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The Conclave from the Middle Ages to the present day

The Conclave as we know it today goes back to the Middle Ages, and was established to prevent a prolonged Vacant See (Sede Vacante) and outside interference. By Lisa Zengarini* The term “Conclave” comes from two Latin words: cum (with) and clavis (key). In Church terminology, it designates both the secluded place where the …
Becoming Catholic

You’ve heard the call to the Church. What’s next? The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process by which non-Catholic adults and children of cat- echetical age, whether non-baptized or baptized in another Christian faith, become members of the Catholic Church. Until recently, this process was called …
Called to Discipleship

In a visually saturated world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and become desensitized to beauty. Visio Divina, Latin for “divine seeing,” encourages us to slow down and engage in visual contemplation, using art as a profound tool for connecting with the Divine. A Guide to Visio Divina Begin by making …
The Purpose of Work is Not to Work

The object of work is similar to the object of playing golf. Who is happier at the end of a round of golf: the person who hit the ball 100 times or the one who only hit it 85 times? We all know the answer. The object of golf is …
The Grotto of the Holy Companions

One year ago, only a storm sewer existed in an otherwise empty patch of grass at Saint Xavier High School. Now, it’s a sacred space known as The Grotto of the Holy Companions. Metal silhouettes stand in representation of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Peter Faber, St. Francis Xavier and …
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for May 2025

For working conditions Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
‘Pope Francis, a priest who was at my side no matter what happened’

Adrian Pallarols, a dear friend of Pope Francis, frequently known as the Pope’s silversmith, remembers the late friend with whom he would sit and chat over coffee milk and cookies prepared by nuns ‘as a priest who was at my side no matter what happened.’ By Deborah Castellano Lubov “A …
Father—Son Deacons

On April 26, 2025, in a moment both extraordinary and deeply personal, Chris Jasek and his son Daniel will be ordained to the diaconate: Chris as a permanent deacon and Daniel as a transitional deacon on the path toward the priesthood. A resident of Dayton’s southern suburbs since 1996 and …
Three Gifts in Grief

Our whole family was on the way to dinner with friends—I was behind the wheel. Andrew rode shotgun, exhausted from work, and our crew almost filled the back of the van. Almost. Its eight-passenger occupancy accommodates our family of seven with room for the occasional tag-along. With my oldest approaching …
Pope Francis’ 2015 visit to the United States

By Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 07:00 am Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, visited the United States just once, nearly 10 years ago, in September 2015. Despite the brevity of the visit, he accomplished a lot: Attracting hundreds of thousands of participants, he …