Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person. Pope Benedict XVI called it “a crime against humanity.” Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains how it’s the business of stealing someone's freedom for profit, and freedom is the most defining characteristic of the human person. Then hear the inspirational story of Metanoia Manor, a place that helps young girls recover from being victims of human trafficking.

In the Catholic Church, there are two primary forms of the Roman Rite Liturgy: the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), codified after the Council of Trent in 1570, and the Novus Ordo Mass, promulgated in 1969 after the Second Vatican Council. The latter is the most common form, while the former is often the subject of confusion and controversy. Father Chris Alar, MIC, compares and contrasts the main points of both forms to help you better understand the beauty of each.

As Fr. Chris Alar explains, the evening we now call Halloween began not as a pagan ritual, but as a sacred Christian vigil—All Hallows’ Eve, the holy night before the solemnity of All Saints’ Day. This feast, instituted in the 700s, has always been a time to honor the saints and pray for the faithful departed. The Church’s ancient practice of vigils reflected the truth that holy days begin at sundown, anticipating the joy of what is to come.