Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Responsorial: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 Gospel: Matthew 26:14–27:66 (or Matthew 27:11-54) Deepening Our Faith in the Triumph of the Cross Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. (Matthew […]
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” […]
Several years ago, I had a spiritual director who encouraged me to reflect on the following question: “Where did you find God today?” That is the question at the heart of Andy Otto’s new book, God Moments (Ave Maria Press, 2017). Otto, who has a master’s degree in theology and ministry, is a Catholic writer, […]
There once was a very special girl. Sarah was her name: a name that means Princess. This princess happened to be born with Down syndrome. Little Sarah grew up telling those around her that she had a perfect life! “If someone made an unkind remark about her appearance, she would smile and wave at […]
Single Catholics: the Vocations Solution It is widely known, in both Catholic and non-Catholic circles, that the Catholic Church is experiencing a shortage of priestly and religious vocations at this time. We often hear prayers at Mass for an increase in these vocations. There are those who are called by God to this vocation who […]
What’s your relationship to the Catholic Church? Are you devoted? Dedicated but doing the minimum required? Dabbling? Discouraged or done with the Church? Unsure? In All In (Ave Maria Press, 2017), Pat Gohn invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the Church, whatever that relationship might currently be. Gohn is a cradle Catholic, but truly […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11 Responsorial: Psalm 130:1-8 Gospel: John 11:1-45 Growing in Faith and Trust in the Lord So they took away the stone. (John 11:41) Raising Lazarus from the dead was one of the most amazing miracles Jesus […]
The world witnessed the United States returning to the pro-life fold after years of abortion advocacy from the Obama administration yesterday during the UN Commission on the Status of Women. After the gavel fell signaling the adoption of the annual agreement of the commission, known as Agreed Conclusions, the United States delegation delivered a poignant […]
Conscience is the voice of God speaking to a Christian. It is the “law written in their hearts” (Romans 2:15) by God; and each Christian has a duty to make sure that God’s message is not corrupted. In short, a Christian must form his or her conscience – it must be “well formed” – and […]
Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman draws on the following words from Scripture to preach on the need for a constant spiritual renewal: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb. x. 22. As he […]
Pray that common sense returns to politics.
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 2nd Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6 Gospel: John 9:1-41 Encountering Jesus and Responding to His Healing Love Do you believe in the Son of Man? (John 9:35) Like last Sunday’s Gospel reading about the woman at the […]
“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 When I see a young parent cradling an infant, I always smile. I’ll never forget those early days of motherhood, especially the […]
In today’s society we are all about acceptance of diversity. We take great pains to show how well we accept others of different races, religions, and sexual preferences. We do this by holding social events, arts showcases, sporting events, and TV programs and even enforcing acceptance by law. I appreciate the culture of acceptance and […]
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him. Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 17:3-7 2nd Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 Gospel: John 4:5-42 Being Filled with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit Come see a man who told me everything I have done. (John 4:29) Nobody likes admitting their sins. Whether […]
More than forty-five governments and high-ranking UN staff convened in Brussels this week to raise money and combat U.S. pro-life policies. Kate Gilmore, the UN Deputy High Commissioner on Human Rights, moderated the “She decides” fundraising event to “counter the impact” of the recently enacted Mexico City Policy. The European initiative raised pledges for $200 […]
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and everyone is Irish today — if not in fact, at least in spirit. Come on now, don’t be an old Druid! Regardless of your nationality, St. Patrick is a saint for everyone. It’s not just because I’m half Irish or that my parents named me after St. Patrick, […]
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking […]
In nine years, I’ve never gone into my Catholic Mom’s Bible Study / Book Club and said, “We need to read this book today,” but I did that with the latest book by Kate Wicker. If you are always perfectly fulfilled in your role as a mother and you have a group of well-behaved children […]
NEW YORK, March 10 (C-Fam) A recently published article exposes how abortion practitioners used U.S. foreign aid and the guise of “post abortion care” to increase the number of abortions in Zambia. Activists use Zambia as a model for how to impose their agenda on sub-Saharan Africa, a region known for its pro-life laws. A […]
It’s that time of the year again. For those of us who are on the Nineveh 90 challenge, we began Lent-like practices back in February. God is so good at giving us what we need to grow in holiness even though we might not have selected the means He uses. How loving that God choses […]
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:109 When we moved my mom into assisted living, my sister Annie and I cleaned out a […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 12:1-4 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9 Glorifying the Lord through Our Lenten Exercises This is my beloved Son. (Matthew 17:5) Jesus’ Transfiguration was one of the most magnificent displays of God’s glory the world […]
