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Weekly Wits: 10/18/13
by Cartoon Editor
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Category: Church Street
The Church: Rooted in Apostles; Looking Toward Future
by Vatican Information Service
After considering the unity, holiness and catholicity of the Church, as defined by the Creed, the Holy Father today addressed her apostolic nature. During the catechesis of the Pope’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square, he stated that “to profess that the Church is apostolic means underlining her constitutive bond with the Apostles, with that […]
Reflections for Sunday, October 20, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1-8) Saying Yes to God’s Plan and Mission for Your Life … so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17) Imagine that you wake up one morning to find […]
Pope Consecrates World to Immaculate Heart of Mary
by Pope Francis
The Pope celebrated mass in St Peter’s square this morning in honour of the Marian Day, an event organized as part of the Year of Faith on the anniversary of the final apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima (13th of October 1917). He also consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. […]
Reflections for Sunday, October 13, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) Allowing Jesus to Heal us of Spiritual Leprosy Jesus, Master! Have pity on us! (Luke 17:13) Until recently, a diagnosis of leprosy was a death sentence—a long, slow sentence marked by physical deformity, social isolation, poverty, and […]
Do Not Be Afraid to Strive for Holiness
by Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters, In the Creed, we confess our faith that the Church is “holy”. But how can we say that the Church is holy when she is all too evidently made up of sinners? Saint Paul helps us to see things aright when he tells us that “Christ loved the Church and gave […]
Reflections for Sunday, October 6, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14; Luke 17:5-10) Living in the Power of God and Not the Power of Fear Stir into flame the gift of God. (2 Timothy 1:6) Did you know that fear is a gift from God? It helps us protect ourselves […]
Sts. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs
by Catholic Lane Editor
THE detestable superstition of St. Cyprian’s idolatrous parents devoted him from his infancy to the devil, and he was brought up in all the impious mysteries of idolatry, astrology, and the black art. When Cyprian had learned all the extravagances of these schools of error and delusion, he hesitated at no crimes, blasphemed Christ, and […]
Reflections for Sunday, September 29, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Amos 6:1,4-7; Psalm 146:7-10; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31) What it Means to be Christ to Others Lazarus … would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the … table. (Luke 16:20, 21) There are two issues at the heart of today’s Gospel […]
The Theban Legion
by Catholic Lane Administrator
The Theban legion numbered more than six thousand men. They marched from the East into Gaul, and proved their loyalty at once to their Emperor and to their God. They were encamped near the Lake of Geneva, under the Emperor Maximian, when they got orders to turn their swords against the Christian population, and refused […]
Reflections for Sunday, September 22, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2,4-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13) Being Wise Stewards of God’s Gifts and Graces The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. (Luke 16:8) That’s right. The “hero” in this parable is a dishonest man who cheated his way out of a tough […]
The Joy of God is the Joy of Forgiveness
by Pope Francis
The Pope commented on Sunday’s Gospel reading which contained the three parables of mercy: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the story of the prodigal son. “All these three parables,” he said, “speak of the joy of God. God is joyful! The joy of God is the joy of forgiveness. … It is the […]
The Church is Our Mother
by Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today I wish to continue our catechesis on the Church by reflecting on an image used by the early Fathers and the Second Vatican Council: the Church as our Mother. By reflecting on the human experience of maternity, we understand that the Church is like our own Mothers. First, like our […]
Reflections for Sunday, September 15, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 32:7-11,13-14; Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,17,19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32) Experiencing More Deeply Our Heavenly Father’s Mercy, Love, and Grace Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love. (Psalm 51:3) One of the very first things we do at every Mass is celebrate the Penitential Rite. We […]
Peace Requires Time and Patience
by Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good Morning! In the Gospel for today, Jesus reiterates the conditions for being his disciples: not putting anything before your love for Him, carrying your cross, and following Him. Many people came up to Jesus, wanted to be one of His followers; and this would happen especially in the wake of […]
Reflections for Sunday, September 8, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Wisdom 9:13-18; Psalm 90:3-6,12-17; Philemon 9-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-33) What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes three very demanding statements. He says […]
St. Eleutherius, Abbot
by Catholic Lane Administrator
WONDERFUL simplicity and spirit of compunction were the distinguishing virtues of this holy man. He was chosen abbot of St. Mark’s near Spoleto, and favored by God with the gift of miracles. A child who was possessed by the devil, being delivered by being educated in his monastery, the abbot said one day: “Since the […]
St. Laurence (Lawrence) Justinian, Bishop
by Catholic Lane Administrator
LAURENCE from a child longed to be a Saint; and when he was nineteen years of age there was granted to him a vision of the Eternal Wisdom. All earthly things paled in his eyes before the ineffable beauty of this sight, and as it faded away a void was left in his heart which […]
St. Rosalia, Virgin
by Catholic Lane Administrator
ST. ROSALIA was daughter of a noble family descended from Charlemagne. She was born at Palermo in Sicily, and despising in her youth worldly vanities, made herself an abode in a cave on Mount Pelegrino, three miles from Palermo, where she completed the sacrifice of her heart to God by austere penance and manual labor, […]
Angelus Message for Sunday, September 1, 2013 — Fast and Pray for Syria
by Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Hello! Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace! It […]
Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons
by Vatican Information Service
INTRODUCTION 1. In recent years, various questions relating to homosexuality have been addressed with some frequency by Pope John Paul II and by the relevant Dicasteries of the Holy See.(1) Homosexuality is a troubling moral and social phenomenon, even in those countries where it does not present significant legal issues. It gives rise to greater […]
Reflections for Sunday, August 25th, 2013
by Maurice Blumberg
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13; Luke 13:22-30) The Importance of Seeking First the Kingdom of God Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23) These are perhaps the scariest words in Scripture. Embedded within this fellow’s question is the fear that many will not […]
