Following the Closing Mass of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, S+L’s Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB spoke with Fr. Patrick Jones, the director of the National Centre for Liturgy in Ireland. Fr. Jones shared his thoughts on the Pope’s video message, which reflected upon active participation in the liturgy. As always, be sure to log on ...read more

For the full copy of Pope Benedict’s message to the 2012 IEC, visit our special S+L IEC 2012 webpage. In his message, he willingly imparts his apostolic blessing on those gathered in Dublin for this year’s IEC. He also announced the host city for the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress. Dear Brothers and Sisters, With great ...read more

It has long been suspected that Pope Benedict XVI is a soccer fan. Last week in Milan for the World Meeting of Families he received two soccer jerseys, one from each of the Milanese teams. Today, as the EuroCup soccer tournament kicks off in Poland, Pope Benedict sent a message to the president of the ...read more

Our intrepid reporters, Marie and Andre Brunet of Winnipeg, bring us another look at what’s going on in Milan during the VII World Meeting of Families. Milan, Italy –  We are writing this from the Piazza del Duomo (the Milan Cathedral Square), where we await with large crowds and great anticipation the arrival of the ...read more

The following is the unofficial translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s talk to the men and women religious of the Archdiocese of Milan during his visit to the city for the VII World Meeting of Families. We have gathered in prayer, answering the invitation of the Ambrosian hymn for the Third Hour: “It is the third ...read more

Left to right: Marie Brunet, Pierluigi Molla, Andre Brunet after presentations in Varese, Italy during the VII World Meeting of Families. Varese, Italy – On our  second full day of the VII World Meeting of Families, we spent the afternoon outside of Milan, in the town of Varese. To our great surprise, this trip outside ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Benedict XVI. For June 2012, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Christ Present in the Eucharist. That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life. European Christians. That Christians in ...read more

Throughout this past week in the daily gospel readings for mass, we have been working our way through Chapter 17 of St. John’s Gospel, a passage known as Jesus’ great priestly prayer. Quite providentially, these readings bring us up to the feast days of three important “priestly” saints: St. Bede the Venerable, Pope St. GregoryVII, ...read more

In his Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sarcramentum Caritatis (or Sacrament of Charity), Pope Benedict XVI writes the following on the relationship between the Eucharist and the Church: Since the Eucharist makes present Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, we must start by acknowledging that “there is a causal influence of the Eucharist at the Church’s very origins.” The Eucharist ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Benedict XVI. For May 2012, we join the Holy Father in praying for: The Family. That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society. Mary, Guide of Missionaries. That Mary, Queen of the World and Star ...read more