Called to Question on Palm Sunday
It is a day that takes us from soaring joy to the depths of sorrow. Palm Sunday begins with chants of Hosanna as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem amid a triumphant crowd. Two thousand years on, we join with that throng…
Category Lent
The Cross as Royal Throne
Jesus enters Jerusalem, to die on the cross, and it is precisely here where his condition as king according to God shines. The cross becomes his royal throne. –A Year with Pope Francis: Daily Reflections from His Writings
Built on God’s Word
“God does not want a house built on stone but on faithfulness to his word and to his plan.” -Pope Francis, A Year with Pope Francis: Daily Reflections from His Writings
Sunday Reflection: Instruction Manual for the Life of Faith
Today’s readings serve as a kind of instruction manual in how to lead a life of faith. The psalm, for example, lays out the starting point of faith, reminding us of the importance of being receptive to the Word of…
The Logic of Salvation History
“Let it be said without irreverence: there is no one more inefficient than God. Consider the lack of logic in his investment and in the purpose of that spending: sacrificing his Son for a sinful and ungrateful humanity, past and…
The Necessary Ingredients for True Dialogue
“Listening, acceptance of failures and mistakes, admission of errors, in short, assuming our weakness, are indeed the necessary ingredients for a dialogue in search of the truth leading us all to build a common project.” -Pope Francis, A Year with Pope…
The Cost of Discipleship
“I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.” Those were the words of Pope Francis in his message for Lent 2014. He recalls that true adherence to the Gospel should have a real, felt impact on our…
We Begin Our Sacred Journey
Return to the Lord your God with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts. (Joel 2.12-13) Historically, Lent is rooted in solidarity with the final stages of conversion of those who will be baptized at…
Shrove Tuesday
On a day popularly known as Pancake Tuesday, it’s safe to assume what will be on the menu in many Catholic houses across the country today. The Tuesday preceding the beginning of Lent is known by many names, all reflecting…
The Via Lucis
The Via Lucis, or Way of Light, is a newer devotion in the Church that works like the Stations of the Cross, except that it celebrates the resurrection appearances of Jesus. It was first celebrated in Italy in 1988, and it has…