Reflections on life, meaning and purpose

The truth about St. Patrick’s Day

In 1997, my students and I traveled to Croagh Patrick, a mountain in County Mayo, as part of a study abroad program course on Irish literature I was teaching for the University of Dayton. I wanted my students to visit the place where, each July, thousands of pilgrims pay homage to St. Patrick, who, according […]

War is like ‘a cancer that grows,’ says Vatican secretary of state

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Russia’s war on Ukraine “seems to have changed” the world, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. Since the invasion Feb. 24, the bombings and battles have sent millions of refugees fleeing, led several countries to consider increasing military spending and raised the specter of the use of nuclear weapons. […]

Jesuit Superior General: ‘As citizens we work for the good of Europe’

Fr. Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, speaks to Vatican Media about the 400th anniversary of the canonization of the Society’s founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and the great Jesuit St. Francis Xavier, who were canonized along with Teresa of Avila, Philip Neri, and Isidore the Farmer. He also speaks about […]

Pope Francis: In the name of God, ‘stop this massacre’ in Ukraine

Banner calling for the consecration of Russia is displayed during Pope Francis’ Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on March 13, 2022. / Vatican Media Denver Newsroom, Mar 13, 2022 / 07:19 am (CNA). Pope Francis on Sunday called for an end to the “harrowing war” in Ukraine, condemning in particular the “barbarism” of Russia’s reported […]

Pope Francis: Ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your desire to pray

Pope Francis waves to crowd gathered for the Angelus at St. Peter’s Square on March 13, 2022. / Vatican Media Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 13, 2022 / 07:37 am (CNA). Noting that Luke’s Gospel reveals that Peter, James, and John had fallen asleep prior to Jesus’ Transfiguration, Pope Francis urged the faithful during his Angelus […]

Generosity in action: Crisis unites Hungarians to common cause

BUDAPEST, Hungary (CNS) — As thousands of refugees from Ukraine continue to cross over the Hungarian border, Budapest’s Keleti train station has become a central hub on their paths to escape violence and search for some sense of normalcy amid the chaos. For the past two weeks, religious and other charitable organizations such as Caritas […]

Pope Francis on Ukraine: ‘Stop this massacre’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Appealing again for an end to the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis said those who invoke God to promote or justify violence “profane his name.” “In the name of God, I ask: Stop this massacre,” the pope said March 13 at the end of his Sunday Angelus address. With thousands of […]