As the penitential season of Lent begins, we Catholics, like Christians everywhere, prepare to commemorate the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I knew he had the ring. I knew he was going to propose that night.

In honor of Black History Month, we are privileged to share with the story of Fanny Montpensier (1794-1880), a free woman of color and a member of Baltimore’s Haitian refugee community. Fanny’s name might not be familiar today, but while she was alive she was well-known in her community for her devotion, her good works, and a passion to share her faith with others.

I’d like to offer another view of Lent: it is a time to ensure that our spiritual life is in top-notch coordination.

Lent can feel a lot like a competition, a 40-day spiritual marathon with winners and losers.

I felt like Pat Carroll was leaving one last gift to the world — offering real wisdom from someone who had gone ahead and made her choices, and in ways that remained true to her own vision and her own voice.

“The Chosen” provides much inspiration that could kick start your Lenten reflection on how God might be inviting you to metanoia, or conversion, during this penitential season.

There is a flurry of consternation about how we are supposed to celebrate Valentine’s Day without letting it overshadow the beginning of Lent.

We seldom stop to reflect on the difference between loving our ice cream, loving our pets, loving our families and loving our God.

A true fully, conscious and active participation in the Mass is understood to require our literal, physical presence at the liturgy. Because of this, watching Mass on a screen would not fulfill the Sunday obligation.