The phrase "Ephphatha," meaning "be open," signifies the need for believers to be receptive to God's message and to serve others. Christians are encouraged to embody openness.

A Reflection for the Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, by Michael J. O’Loughlin

The sisters say corporate directors at Smith & Wesson Brands have exposed the company to massive liabilities by its manufacture, sale and marketing of AR-15 style rifles.

Francis, who will celebrate his 87th birthday on Dec. 17, spoke freely about his health, the possibility of resignation and whether he is losing patience with detractors.

George Santos's behavior following his expulsion from Congress shows that our capability to forgive others can only stretch so far.

Though Mary Karr might not consider herself a conventional writer of spiritual autobiography, her three memoirs have made this poet and professor a standard-bearer in the genre.

A Reflection for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, by Kevin Christopher Robles

Fort Calhoun, Neb., mourns the loss of Rev. Stephen Gutgsell after he was fatally stabbed at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Parish on Dec. 10, 2023.

Ms. Godin-Tremblay wonders if the loneliness her grandmother felt during the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to her decision to seek assistance in dying. Almost two years later, she still struggles to mourn the loss of her grandmother.

While Pope Francis’ pastoral visits have stayed consistent, his hospital visits have increased.

In a “note” from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican has upheld a rule mandating that the ashes of the deceased be preserved in a consecrated place.

There’s much more to this story than glamour. At its heart, “Priscilla” is about a woman lost in a twisted marriage.

“As religious people, we struggle, we see hard things happen, horrible things happen in this world. And our job is to figure out: How do you reconcile and keep going on within that?”

A Reflection for Monday of the Second Week of Advent, by Sebastian Gomes

Small farmers here in the middle of Central America’s dry corridor are almost totally reliant on rainfall to water their crops. As those rains become less reliable because of climate change, crop failures and then migration are the results.

Praying the Angelus with some 25,000 visitors in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis urged listeners to disconnect from the “pollution of vain words and chatter” present on social media platforms.

This week on “Preach,” the script is flipped: Ricardo da Silva, S.J., the regular host, becomes a guest preacher, and Maggi Van Dorn, a usual producer, takes the mic as the host. Ricardo invites listeners to identify where they have experienced joy, even as he admits that we live in a world where joy is hard to come by.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Pope Francis called for peace in Gaza and respect for human rights.

A Reflection for Saturday of the First Week of Advent, by Joe Hoover, S.J.

A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent, by James T. Keane