The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. This vocation is addressed to each individual personally, but also to the Church as a whole, the new people made up of those who have accepted the promise and live from it in faith. ...read more

Freedom and rights belong to people not because they have already attained the truth, but in order that they might reach it. Archbishop Denis Hurley, OMI Archbishop of Durban, Natal-KwaZulu, South Africa 1915-2004 A leader in the Church during Vatican II and in the struggle against Apartheid. CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey Sister Ninet D’Costa teaches in Malakal, ...read more

– CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters Pope Benedict XVI looks through a microscope during his visit to the headquarters of the Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sept. 16, 2009. Dialogue and cooperation between faith and science are urgently needed for building a culture that respects people and the planet, the pope said in Nov. ...read more

Published below is a translation of the address that Pope Benedict gave Wednesday at his weekly general audience. He continued his series of catecheses on faith in St. Peter’s Square. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The path of reflection that we have undertaken together in this Year of Faith leads us to meditate today on a ...read more

On this month’s edition, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto continues his series of reflections on the Year of Faith by looking at St. James and his letter on Faith and works. Join us for our third installment of Lectio Divina at the following times: Sunday, November 11 9:00 pm and 1:00 am ET 6:00 pm ...read more

To be contemplative as Christ is contemplative is to be open to all the fullness that the Father wishes to pour into our hearts. With our minds made still and ready to receive, with our self-generated fantasies about God and ourselves reduced to silence, we are at last at the point where we may begin ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Benedict XVI. For November 2012, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Ministers of the Gospel. That bishops, priests and all ministers of the Gospel may bear the courageous witness of fidelity to the crucified and risen Lord. Pilgrim Church. That the ...read more

The full text of Pope Beendict XVI’s homily at the Mass concluding the XIII Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelization. Dear Brother Bishops, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Brothers and Sisters, The miracle of the healing of blind Bartimaeus comes at a significant point in the structure of Saint Mark’s ...read more

Published below is a copy of Pope Benedict’s address he gave yesterday in St. Peter’s Square. He continued his new series of catechesis, speaking about faith. In a surprise move, Pope Benedict also announced plans for a November consistory, which will see the creation and installation of six new Cardinals. Dear brothers and sisters, Last ...read more

This post was submitted by Warren Schmidt, CSB. As October draws to a close, I offer a few reflections on the association of the month of October with Mary. The historical roots of October as a month of Mary are unclear. Some attribute the association between October and Mary to the devotion to Our Lady ...read more