Daily Readings

Thus says the LORD:Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;you have collapsed through your guilt.Take with you words,and return to the LORD;Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,and receive what is good, that we may renderas offerings the bullocks from our stalls.Assyria will not save us,nor shall we have horses to mount;We shall say no ... read more

Good Friday is three weeks away. The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of his time continues to intensify as the Third Week of Lent draws to an end. In today's gospel reading, one of the Temple scribes gives Jesus an orthodoxy check, asking him to name the greatest of the Commandments. The answer ... read more

Amid a war weighing heavily on southern Lebanon with fear and destruction, a prayer of farewell rose from the town of Qlayaa for a priest who chose to remain beside his people until the very end. In the courtyard of St. George Church in a scene marked by tears, prayer, and hope, mourners bid farewell ... read more

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,and when the demon had gone out,the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,he drives out demons."Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.But he knew their thoughts and said to ... read more

Today, the mid-point of Lent, was celebrated with somewhat joyful spirit in ancient times. This day was a breathing space in the center of Lent's austerities. Today's ancient Entrance Antiphon and Opening Prayer express this encouraging spirit. Modern Lent is less austere, less in need of any breathing space. Today's lesson: be faithful to God, ... read more

After nearly 900 years, the Trappist monks may be leaving the Abbey of Our Lady of La Trappe in Normandy, France, one of the most iconic symbols of the Cistercian tradition founded in the 12th century.The monks, who belong to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance — also known as the Trappist order, which ... read more

Research over the past six decades reveals that the number of Catholic sisters has steadily declined, but they remain committed to what they believe matters most — expanding ministries and serving more people.Based on findings from the Official Catholic Directory, the Vatican’s Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae, and other research from Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research ... read more

BRUSSELS — European governments are increasingly restricting minors’ access to social media, a shift that could force platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat to change features designed to keep users online for longer.Poland has become the latest European country to signal tighter restrictions on youth access to social media, with officials proposing measures that could ... read more

The Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) have stated that “abortion can never constitute a right, since there is no right to eliminate a human life,” in response to the governmentʼs attempts to include it in the Spanish constitution.”In anticipation of the Day for Life to be held March 25, the feast of ... read more

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday remembered Father Pierre El Raii, a Maronite priest who died after being wounded in an Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon, and described him as “a true shepherd” who remained with his people despite the war.El Raii was killed on March 9 while going to the aid of ... read more

Moses spoke to the people and said:"Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decreesas the LORD, my God, has commanded ... read more

Today we have a venerable Lenten Mass. This Mass is best understood by remembering that the ancient catechumens (or prospective converts) used to come for instructions to the first part of Lenten Masses. The catechumens heard the readings and homily, and then left the church. The offertory procession and remainder of the Mass were for ... read more

The Vatican is set to host an international conference in Vatican City that will bring together scientists, physicians, and bioethicists to reflect on the ethical challenges of molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and new biotechnologies from a Christian perspective.The Pontifical Academy for Life, together with the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering at the University of Basel and ... read more

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Catholic leaders in Nepal have welcomed the landslide election victory of a new political party backed by the countryʼs young generation, which decimated the traditional political establishment.“It is a mandate against all the misconduct of politicians and political parties,” Father Silas Bogati, apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, told EWTN ... read more

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, a Chaldean Catholic bishop arrested in San Diego last week on charges of embezzling Church funds.The Vatican also announced March 10 that Leo has appointed Bishop Saad Sirop Hanna, a Chaldean Catholic bishop from Iraq, to oversee the Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter ... read more