To Christians worldwide, Easter can be summed up quite succinctly: to us, it is everything. It’s when our crucified Lord left an empty tomb and showed His words and teaching not only rang true, but that He had conquered sin and death. Jesus’ Resurrection showed us He truly is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Thousands of local and international Christian pilgrims thronged to Jerusalem's Old City and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for the ancient Eastern rite ceremony of the Holy Fire April 15, with some scuffles reported as Israeli police restricted the number of people able to reach the church.

Students at Toronto’s Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts are expressing their Catholic faith through dance this Easter season. 

Resurrection of the Lord (Year A) April 9 (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:3-4; John 20:1-18)

There were no elaborate theologies in the preaching of the apostles. They kept their proclamation focused on the main points: who Jesus was, what He did and what He was going to do. Jesus had been baptized by John, then anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. His whole ministry was given to helping and healing people. God had vindicated Him and ratified His deeds and words by raising Him from the dead. He appeared to His followers and talked with them. 

On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel was the story of Christ’s transfiguration on a mountaintop. Only three men of faith — Peter, James and John — accompanied Jesus as He was transfigured between Moses and Elijah. The three disciples were ordered to tell no one of the event until after Christ’s resurrection.

In this final stretch before Easter, let’s return to where we began — looking at the entirety of Christ’s way of being, as an integral whole of truth, goodness and beauty. Any other way risks removing something essential. 

Meeting the U.S.-born patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Pope Francis expressed his hope that Christians of the East and West could finally agree on a common date for celebrating Easter.

Last Sunday marked the fourth Sunday and 21st day of Easter. However, as the priest noted this in his homily during the Mass I attended, it came as a little bit of a surprise to me. I believe general society helped shape my reaction. Upon reflection, it is easy to see that our culture has a simplified, or perhaps more appropriately, misguided perception of Easter.

Alleluia! He is risen! The only real sin, says St. Isaac of Nineveh, is not paying attention to the Resurrection.

In an Easter message to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Pope Francis prayed that the Holy Spirit would "transform our hearts and make us true peacemakers, especially for war-torn Ukraine."

The joy of Christ's resurrection is needed now more than ever in a time when war in Ukraine and other parts of the world makes the hope for peace seem like an illusion, Pope Francis said before giving his Easter blessing.

Fundraising to secure aid for Ukraine has been an ongoing passion and mission for Bilyana Coburn of Grande Prairie, Alta., for more than six years now. Most of the monetary contributions made by this Grade 5 teacher from St. Catherine Catholic School has gone to orphanages. 

We live in a world when the sin of pride has disfigured the virtues of courage, integrity and perseverance into the ideology of winning even if that requires denying the humanity of others.

On Ash Wednesday, March 1 this year, we began a new journey of faith — our Lenten journey. Our 40-day Lenten journey of penance and austerity brings us to the celebration of Easter: a time of joy, light and life.

The Catholic Register is conducting its 13^th annual children’s Easter drawing contest. The top entry in each of 3 categories will receive a $100 Indigo gift card. The winning drawings will appear in The Register’s Easter edition, April 9, 2023.