Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his church now born again in baptism, and has made it blossom afresh with men and women brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from the earth. More »

The name Judas has become a synonym for treachery. According to the dictionary, a “judas” is “a person who betrays under the guise of friendship.” More »

From the very beginning of time, when God first created the universe, his intention was that we would all come to him to receive the grace, wisdom, and strength we needed. The Book of Genesis uses the image of the two trees in the Garden of Eden to convey this central truth: The tree of life held all the treasures of his divine plan, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil supported the philosophy that we could decide for ourselves what was right or wrong—we didn't need to be fed and sustained by God. More »

Is there a Catholic alive who hasn’t heard or said the words, “This is my cross to bear”? We all have times when we are challenged to face some kind of trial—and to face it in faith and trust in the Lord. More »

Every Lent, the church invites us to draw closer to the Lord by taking up the ancient practice of fasting. Every Ash Wednesday, we are urged to return to the Lord “with fasting, and weeping, and mourning” as we turn away from our sins and seek God’s mercy. (Joel 2:12). More »

We’re often urged to “pray for vocations.” Almost always, this is meant as an encouragement to ask God for more priests and religious for service to the church. Certainly, this intention is crucial and timely. More »

It has been seventeen years since Pope John Paul II issued his encyclical letter The Gospel of Life. More »

As an idealistic college student, I had all sorts of grandiose ideas about ministering to the poor. They ranged from political action to overseas missions. However, I soon discovered that my gifts do not lie in politics or foreign travel. I’m more comfortable working within familiar structures and programs, as a catechist or liturgical minister. More »