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Pope Francis walks past flowers as he celebrates Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 1.

Liturgy needs 'language of flowers', but not during Lent

VATICAN – Of the many traditions and penitential practices observed during the season of Lent, one of the more visible is the stark change in church decor and a complete absence of flowers.
Pope Francis leaves at the end of the final session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2018.

Pope Francis’ seventh year will be ‘synodal’, Vatican spokesman says

VATICAN – On the sixth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election Wednesday, the Vatican's chief spokesman said Francis will continue to lead the Church as a synodal “field hospital” in the year ahead.
Pope Francis greets Benedictine Abbot Bernardo Gianni during the Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia in Ariccia, Italy, March 10, 2019.

Benedictine abbot leads Pope, Roman Curia in Lenten retreat

VATICAN – When Pope Francis asked 50-year-old Benedictine Abbot Bernardo Gianni to lead his Lenten retreat, the abbot said he told the Pope he felt "very inadequate."
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Aug. 15, the feast of the Assumption.

Avoid temptation, don't engage with the devil, Pope says at Angelus

VATICAN – When facing temptation, Christians should follow Jesus' example by not engaging in fruitless talk with the father of lies, Pope Francis said.
World Youth Day pilgrims learn what different religious communities have to offer at a vocations festival in a Panama City park Jan. 24, 2019.

Answering God's call demands courage to take a risk, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – Answering the Lord's call demands the courage to take a risk, but it is an invitation to become part of an important mission, Pope Francis said.
The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness, Sebastiano Ricci (Belluno 1659-1734 Venice)

God's Word on Sunday: It’s a good time to count God’s blessings

First Sunday of Lent, March 10 (Year C) Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13

Pope Francis hears the confession of a priest March 7, 2019, at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran. The pope administered the sacrament to several priests during his annual Lenten meeting with the priests of the Diocese of Rome.

God is purifying the church with 'unbearable' pain of abuse scandal, Pope Francis says

ROME – The clerical abuse scandal has caused everyone in the Catholic Church "pain and unbearable suffering," Pope Francis said, but it also is a call to repentance and the renewal of the church.
Cardinal Thomas Collins at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in Toronto 2017.

Cardinal Collins sends a message of giving for Lent

Cardinal Thomas Collins is calling on Catholics to remember the importance of almsgiving this Lenten season.

Pope Francis arrives in procession to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome March 6, 2019.

Lent begins with reminder of all that fades away, Pope Francis says

ROME – Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and God's promise of eternal life, Pope Francis said.
The “grace of tears” has been cherished throughout the Christian tradition. Jesus Himself was not immune to tears, as seen in James Tissot’s Jesus Wept.

Mary Marrocco: The gift of tears unlocks healing spirit

Her body is thin and tense. It carries the anguish, the hurts and false steps, of years. Her face does not as yet reveal the pain she’s known in her young life. She doesn’t cry. Alone, sometimes, she has bursts of uncontrollable stormy tears. Never the gentle kind and never for long. 

The popular discipline of Lent — giving up something for the sake of others — is deeply rooted in stewardship if we do it with 'a renewed spirit and a contrite heart', Fr. Yaw writes.

Fr. Yaw Acheampong: Lent is an invitation to a fruitful stewardship

The start of every new season is exciting and full of possibilities. Think of how happy people are when they see the first signs of spring, or, when the first day of school arrives, or, for baseball fans, the excitement they feel on the day of the season opener.

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