Here are some gems you might not have run across on the site yet. Discover something new below.
The Cross Is the Tree of Life
The cross expresses love, service, unreserved self-giving: it truly is the “tree of life”, of overabundant life. - Pope Francis
Never Tire of Seeking ChristLet us never tire of seeking the risen Christ who gives life in abundance to those who meet him. To find Christ means to discover peace in our hearts.
Wash One Another’s FeetSo when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.
Jesus Wants to Be FoundJesus wants to be found by those who look for Him. But to look for Him we have to get up and go out. - Pope Francis
Holy Saturday: When Love Penetrated HellJust as when we were children, we were afraid to be alone in the dark and could only be assured by the presence of someone who loved us. Well this is exactly what happened on Holy Saturday, the voice of God resounded in the realm of death. The unimaginable occurred; namely, love penetrated Hell.
Look Upon Christ CrucifiedLook upon Christ Crucified: our hope for eternal life is born in Him. - Pope Francis
St. BenedictSt. Benedict was a monk who founded a dozen monasteries in the 5th century. He was also the twin brother of St. Scholastica. Benedict is primarily known for writing a set of rules which monks follow.
Loving and ForgivingLoving and forgiving are tangible and visible signs that faith has transformed our hearts. - Pope Francis
The Center of Confession Is JesusThe center of confession is Jesus who waits for us, who listens to us and forgives us. - Pope Francis
Ten Commandments Dice GameThis activity is a game to learn the Ten Commandments. Making learning into a game is more engaging for children than just telling them to memorize.
Jesus at My SideEven if there were no one else left to remember us, Jesus would always be there at our side. - Pope Francis
Live the Joy!We are all called to live the joy that comes from the encounter with Jesus, to overcome our selfishness, and to move beyond our comfort zone. - Pope Francis
10th Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time can be a time to think about spiritual warfare. How do we find protection in the battle of good vs evil? Find resources for youth ministers, teachers, catechists, and parents here.
A Joyful Soul Is Like Healthy SoilA joyful soul is like healthy soil in which life can thrive and produce good fruit. - Pope Francis
God Is in Love with UsGod is in love with us. He draws us to Him with tenderness by being born poor and fragile among us, like one of us. - Pope Francis
The Lord Calls You to Be His Missionary DiscipleThe Lord calls you today to travel with Him through the city, your city. He calls you to be His missionary disciple. - Pope Francis
A Troubled Faith. A Faith that Needs to Grow.A faith that does not trouble us is a troubled faith. A faith that does not make us grow is a faith that needs to grow. - Pope Francis
Lenten Activities: Buy Extra Food at the Grocery Store and Take It To a PantryYou might be saving money this Lent by fasting from something. When you are at the store, spend that money on some extra cans of food. Then take the food to your local food pantry.
Silence and ListeningDo we know how to silence our hearts and listen to the voice of God? - Pope Francis
The Kingdom of Heaven Is the Opposite of a Dull LifeThe Kingdom of Heaven is the opposite of the superfluous things the world offers, the opposite of a dull life: it is a treasure that renews everyday life and leads it to extend towards wider horizons. - Pope Francis
Women Build Humane and Welcoming SocietiesI thank all women who every day strive to build more humane and welcoming societies. - Pope Francis
Christians Are Called to Work ConcretelyChristians are called to work concretely in the realities of this world, illuminating them with the light that comes from God. - Pope Francis
Jesus Made Himself Like a Grain of WheatJesus made Himself like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to give life. Our hope springs from that love-filled life. - Pope Francis
God Watched Over Me"God watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son."
- St. Patrick
Guilty of HeresyIf our church is not marked by caring for the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy. – St. Ignatius of Loyola
Christian Vocation: Everyone, Poor, EnemyThe Christian vocation means being a brother or sister to everyone, especially if they are poor, and even if they are an enemy. - Pope Francis
Who except God can give you peace?Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? – St. Gerard Majella
Best Lenten Activities for Catholic Families from 2020As we prepare for Lent in 2021, it is a good time to look at some of our best Lenten activities for Catholic families from last year. These Lenten recipes and devotions were the most popular on our site in 2020.
He loves, He hopes, He waits.He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant. – St. Maria Goretti
Forgiveness Is a Personal ChoiceForgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil. - Pope St. John Paul II
8th Sunday in Ordinary TimeOn the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time we might reflect on our own lives as flawed individuals. But God can make beautiful things from our weaknesses. Find resources for youth ministry, classrooms, religious ed, and home churches here.
Disasters teach us humility. – St. Anselm of CanterburyDisasters teach us humility. – St. Anselm of Canterbury
Protect, Promote, IntegrateWe should work to accommodate, to protect, to promote and to integrate whoever is forced to leave their own home and undergo moments of real difficulty. - Pope Francis
Fathers, Follow the Example of St. JosephDear fathers, happy Feast of St. Joseph! Follow his example when caring for your children as they grow up in wisdom and grace.
We Have Been Waiting…"The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star." – Pope Benedict XVI
Make a New Kind of Man"God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. "– C. S. Lewis
Unfurl the sails, and let God steer us where he will.Unfurl the sails, and let God steer us where he will. - St. Bede
Let’s go, we are going to heaven today!"As soon as he heard the order, he said to my fifteen-year-old father and my uncle, Let’s go. We are going to heaven today!" - Fr, Francis Li, grandson of a Chinese martyr
Jesus Christ has become what we are…Jesus Christ, in His infinite love, has become what we are, in order that He may make us entirely what He is. - St Irenaeus
St. Aloysius GonzagaSt. Aloysius Gonzaga was a young Jesuit. He had many health issues, including kidney and skin diseases. When a plague broke out in Rome in 1591, he volunteered to care for the sick, even though he found the work difficult. He eventually died from the plague.
Sleeping Conductor (VBS Game or Youth Ministry Game)This is a fun easy game for youth group or Vacation Bible School. All you need is a small piece of paper to be the ticket. It is moderately active and can be played indoors or outdoors. Since there is not a lot of running, it even works in a meeting room.
Stephen Colbert Sings and Dances “The King of Glory”This is just a fun video of Stephen Colbert singing the traditional hymn "The King of Glory" and doing a very awkward liturgical dance. Great for humorous introduction to the Feast of Christ the King or for a discussion of liturgy.
We Are Led by Faith, Like the Magi"Like the Magi, believers are led by faith to seek God in the most hidden places, knowing that the Lord waits for them there. " - Pope Francis
The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass As Heaven on Earth (The Book of Revelation)The Book of Revelation can be one of the most difficult books of the bible to understand. In his book The Lamb's Supper: The Mass As Heaven on Earth, Scott Hahn makes the case that the Book of Revelation is actually a description of the Mass. And every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.
He Asks Us to Give Ourselves to OthersJesus became bread broken for us, and He asks us to give ourselves to others, no longer to live for ourselves, but for one another. – Pope Francis
Family Circle GameFamily Circle is a game which works well as an icebreaker or for a lesson about relationships. It also makes sense for a meeting about human dignity. We are all members of God's family.
Wings for Your Prayer: Fasting and AlmsgivingDo you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving. - St. Augustine
Love Is the Only LightLove is the only light which can constantly illuminate a world grown dim. – Pope Francis
We need the Holy Spirit to transmit the faithWe need the Holy Spirit to transmit the faith. We cannot do it alone. - Pope Francis
Contemplating the Baby JesusContemplating the Baby Jesus, with His humble and infinite love, let us say to Him, very simply: “Thank you for doing all this for me!” - Pope Francis