As we honor Our Lady of Fatima today, the 96th anniversary of her first appearance to the three children in Portugal, one new and one little-known-but-major fact should give us a real boost to listen to her.

The new fact: Pope Francis requested that Cardinal José Policarpo, the archbishop of Lisbon, consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, which the cardinal was going to do at the shrine, along with the Portuguese bishops, at the end of the Mass of the International Anniversary Pilgrimage.

This act of Pope Francis should make us take notice because he’s showing us how important to him the significance of Our Lady of Fatima and her message is in these dire times for peace in...READ MORE

For all that’s happening around us in the world, from the Church's papal election to national and international concerns, it’s been easy this Lent for many of us to forget about the Way of the Cross.

But perfectly timed for the rest of Lent comes one of the most beautifully illustrated and thoroughly spiritually-inspiring booklets that I’ve ever seen: Way of the Cross at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.

Readers do not just "walk" the 14 Stations in a single way. This prayerful booklet is the first I’ve seen that has two versions of the Way of the Cross, plus a third section of meditations.

The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy...READ MORE

Naturally, many tears have been shed in the last few days since Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement from the papacy. These tears are different than the tears of joy shed in April 2005, when he was elected our Holy Father.

Tears of both joy and sorrow come together in a song called Room of Tears.

It was written shortly after Benedict was inaugurated as pope, but now the song looks like it had a bit of the prophetic in its title.

Room of Tears is moving to watch as well as listen to. The visuals that the song’s composer and singer, Russ Rentler, put into the video add poignancy to the song. It’s as if you’re flipping through a family album for a brief moment. Some pictures make...READ MORE

There is “a time to weep … a time to mourn …” the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us.

Monday began that time in a private way for families. It was that day the first of the funerals took place for the children and teachers killed so viciously at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

Tuesday brought the first of the funerals for the children and families at St. Rose of Lima Church, the town’s one Catholic parish, which has a large number of families.

Up to then, major and minor television stations, press, media from across the United States, Canada, Europe and even from as far away as South Korea had been on the scene, beginning shortly after the tragic event happened on Friday.

But...READ MORE

Not all the events and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy deal with devastation. God is with us even in those times, especially if we ask him to be.

Sometimes he even lets us know if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. Sometimes the reminder is barely noticeable, but sometimes it’s eye-popping — and then some.

My town in Connecticut, well inland from the coast, lost power in Sandy’s early hours. The super-high winds uprooted stately trees, which in turn took out power lines and even —  for the first time in a hurricane or storm here — made all main roads in this highly traveled area impassable.

My parish of St. Theresa Church on Main Street had no power, but that wasn’t going to stop...READ MORE

It’s the simplest way anyone can learn in a flash the basic moral principles that must apply in the voting booth.

It’s the new, free, non-partisan "Catholic Voting Guide" app.

On Oct. 9, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy launched its easy-to-use-and-understand app.

“The app gives very clear, concise explanations of the moral principles to be applied when choosing an elected leader,” said Father John Trigilio Jr., president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (CCC).

The app may be downloaded directly from the CCC website. It is available for iPhone, iPod, iPad, as well as Android and Windows smartphones. It may be downloaded from the Google Play store, and the Windows...READ MORE

Sunday, Oct. 21, is a day to celebrate St. Kateri.

Kateri Tekakwitha, a young Mohawk woman who lived in the 1600s, is being canonized in Rome as the first Native-American saint in the United States.

In Steubenville, Ohio, Kateri Lang, who is the same age as her namesake was at her death, 24, is giving thanks for the new saint and delighted to share her name.

Lang is a 2012 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. She works for the university and is also the school’s diving coach.

“I’m so excited now she is named a saint,” Lang said with obvious joy.

How did she come to have this name? When her mother was a teenager, she met a little girl named Kateri.

“My mother...READ MORE

Sunday, Oct. 14, begins the "Rosary Novena for Life and Liberty" proposed by the U.S. bishops. The novena ends on Monday, Oct. 22.

The Church celebrates October as the month of the holy Rosary, and it is an apt time for Rosary campaigns.

For months, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged a strong prayer effort for religious freedom. The USCCB has said October “seems an appropriate time to ask for Our Lady's intercession for these intentions.”

The novena is jointly offered by the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

In the novena booklet’s introduction, the bishops write:

"This year, believers have faced an...READ MORE