ST. EDMUND left his home at Abingdon, a boy of twelve years old, to study at Oxford, and there protected himself against many grievous temptations by a vow of chastity, and by espousing himself to Mary for life. He was soon called to active public life, and as treasurer of the diocese of Salisbury showed […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalm 23:1-3,5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28; Matthew 25:31-46) Allowing Our Hope in the Second Coming to Impact Our Lives When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . (Matthew 25:31) Today is the last Sunday in the church year. So it’s appropriate to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30) Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom of God Come, share your master’s joy. (Matthew 25:21) Quick! Ask yourself: “As I read this parable, did I identify more with the third servant in this parable than with the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 1:14–2:2,8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13; Matthew 23:1-12) The Second Coming of Christ Our Source of Hope and Encouragement We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Apparently, some of the first-century Christians in […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Distinguished Heads and Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and World Religions, Dear Friends, Twenty-five years have passed since Blessed Pope John Paul II first invited representatives of the world’s religions to Assisi to pray for peace. What has happened in the meantime? What is the state of play with regard to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 1:14–2:2,8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13; Matthew 23:1-12) Treating Others with Dignity and Respect Have we not all the one father? (Malachi 2:10) With one simple question, the prophet Malachi gets to the heart of who we are. Since we all come from the same Father, […]
The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-4,47,51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40) Living Out Our Christian Faith as Catholics You became a model for all the believers” (1 Thessalonians 1:7). Paul really liked the Thessalonians! It seems that their faith and their joy in the Lord gave him a lot […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96:1,3-5,7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21) Reflecting the Lord’s Light in You to Others Whose image is this and whose inscription? (Matthew 22:20). Let’s talk about coins. Have you ever held a coin that was so dirty you could hardly tell what it was? […]
September 20, 2011 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: I write with a growing sense of urgency about recent actions taken by your Administration that both escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage. This past spring […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) Accepting God’s Invitation to His Heavenly Wedding Banquet Many are invited, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14) “Don’t touch the stove; it will burn your fingers!” “Don’t cross the street until you look both ways.” Just as […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43) Overcoming Our Anxieties by Receiving God’s Peace Have no anxiety at all. (Philippians 4:6) Is Paul serious? How can any of us live an anxiety-free life? Doesn’t he know how hard life can get? Yes, he does! He even […]
Mr President of the Federal Republic, Mr President of the Bundestag, Madam Chancellor, Madam President of the Bundesrat, Ladies and Gentlemen Members of the House, It is an honour and a joy for me to speak before this distinguished house, before the Parliament of my native Germany, that meets here as a democratically elected representation […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) Knowing and Doing the Will of Our Heavenly Father “Which of the two did his father’s will?” (Matthew 21:31). This is a familiar story. A father sends each of his two sons to work in his vineyard. The […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) The Importance of Knowing and Experiencing the Grace of God “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16) These words can have a number of different meanings. For instance, we look at […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Sirach 27:30–28:7; Psalm 103:1-4,9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35) Forgiving One Another from the Heart “Not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). It’s been ten years since two jetliners crashed into theTwinTowersinManhattan, but Paul Fox can still see the flames and, in them, the faces of […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, In every age, men and women who have consecrated their lives to God in prayer – like monks and nuns – have founded their communities in particularly beautiful places: in the countryside, on hilltops, in mountain valleys, on the shores of lakes or of the sea and even on small islands. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20) Reaching Out to Others with God’s Mercy, Love, and Compassion “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) What a beautiful image: Jesus himself is with […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27) Allowing Our Minds to be Renewed by the Holy Spirit “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23) Can you imagine being in Peter’s position? Jesus just called you the rock on […]
Full text of the Pope’s address to young professors Dear friends, I have looked forward to this meeting with you, young professors in the universities of Spain. You provide a splendid service in the spread of truth, in circumstances that are not always easy. I greet you warmly and I thank you for your kind […]
I am grateful to Your Majesty for your presence together with the Queen, and for the kind and deferential words with which you welcomed me, reviving in me the unforgettable gestures of kindness which I received during my previous Apostolic Journeys to Spain, and most particularly during my recent Visit to Santiago de Compostela and […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3,6,8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20) Opening Your Heart and Mind to God’s Gift of Revelation Oh, the depth! (Romans 11:33) Some remarkable humans have demonstrated the ability to free-dive to the depth of almost one hundred meters underwater—with no oxygen tank, fins, or […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8; Romans 11:13-15,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28) Sharing the Love of Christ and Praying for Others “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28) Can you imagine having your request rejected by Jesus three different times, as happened to this woman? First, Jesus ignored her. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (1 Kings 19:9,11-13; Psalm 85:9-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-23) Hearing God’s Still Small Voice There was a tiny whispering sound (1 Kings 19:12). Have you noticed how noisy our world is? We celebrate holidays with ear-shattering fireworks. Young people listen to music so loud that you can’t […]
