We naturally consider the month of January to be a new beginning, and the commencement of a time when anything could happen. It’s the start of a new year when we make all kinds of promises to ourselves — and often fail to keep.
Churches in Afrin, Syria, are calling on the world to stop the slaughter of civilians during the Turkish military assault.
Fr Ralph de Hahn – Human happiness is dependent on our interaction with other persons, places and moods, and circumstances beyond our control.
Fr Hugh Lagan SMA argues that the Church can do harm to the survivors of abuse even with good intentions. Above all, the Church—and all who are confronted with situations of abuse — must learn to listen better to the survivors of abuse.
Prayer is a “high stakes” endeavour, requiring courage, perseverance and patience, Pope Francis said. Courage is needed to stick one’s neck out and “challenge the Lord,” pursuing and confronting him with one’s appeals, the pope said in his homily at Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Fifteen-year-old show choir member Molly Biggs of Topeka, Kansas, thought her biggest singing break would be performing in Kansas City. As the New Year dawned, she wasn’t in Kansas anymore, but St Peter’s Square
Priests who preach one thing and do another are wounded and harm the church, Pope Francis said.
The tradition of sung prayer dates back to the first millennium, with Gregorian chant becoming the proper music of the mature Roman rite, said Timothy McDonnell, director of the Institute of Sacred Music at The Catholic University of America in Washington.
The Gospel extends a peace greeting to all men of good will. FR PETER CHIMOMBE argues that traditional African methods of resolving conflict can serve as models for making peace.
