Why do Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent? What is the history behind the practice? The Church’s penitential traditions date back to the first Christians. Jesus provided a model for fasting and abstinence during His 40 days in the desert and taught that fasting would be part of …

For families in crisis Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Feb 25, 2025 / 10:55 am In his message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of living one’s life as a constant journey of conversion, choosing to walk in peace and hope aside one’s fellow humans. “May the hope that does not disappoint, the …

by Rebecca Sontag There is no Easter without Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting can be tough for anyone. And meditating on the Last Four Things (death, judgment, heaven and hell) is a heavy task at any age. While it is tempting to ignore the tough spiritual preparation that results in …

By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2023 / 04:00 am God commanded it, Jesus practiced it, Church Fathers have preached the importance of it — fasting is a powerful and fundamental part of the Christian life. But for many Catholics today, it’s more of an afterthought: something we grudgingly do …

There is a certain peace and beauty as we begin our Lenten Journey with Mass during Ash Wednesday. This video was released several years ago, and this year Ash Wednesday in March 5, 2025. Check out the video:

A cathedral is the home church for the bishop or archbishop of a Catholic diocese, and those appointed to these roles are often referred to as shepherds, for they are modeled after Jesus the Good Shepherd and the local faithful are entrusted to their care. BISHOP EDWARD D. FENWICK, OP …

Carl Paternite knows the importance of mental well-being to a person’s overall health. After years of serving patients and forming students as a faculty member, the now-retired clinical psychologist helps lead a volunteer mental wellness ministry for the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes, encompassing Guardian Angels, Immaculate Heart …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 11:00 am Every year on Feb. 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, a tradition that dates back more than 1,600 years. The feast honors not just a physical chair but what it represents: the authority …