Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller writes how Catholic colleges and universities have welcomed Muslim students with hospitality. “I think it starts with respecting and showing kindness to everyone regardless of religious background,” student Lisan Hasnain of India said. Christian students are welcome to learn
This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day. In a strange way, this is extremely beautiful. (When this happened a few years back, one friar joyfully declared "Lent is for lovers"!) Although this somber day of penance -- second only to Good
The Third Last Word: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.'” (Jn 19:26-27)
When they speak about love, the saints and popes point, first and foremost, to the cross. Love, they agree, means self-sacrifice for the good of another. They echo Jesus Christ’s own words in John: “This is my commandment: love one another as
While many fifth graders typically request toys and games for Christmas, Dominic Auricchio surprised his family this past Christmas by asking for a military Bible and a rosary blessed by Pope Francis.
He received seven religious gifts in all and since then has
From the standpoint of an unsympathetic Protestant or non-Christian observer, Mardi Gras partying one day and Ash Wednesday penance the next are a sign of contradiction, if not even hypocrisy. How can we reconcile raucous revelry Tuesday night and humble repentance Wednesday
God knows we bring what we can of love within the scope of our lives, our roles, our circumstances.
And that’s a wonderful thing to remember as we ponder this collision of a commercial holiday, Valentine's Day, with coming of Lent, for the
The Second Last Word: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Lk 23:43)
Liz Fiordalisi still remembers when her son, who cannot speak with words, revealed what makes him most anxious. “Christopher spelled ‘missing Mass,’” she said, sharing her amazement from last year. “For him to say that, now that he said that, it’s like,
This February, we celebrate Valentine's Day, the day of love and friendship. February 14 is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. At first glance, many will think that we will not be able to celebrate with our partners, but there are
In this reflection, Jaymie Stuart Wolfe shares her personal journey with Lent and how it evolved from a competitive and self-imposed challenge to a more profound spiritual practice. Initially viewing Lent as a competition in personal holiness, she recounts her rigorous efforts