Pentecost Joy – Fr Raniero Cantalamessa
On Sunday June 4 we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost wasn’t and isn’t a once only event but rather a perennial one in which we can expect to receive a fresh and new outpouring of the Holy Spirit – a new Pentecost, if you will. Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household, leads us in a reflection on this great feast of the Church – the doorway through which we enter into the fullness and joy of the Christian life. The account of the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles begins with these words: ‘When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together ...

What does the feast of the Ascension want to teach us?
  The Lord is movement toward above Praying, we go to him; praying, we touch him, even if in this world, so to speak, always only from below, only from afar, always only on the trail of his earthly steps. At the same time it becomes clear that we do not find the footprints of Christ when we look only below, when we measure only footprints and want to subsume faith in the obvious. The Lord is movement toward above, and only in moving ourselves, in looking up and ascending, do we recognize him. When we read the Church Fathers something important is added. The correct ascent of man occurs precisely where he learns, in humbly turning toward his neighbor, ...

What is the meaning of the Tau cross, so loved by St. Francis?
At least once in your life you’ll be asked about the meaning of the cross, usually made of wood, which is shaped like a “T” and is often worn by Franciscan friars. With the help of the portal, St. Francis Patron of Italy, we sought to understand the meaning of the Tau. Ancient Origin Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and was used symbolically in the Old Testament. It was already spoken of in the Book of Ezekiel: “The Lord said to him, ‘Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over the abominations… (Ez. 9:4). The Tau is the sign placed upon the foreheads ...

Francisco and Jacinta’s lesson
Children are called to holiness Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston said that this weekend’s celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima can teach us all about the universal call to holiness and conversion. “I’ve always had a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima,” he told CNA, adding that he’s been involved in Portuguese ministry for many years. The cardinal was the only U.S. bishop to attend the Feb. 13 festivities surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions in Portugal. He said that the shrine at Fatima is among his favorite, and said that “it’s very moving to be here but especially be here with the Holy Father, for the hundredth anniversary and the canonization of ...

When Dory makes me think of God
Well, now I’ll explain everything The most famous fish film is back: Finding Dory was – without doubt – one of the most expected films by children (and adults). In Finding Nemo Dory helped the fish Marlin to find his son Nemo, captured by divers. This time it’s Dory looking for her family. But today I will not write a film review. Today I want to tell you about God! What does Dory have to do with God? I’ll explain it. For those who know her, Dory suffers from short term memory loss, that is, within seconds you forget all that she has done, heard, said or experienced. And it’s precisely this characteristic to make her an even more comical ...

Jim Caviezel takes on wide slate of topics in fascinating new interview
Actor Jim Caviezel has starred in Hollywood hits from “The Count of Monte Cristo” to “The Thin Red Line.” But he is best known for playing Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” an experience that he says affected him very deeply and spiritually. In a new interview, Caviezel talks about the importance of his Catholic faith, the lasting impact that “The Passion” has had on his life, and his special devotion to the Virgin Mary. The following interview was carried out by Polish journalist and film critic Lukasz Adamski, and published at http://wpolityce.pl. Reprinted here with permission, edited for clarity: Lukasz Adamski: You became the narrator of a documentary about Karol Wojtyla called “Liberating the Continent: John ...

7 Edith Stein quotes every woman should read
Edith Stein was always an over-achiever. Born in Germany in 1891, and eventually known by her religious name, St. Teresa Benedicta, Stein could have been expected to lead a quiet life out of the public eye — since women at the time were offered a significantly smaller number of roles to play in society than men. Instead, she chose to blaze a new path and follow her true vocation, which led her first into a highly respected philosophy program at the University of Gottingen, then to teaching schoolchildren and converting to the Catholic faith, and finally to entering a Carmelite monastery. Stein’s fascinating life was cut short when she was martyred in a German death camp during the World War II, but ...

What Is Holy Week?
                                                                                                                                                                                    Holy Week is the week preceding Easter and the final week of Lent. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Holy Week includes Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) and Good Friday, which, together with Holy Saturday, are known as the Triduum. Before the revision of the liturgical calendar in 1969, Holy Week was the second week of Passiontide; in the current calendar, Passiontide is synonymous with Holy Week. During Holy Week, Christians commemorate the Passion of Christ, who died on Good Friday in reparation for the sins of mankind, and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all who believe. Thus, while Holy Week is solemn ...

The 2 things you should do before Lent is over
More kindness Being kind, Fr. Martin says, looks simple, but is surprisingly difficult. It’s something we should all try to practice every day, but focus on especially during Lent. Here are the three components that Fr. Martin says he uses to put kindness into practice in his everyday life: 1. “Don’t be a jerk,” Fr. Martin says. “That is, even if you’re tired or sick or angry or frustrated or overworked, there’s no need to pass along your misery to the next person. You can choose not to be a jerk.” 2. “Honor the absent. Stop talking about people behind their backs. Nothing is as damaging to the social fabric. It will make people feel bad when they find out about it. And they ...

What is the Purpose of Lent?
Every year it is the same thing: Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a new season in the Catholic Church. The Calendar of Catholic events doesn’t change. We are different persons, though. The Lenten season changes everything and strengthens the appeal of the Church in our present moment. It’s because we are different individuals that we can experience a different Lent in our lives. In a few words, Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each community, and each Christian. Above all, it is a “time of grace” (2 Cor 6:2). The first week of this renewal season begins with Jesus going into the desert for forty days. In a similar way, we are also called ...