Holy Mary, mother fair, Filled with love for God, Pray for us in all our needs. Pray for us today.

Angel of God My guardian dear To Whom His love Commits me here Ever this day Be at my side To light and guard To rule and guide. Amen

Father in Heaven, ever-living source of all that is good, keep me faithful in serving You. Help me to drink of Christ's Truth, and fill my heart with His Love so that I may serve You in faith and love and reach eternal life. In the Sacrament of the Eucharist You give me the joy of sharing Your Life. Keep me in Your presence. Let me never be separated from You and help me to do Your Will.

With Palm Sunday right around the corner, Catholics across the globe will soon be handed leaves as they walk into church. Some might fold them into elaborate little crosses. Kids will poke each other with them. But it's safe to say most won't know where they came from.

When we encounter Jesus and the Gospel, we immediately sense that we are dealing with something that is not of this world. To be a Christian is not the same as being a member of an organization. When we join an organization, we make a commitment to the goals and objectives of the organization, but we still have our own private lives that we live outside of the meetings and activities of the organization.

Jesus was the first target of "fake news" spread by those who wanted spin and twist his message for their own benefit, Pope Francis said Palm Sunday, but stressed that despite the pride and skepticism of some, nothing can dampen the joy of Christ's message or his Resurrection.

Each and every day we are called on to become closer to God. We can answer that call with our actions and our prayers. This Lenten Season take a step closer to the Lord with these special Lenten prayers.

For centuries, Catholics have observed the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays, particularly during Lent, often replacing it with fish. This practice holds deep spiritual significance and is not simply a dietary choice. Abstinence from meat on Fridays is a form of penance, a way to unite ourselves with Christ's suffering on the cross, and a means to grow in spiritual discipline.Read more of this article on Catholic Online News here >>

I am a Catholic Christian who grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, with an Irish lineage. I have always loved St. Patrick's Day. The celebrations and the revelry seemed to provide a break from the intensity of our age and an opportunity to celebrate.

Here are some more little-known facts about St. Patrick's Day.