I love Advent. I love counting the days to Christmas, but this year I feel like I have been counting down the days to Advent. It’s all because of those little changes to the language of the Mass. About a year ago, I mentioned to my children that the Mass was going to change. The eldest ...read more

Fr. Geoffrey Angeles is the composer of one of the three new Mass settings commissioned for Canada, to be used with the revised Roman Missal. Many of you have already been singing Fr. Angeles’ Mass. Here he is in a conversation with S+L’s Pedro Guevara-Mann at the meeting of the National Council of Liturgical Music ...read more

There are no words to describe how incredibly uplifting these past few days have been. Not only has it been uplifting for the people of Benin but for Africa and the universal Church, as a whole. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict set out on a mission. It ...read more

The following is Pope Benedict XVI’s farewell address, as delivered at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport. Mr President, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Authorities and Dear Friends, My Apostolic Journey to Africa has now come to an end.  I thank God for these days spent among you in joy and friendship.  I thank you, ...read more

Here is Pope Benedict’s homily from Holy Mass in Friendship Stadium in Cotonou, Benin. Dear Brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Brothers and Sisters, Following in the footsteps of my blessed predecessor Pope John Paul II, it is a great joy for me to visit for the second time this dear continent of Africa, coming among ...read more

S+L’s Alicia Ambrosio had the opportunity to speak with Vatican spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ yesterday. Despite his busy schedule, Fr. Lombardi took the time to share some experiences about his time in Benin. He also shared a remarkable story about a little girl the Pope met. You can watch their full interview, via phone, ...read more

Smiles, cheers, waves and speeches! That’s the kind of day it’s been for Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican officials as day 2 of his apostolic voyage to Benin comes to a close. The Holy Father made his first address of the day to members of the Benin government, diplomatics corps and representatives of Benin’s major ...read more

In another key event today in Benin, Pope Benedict formally signed the Apostolic Exhortation for Africa. The exhortation is titled “Africae Munus”, which means “The Commitment of Africa”. This text is the result of the 2009 Synod of Bishops for Africa. The document touches upon issues such as sacraments, dialogue between various religions and social ...read more

Pope Benedict began Day 2 of his apostolic journey in Benin when he met with President Yani Bono, diplomatic corp members and those of the government. This all took place in the Presidential Palace in Cotonou. In his address, the Holy Father used the symbol of a hand in speaking about religious diversity in the ...read more

When’s the last time you thought of the Catholic faith as dynamite? You know, that WOW feeling — where your imagination is enraptured and you appreciate just how amazing the faith is? If you haven’t had the wow feeling in a while or you’re looking for another reason to fall in love with the faith ...read more