Spiritual Life>

JPII Friend Defends Cardinal Schönborn in
Homosexual Parish Council Flap
VIENNA, AUSTRIA, April 13, 2012 -- An Italian politician and papal consultant has defended Viennese Cardinal Christoph Schönborn's choice to reinstate an Austrian parish council member living in a homosexual partnership.

Benedict XVI's Message for Lent Calls us to Concern for Others
We Answer by Evangelizing the Culture
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 5, 2012 -- Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten message to the world offers us an important reflection toward the imperative of building a marriage culture. In Stand with Children, we are focusing on what we are for and why, rather than what we are against. He drew on Hebrews 10:24, "Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works."

Religious Education for
The New Evangelization
LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2012 -- In anticipation of the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez offered an important teaching regarding religous education and catechesis for the New Evangelization. It is a helpful instruction as the laity continues to contemplate what is the New Evangelization and how are we called to evangelize.

Homily to the Papal Household:
Enter into the Mystery of the Trinity,
The Mystery of Love
VATICAN, March 15, 2012 -- In our days, it is particularly relevant to “revisit the Fathers of the Church, not only to understand the content of the Faith in its earliest form, but even more, to rediscover the vital unity between faith as it is professed, and faith as it is lived – between the thing itself, and its enunciation.”

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Jesus, Our Contemporary
VATICAN, February 2012 -- An important conference was held in Rome in early Feburary with a provacative title, "Jesus, Our Contemporary." Strikingly, it was part of an interreligious dialogue that brought together not just Catholics, but Protestants, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, nonbelievers. It is part of an ongoing project by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, in support of Pope Benedict's emphasis of the mission of the Church to lead people to God. The question is what God? As Pope Benedict has written to the bishops of the world, "Not just any god, but the God who spoke on Sinai; to that God whose face we recognize in a love which presses 'to the end' – in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen." Read Cardinal Ruini's own description of the conference.

Pope Benedict: Faith Without Love
Would No Longer Be an Authentic Christian Faith
VATICAN, February 19, 2012 -- Pope's homily at mass in Vatican Basilica, with the newly-created cardinals, on the solemnity of the Chair of Saint Peter. "The Church does not exist for her own sake, but she has to point beyond herself, to the realms above..."

Cardinal-designate Dolan Outlines
‘Creative Strategy’ for Evangelization
"Missio ad Gentes" (Mission to the Nations)
VATICAN, February 17, 2012 -- In remarks to the Pope and the College of Cardinals, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan outlined a seven-point “creative strategy of evangelization” to counter secularism and bring people to Jesus.

Cardinal Donlan Addresses Cardinals on New Evangelization
"Missio ad Gentes" (Mission to the Nations)
VATICAN, February 17, 2012 -- Then Cardinal-designate Timithy Dolan was given the honor of addressing the College of Cardinals the day before the Consitory at which he and 21 other candidates were elevated to Cardinal. His topic was an introduction to the New Evangelization. during the Consistory: 'Missio ad Gentes' and New Evangelization

How to Win the Culture War
FEATURE ESSAY: To win any war, the three most necessary things to know are: (1) that you are at war, (2) who your enemy is, and (3) what weapons or strategies can defeat him. You cannot win a war (1) if you simply sew peace banners on a battlefield, (2) if you fight civil wars against your allies, or (3) if you use the wrong weapons.

Contemplate with the Bishops on
The New Evangelization and the
Evangelization of Culture for Marriage and Family
LENT, 2012--Catholics for the Common Good Institute is offering a special formation program for new and existing Stand with Children Faith & Action Circles that will acquaint participants with the current Church thinking about the New Evangelization and how it is connected with the laity’s responsibility for evangelization of culture, particularly as it relates to marriage and family.

Guidelines for Celebrating Year of Faith Revealed
VATICAN CITY, January 5, 2012 -- The Vatican issued guidelines Jan. 5 for how the Church at all levels should celebrate the Year of Faith, which starts in October 2012.                              

Join in Prayer to the Holy Family
Asking Their Protection of Marriage and Family
SAN FRANCISCO, December 19, 2011 -- We ask you to join us in emphasizing this powerful feast day by praying the Novena to the Holy Family for the Protection of Marriage each day December 21 through December 30. This is a beautiful prayer that can be shared with family and loved ones as you gather around the dinner table for the holidays.

Young People Give Pope Hope for 2012
VATICAN CITY, December 16, 2011 -- Pope Benedict XVI believes the various crises that afflicted society in 2011 can be met with hope in the coming year if parents introduce young people to Jesus and teach them Christian values.

Papal Preacher:
Mary is the Star of Evangelization
VATICAN, December 9, 2011--Gathered with members of his household Friday morning in the Redemptoris mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Benedict XVI heard the second in a series of sermons dedicated to the theme of the New Evangelization.