Oh May, how we hardly knew you! Thirty one days zipped by and we are already entering into the halfway point of the year. In May, we paid particular attention to our Blessed Mother, in June we traditionally contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Last year, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, Pope Benedict ...read more

While Pope Benedict frequently invites Catholics to pray for particular causes, he has made a unique, official appeal for the Church in China. Speaking at the General Audience last Wednesday, he said that “all Catholics throughout the world have a duty to pray for the Church in China: those members of the faithful have a ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI is calling on the faithful to pray for China. Speaking at today’s General Audience, the Holy Father says because of restrictions and pressures on the Church by China’s communist government “Christ is living his passion” there. He says that Chinese Catholics want unity with the universal Church, and with the Successor of ...read more

On May 1st we celebrated the Beatification of John Paul II. That 1.5 million (!) people gathered in Rome for this historic event is a testament to the connection that the Polish Pontiff had with the faithful. He was a great communicator — and some consider that one of the lasting hallmarks of his life. ...read more

Violence in the Middle East, Libya, the Ivory Coast. Destruction in Japan. Persecution of Christians. Amidst all the turmoil it seems hard to find the joy of Easter. But in his Urbi et Orbi message, Pope Benedict XVI says it is for these “painful situations” that Christ died for us. In heaven all is peace ...read more

In an Easter Vigil liturgy that included six readings, Pope Benedict chose to focus on the first one. In explaining the selection of the reading from the first chapter of Genesis, the Pope asks, “Is it really important to speak also of creation during the Easter Vigil? Could we not begin with the events in ...read more

Pope Benedict presided over the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum today. The meditations this year were written by an Augustian nun, Sister Maria Rita Piccione, OSA. She’s the President of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Federation of Augustinian Monasteries in Italy. In the meditation on the fourth station, Jesus meets his Mother, ...read more

During the Last Supper, Jesus pleaded four times for unity. Pope Benedict says that plea remains his constant prayer to the Father on our behalf. Unity, conversion and humility were themes from the Holy Father’s homily celebrated today at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. “How deeply it must have concerned him!” said the Holy ...read more

While many dioceses in Canada celebrate their Chrism Mass at the beginning of Holy Week, in Rome the Mass which has the blessing of the holy oils is held the morning of Holy Thursday. During this morning’s Mass, the Holy Father offered a reflection on the significance of the three oils: “the oil for anointing ...read more

To mark the beginning of Holy Week, Benedict XVI preached on the Lord’s ascent to Jerusalem, which was commemorated liturgically with the blessing of palm branches and the procession with them before Mass. In his homily, the Holy Father said that man seeks to follow Jesus “along the high road that leads to the living ...read more