The Lenten Lesson of Letting Go
The season of Lent, at first glance, appears to be a time solely of penitence and reparation. And, surely, it is. In increasing our dedication to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we certainly seek to atone for our own sins and those of others, just as Our Lady of Fatima implored us to do. But if we dig further beneath the surface of these penitential acts, we find a beautiful purpose that is too often easily overlooked.
Politics and the Catholic Conscience
One month into his second term as President of the United States, Donald Trump has, as he promised, hit the ground running. A whirlwind of initiatives, executive orders and legislative presentations has put into motion a redefinition of the status quo. More accurately an attempted elimination of it. Most will agree that government needs to go on a diet as costs and bureaucratic choke points have exploded and are a burden to the economy and invasive to working class people. Some worry that needed programs will not survive. Some see the breakneck pace of these changes as onerous; others are applauding it.
St. Francisco: The Boy Who Died Smiling
by Barb Ernster – The holiness of St. Francisco is hidden in the stories of Fatima. Putting it together, one sees Francisco’s advancement in the spiritual life during his time on earth, primarily in his devotion to the “Hidden Jesus.” Francisco died the morning of April 4, 1919, after a six-month battle with the Spanish […]
Fatima’s Spirit of Sacrifice
Sacrifice as a Duty of Love As Lent continues it can be easy to lose that original spark of devotion and energy awakened in us on Ash Wednesday. Our daily sacrifices and resolutions start out strong, but keeping them becomes increasingly tiresome, a chore rather than a loving gift. It is therefore extremely important that […]
Lent Should Transform Us
Simon becomes Peter; Saul becomes Paul. The Cornerstones of Lent Prayer and sacrifice are the cornerstones of Lent. It is during this time that we re-evaluate our lives and strive for improvement. This should be our task every day of the year, but in this time, we are directed to a more focused effort to […]
Our Human Journey is One of Bumps and Bruises
by David M. Carollo – Holy Week is approaching fast. As we look back on this Lent, most of us will certainly feel that we have not fulfilled the promises made on Ash Wednesday, when we planned a perfect period of abstinence and made a commitment to attaining perfection. Oh well, I guess that we are imperfect […]
Joseph, the Silent Servant King of Israel
The Powerful Influence of Joseph in the Mission of his Son Jesus by Kevin Burke, LSW and Theresa Burke, Ph.D. – This Lenten season, the Church will once again honor Saint Joseph on his feast day, March 20 (moved from March 19 due to falling on a Lenten Sunday). Like the humble adoptive father of […]
Spiritual Advice for Lent from St. Padre Pio
By Donal Anthony Foley – As we begin the Lenten season, we often think of ways to improve our spiritual lives. One way of doing this is to look at the spiritual advice St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina gave to his early followers. There is a long-standing connection between St. Pio and the World Apostolate […]
Lenten Lessons from Saints Francisco and Jacinta
By Donal Anthony Foley – We celebrate the feast day of Saints Francisco and Jacinta on February 20 and then, two days later, Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. And so, it is timely to see how the spirituality of the Little Shepherds can impact our own celebration of the Lenten season. But […]
You Are Not a Burden: The Gift of Receiving
by Michaelyn Hein – I lay prone on the couch, unable to sit up for fear of what I might cause to happen within my body. The doctor had given a clear warning. “I cannot promise you will not lose this baby,” he said. “You need to stay on bed rest for the next few […]
