Stone jars and softer containers

In his novel A Month of Sundays, John Updike presents us with a character, a lapsed vicar, who, though struggling himself with faith, is extremely critical of his young assistant whose faith and theology he judges to be fluffy and lightweight. He describes his young assistant this way:

Pope Francis told sisters from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

Pope tells sisters the Church needs them, they need the Church

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told 800 superiors of women's orders from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

A boy carries a large crucifix as his confraternity arrives for a Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 5. The pope praised confraternities as a means of transmitting and cultivating the faith but said popular piety must be prac ticed in communion with the pastors of the church.

Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of church

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.

Pope Francis greets the crowd outside after praying the rosary at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome May 4. The pope led the crowd in chanting "Viva la Madonna" (Long live the mother of God). At right is Cardinal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome.

Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, Pope says at rosary

ROME - Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, face the difficulties of life and use their freedom to make lasting commitments, Pope Francis said.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the Vatican May 2. The 86-year-old retired pontiff, who had been staying at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo since retiring Feb. 28, returned to the Vatican to live in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

Pope Francis welcomes Benedict back to Vatican

VATICAN CITY - For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope.

There remains much to be done

Ascension of the Lord (Year C) May 12 (Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23; Luke 24:46-53)

Just where did Jesus go when He ascended? In a medieval artistic rendering of the Ascension, Jesus’ feet dangle from under a cloud as the rest of His body disappeared. This definitely represents a literal way of reading the text as well as a spatial understanding of the cosmos. God is ‘“up there” somewhere, and when we die we go either “up there” or “down below’” as the case may be.

The Christian struggle with secularity

We live in a highly secularized culture. Generally this draws one of three reactions from Christians struggling to live out faith in this context.

Mighty winds and little breezes

Elinor had been trying to mend a family relationship but found it ever more broken. She had done all she could think to do, including incessant prayer.

Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, also known as "Madre Lupita," the Mexican co-founder of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and the Poor, is pictured in an undated portrait. She will be canonized May 12.

Mexico's soon-to-be-saint recalled for her ministry to poor, sick

GUADALARJARA, Mexico - A shy woman stopped to pray in front of statue of Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala while visiting the Santa Margarita Hospital. She knew little about the founder of the facility, who will be canonized May 12, but, like many, she had heard stories from hospital patients who say the soon-to-be-saint still walks the halls providing care, attention and miracles to those in need.

A sign with a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit is seen as Pope Francis greets the crowd after celebrating a Mass at which he confirmed 44 people in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 28. Those confirmed included two young people from the United Stat es and two from Ireland.

Pope tells young to 'swim against the tide; it's good for the heart'

VATICAN CITY - Administering the sacrament of Confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States and two from Ireland, Pope Francis encouraged them to "swim against the tide; it's good for the heart."

Cardinal Thomas Collins said that the new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it.

Support of abortion, euthanasia arise out of the ‘illusions’ of compassion: Collins

TORONTO - The new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it, Cardinal Thomas Collins told an audience of doctors, nurses and health care ethicists at the annual Cardinal Ambrozic Lecture in Toronto.

Page 300 of 369