This weekend, November 16-17, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the Eighth Annual “World Day of the Poor.” Pope Francis has chosen as its theme this year: “The prayer of the poor rises up to God (Sirach 21:5).” I would like to add another thought to this wonderful scriptural reference for our consideration: “prayer for the poor rises up to God.” As we reflect on the plight of the poor and the consequences of their poverty, it is altogether fitting that we, as Catholic Christians, lift up the poor in our prayer.
I am writing today from Baltimore where the bishops of the United States are gathering for their annual meeting. The agenda is not too heavy but it is clear that the motivation for this yearly assembly of the American hierarchy is promoting and fostering the good of the faithful in so many dimensions of their daily life as Catholics.
Beginning with the Solemn Feast of All Saints (Friday, November 1) —- a holy day of obligation —- and the Commemoration of All Souls (Saturday, November 2), the entire month of November has long been dedicated to the faithful departed, “those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace" (Eucharistic Prayer 1). The “sign of faith” is that “indelible mark” that the Catholic Church teaches comes with Baptism. St. Teresa of Calcutta once reflected “during this whole month we give them extra love and care by praying to them and for them.”
It has been 68 years since the publication of a papal encyclical devoted exclusively to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Pius XII, encyclical Haurietis Aquas, “You will draw waters,” May 15, 1956.) In it, Pope Pius XII encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, urging Catholics to reflect upon the mystery of God and his love so as to be transformed by it.
As we gather in communion this World Mission Sunday, I extend to you a heartfelt invitation from Pope Francis, inspired by the Gospel: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet (cf. Mt 22:9).” This call to mission resonates deeply with our faith’s core, urging us to share God’s love with the world.
The Catholic Church has been blessed with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God through the Rosary since the early 13th century when, according to Catholic tradition, she appeared to St. Dominic (1170-1221) in 1214 offering him the idea of the Rosary. There are various legends and stories regarding how the Rosary initially came to be but its current form of 15 mysteries called “decades” – five joyful, five sorrowful, five glorious– was formally established by Pope Pius V (1504-72) in 1569. Pope St. John Paul II added five “luminous” mysteries to the decades of the Rosary in 2002.
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for Respect Life month. The atmosphere in society today is charged with words and with the realities conveyed by these words: change, accountability, responsibility and, above all, hope! The people of life and for life (cf. Evangelium Vitae, n. 78) are fundamentally a people of hope! We are people of life and for life because we are a people of hope.
It has become almost normative these days for political candidates of every stripe to end their speeches at campaign appearances, town halls or rallies with some form of the expression “God bless you and/or God bless the United States of America.” Perhaps you, too, have noticed its appearance more frequently than in the past. I actually wait for it now while watching television broadcasts of these events, especially in this election year.
This year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, September 1, 2024, continues the annual tradition established by our Holy Father Pope Francis after the release of his May 24, 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’: Care of Our Common Home.” Each year for September 1, Pope Francis selects a theme and publishes a message which “focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the earth (Christopher Rice, “Best Summary of “Laudato Si’”,May 5, 2022).
Every year, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the first Sunday of May. And whether our moms are living or deceased, we remember them in special ways. One day a year, however, is not enough time to consider all that our mothers have done for us. I think it is fairly safe to say that most of us think of our moms much more than on just a single day.
There are virtues and then there are virtues. Here's one you don't see or hear a lot in our polarized society today: civility. In a world in which instant information, instant messages, instant solutions and instant gratification are not only expected but presumed --- and, indeed, required --- precious little room and time are left for the virtue of civility.
Summer is a special time for family and friends by making time for them. No school! Picnics and barbecues; trips to the shore or mountains or wherever we enjoy some rest together; longer hours of daylight and star-filled nights; sitting outside, playing games, going to carnivals or summer concerts, taking long, leisurely walks or renewing healthy exercise to shed some winter pounds; gardening, picking strawberries or Jersey tomatoes and eating Jersey corn on the cob; doing lots of things or doing nothing in particular, summer is a time to slow down and realize how blessed we are by God, surrounded by those we love most who are truly gifts the Lord places in our lives.
Our Holy Father Pope Francis has announced at his General Audience on June 5, 2024 that he is preparing a document on the Sacred Heart for release next September. He expressed his intention “to say something meaningful to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
Memorial Day is the national holiday that is widely regarded as the “unofficial beginning of summer.” Originally known as “Decoration Day,” the holiday dates back to a commemoration of U.S. military personnel who lost their lives in the Civil War.
This Sunday, the Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the central mystery of our Catholic Faith, that honors God as Father-Creator, Son-Redeemer and Holy Spirit, Sanctifier. We speak of God as a communion of persons: one God in three distinct persons. It is a central mystery of our faith because it deals with the mystery of God himself. God as Trinity is the source of all other mysteries of faith and it gives light to them, the Catechism reminds us.
This weekend, we celebrate with the Church throughout the world the great feast of Pentecost, the feast that commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The word itself, Pentecost, means “50th day” and it was originally used to identify the annual festival that took place 50 days after the Hebrew Passover when the Jewish people presented thanks to God for the first fruits of the harvest. In the Old Testament, the ancient Hebrews celebrated the arrival of a new agricultural season, 50 days after Passover.
A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the 5th Sunday of Easter There’s an old saying that you probably have heard or even said many times: “Don’t tell me that you love me…show me.”
April 21, 2024, is Good Shepherd Sunday as we continue to celebrate the Easter Season. The Lord Jesus often spoke about sheep and shepherds as images intended to make a point about the relationship between God and his people. Of course, in his day, sheep and shepherds were quite common and the symbolism was easy to understand. Less so today.
