exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Verbatim: Excerpt from Pope Francis’ message for the 39th World Youth Day

An excerpt from Pope Francis’ message to young people for the XXXIX World Youth Day to be celebrated on November 24, 2024.

  • November 22, 2024

Men behaving beastly

"Why do men become beasts?"

The question was asked by South African Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale. In a speech last August, he was warning men that they will be held accountable for the treatment of women. "The Son of God will make us pay for all the things we have done, or not done," the archbishop said.

Christ’s gift lies beyond our woundedness

My favourite book is “The Wound and the Gift,” the biography of Scottish poet and novelist George Mackay Brown. His poetry and novels were written with a sensitivity that was able to look beyond the wound, to see the gift within; a gift that often contributed to the person’s woundedness. 

Pray for those suffering Purgatory’s pains

When I was a kid, my brother came home from Catholic summer camp singing a dirge that went like this: “Pray for the dead and the dead will pray for you; seems like they have nothing else to do.” 

Truth is the sign language of God

The Gospel for the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe calls us to enter the kingdom of truth. As his death drew near, Jesus said to Pilate, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18.37)

Charity works to inform Catholic consciences

Last week, our American brothers and sisters went to the polls to choose the next president of the United States. Within the coming year, Canadian Catholics will also be called to cast ballots for their party of choice in the next federal election. But which candidate should they choose?

Jesus’ victory over death is unchanging

During this month when Roman Catholics mark the month of the Holy Souls death is perhaps more top of mind for many of us as we remember our family members and friends who have died. What is our attitude to death in the 21st century Church? Does it remain faithful to a view of death that is illumined by the light of Christ’s suffering and death on the Cross and His resurrection on the third day? Or, have we come to understand death in a distorted way, shorn of its salvific character? I recently explored these questions in my latest missive to a network of pastors I regularly write to through my work at the Christian think tank Cardus. The following is drawn from that text:

Facing martyrdom a paradox of persecution

Pope Francis has always shown deep sensitivity to the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has regularly spoken out in defence of these vulnerable communities, highlighting the injustices and suffering they endure. Whether in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, or other regions marked by conflict and violence, the Holy Father has expressed his unconditional support, urging the international community to intervene to protect the faithful. 

Hang on – Heaven is on its way

We often think of faith as belief or trust, which it is, but have you ever thought of faith as endurance? I’m beginning to think endurance and perseverance are a big part of the faith picture. Let’s begin with this bracing statement: “When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.” Yikes! Why is that? It’s the mystery of the Cross. 

Parting is hard

Those of us who have experienced the death of a loved one, even if we believe that she or he has gone to a better place, still find ourselves struggling with the parting.

Dig deep like Jesus, Mary, and Job

Yea though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  This line from the Book of Job was the response of Rabbi Abraham Heschel to the question, “How can you possibly believe in God after six million of your people were slaughtered in the holocaust?!”  The tears streaming down Rabbi Heschel’s face spoke of his anguish over this evil, and perhaps his anguish in not understanding why God allowed it.  His tears spoke of an answer wrenched from the deepest possible act of trust and faith, not an answer solely from the intellect or will.  It’s the only answer that can bring peace to the heart.