Pope Francis has been on retreat this week with his collaborators in the Roman Curia. Popes have done so for some 80 years, since Pope Pius XI started the custom of making an annual retreat in common. That it takes place the first full week of Lent seems to make sense.

But why? Why do Catholics — and to be sure, other Christians, especially of the Eastern traditions, both Catholic and Orthodox — readily consider Lent to be the most spiritually fruitful time of the year?

In the interview with Die Zeit Francis confirmed his unwillingness to change the discipline of celibacy for the Latin Church but opens to discussion on the “viri probati “

We were told recently at a retreat that if only one piece of Scripture survived in a post-apocalyptic world, the parable of the Prodigal Son would suffice for the propagation of the Gospel. The three main characters, father, son and elder brother portray God’s love and forgiveness in a unique and compelling way. The two great commandments of loving God and loving our neighbor are presented in a fashion that is multi-layered and rich in content and context.

Those disappointed by materialism, consumerism and communist ideology seek new spiritual sources. In various Chinese parishes courses for catechumens are organized, but also studies and Bible reading, Eucharistic adoration, the Way of the Cross and many acts of charity.

“The Bread and the Body, the Wine and the Blood” was the focus of morning meditation during course of spiritual exercises for Pope and Roman Curia.

What is our relation with food? Around the supper, do we Christians find unity or are we divided? By shedding His Blood, did Jesus give us God’s forgiveness? These were the three questions addressed yesterday morning, March 7, 2017, to the Pope and to the Roman Curia by Father Giulio Michelini, who is leading the Lenten Spiritual Exercises in the House of the Divine Master of Arriccia.

The idea of an All-Perfect Being lying involves a logical contradiction, just like the idea of a square circle.

Scripture repeatedly affirms the truthfulness of God. As early as the book of Numbers, we read:

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? (Num. 23:19).

The same view is expressed in multiple other passages (e.g., 1 Sam. 15:29, 2 Tim. 2:13, Tit. 1:2). Jesus even declares himself to be “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

This month’s Word of Life invites us to be reconciled with God. Every moment of the day can become an opportunity for doing just that and helping others to rediscover a relationship with Him.

The situation seemed absurd. I was taking the items I needed off the shelf at the supermarket, when I felt a trolley bumping into me, hitting me in the leg. I felt a stabbing pain but I managed not to cry out. I had a look around to see what was happening.

The Gospel this weekend was a continuation of the great “Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.” It’s true, we are called to make the world a better place. But, as St. Paul said in the second reading, it’s not so much by our talents and knowledge, but it is eternally more about “a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

“The power of God.” Fr. John Hardon wrote,

Putting aside that the numbering is not exact, we generally talk about Lent being forty days. Like me, you have probably wondered “why forty?” What’s so special about forty? The obvious answer is that Our Lord spent forty days fasting in the desert before He began his public ministry. He set apart that time to prepare Himself and as an example for us. So, that’s what we should do.

Every Lent people want to acquire a deeper prayer life. For many, this includes the desire to pray the rosary daily. Now that we are several days into Lent, how is that Lenten resolution going? Have you prayed it faithfully every day since Ash Wednesday? After you finish praying, do you feel like you really prayed it? Or did you find that you were distracted and didn’t focus on the mysteries being prayed?