Five ways to observe the Triduum like the early Christians March 30, 2026By James L. Papandrea OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter What we call “Easter” is not only for the moment, as if it can just come and go like any other weekend. It’s about the past, present and future.
It’s Holy Week and You’re Right on Time March 29, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Lent, Open Window Whether you have been preparing since Ash Wednesday or are just deciding that you want to shift into a new mode now, the moment is yours.
How Triduum can strengthen love for Eucharist March 29, 2026By Christopher Carstens OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Eucharist, Lent Jesus’ Paschal sacrifice is made really, truly present before our praying eyes on the altar at every Mass. And even after Mass, his body, blood, soul and divinity remain in our midst in the tabernacle. The Triduum attunes us to this reality each year.
Maryland’s Archbishop John Carroll: A Catholic bridge-builder in a fledgling nation March 28, 2026By Russell Shaw OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary, Feature A member of a wealthy and respected Catholic family, with excellent contacts among America’s political and social elite, Archbishop Carroll proved notably adept at building bridges with the non-Catholic world in a career spanning more than three decades.
What is the point of a pilgrimage? March 28, 2026By Deborah Castellano Lubov OSV News Filed Under: Commentary What is the point of a pilgrimage? Where did this idea come from for Catholics? There is considerable evidence throughout Scripture, which supplies theological significance to the concept. Even today we see many embracing this activity with passion and the commitment of time and resources.
A simple guide to Holy Week March 26, 2026By Heidi Busse OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Lent During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ — his Crucifixion, death and Resurrection — through liturgical celebration and personal conversion.
The Donatist comeback March 25, 2026By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: Commentary, The Catholic Difference The strange, Donatist parallelism between the SSPX leadership and the German Synodal Path illustrates what’s come to be called the “horseshoe effect:” in a moment of cultural turbulence, social fragmentation, and political dysfunction like our own, the extremes of left and right bend toward each other rather than occupying two ends of a linear spectrum.
Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder? March 25, 2026By Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints Father Flanagan is an icon of the power of diaconal identity. It both shows us and makes effective now the power of Christ the Servant. Where Father Flanagan saw pain, he rushed in and embraced the child of God who suffered. When he saw injustice, he spoke out eloquently and forcefully called others to greater charity in Christ.
Question Corner: Does holy water ‘absolve’ us from venial sin? March 25, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner With respect to holy water in particular, St. Thomas Aquinas specifically identifies the “sprinkling of holy water” as a means for the remission of venial sin in question 87, article 3 of the “Third Part” of his work the “Summa Theologica.”
Why does the Annunciation loom so large in Catholicism? March 23, 2026By Elizabeth Scalia OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marian Devotion The Annunciation is the full-on proof of Augustine’s words: “God created us without us, but he will not save us without us.” Just as God’s own Word of assent was necessary for the creation and sustained expansion of the universe, Mary’s “yes” was necessary to its salvation.
What I have done and what I have failed to do March 23, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I’m on a quest to attend 226 Masses during 2026. So, back at the end of January, I decided to try to go to Mass every day of February. February is the shortest month, so I thought maybe I would have a chance at hitting that goal. But going every day is a real challenge […]
What are the three holy oils? March 22, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Worship & Sacraments The Church makes use of three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the holy chrism oil. The first two are blessed, and the bishop consecrates the third, ordinarily during the annual chrism Mass. Each has a distinctive purpose in the Church.
