Search

Results

Sign & sacrament

31 Aug 2014 - Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Jesuit Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues came to North America largely to convert as many members of the Huron tribe to the Catholic faith as possible. Working under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, they managed to bring a few thousand souls into the church. The accounts of the gruesome torture and deaths of the missionaries read like the script of a horror movie. The story of the encounter of these men with the indigenous people had consequences for both sides. But their lives and deaths watered the seeds of faith, as the blood of martyrs often does, and helped bring Catholicism to this continent. Remember their courage and perseverance the next time you are called upon to make a sacrifice.

evangelize Missionary Courage Conversion

Restricted
Vatican offers Anglicans new angle of entry

25 Oct 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In this Sunday's reading from the Book of Jeremiah, the exiled remnant of Israel is given hope that the Lord "will gather them from the ends of the world" so that "they shall return as an immense throng." While not predicting such a dramatic response, the Vatican Tuesday announced that disaffected Anglicans would be allowed to join the Roman Catholic Church within distinctive "personal ordinariates" led by former Anglican prelates and maintaining many Anglican spiritual and liturgical traditions. The Vatican's surprise announcement signaled a significant moment in relations between two churches that parted ways during the Reformation of the 16th century over theological issues and the primacy of the pope. Some observers saw the move as a bold invitation to traditionalist Anglicans--many of whom disagree with practices such as the ordination of women, openly gay clergy, and the blessing of same-sex unions--to convert en masse to Roman Catholicism. Catholic and Anglican leaders sought on Tuesday to present the move as a joint effort to aid those seeking conversion. But it appeared that the Vatican had engineered the policy on its own, presenting it as a fait accompli to the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, only in recent weeks. The decision created a formal structure to streamline conversions that had previously been evaluated case by case. The Vatican said that it would release details in coming weeks, but that generally speaking former Anglican prelates chosen by the Catholic Church would oversee Anglicans, including entire parishes or even dioceses seeking to convert. Currently married Anglican priests and seminarians can become ordained Catholic priests--much the same way that Eastern rite priests who are in communion with Rome are allowed to be married. Married Anglicans, though, cannot become Catholic bishops. Cardinal William J. Levada, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, acknowledged at Tuesday's news conference that accepting large numbers of married Anglican priests while forbidding Catholic priests to marry could pose problems for some Catholics. But he argued that the circumstances differed. "The unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows," he said. Source: Articles by Rachel Donadio and Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times, Nicole Winfield for the Associated Press, and Jeff Israely for TIME

Conversion vatican catholic church anglicans rowan williams william j levada married priests

Restricted
Who's listening?

15 May 2011 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

The Easter season continues, and so does the church's meditation on the risen Christ. On this "Good Shepherd Sunday," we hear the voice of the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ. How do we respond? Find the places in our lives where we can repent, turn to God, and know forgiveness. And in this season of resurrection the readings this week remind us of the passion of Jesus, who has healed us by his wounds. The presence of the risen Lord calls us to conversion.

good shepherd sunday Forgiveness Conversion

Restricted
Homily themes

25 Jan 2009 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Homily points The process of conversion is not simple or convenient, but it is necessary for Christian discipleship. Jonah wouldn’t turn, so he got turned, but his heart wasn’t in it. His story is ours. We face Jonah’s question: Will we turn while there’s still time to do so? Conversion isn’t easy, but it is possible, and the opportunities to make a U-turn come regularly.

discipleship Conversion Jonah

Restricted
The inner word

23 Oct 2016 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

The Pharisee in the gospel story thought that if he said his prayers, gave his regular donation, and followed the fasting laws, he would be right with God. Pray, pay, and obey, as some in the church once put it. The tax collector, however, could only offer one thing: himself. He presented himself just as he was and hoped in the mercy of God. It is a big temptation to believe that being a member of the church is all about loyalty and not inner conversion. Have you ever fallen into it?

inner conversion

Restricted
The inner word

11 Mar 2018 - Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

By grace we have been saved by faith, Saint Paul declares. We do well to hear these words, especially when being a Christian can seem at times like such a struggle—to believe in God and in the church that is supposed to show and lead us to God; to understand our faith rightly and find the strength to live it out; to find something redeeming beyond the disappointments, losses, and destructiveness of the world. At bottom faith is simply a turning to the God who has already shown love for us. This conversion—“turning around”—can give us the eyes to see through difficulties and relieve us of the burden to have to work so hard to earn God’s favor. Have there been times when I refused to believe—when I felt unable to believe? Why was belief difficult for me? What did I learn from this time? When have I preferred darkness to light? What attracted me to the darkness? How did I find my way back to the light? How does God show loving kindness to me? How do I show loving kindness to others, especially when others are difficult to love?

Conversion

Restricted
The inner word

15 Apr 2018 - Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

In today’s readings we hear of how we come to love. Repentance, conversion, and forgiveness—these experiences are met by God’s love and lead us to return that love to God and others. We encounter this love in the person of Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promises. Those who keep the Commandments will know God. How do I understand keeping the Commandments? As simply a matter of following the rules and doing one’s duty? Or is it something more? How can I ground fulfilling obligations more deeply in the love of God? What do I believe I have been promised by God, the church, my family, the people I love and serve? What do I promise them in return? From what have I needed to be converted? How did that conversion come about? How can I most effectively communicate the possibility and power of conversion? Even when I feel most unworthy, I am loved. When in my life have I been forgiven in a way that transformed me? What did this experience tell me about forgiving others?

Commandments Conversion

Restricted
The inner word

10 Mar 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

God's love is on full display in today's readings. Though we fail time and again—"infidelity to infidelity," God continues to love, show mercy, and bless us abundantly. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. How have I turned from God and mocked his messengers—those showing me how to love more fully? When have I felt the true grace of God, unwarranted, undeserved? How can I be a sign of that grace for others? The Gospel of John tells us that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save it. Do I see the world as redeemed? Do I notice the good around me? What can I do to move myself and others toward the light of Christ?

Conversion

Restricted