VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Hours after the last visitors and pilgrims left St. Peter’s Basilica for the day, a chisel clanged and dust flew as a group of prelates chanted their prayers before a simple wall marked with a cross. In preparation for the opening on Christmas Eve of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Despite the problems and worries in the world, Jesus invites Christians to look toward heaven, trust in his saving love and make room for him in order to find hope again, Pope Francis said. “Sadness is awful,” he told visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus Dec. 1, the…
Readings for the Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time-Thanksgiving Readings for the Thanksgiving Day Reading 1 RV 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9A I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by his splendor. He cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the…
WASHINGTON – News of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was received with “profound hope” by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. “It is in a spirit of profound hope that I welcome news…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Not every Christian is called to be an apostle, prophet or evangelist, Pope Francis said, but all Christians can cultivate the fruits of the Holy Spirit by becoming “charitable, patient, humble, peacemakers.” Continuing his series of audience talks on the Holy Spirit, the pope explained that the fruits of the Spirit…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To help people who cannot travel to Rome but want to pray at the tomb of St. Peter and cross the threshold of the Holy Door, St. Peter’s Basilica is installing new webcams. Franciscan Father Enzo Fortunato, communications director for the basilica, told reporters Nov. 25 that Pope Francis will inaugurate…