Saint Mary Magdalene will now be remembered in the Church’s liturgical calendar the same way the twelves apostles and Our Lady are remembered. The Vatican has issued a decree elevating the memorial of her life to a feast, something reserved for important moments in Church history and important people like the apostles and the Blessed ...read more

The significance of today’s announcement from the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments decrees that the liturgical memory of Mary Magdalene becomes a feast, like that of the other apostles. In the Mass and in the Divine Office to be celebrated on July 22, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the ...read more

The vocation of the family is to love. The most extraordinary way a family can love is through the ordinariness of life. For the families we will meet in this series, it simply means being open to whatever God wills in their lives. It is their surest way to grow in holiness, a call given to everyone. ...read more

Pope Francis has urged believers to be true Christians and give flavor to the life of others, not to be tempted to shine light upon themselves but to bring the light of faith to their neighbors and to mankind. The Pope was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. Drawing inspiration ...read more

That’s the title of a new film that just opened last weekend to mixed reviews. It stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin in a romance with a bit of a twist. Clarke plays Louisa “Lou” Clark, who takes a job as the caregiver to Will Traynor (Claflin), a former daredevil who is now a quadriplegic ...read more

Reflecting on the Fourth Chapter of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family “Love and marriage, love and marriage, they go together like a horse and carriage!” So crooned Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra in the 1950s. Sixty years later, another Francis is repeating the same lyrics, albeit with a slightly more magisterial melody. ...read more

At 10:30 am on the 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Pope Francis celebrated mass in St. Peter’s Square and presided over the rite of canonization of Blesseds Maria Elisabetta Hesselblad (1870-1957) and Stanislaus Papczyński (1631-1701). Below you will find the homily given by Pope Francis following the Gospel of the day. Also included are two brief ...read more

CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For June 2016, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Human Solidarity – That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find–even within the huge cities of the world–opportunities for encounter and solidarity.  Seminarians and Novices –That seminarians and ...read more

Here is a sampling of what we’ve been reading across the country this week. Much attention has been focused on Parliament’s attempts to pass Bill C-14 into law before the June 6th deadline set out by the supreme court. Once Parliament sent Bill C-14 to Senate, the media turned their attention to Canada’s senators. Alberta ...read more

CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo This week marks 53 years since St. Pope John XXIII died at the Vatican at age of 81. For most people, the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of the saintly pope’s name is the Second Vatican Council. Yet his pontificate and his priestly ministry left its mark on the ...read more