Remember when, about four years ago, conservative Glenn Beck equated social justice with Communism, advising Christians to leave their churches if they ever heard the words uttered there? “If you have a priest that is pushing social justice, go find another parish. Go alert your bishop.” Yet, the Church has had a body of teaching on social justice for almost 125 years. Evidently pundit Beck didn’t get that memo. People tire of hearing the words “social justice,” especially in connection wit...

Scarcely two weeks have passed since I assisted a dying woman. This was not the first time, but each time the experience is new and personal.  I watched her as she lay there, unable to open her eyes or to speak, her breathing labored. I gazed on her face, attentive for signs of what she might be experiencing. My heart ached each time she moaned in pain. Family and friends surrounded her; I was glad that she would not make this journey alone. She had been lonely much of her 85 years: th...

"O God, we praise you!"This is the sentiment in my heart at having the privilege to witness (via the media) the canonizations of two saintly popes. I was listening to Father Robert Barron's updates from Rome, and he called the current era "the golden age of the Popes." What a blessing for us Catholics to have the encouragement and strength of popes so open to the Holy Spirit, and what a gift our holy Pope-Saints have been to the world!It's a deep personal joy for me to witness the world's r...

Continuing the canonization countdown with Sr. Marie Paul Curley...Day 1: Tomorrow is the big day! I’m planning to rise early and watch the canonization “live” at 4 AM on the Vatican’s live stream site: http://www.vatican.va/video/, or on Catholic TV.The third “up close” encounter I shared with Pope John Paul II was truly up close and personal: I was graced to finally “meet” him. But when I met him, I  was in a place of great spiritual desolat...

Our Canonization Countdown continues as we blog, tweet, and share digitally!To join in, you can:Tweet about our new saints-to-be with the hashtags: #JPII and #JohnXXIII. (Official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/2popesaints )Visit the official site for the canonizations: http://2popesaints.org/EN/Home (in English)Like the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/2popesaints (Italian) CLICK THROUGH TO OUR NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE FO...

On Sunday, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis will canonize John XXIII and John Paul II. These two men were very different from one another. John was an Italian pastor, bishop, and Vatican diplomat noted for his simplicity and humility. John Paul was a man of steel, fire-tried through his battles with the communist authorities in Poland. John was a historian; John Paul a philosopher. Yet both these beloved popes had something in common: they were optimists, filled with hope because of their faith in J...

As we count down to St. John Paul II’s canonization this Sunday, April 27, let’s spread the joy! For the next four days, tweet about our new saints-to-be: John Paul II and John XXIII!  Thank God for the many, many ways that these two saints have touched our lives! Tweet why you love St. John Paul using the hashtag: #JPII.  Tweet your gratitude for the marvelous renewal of Vatican II using the hashtag: #JohnXXIII Visit the official sites for the canonizat...

“I don’t know what tomorrow may bring. What I do know is that I’m not alone." - Sue In Trusting in God When Life's Not Easy, we explored the reasons for facing life's challenges with courage and a joyful trust in the Lord's goodness and abiding presence with us. On this page, we invite you to help others to have hope by sharing your stories of trust. Who are the unsung heroes and heroines who have inspired you? When have you taken a "leap of trust" and found yourself ...