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

Published below is a copy of Pope Benedict’s address he gave yesterday in St. Peter’s Square. He introduced a new series of catechesis, meant to accompany the Church during the Year of Faith. Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to introduce a new series of catecheses that will be developed throughout the course ...read more

Castel Gandolfo, on the Feast of Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli – August 2, 2012 Benedictus PP. XVI Source: http://www.osservatoreromano.va/ Fifty years ago, on October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in St Peter’s Basilica It was a splendid day on 11 October 1962 when the Second Vatican Council opened with the ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit earlier today to the Marian Shrine of Loreto, in Italy. There, he entrusted the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith to the Blessed Mother. Published below is a copy of the homily he delivered during Mass at the Shrine of Loreto. ...read more

From the Office of daily readings for October 4th, the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. From a letter written to all the faithful by St Francis of Assisi It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious ...read more

The last several months, the phrase “The New Evangelization” has come up in many different spheres here in our Salt + Light office. I cannot comprehensively cover all the ins and outs of our efforts on this – as this is in some sense what we do everyday! What I will say is that this ...read more

Who do you think of when you think of “disciple”? I think of a lot of holy and wise men and women and all the Saints: People of great sacrifice, humility, compassion – people who pick up their cross and follow Jesus. of course, I also think of the 12 apostles. They were hand-picked by ...read more

Photo: Archbishop Richard Smith, President of the CCCB (left) and Archbishop Paul-André Durocher, Vice-President of the CCCB (center) stand and applaud Beatitude Shevchuk at the conclusion of his address at the 2012 Plenary Assembly. On Tuesday morning at the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Bishops, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic ...read more

Music has a special way of drawing people together, whether it be in Church at Mass or in the public realm. But can priests be active musicians? More than that, do priests have an obligation to promote music in the life of the Church? Fr. Robert Galea is a Maltese-Australian singer and songwriter. He has ...read more