The Jubilee of Hope, begun by Pope Francis and continued by Pope Leo XIV, reaches its pinnacle as we make our way through Advent toward the dazzling light of Christmas. It is a sacred moment for us to gather up our fears and anxieties, including those we absorb from the world around us, and entrust them to the Lord of history, the redeemer of the world.

In his first exhortation, “Dilexi Te” (“I Have Loved You”), Pope Leo XIV wrote movingly of Christ’s love for the poor and of our calling as Catholics also to love and serve the poor. His exhortation hit home personally.

If the Church is itself the sacrament of unity and charity, then we need to curb our speech, and more.

AI has made it more difficult to perceive what is real and what is unreal in the virtual world. And it has made it easier for its users to be deceived.

Vacation time is upon us again. Many people are making their getaways from the daily grind. They’re tired out by the daily routine. They’re looking for an escape from stress. Maybe for cooler temperatures.

Quiet prayer inflames our desire for God. When we desire God alone, we can wisely evaluate those competing desires that come our way, and sort out which are of God and which are not. We can also begin to see ourselves as God and others see us. 

In early April, it was announced that Pope Francis appointed Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., to be the next bishop of Providence, R.I. The Holy Father could not have chosen a better bishop to guide that important diocese in the years ahead.

This year’s Rite of Election in the Archdiocese of Baltimore was beautiful. The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen was filled to overflowing. Nearly 800 catechumens and candidates for reception into the church were joined by their godparents, sponsors, families and friends.

Those truly filled with Christ’s self-giving love cannot remain self-enclosed but instead are impelled to become a diffuser of his truth and love by how they live, what they say and by their love of others, especially those in need.

If we neglect our “heart of hearts,” our inmost self, our soul – where flashes the spark of divine love, that point of encounter between ourselves and God, then our efforts to improve how we look and how we function will largely be in vain.