Prayer

The Latest

Pope Francis gives a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: Praise God above all in difficult moments

Jan 13, 2021

Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to praise God not only in happy times, “but above all in difficult moments.”  Read more

 Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) leads the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 3. Credit: CSPAN

‘Amen’ is not gendered, and ‘A-woman’ is nonsense, Hebrew scholar says

Jan 4, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The word “amen” is not a gendered word and the term “a-women” is entirely made up, a professor of theology... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: ‘Bearers of gratitude’ make the world a better place

Dec 30, 2020

Catholics can change the world by being “bearers of gratitude,” Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Dec. 16, 2020.

Pope Francis: ‘Those who pray never turn their backs on the world’

Dec 16, 2020

People who pray for others are like God’s antennas, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Fr. Patrick Peyton. Courtesy of Holy Cross Family Ministries.

Film chronicles life and legacy of Fr Patrick Peyton, 'The Rosary Priest'

Dec 14, 2020

The life of Fr. Patrick Peyton, an Irish-American priest who traveled the world hosting hundreds of rosary rallies and encouraging... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis: ‘Even death trembles when a Christian prays’

Dec 9, 2020

Prayer is so powerful that “even death trembles when a Christian prays,” Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis, pictured on April 17, 2013.

Pope Francis establishes worldwide prayer network as Vatican body

Dec 4, 2020

Pope Francis has established the global network that promotes his monthly prayer intentions as a Vatican body.  Read more

Pope Francis speaks at a general audience in the apostolic library.

Pope Francis: God is patient and never stops waiting for a sinner’s conversion

Dec 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that God does not wait for us to stop sinning to start loving us, but always... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 1, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Advent is the season for remembering the closeness of God'

Nov 29, 2020

By Courtney Mares

On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis recommended a traditional Advent prayer to invite God to draw close during... Read more

Bishop Claudio Maniago, president of the Italian bishops’ conference’s liturgy commission.

Bishop hopes new Italian missal will help Catholics rediscover beauty of Mass

Nov 26, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

As the Church in Italy prepares to introduce its new translation of the Roman Missal on Sunday, the bishop in... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis: ‘The Church is the work of the Holy Spirit’

Nov 25, 2020

Catholics risk going astray if they neglect the four essential characteristics of Church life, Pope Francis said at the general... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Nov. 18, 2020.

Pope Francis: Mary teaches us to pray with a heart open to God’s will

Nov 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis pointed to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of prayer that transforms restlessness into openness to God’s... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Nov. 11, 2020.

McCarrick Report: Pope Francis prays for victims of sexual abuse

Nov 11, 2020

Pope Francis acknowledged the publication of the McCarrick Report at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis gives a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis: Consistent prayer strengthens us in times of tribulation

Nov 4, 2020

Jesus teaches us that we must be consistent in our prayer, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis delivers his general audience address in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 28, 2020.

Pope Francis supports Polish Catholics in fight against abortion

Oct 28, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told Polish Catholics Wednesday that he asks St. John Paul II’s intercession for respect for life, amid protests... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 21, 2020. Photo

Pope Francis: ‘Prayer is the center of life’

Oct 21, 2020

Pope Francis said Wednesday that Christians should pray from the heart and not “like parrots.”   Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2020.

Pope Francis: ‘All human pains for God are sacred’

Oct 14, 2020

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the Psalms shed new light on suffering, showing that “all human pains for God are... Read more

Seminarians for the Diocese of Providence. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Providence Seminary.

Prayers answered: Diocese of Providence sees decades-high number of new seminarians  

Aug 6, 2020

By Perry West

The Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, is welcoming eight new seminarians this year - the highest number of incoming seminarians... Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco.

San Francisco’s Archbishop Cordileone urges Friday fasting for an end to COVID

Jul 31, 2020

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco is urging Catholics to fast every Friday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic.  Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29, 2019.

Pope Francis on feast of Saints Peter and Paul: 'Only prayer unlocks chains'

Jun 29, 2020

By Courtney Mares

On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Pope Francis urged Christians to pray for one another and... Read more