For good reason, many Catholics make an annual Lenten retreat. In the midst of our hectic schedules, those forty days can quickly pass before we have made any significant changes in our lives. We need to slow down and replicate Jesus’ journey into in the desert. There’s not a lot to do in a desert, ...read more

Stories are powerful. They inspire us, imbue us with values, and foster a sense of continuity with the past. In fact, I always marvel at how Jesus used parables to reveal realities that could hardly be fathomed by those who heard them. I’ve heard it said that we become the stories we tell ourselves. I’ll ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI, who turns 85 today and celebrates seven years as pope this week, has long been considered a guardian of the faith, upholding the traditional teachings of the church leading the clergy in the defense of the faith. Regarded one of the sharpest theologians in the church both before and during his pontificate, ...read more

Why is the practice of religion such a universal phenomenon throughout the history of cultures? Do religions still have a role to play in the secularized countries of the 21st century? Are religions currently evolving in pluralistic societies? An exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, entitled God(s): a User’s Guide, provides the inspiration for ...read more

This week is a big week for Pope Benedict XVI. On Monday he turns 85 years old. Then on Thursday he marks seven years as pope. Join us this Sunday, April 15 for a special look at his papacy: his travels, his teachings, and the bridges he has sought to build. Seven Years with Pope ...read more

A trip to Israel is more than a vacation. It’s a tour through biblical history, as well as an inner journey to meet Jesus. The people and places of the Holy Land testify to Him as a living Gospel account. On Catholic Focus, we take a pilgrimage to Israel. There, we go behind the scenes ...read more

Slavery could seem like something from the past, but taking a good look at the reality of the world today we find that there are 27 million slaves. That is more than in any other period in human history. The Universal Declaration of the Human Rights says: “No one shall be held in slavery or ...read more

Why is religious practice found in almost every culture throughout history? Can religions continue to occupy a place in the secular, Western societies of the 21st century? Do religions need to evolve as globalization brings different cultures closer together? As Western societies become more and more secular in outlook, these questions have gained increasing currency. ...read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York gave this meditation about Divine Mercy at a recent conference in the Bronx, New York.  As is the case when Cardinal Dolan is on scene, there was gratuitous applause and laughter…and a thought provoking story. ...read more

Syrian-born Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud, died in Rome at the age of 81 this past weekend. Cardinal Daoud was the retired head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches and the former patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church. In a condolence message to the current Syriac Catholic patriarch, Pope Benedict called the Cardinal a “faithful ...read more