Obituary: Brother James R. Vorndran
The Province of the United States recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother James R. VORNDRAN of the St. Leonard Community in Centerville, Ohio, USA, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on February 22, 2025, in Centerville, at the age of 84 with 65 years …
Wednesday Update: Pope calls parish in Gaza as his condition remains stable on Ash Wednesday
As his clinical condition remained stable with no new respiratory episodes, Pope Francis called the Catholic parish in Gaza and carried out several work activities, according to the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday evening. By Vatican News 3/5/2025 2:00 p.m. The Holy See Press Office released the following statement …
Refresher on the rules of fast and abstinence during Lent 2025
Ash Wednesday is March 5, 2025. Below are some of the rules and regulations binding on Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday and throughout the penitential season of Lent. Summed up succinctly, Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, March 5, 2025 and Good Friday, April …
Building Habits of Virtue During Lent
Lent is a season of moral and spiritual growth. For some, the principal approach is to deprive oneself of non-essential goods; we give up some pleasure or luxury. Others observe Lent by performing spiritual or corporal works of mercy; we add some activity or assume some burden. And, of course, …
Abstinence from Meat
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 …
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for March 2025
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.
10 ways to renew your life in Christ this Lent
By ACI Prensa ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 11, 2024 / 07:00 am Lent is a time of conversion and penance that the Catholic Church offers to believers to prepare for and live the Easter triduum — the mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. During the 40 days (this …
This is Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2025
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 …
7 Practical Ways to Observe Lent as a Family
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 …
LENT: What’s the point of fasting, anyway?
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 …
