– CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters Pope Benedict XVI looks through a microscope during his visit to the headquarters of the Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sept. 16, 2009. Dialogue and cooperation between faith and science are urgently needed for building a culture that respects people and the planet, the pope said in Nov. ...read more

Published below is a translation of the address that Pope Benedict gave Wednesday at his weekly general audience. He continued his series of catecheses on faith in St. Peter’s Square. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The path of reflection that we have undertaken together in this Year of Faith leads us to meditate today on a ...read more

On this month’s edition, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto continues his series of reflections on the Year of Faith by looking at St. James and his letter on Faith and works. Join us for our third installment of Lectio Divina at the following times: Sunday, November 11 9:00 pm and 1:00 am ET 6:00 pm ...read more

To be contemplative as Christ is contemplative is to be open to all the fullness that the Father wishes to pour into our hearts. With our minds made still and ready to receive, with our self-generated fantasies about God and ourselves reduced to silence, we are at last at the point where we may begin ...read more

Over the course of the past decade the ‘Go Green’ movement has swept the world and taken it by full force. It is a delight to note that the Vatican was the first ‘country’ to officially ‘go green.’ In September of 2007 author for the Weird Science magazine and website Brandon Keim wrote an article ...read more

In the following video from Catholic News Service, S+L’s Alicia Ambrosio tells us about the recent Mass of Thanksgiving for St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, QC on Nov. 4. Many thanks to our partners at CNS for their video compilation. – Credit: CNS video ...read more

The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising the ministry of charity (diakonia). These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable. For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, ...read more

S+L’s Kris Dmytrenko is walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. He may write regular updates for the blog, or he may not until he reaches the end–as the spirit (and wifi availability) leads him. The Camino de Santiago is infused with Spanish Catholicism — as it should be, since this walking pilgrimage leads ...read more

By Mark Matthews, Our Hollywood Undercover Missionary Ahhh, the Fall – Sunshine, beach, sunshine, and more sunshine. You may think of crisp air and crunchy multi-colored leaves, but it’s all beach and sunshine here in Hollywood. In fact, the only thing ever hinting at the seasons is seeing more young faces with stardom twinkling in ...read more

The presence of Mary, Mother of Christ, is close to us. I entrust each one of you to this Mother. Because she is the source of our consolation and therefore of our hopes. Because the Mother of Christ, and our Mother, can give you the love of God as a gift. I want to entrust ...read more