We now that solitude, whatever its cause, can allow us to become more aware of the Lord’s presence, but almost all of us worry to some degree about loneliness. We’ve all experienced it and would readily agree that — even though there are times when we
“Thank you for your service.” As a veteran, I have heard this phrase thousands of times. I always appreciate the sentiments behind this saying and never grow tired of hearing it. Not all veterans agree with me on this, but, in my experience, most of
A tremendous tragedy has struck a Catholic girls’ school in Madrid, Spain, but the faith-filled response of those most affected has left everyone in awe. On Thursday at the Montealto school, a parent who was in the process of parking her minivan accidentally struck three
For the Catholic, eternity is important, and therefore so are the final moments of earthly life. The last rites prepare and strengthen the soul for these final moments, and usually involve sacramental confession and absolution, the anointing of the dying body, and the final reception
The feast of All Souls (Nov. 2) is an invitation to reflect on mortality — our own, that of our loved ones who are preparing for death, and of those who have gone before us. The feast day is also an opportunity to meditate on
The Vatican announced the renewal of the month-long Holy Souls Indulgence opportunity for November. The renewed decree allows the faithful the opportunity to offer a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory. Normally, the Church recognizes the indulgence from Nov. 1-8. However, due to the pandemic, the Vatican again extended
We are born to die. This inevitable fact could lead to fatalism, although, more often, we simply fall into denial. We avoid thinking about death and stigmatize it as the greatest evil. If this world is all we have, then death would be the greatest
In a 2009 address to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the mission of the laity in our times by introducing a new term into the Church’s parlance: co-responsibility. The term has both ecclesiological and pastoral significance, reflecting Benedict’s
The Christian people have always loved Mary with a love especially reserved for her, and it was not a good omen when Christians thought of severing their bond to Mary in order to honor the Son. Who is Mary? Let us say it as simply
Throughout the centuries, there have been many variations of the Rosary as Christians adapted it to fit particular situations. In Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Saint John Paul II proposed a renewed way of praying the Rosary, but he did not insist that everyone should use this new
