Preparing for Holy Week
By Anne Louise Mahoney, Managing editor Here we are again, on the brink of Holy Week. Where did these almost 40 days go? On Ash Wednesday, I had a lot of good intentions, but I have to admit that as…
Category Easter
God’s Redeeming Power: A Lenten Reflection
Matthew Sottile, Editor The 5th Sunday of Lent. Time feels as if it’s flying, as March has ended without so much as a warning. April’s first Gospel of the month speaks of a miracle, specifically Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from…
Perfect for Kids: Tell me About Series
By Anne Louise Mahoney, Editor It can be a challenge to hand on our faith to children these days. With so many activities and distractions vying for their attention, faith sharing can get lost in the shuffle. Luckily, few kids…
The Wisdom of Henri Nouwen: A Lenten Reflection
By Kevin Burns In his book The Road to Character David Brooks presents a series of character-building biographical essays about difficult lives, confident that as readers, consciously or unconsciously, we tend “to bend our lives to mimic theirs.” He includes…
Shrove Tuesday: Preparing for Lent
By Matthew Sottile, Editor A day when Catholics everywhere prepare themselves for the challenges Lent will bring, yet also serves as an introspective moment of thanks. I say this because many celebrate the day with a heaping pile of pancakes,…
Walking the Stations
Today, Christians around the world gather to mark Good Friday – a solemn celebration marking Jesus’ passion and death. As we listen to the words of the Gospel, we journey together to the cross, knowing that it changes everything. We…
The Covering of Statues in Passiontide
As our celebration of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection draw closer, we begin to see in many churches the devotional practice of covering statues and images in purple cloth during the final two weeks of Lent, otherwise known as Passiontide.…
Pope Francis to Announce Year of Mercy in Front of Holy Door
The first Roman Catholic holy year organized by Pope Boniface VIII for the city of Rome in 1300 became a tradition that has been passed down to this day. Following in the footsteps of Pope Boniface, Pope Francis will formally…
The Throne of the Cross
We received in our office the early shipment of Pope Francis’ newest book The Church of Mercy. We couldn’t help but share with you a passage that we thought was fitting for our commemoration of Jesus’ death on the cross today. Pope…
Pope Francis and the Washing of Feet
It’s remarkable how a simple gesture can provoke such controversy. Pope Francis caused quite the stir last year when he celebrated the Liturgy of Holy Thursday at a prison. While many lamented his departure from papal custom, more were puzzled…