Blessed are the Merciful

Colleen Arnold, MD April 24, 2026

Reflect The “blessed” Jesus refers to in the Beatitudes is deeper than mere happiness or luck; it is a deep, unshakable joy. And “merciful” means

Church steeples with the sky in the background

Anger at the Church

Pat McCloskey, OFM April 24, 2026

Father Pat McCloskey, OFM, answers questions in his Ask a Franciscan column!

girl laying on her back in a field, looking upwards

Ever New, Ever Young

Pat McCloskey, OFM April 23, 2026

In Francis’ day, some people admired him very much for thinking in new ways.

A Prayer For Sleep

Maureen O'Brien April 23, 2026

Reflect So many of us struggle to get a simple good night’s sleep. We are pulled awake in the dark by worries about our lives,

Last February, I realized that our parish did not celebrate the feast of St. Valentine. Does this mean that he may have been a true saint but, due to poor record-keeping, has been forgotten? Was he ever officially recognized as a saint?

Mary the Mystic

Murray Bodo, OFM April 22, 2026

The mystic knows in a uniquely graced way these mysteries that we believe and live out as we try to be true to the mystery of our baptism.

Righteous or Self-Righteous?

Colleen Arnold, MD April 22, 2026

Reflect The modern world seems confused about righteousness (doing the right thing) and self-righteousness (the certainty that our own ideas and beliefs are superior to

Is Suicide a Sin?

Pat McCloskey, OFM April 22, 2026

I once read in a Catholic newspaper that suicide may not be a sin if a person is depressed or mentally ill or does not appreciate that what he or she is doing is wrong. What does the Catholic Church teach about this?