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February 7, 2019

Poverty, humility needed to give authentic witness of faith, Pope Francis says

Pope Francis celebrates morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, at the Vatican Feb. 7, 2019. In his homily, the pope called on Christians to embrace humility in order to give an authentic witness to the faith.
VATICAN – Those who proclaim the Gospel must embrace humility and poverty to give an authentic witness to faith and not use others to climb the ladder of success, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
January 31, 2019

Priests must be men of joy, Pope Francis says at Mass

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the World Youth Day prayer vigil at St. John Paul II Field in Panama City Jan. 26, 2019.
VATICAN CITY – A priest must be able to see the people around him as his children, as brothers and sisters, and must be willing to risk everything for them out of love, Pope Francis said in his morning homily.
Published in Reflections
January 26, 2019

Church wounded by sin causes doubt in our mission, Pope Francis tells Panama clergy, laity

Pope Francis blesses the crowd with the monstrance during the World Youth Day prayer vigil at St. John Paul II Field in Panama City Jan. 26, 2019.
PANAMA CITY – A church wounded by sin can paralyze, confuse and tire the hearts of Catholic clergy and laypeople, causing them to doubt their mission in the modern world, Pope Francis said.
Published in World Youth Day 2019
January 26, 2019

God's Word on Sunday: A new beginning starts with God’s gift

Deportation of the Jews to the Babylonian captivity by Eduard Bendemann

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 27 (Year C) Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Published in Faith
January 19, 2019

God's Word on Sunday: A new song reveals God’s healing nature

The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese, 1563

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 20 (Year C) Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-12

Published in Faith
January 7, 2019

Saints were 'crazy for concreteness', Pope Francis says at Mass

Pope Francis celebrates Mass Jan. 7 in the chapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
VATICAN – The saints were Christians who were "crazy for concreteness," knowing that faith is not an idea, but a relationship with Jesus, which leads to actions that demonstrate love, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
January 7, 2019

Offer a gift to Jesus, care for those who cannot repay you, Pope Francis says on Epiphany

Pope Francis reverences a figurine of the baby Jesus at the start of a Mass marking the feast of the Epiphany in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6.
VATICAN – People find Jesus only through humble love, and once they find him, they are called to offer him the gifts of their prayer, their adoration and their care of others, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
January 5, 2019

God's Word on Sunday: Epiphany lights the way toward salvation

Adoration of the Magi by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century

Epiphany of the Lord, Jan. 6 (Year C) Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Published in Faith
December 29, 2018

God's Word on Sunday: Being a child of God is a journey of faith

The Holy Family by Jacques Stella

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Dec. 30 (Year C) 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52

Published in Faith
December 22, 2018

God's Word on Sunday: God only asks for our obedience and trust

Mary and Joseph on the Way to Bethlehem (1475) by Hugo van der Goes

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23 (Year C) Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Published in Faith
December 21, 2018

Priest apologizes for funeral homily that focused on teen's suicide

Teens comfort each other during a vigil for a friend who committed suicide. A Michigan priest, criticized for emphasizing suicide during a recent homily at a teenager's funeral, has apologized and said he "fell well short" of providing the family with the comfort they desperately needed.
WASHINGTON – A Michigan priest criticized for emphasizing suicide in his homily during a recent funeral for an 18-year-old who took his own life has since apologized.
Published in International
December 18, 2018

Ask for grace to seek truth in dreams, be silent like St. Joseph, Pope Francis says

Celebrating Mass Dec. 18 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis spoke about St. Joseph and his willingness to listen to God speaking in his dreams. The pope urged parents to dream for their children and priests to dream for their parishioners.
VATICAN – While St. Joseph was a practical, down-to-earth man, he had enough faith to be open to God speaking through dreams, Pope Francis said at morning Mass.
Published in Reflections
December 15, 2018

God's Word on Sunday: The honest and just will be vital in God’s future

A 17th century icon of Zephaniah.

Third Sunday of Advent (Year C) Dec. 16 (Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Psalm Isaiah 12; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18)

Published in Fr. Scott Lewis
December 11, 2018

Jesus gives us joy even in martyrdom, Pope Francis says

A nun lights a candle next to a photograph of Bishop Pierre Claverie at his grave in St. Mary's Cathedral, where a vigil was held in Oran, Algeria, Dec. 7
VATICAN – God sends his consolation to those in need of reassurance, even when they are facing death, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
December 1, 2018

God's word on Sunday: God will provide courage to persevere

Lamentations de Jérémie sur la destruction de Jérusalem, Rembrandt (1606–1669)

1st Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2 (Year C) Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Published in Faith
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