Holy Saturday is one of those days when the church, though liturgically silent, speaks volumes through signs. In Poland and Ukraine, one of the most popular and deeply symbolic gestures is the blessing of Easter foods, known as “swieconka,” or Easter basket.
On April 13, Pope Francis, despite the Vatican’s repeated insistence that he is observing a two-month period of rest, made his fourth surprise outing in a week to pray at his favorite Roman basilica.
Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Rockville Centre will have the opportunity to become closer to God if they go to a church to confess their sins on April 14 — the day known as Reconciliation Monday.
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent, but Michele Guerrier has embraced a fourth for herself — the Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage.
Not long after Lou Groen opened a McDonald’s in Cincinnati, he noticed that during Lent, the local Catholic community took their business to a nearby Frisch’s Big Boy on Fridays for a fish sandwich instead of to McDonald’s for a hamburger.
As Pope Francis’ condition remains stable, which is a sign of continued improvement, he followed the start of the Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia by video linkup and met again with two top Vatican officials to stay abreast of current events, the Vatican press office said.
Directives on how to fast during Lent have evolved over time, but the reason for it is unchanged — to draw closer to God.
Pope Francis marked Ash Wednesday on his 20th day in Rome’s Gemelli hospital by taking part in the rite of the blessing of the ashes and receiving them in a short prayer service, the Vatican said.
On Ash Wednesday, Gervin Charles knew exactly where he wanted to be, so he made his way to the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn around noon to receive ashes on his forehead.
For John Williams, then a Marine serving in Iraq, the 2004 Easter Triduum bore no spiritual revival — or so he thought. On Holy Thursday of that year (April 8), his unit got orders to join Operation Vigilant Resolve, also known as the First Battle of Fallujah.
