It is a time of conversion and freedom from our selves mostly. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by a few thoughts from the once bishop of Aachen, Germany, Klaus Hemmerle (1929 – 1994).

Klaus_Hemmerle_BishopsKlaus Hemmerle played an essential part alongside Chiara Lubich in introducing the life of communion among the bishops who follow the spirituality of unity. We present some passages taken from his book, Klaus Hemmerle, La luce dentro le cose (The Light Within Things,) published by Città Nuova (Rome, 1998).

We live in an indoctrinated age of novelty and dissatisfaction. We are always looking ahead to what is new and then find ourselves achingly tired with it only moments after its arrival. With this comes the growth in the popularity of various trends found in the staple aspects of human life, such as parenting, education, governance, or even art.

While rumors of Patriarch Grègoire III Laham’s resignation have been denied, there is talk of a resignation letter on its way to Rome. An emblematic case of "internal struggle" within the hierarchies and clergy of many Christian communities in the Middle East.

When President Donald Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network in January 2017, he would give Middle East Christians priority refugee status, he was sharply criticized for religious favoritism and prejudice. Even a few high-profile American Christian leaders questioned his judgment.

Trump’s executive order on refugees did not mention Christians, but referenced religious “minorities.” That means mostly Christians, Shi’it Muslims and Yazidis.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA are a growing cause of concern in healthcare. Infections are easily spread in crowded conditions, including hospitals, and so-called “superbugs” have evolved a resistance to traditional antibiotics.

Now scientists think they may have discovered a way to limit microbial transfer – and it relies on something as simple and as widely available as salt.

At The Atlantic, Michael Hingston summarizes the findings that are generating real excitement in the healthcare community:

At the Angelus Pope Francis told faithful to overcome evil with the Holy Scriptures and warned them against “the devil’s poisonous darts”

The first Sunday of Lent recalls the temptations of Jesus, and thereby creates a time of evaluation for all Christians: Where have my own religious convictions been blurred or compromised by dark thoughts?

Today, March 5, Christians throughout the world observe the First Sunday of Lent. In the liturgy, the temptations of the Lord Jesus in the desert are recalled by believers. Such a solemn recollection should cause an evaluation within the heart of every Christian disciple: Where have dark thoughts blurred or compromised my religious convictions?

In a new pastoral letter, the archbishop of Los Angeles says it is ‘urgent’ for every Christian to embrace the ‘adventure’ of holiness in the face of a de-Christianizing culture.

God made men and women for greatness as saints, and the times now call each man and woman to embrace the call to holiness, stated the archbishop of Los Angeles.

Is fasting really necessary during Lent? Short answer: yes. It is a pillar of spiritual practice as well as an important spiritual and physical preparation for Easter. Catholic experts and religious offer a guideline on why fasting is important and what are the best ways to do it.

There is no getting around fasting during Lent.

Not only is it one of the three pillars of spiritual practice along with prayer and almsgiving, but it also bookends the period of preparation for Easter.

Many 21st-century households are inundated by the noise of handheld and flat-screen technologies. Add family dynamics to that, and silence becomes a rare commodity.

Such is the experience of the Swaffords. With four children under the age of 10, Sarah and Andrew Swafford rarely have down time in their Atchison, Kansas, home near the campus of Benedictine College, where Andrew is an associate professor of theology.

Yet silence is something that the couple hasn’t stopped striving for.