During his address to the Renewal in the Spirit Movement today in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said some things about Christian martyrs that may scandalize some, but has got me doing some serious thinking this Fourth of July. My latest on “Catholic to the Core:” Ecumenism of Blood: Pope Read more
“The Church tells us again and again to honor our fathers and mothers, and it speaks with flourish about the beauty and fruitfulness of the vocation of motherhood. It tells us how to be good, holy mothers, but it doesn’t always clearly tell us what to do when ours hasn’t Read more
On October 25, 2014, the Holy Father met in private audience with the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt in the Paul XI Hall. It was part of the movement’s 100th Anniversary celebration. When representatives of Schoenstatt asked the pontiff how they, as a movement, could help to support the renewal of Read more
Yesterday, the Vatican published the full text of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “The pastoral challenges for the family in the context of evangelisation.”
Since the synod is for bishops, we may be tempted to pass it off (more…)
“It could be said, without exaggeration, that the family is the engine of the world and of history.” Pope Francis said today in his address to the participants in the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Our Holy Father uses an interesting term when referring to the family – engine. What does an engine do? It converts energy and uses power to produce force and motion. That’s an active, rather than passive definition of family and is a reminder to us that we families must be the driving force in bringing the world back to Christ. (more…)
In the past few days, the Holy Father has gifted the world with not one, but three addresses worth contemplating.
The first took place on Sunday, October 13 as Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before a throng of more than 100 thousand people. I can hardly (more…)
Where did Francis’s journey to Christ begin? It began with the gaze of the crucified Jesus. With letting Jesus look at us at the very moment that he gives his life for us and draws us to himself.
If I read only those three lines from Pope Francis’ homily for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, I would have enough to contemplate for the next year. Or more. On the memorial of this saint who is loved world wide, the Holy Father visited Assisi, where he met with 100 or so sick and severely disabled children at the Seraphic Institute, blessing each and kissing the cheeks of many of them. (more…)