I know my pastor well, for a parishioner. My husband and I were friends with him years before he came to our church. Father Anthony’s sense of humor is clever; he keeps a clean house and an even cleaner office; he’s grounded and compassionate; and he’s a movie buff with …

A Mother’s Love There are times when only a mother’s love Can understand our tears, Can soothe our disappoints And calm all of our fears. There are times when only a mother’s love Can share the joy we feel When something we’ve dreamed about Quite suddenly is real. There are …

A Prayer for Pope Francis Taken from the Order of Christian Funerals O God, from whom the just receive an unfailing reward, grant that your servant Francis, our Pope, whom you made vicar of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may rejoice forever in the vision of your glory, for he …

By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2023 / 04:00 am God commanded it, Jesus practiced it, Church Fathers have preached the importance of it — fasting is a powerful and fundamental part of the Christian life. But for many Catholics today, it’s more of an afterthought: something we grudgingly do …

Great Catholic theologians have said to “begin with beauty” when sharing the Good News of Christ, for beauty has the ability to bypass reason and appeal directly to our heart and soul. In art, our commitment to this beauty portrays the truth of our faith, which pierces the culture surrounding …

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together …

Perpetua and Felicity, Ignatius of Loyola, Gemma Galgani, Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II—what do all these saints have in common? They all kept journals. This simple, yet powerful, practice profoundly shaped their spiritual lives and guided them on the path to sainthood. I’m not a saint, but I am …

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 3, 2024 / 08:00 am “What would happen if we prayed more and complained less?” Pope Francis asked Aug. 2 on his official profile on X. He then invited the faithful to ask the Lord for “the grace to know how to pray for one …

Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the universe. Send your Spirit upon these students and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Grant that they may devote themselves to their studies and draw ever closer to you, the source of all …

Recently, my daughter and I spent the day together. We were having a great day, but I had this nagging anxiety nipping away at my ability to be fully present to her. Struggling to not cave into despair, we left the house to drive around. A curious thing happened. New …