Whither the reform? Amid a move to Korea, aftershocks in Rome...
As the news-cycle already begins to immerse itself in the coming fifth anniversary of Francis' pontificate in two weeks' time, this Monday brings another inflection-point for one of the Pope's key projects – and yet again, one that leaves more questions than answers in its wake. Topping today's batch of appointments...
Church to examine married priests to ease Amazon clergy shortage (WSJ paywall)...
4 unusual ways to make your car last longer...
Is Plato necessary for salvation?
In his Confessions, St. Augustine remarked that he found all the fundamental truths in Plato... except the Incarnation. Well, that’s a pretty big except. And if true, which it is—nowhere in the entire corpus of Plato is there even a hint of the “Good beyond Being” ever mixing itself with matter, for while the eternal and immutable forms may manifest themselves to us...
God’s mercy is a mercy beyond our comprehension...
The hidden warrior nuns of Tehachapi...
Catholic bishops in Scotland oppose new law that punishes parents for spanking their kids...
Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed in protest of new Jerusalem tax law...
Why did the Crucifixion catch the Twelve by surprise? A clue from today’s Gospel...
Jesus predicted his passion and death repeatedly — at least three times. Yet Jesus’ arrest, trial, passion and crucifixion seems to have caught the Twelve completely off guard. Why weren’t they expecting it? Hadn’t Jesus told them? Why was Peter in particular so adrift and distressed that he denied the Lord three times...
How are the curial reforms of Pope Francis proceeding so far?
As soon as he returns from the Lenten Spiritual exercises, Pope Francis will preside the Council of Cardinals periodic meeting. But the week will likely begin with the appointment of three new nuncios. The three nuncios are Msgr. Alfred Xuereb, currently secretary to the Secretariat for the Economy and formerly secretary to Benedict XVI...
Is it a sin to put in a strenuous workout on Sunday?
In general, we should avoid strenuous work on Sundays. A “work out” is, by definition, “work”, but of a different kind than most labor. First, though it is hard, we derive a real good and satisfaction from it. By working out, you are caring for your body, which is your responsibility before God to do. It is also possible to pray...
Photographer’s incredible shots of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch go viral ...
Why you should always wash new clothes before wearing them, according to an expert...
An important week for Eucharistic discipline — or lack thereof...
Canon 844 allows baptized non-Catholics to receive holy Communion if “grave necessity urges” the local bishop or (here) the conference of bishops to allow such reception, provided further only that those seeking holy Communion claim (as most can) to satisfy some practical and minimal credal criteria. Effectively, then, the canon expects the “grave necessity” requirement to keep the Communion rite at Mass from turning into a free samples line...
What Mormonism can teach Catholics about ‘paradigm shifts’...
The recent high-profile divorce of homosexual Mormon blogger Josh Weed, who ended his “mixed orientation marriage,” has once again revealed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is actually a protean ideology that alters with the times. In the new HBO documentary Believer, Dan Reynolds of the rock group Imagine Dragons calls for the LDS church to change its beliefs on LGBT issues...
Philadelphia has Pat’s vs. Geno’s, but for coffee, Rome has Sant’Eustachio vs. Tazza d’Oro...
Ireland may soon legalize abortion — a decision future generations will bitterly regret...
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Envy is ugly and it is diabolical, so you’d better know how to recognize it when you see it...
There is a picture of envy in First Book if Samuel: Upon David’s return from slaying Goliath, the women sing a song praising him. Saul should rejoice with all Israel but instead he is resentful and envies David: Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought, “They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me...
Priest in Saginaw, Michigan, accused of ‘detestable’ sex assaults against young men...
How to know when a cardinal gets to Heaven...
A few weeks ago, my wife and I took a trip to Chicago. We visited the Holy Name Cathedral for Mass on Sunday morning and, strangely enough, there was no traffic and we arrived early. We sat in the front pew and gazed at the beautiful artwork, the striking architecture, and all but lost ourselves in the ambiance of the place. Then...
Whether the fault is theirs or ours, here’s how to bring home wounded and disaffected Catholics...
There’s certainly no easy answer to the daunting question of how to connect with disaffected Catholics and attract them back to the Church. But this season of Lent certainly is a good time to try. Their personal situations and the causes for their estrangement from the Church can be complex. A plethora of issues can constitute a wedge between disaffected Catholics and their Church...
The pathway of discipleship — a model to help guide you and others...
I have a pretty accurate internal GPS. That means, when I think I know where I am going, I generally don't look at a map or have a guide (aka - my phone). Of course, that means there are times I have missed turns, gotten lost, and had to seek help (aka - my phone). Discipleship can be that way too. When we think we know where we are goind...
What did Billy Graham think about the Catholic Church?
Exorcists explain Ireland’s rise in demonic activity...
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It’s Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion. If you push a large rock up a hill, it will exert an equal force back on you. Is there a similar law for the supernatural world? Absolutely. Walk away from God and the devil will meet with no resistance when he comes at you...
Images of Rome covered in rare blanket of thick snow...
St. Peter’s Square came alive this morning with snowball fights among seminarians of the North American College, children sledging and even some skiing as Rome was covered in a rare, thick blanket of snow. Unaccustomed to snow which last fell here in 2012, 2010 and 1986, the Eternal City was brought to a virtual standstill with many bus lines suspended due to inaccessible roads and the closure of archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum...
The Five Wounds of Christ and ‘Membra Jesu Nostri’...
During Lent the Church proposes that we dedicate ourselves to prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving. Our parishes, like Blessed Sacrament here in Wichita, provide many opportunities for us to gather in prayer: Stations of the Cross, Holy Hours with Vespers and Benediction, Lauds after the 6:30 a.m. Daily Mass, etc. To promote abstinence...
One of the more misunderstood of the cardinal sins is sloth...
This town in the UK has found a potent cure for illness. It’s called community...
Are you battle-ready for the army of the Lord?
Pope makes statement by meeting victims of anti-Christian persecution...
13 little Lenten sacrifices...
Jupiter's Great Red Spot could die out in a matter of decades...
A dramatic moment in the Bible, and in human history, that nearly everyone missed...
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