Easter

Dear Father: Several of my close relatives who were raised Catholic no longer practice the faith. Easter seems like a perfect opportunity to invite them back to the Church. How do I approach this delicate subject? If they agree to attend…

We who have been Catholic most of our lives tend to not expect any surprises during the week that begins with Palm Sunday. We know we’re going to do a lot of standing and kneeling, a bit of fasting, and then a lot of feasting. We know the…

Attend Easter Vigil Mass The Easter Vigil is the perfect celebration of Easter, starting with the beauty and silent meditation as the church is lit solely with candles. This celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is beautiful and emotional,…

“Michael,” I shouted, “your time’s up! Come out of there!” My frustration was building as I stood in front of the inflated carnival castle filled with small children jumping and bouncing to their hearts’ delight. My 3-year-old son, Michael,…

by Jeff Young Jesus cooked. He cooked breakfast, to be precise. You can find the account in John 21:1-14. This was after he rose from the dead, after he had already appeared to the disciples, after he had already breathed on them and made…

(ABOVE) Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), Fritz von Uhde (1848–1911)

by Bishop Robert Reed Rich man & the beggar Year after year, we pass through the penitential season called Lent, and on Easter we bring back our ‘Glorias’ and ‘Alleluias’, and we feast again. We might hear that we are “Easter people.”…

by Matt Archbold From the moment we had children —well, technically from the moment my wife had children and I fell asleep in the hospital chair —they’ve been the focus of our lives, and we’ve given of ourselves without expecting anything…

Did Jesus really rise from the dead — or was it just a lovely story devised by his disciples to keep his teachings alive?  St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain” (1 Corinthians 15:17). If it…

An Easter Greeting