The core of the church is contained in these words of Christ: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). The church must gather, must be collected by the call of Christ in order to fully be the church.

A virus can keep us from gathering. A spirit-wound, it can curtail the sacramental life Christ gave us. But no virus can separate us from Christ.

Another look at the story of Mary Magdalene and interpretations of her throughout history.

The preaching of our Lord in the Gospel of St. Matthew—the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables—has come to a close. Now the preacher embraces his passion.