exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

The unbearable weight of grief

The unbearable weight of grief

James and his friend Al went out for coffee. James found himself telling Al that he couldn’t get back to where he’d been before his wife died three years earlier. Work helped him keep going, as did his kids, friends and parish. He was praying, exercising and volunteering — but he felt worse instead of better, lost and uncertain. Nothing seemed to fit anymore. 

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, leaves the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall after a working session of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops with Pope Francis at the Vatican Oct. 6, 2023.

Top Vatican official hopes Trump will promote peace, national unity

The Vatican secretary of state said his prayer for Donald J. Trump is that God would grant him wisdom "because that is the main virtue of those who govern according to the Bible."

Pope Francis prays during a memorial Mass for cardinals and bishops who died in the past year at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Nov. 4, 2024.

Pope Francis offers Mass for cardinals and bishops who died in past year

Remembering the cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, Pope Francis prayed that after their loving service to the Catholic Church "they may exult in eternal communion with the saints."

Pope Francis pauses to pray at the graves of infants who were miscarried during his visit to Rome's Laurentino cemetery to celebrate Mass on the feast of All Souls, Nov. 2, 2024.

On All Souls, pope prays at graves of children, miscarried infants

Pope Francis prayed at the graves of children and of miscarried babies on the feast of All Souls before concelebrating Mass with several hundred mourners.

Focus on life’s mountains, not just valleys

Focus on life’s mountains, not just valleys

Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) for week 20: Sunday, Nov. 3 to Saturday, Nov 9.

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, speaks at a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 29, 2024, about the commission’s first pilot annual report, which highlights safeguarding progress, gaps and recommendations for over 20 church-based entities.

Papal commission releases report highlighting progress in safeguarding

Highlighting progress made in safeguarding and recommendations for rectifying ongoing gaps, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors dedicated its first annual report to all victims and survivors of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization's section for new evangelization and the chief organizer of the Holy Year 2025, presents the official mascot of the Jubilee Year during a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 28, 2024.

Pope Francis to open Holy Door at Rome prison at beginning of Jubilee 2025

Two days after opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to inaugurate the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis will travel to a Rome prison to open a Holy Door as a "tangible sign of the message of hope" for people in prisons around the world, the Vatican announced.

Pope Francis speaks to members of the Synod of Bishops on synodality after they approved their final document Oct. 26, 2024, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.

Publishing synod document, Pope Francis says he will not write exhortation

After members of the Synod of Bishops approved their final document, Pope Francis announced that he would not write the customary post-synodal apostolic exhortation but would offer the final document to the entire church to implement.

Religious sisters participate in a Eucharistic procession through midtown Manhattan in New York City Oct. 15. The procession and the Holy Hour and Mass that preceded it at St. Patrick’s Cathedral attracted thousands of worshippers.

Eucharistic procession takes to New York streets

A remarkable day of faith and devotion unfolded at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown Manhattan Oct. 15 as thousands of Catholics gathered for a Eucharistic procession.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, arrives in the Paul VI Audience Hall to attend a morning session of the synod at the Vatican Oct. 21, 2024.

Cardinal Fernández updates synod on study group focusing on women's roles

Pope Francis decided the question of ordaining women deacons was not to be discussed at the 2024 Synod of Bishops, and he directed a synod-related study group on women's ministries not to explore the matter, according to the Vatican's doctrinal chief.

Pope Francis presides over Mass for the canonization of 14 new saints on World Mission Sunday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 20, 2024.

Saints served generously, creatively, Pope Francis says at canonization Mass

Pope Francis called on the faithful to yearn to serve, not thirst for power, as he proclaimed 14 new saints, including Canada-born St. Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, and 11 martyrs.

Page 2 of 377