow a tornado? Ending of the Lord’s Prayer
Q. I am a lifelong Catholic, and I find myself having a crisis of faith. The age-old question, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?" becomes harder and harder to answer in the wake of so many natural disasters. An atheist said to me recently, "If your God is all-powerful and all-loving, as you say he is, he could have stopped the Oklahoma tornado with a mere thought. Why didn't he?" How do I answer that? (Columbus, Ohio) Q. I have been asked many times why Catholics end the Lord's Prayer with "deliver us from evil," while Protestants continue on with "for thine is the kingdom," etc. Is it because the additional phrase was not said by Christ when he taught the prayer to the apostles? (North Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Imagine that God is speaking
Imagine that God is speaking to you directly. What would he say? I believe that God wants you to grow in his love. He would tell you to decide to live in his joy. You honor God best when you make a decision to live joyfully because of the knowledge of his love. In John 15:11 we read, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."
The suffering deserve our prayers, not our analysis, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Those who suffer are brothers and sisters Catholics must pray for, not cases to be analyzed or examples to be used in debates, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. The Christian response to those who are suffering must be to “pray for them. They must enter into my heart, they […]
Why don’t people bow their heads at Jesus’ name anymore?
Q. Could you please tell me why Catholics no longer bow their head at the name of Jesus? I seem to be the only one still doing that -- even the priests don't. When and why did this stop? (Ocean City, N.J.)
Eucharist nourishes, sustains and should transform people, pope says
ROME (CNS) -- In the Eucharist, Jesus makes himself the food that nourishes and sustains Catholics, even when the road gets rough, Pope Francis said before leading a Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Rome. Mass and participation in Corpus Christi processions are times for Catholics to reflect on how they follow Jesus and, particularly, what the Eucharist means to them, the pope said at Mass May 30 to celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pope Francis: What have you done to make the church holy, welcoming?
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- All Catholics must ask themselves what they personally have done lately to build up the holiness of the church and ensure people feel welcomed and loved in it, Pope Francis said. "The church is the great family of children of God," he said. "Certainly it has human aspects from the members who comprise it, pastors and faithful. They have defects, imperfections, sins. Even the pope has them -- and he has many -- but what is beautiful is that when we become aware that we are sinners, we find the mercy of God. God always forgives. Don't forget this. God always forgives."
Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for June
General intention: “That a culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.” Mission intention: “That where secularization is strongest, Christian communities may effectively promote a new evangelization.”
Marriage ceremonies and validity
Q. I have two upcoming marriages in my family; I've been wondering how they are each viewed in the eyes of the church, and I'm hoping that you can help. First, my nephew (a baptized Catholic, but currently not attending church) is marrying a Methodist. Because his family has had trouble with their parish priest, who has not been welcoming to them, they are going to be married by a minister in a Methodist church. If my nephew wants to continue practicing the Catholic faith and goes to confession, can he still receive holy Communion at Mass after he's married in the Methodist church? (I told his grandmother that he could.) Also, could a priest be at the wedding to bless it, and if he is, would it then be recognized by the Catholic Church? Next, my niece is marrying a Baptist. They are getting married in a Catholic church with a priest presiding, but they are not having a Mass. Can I assume that this is still considered a valid sacrament of marriage?
Pope says Christians must recognize good others do, work with them
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are called to welcome and cooperate with the good accomplished by members of other religions or no religion at all, promoting a culture of dialogue and peace, Pope Francis said. “We are all children of God — all of us. And God loves us — all of us,” the pope […]