"A light will shine on us this day, the Lord is born for us: he shall be called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace, Father of the world to come; and his kingdom will never end." (Isaiah 9:2, 6)Happy new year! 2009 is just minutes old -- at least in Toronto -- and though celebrations are at a fever pitch, I can only think of peace. A calm. A quietness. Christmas is the season of peace. Regardless of one's confession or creed, this time of year brings about a desire for goodwill, for generosity, for the coming together with one's neighbour, for establishing peace. It seems appropriate then that on this the first day of 2009, the Church recognizes a World Day of Peace. It's a reminder for us to extend the goodwill we felt just a week ago into the new year. To sustain it, to foster it. After all, we just experienced the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace Himself! And it's also at this time that we turn to the Queen of Peace, as on this day the Church celebrates the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. She is the Mother of God, the Mother of Peace. I always think of our Blessed Mother as an exemplar of peace -- as I turn to Sacred Scripture and consider the Annunciation, the Wedding Feast of Cana, our Lord's Passion, and other events involving Our Mother, I think of a quiet strength, a humble trust, a faithful love. Not only a peaceful exterior, but a peaceful interior as well. Every year brings a handful of resolutions. Rather than committing to shedding 10 pounds or giving up some awful habit, perhaps we should take something up? Perhaps we should make a better effort to take up peace. It sounds like an odd thing to do -- how do you take
The Holy Father invites us to pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
In this month of June, the Holy Father invites us to pray that the world might grow in compassion, that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
Gianpaolo gives us a behind the scenes look at his upcoming Behold segment on the York University Catholic Chaplaincy.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Movements, Associations, and New Communities and spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps the apostles overcome "their fear, shatters their inner chains, heals their wounds, anoints them with strength and grants them the courage to go out to all and to proclaim God’s mighty works."
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly and referred to Pope Francis and mentioned spouses who have been beatified and canonized, like the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.