Articles by Courtney Mares
St. Stephen’s Day connects Christ’s birth to his salvific mission, Pope Francis says
Dec 26, 2018 / 04:45 amThe feast of the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, falls the day after Christmas — timing that contains an important spiritual lesson, Pope Francis said Wednesday.
Pope’s Christmas Wish: Peace & brotherhood in world’s conflicts
Dec 25, 2018 / 05:34 amOn Christmas, Pope Francis prayed for peace and renewed brotherhood in Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other parts of the world experiencing conflict.
Pope Francis: Invite God to dwell in your heart this Christmas
Dec 24, 2018 / 14:22 pmGod offers himself to us in the manger in Bethlehem, Pope Francis said in his Christmas homily Monday night, inviting each heart to welcome this heavenly gift.
Where is Jesus in the midst of the Church's sex abuse crisis?
Dec 24, 2018 / 11:16 amFr. Thomas Berg is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, a former Legionary of Christ, and professor of moral theology, vice rector, and director of admissions at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, NY. He is author of Hurting in the Church: A Way Forward for Wounded Catholics. He spoke recently with CNA’s Courtney Grogan about the challenges Catholics face amid the Church’s sexual abuse and misconduct scandals.
Pope Francis asks for prayers for Indonesia after deadly tsunami
Dec 23, 2018 / 05:47 amAfter a deadly tsunami struck Indonesia Saturday night, killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds more, Pope Francis has asked for everyone to join him in prayer for the suffering victims this Christmas.
Night of terror: Inside the Catholic church attacked by Nicaragua's paramilitary
Dec 21, 2018 / 19:00 pmA fire in the church. Bullet holes in the tabernacle. Students fleeing for their lives.
Pope Francis tells Curia: 'Spare no effort' in bringing abusers to justice
Dec 21, 2018 / 05:45 amPope Francis strongly condemned clerical sex abuse in his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia Friday, promising that the Church leadership will never again cover-up abuse or treat such cases lightly.
Learning to 'love your enemy' in a Soviet labor camp
Dec 20, 2018 / 11:20 am“I can honestly say that the labor camp was the best place to understand what ‘love your enemy’ really means,” said Myroslav Marynovych, a Ukrainian Catholic who spent seven years in a Soviet gulag in the Perm region of Russia.
Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad
Dec 20, 2018 / 09:58 amPope Francis met Thursday with the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, a survivor of ISIS enslavement and an advocate for human rights and persecuted Iraqi minorities.
L.A. Auxiliary Bishop Salazar resigns after misconduct allegation found credible
Dec 19, 2018 / 06:45 amPope Francis accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar of Los Angeles Wednesday after the archdiocese’s oversight board found prior allegations of misconduct with a minor to be credible.
Pope Francis: Through virtue, political life can be a form of charity
Dec 18, 2018 / 11:20 amPope Francis identified political virtues and vices in his 2019 peace message released Tuesday, offering examples from the “Beatitudes of a Politician.”
'100 Nativities in the Vatican' seeks to show true meaning of Christmas
Dec 17, 2018 / 16:18 pmMore than 100 nativity scenes are on display near the Vatican as the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization seeks to share the history and spirituality behind the nearly 800-year-old Christmas devotion.
Vatican Christmas concert will support refugees in Iraq, Uganda
Dec 14, 2018 / 10:17 amThis Christmas it is particularly important to support refugees and migrants, Pope Francis said Friday, ahead of the Vatican Christmas Concert fundraiser in support of young refugee education.
Pope Francis to visit Mother Teresa's birthplace in 2019
Dec 13, 2018 / 05:39 amThe Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Francis will travel to Bulgaria and Macedonia May 5-7, 2019, with a stop in Mother Teresa's hometown of Skopje.
Our Lady of Guadalupe remains a 'teacher of the Gospel' through her image
Dec 12, 2018 / 10:37 amPope Francis celebrated the Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe Wednesday, reflecting on how Mary continues to evangelize Latin America through her ubiquitous image.
Faith is not ‘decorative,’ Pope Francis says
Dec 12, 2018 / 04:00 amPope Francis gave an Advent reminder Wednesday that faith should not be just a “decorative” addition to daily life by pointing to how the ‘Our Father’ prayer embodies the essence of life itself.
Did angels really carry the Holy House of Mary to Loreto, Italy?
Dec 10, 2018 / 10:25 amWhat do Galileo, Mozart, Descartes, Cervantes, and St. Therese of Lisieux have in common? They all traveled hundreds of miles to step inside the Virgin Mary’s house, which is preserved inside a basilica in the small Italian town of Loreto.
Pope Francis: Advent demands conversion, recognizing our mistakes
Dec 9, 2018 / 06:46 am“To prepare the way for the Lord who comes, it is necessary to take into account the demands of conversion,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 9.
On feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis points to Mary’s trust in God
Dec 8, 2018 / 08:43 amOn the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to imitate Mary’s deep trust and openness to God when faced with serious problems.
Pope Francis explains symbolism of Vatican Christmas tree and sand nativity
Dec 7, 2018 / 09:30 amAs the Vatican illuminated its 65-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square Friday, Pope Francis shared the deeper meaning found in the traditional festive spruce.