St. Michael's Choir School

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis updated the laws that govern the Vatican judicial system in an effort to establish greater transparency and independence, particularly in financial and criminal matters.

ROME -- About half of the U.S. seminarians and priests living at the Pontifical North American College and the Casa Santa Maria in Rome have left the locked-down city, the rector said.

ROME -- With Italy on lockdown and Rome streets almost deserted, Pope Francis left the Vatican March 15 in a mini-pilgrimage to an icon and to a crucifix associated with miraculous interventions to save the city and its people.

VATICAN CITY -- Standing in the window of the library of the Apostolic Palace overlooking an empty St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis blessed the city of Rome still under lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

ROME -- A number of priests and religious women have been among the nearly 2,000 people who have died in Italy because of illness connected with COVID-19.

Instead of going all in on expanding assisted suicide, Canada should have the full discussion that was promised when legislation was forced upon the country by the Supreme Court five years ago, said filmmaker Kevin Dunn.

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican office that distributes free tickets to papal events has posted a notice on its website that "the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful."

Do you know that St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is not only the patron saint of the universal Church but also the principal patron saint of Canada?

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 22 (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7,10-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Do not judge by outward appearances! We would save ourselves a lot of grief if we would only heed these instructions from God to Samuel. It has been repeated by Jesus in the Gospel of John and many spiritual writers since then.

Last year I attended an incredible spiritual retreat in Trosly-Breuil, France, the birthplace of the first L’Arche community.