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Spirituality
Sunday Gospel reflection: Live all life’s ups and downs with God
Today’s liturgy, like much of life at times, is marked by wild contrasts. One day Jesus rides into Jerusalem in triumph. He is greeted with joyful shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people greet the…
What Joseph taught Jesus about suffering for others
It’s perfect that St. Joseph’s Day comes just seven days before Passion Sunday this year. This Sunday we will hear how Jesus died in obedience to his Father, in heaven. This Monday we learn that it wasn’t just his heavenly Father he was…
St. Joseph: Lessons from a simple man
The Church puts great emphasis on St. Joseph and for good reason. As foster father of Christ, taking care of the young Savior and looking after his Most Blessed Mother, he is among the most distinguished figures in Christianity. And yet…
What we can learn from St. Patrick
St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays which has grown so big in scope that it is difficult to dwell entirely on the man whom the feast celebrates. Between people clinging onto their 1/16th Irish heritage, fanciful stories of missing…
March: Translation of the Relics of St. Nicephorus
This month’s saint with a funny name is not “Nice 4 Us” like some ancient precursor of Toys R Us. Think hard “k” sound. Something like: Ni-ki-for-os. That’s more like it. Nicephorus (feast day March 13) spent most of his life close to the…
The Mass: ‘Lift up your hearts’
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth part of Fr. Longenecker’s series in which he explains the deeper significance of the elements of the Catholic Mass. Part one is “The Mass: Praising & Processing.” Part two is “The Mass: The Living…
‘You know, mom, God loves you so much’
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is courtesy of our friends at The Coming Home Network. A few years ago, after living our entire lives in southwestern Michigan, I accepted a job that took our family to a small town in Washington State, on the…
Sunday Gospel reflection: We are called to protect all living creatures
Today’s First Reading is the conclusion of the 40-day ordeal of Noah, his family, and all the creatures in the ark during the Great Flood. Note that the covenant God declares is not only with Noah and all human beings, but also and equally…
Sunday Gospel reflection: Let Christ’s mercy give you joy
In the Gospel reading today, a leper begs Jesus to heal him. Jesus reaches out and touches this man, even though leprosy is contagious and lepers were considered unclean and treated as social outcasts. Instantly the man is healed from his…
Celebrating saints with African heritage
February is Black History Month. Take some time to learn about two prominent black Catholics. One is the patron saint of African-Americans, and the other is an American priest who is being considered for sainthood. St. Benedict the Moor…