1. From Pope Leo the Great in the Office of Readings today: God’s compassion for us is all the more wonderful because Christ died, not for the righteous or the holy but for the wicked and the sinful, and, though the divine nature could not be touched by the sting of death, he took to himself, through his birth as one of us, something he could offer on our behalf. The power of his death once confronted our death. In... Read more

1. I found this quite beautiful, from the Adopt-a-Priest website: The Greeks approach Phillip voicing a very deep human need and desire–they want to see Jesus. In essence, they speak for all of us. And Phillip gains this favor for them. Whatever they are expecting, it is unlikely that the Greeks are quite prepared for the experience of being seen in turn by Jesus–of falling under the Light of Eternal Truth and Love in Person. Pope St. John Paul II... Read more

1. St. Teresa of Avila is in Magnificat for this Sunday: Lazarus did not ask you to raise him up. You did it for a woman sinner; behold one here, my God, and a much greater one; let your mercy shine. I, although, miserable, ask life for those who do not want to ask it of you. 2. Like the prophet Jeremiah, may we recognize the Lord as the searcher of our minds and hearts and the one to whom... Read more

So a @SrMaryK in Lincoln Nebraska who tweets had the idea that we start tweeting #StationsoftheCross on Fridays in Lent. (I met her when Catholic Voices USA went out there last year.) She’d love to make it trend. I don’t do campaigns, but I think it is a worthy idea. Share a little of parish life. I’d love to see a little momentum going this week in the hope that next week it could really become something with a little... Read more

Last night, I was on Relevant Radio for a bit with Fr. Steve Grunow from Word on Fire with host Sheila Liaugminas. We talked largely about St. Joseph and Pope Francis and the upcoming year of mercy. (Some of my thoughts on the latter are included in this Catholic News Agency piece.) I live-tweeted some of what Fr. Grunow said: We receive a mission from Christ and then we disappear into it #StJoseph @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio — Kathryn Jean Lopez... Read more

In a day of martyrdom, a sobering reflection from Fr. George Rutler, from his parish bulletin at St. Michael‘s in midtown Manhattan this week: Maewyn Succat did not have an easy time embracing the Faith. Although his father Calpurnius was a deacon, Maewyn indulged a spirited youthful rebellion against what he had been taught, and it was only after being kidnapped by superstitious people called Druids that he realized the difference that Christianity makes in the souls of men and... Read more

1. The Liturgy of the Hours today says “Saint Patrick may be commemorated.” This is New York from which I write, Saint Patrick will be commemorated. Inside @stpatsnyc there will be a full schedule of Masses for #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/PVcbBY1i1H — Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 16, 2015 The rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral said after the noon Mass there Monday: We’ll have our noon and full slate of Masses tomorrow. “There may be noise outside,” but the Sacraments continue. Getting... Read more