The Pontifical Swiss Guard is one of the smallest armies in the world, and one of the oldest still in operation. Its main responsibility is to protect the Pope and the Apostolic Palace. Although they have mostly held a ceremonial role in recent years, their training now includes unarmed combat and firearms. Not surprisingly, to ...read more

Pope Francis presided at Holy Mass with the members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the XXI World Day for Consecrated Life. Find the full text of his prepared homily below: When the parents of Jesus brought the Child in fulfilment of ...read more

Are women still becoming religious sisters? Is there anyone responding to the call? Are 21st Century women still interested in pursuing a radical Gospel life in the Church? What contribution does a religious sister make in the world?   For Love Alone opens its audiences to the lives of modern women who have responded to ...read more

The 2017 message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations was released Wednesday entitled, “Led by the Spirit for Mission”. In the message for this 54th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Pope reflects on the missionary dimension of our Christian calling. The Holy Father says that “commitment to mission is not something ...read more

“Seized by the unconditional love of Jesus, the Christ, and allured to the mountaintop, we embrace the mystical flame of contemplation as our life’s grounding. The silence and solitude of our life of prayer immerse us in a deep communion with God that draws us into a full and willing participation in the unfolding of ...read more

In the past, I’ve looked at what it means to be called and the meaning of discernment. I’ve also Deacon-structed the Vocations to the Single Life, to the Ordained Life and have dedicated many columns to the topic of Marriage. This weekend I am in Kansas City for the National Religious Vocation Conference convocation, so I thought ...read more