At the general audience, Francis retraces his journey on 28 and 29 April: Christians “are called to be yeast of fraternity,” a “healthy laicity” is needed.

Professor Mohammad Sammak, the only Muslim to have participated in two Synods, is convinced the meeting in Cairo has marked a fundamental starting point. He emphasizes the importance of the Pope’s Arabic greetings.

In the British mandate of Palestine, the Christian population was 9.6 per cent of the population. By 1999, it was 2.9 per cent. Meanwhile, 35 per cent of the Christians of the West Bank and Gaza left between 1967 and 1999

After 44 Christian Copts were killed in two church bombings in Egypt in April 2017, can they stay?

No one is checking “Valid Catholic” cards at the door, and no one feels a particular need to be a Communion Cop. We recognize that we’re all a bunch of needy sinful people who are eager to make room for others at the Lord’s Table.
You never know where God will surprise you.

In the middle of a hot summer, while I was standing in the produce section at the local supermarket, a woman I had never met tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself.

Saint of the Day for May 1

The Story of Saint Joseph the Worker

Catholics recognize and venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, as the exemplar of redeemed humanity.

Miserable sinners like us find ourselves in an awkward position when it comes to God and perfect people like the Blessed Virgin Mary. I would approach this issue from several different angles:

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said 'Seek the welfare of the city ... for in its welfare you will find your welfare' Jeremiah 29.7.

Calling People of Goodwill: The Bible and the Common Good, is a new resource from Bible Society and Together for The Common Good for Christians to use as individuals and in groups. We argue that the Bible has a unique ability to bring people together from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to seek the welfare of everyone. The Bible demonstrates this through the idea and practices of what we call the common good.

Life is not easy, and the Catholic Church cannot make it so, but it can make it better with consolations and grace and truth that never changes.

The world doesn’t get us. Sometimes we are ganged up on and persecuted. Often, we are misunderstood. Always, we are one, holy Catholic and apostolic.

We are unique, enduring, resistant to whims, unafraid to stand alone, and in love with the Blessed Mother. History is on our side and so is Scripture, even if we don’t always have it memorized.

The Gospel is taken from St Luke. It is the story of the sinful woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, drying them with her hair. At any time, but particularly during this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, this Gospel story should stop us dead in our tracks and cause us to take a very deep look at ourselves and our relationship with the Merciful Lord.

A discussion of the Resurrection from "Raised from the Dead: True Stories of 400 Resurrection Miracles" by Father Albert J Hebert, SM

"Now God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up also by his power. "
- 1 Corinthians 6:14