The First Sunday of Advent began a new year in the Church — the year of St. Mark

mBERGSMA: Be warned! Year B has begun! Year B is, of course, the second of the three-year cycle for the Lectionary at Mass. In Year A, we read from Matthew for the Gospels of Ordinary Time; in Year B, Mark; in Year C, Luke. John is read so heavily in Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and on feast days that it doesn’t get its own year.

Every consistory has its “star” and this time around it was Raniero Cardinal Cantalamessa

Cardinal Inspirations for the Word of God| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: The 2020 consistory for new cardinals was one of the strangest in history due to the pandemic. The new cardinals traveling to Rome had to quarantine for 10 days prior to the ceremony in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where Pope Francis lives. But they did not see him. They were confined to their rooms...

Moral theologian John Haas: Catholics should use vaccines that have absolutely no connection to abortion, if available

John Haas: Catholics Should Use Vaccines That Have Absolutely No Connection to Abortion, If Available| National Catholic RegisterDESMOND: This week, as Moderna, the biotech company that has produced one of the most promising COVID-19 vaccines, announced that it will apply for emergency FDA approval that could make the first injections available by Dec. 21, and after United Airlines Holdings Inc. said it had launched charter flights in preparation for the distribution of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine once it is approved...

Forget Becciu, Boff and Sachs — the Vatican should just hire this 8-year-old economic genius instead...

na: Kyren Gibson teaches his son Kyng all about finance and how “not to be a sucker with his money.”

French Catholic bishops win appeal against ‘disproportionate’ 30-person Mass limit

French Catholic bishops win appeal against 30-person Mass limit: The French Council of State has ruled that a proposed 30-person limit on Masses and other forms of public worship is a “disproportionate” government measure and must be modified by Dec. 2. The country’s Catholic bishops welcomed the decision Nov. 29, saying in a statement that “reason has been recognized.”

Video: Pope Francis and newly-created cardinals pay visit to Benedict XVI

New Advent: Pope Francis and newly-created cardinals pay visit to Benedict XVI: Courtesy of Vatican Media and EWTN...

Christmas gift ideas for every Catholic on your list

PERNA: As we approach the Advent and Christmas Seasons, I know many people have begun to think about the gifts that they will buy for family and friends this year. Although there are so many options online to choose from, I would highly encourage you to support small businesses, but particularly small Catholic businesses. Below are some of the businesses that I support and advertise on this website.

We faithful Catholics must shed our credulity and realize that Sunnyside has a dark side, and Lotso is nutso

fLONGENECKER: In Toy Story 3 the boy Andy is ready to go off to college. His room is being tidied and his toys are about to be boxed up and stored in the attic. Then, Mom makes a mistake and Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang are packed off to a kiddie daycare center called ‘Sunnyside’. Remember: the toys live to be played with and loved by a child...

Pope Francis on First Sunday of Advent: “Jesus, above all else, detests lukewarmness”

Pope Francis: 'Advent is the season for remembering the closeness of God'MARES: On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis recommended a traditional Advent prayer to invite God to draw close during this new liturgical year. “Advent is the season for remembering the closeness of God who came down to dwell in our midst,” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Basilica Nov. 29...

Analysis: Will Cardinal Gregory’s “dialogue” with Biden undermine the USCCB?

aCONDON: Archbishop Wilton Gregory announced in an interview yesterday that he will not deny Holy Communion to Joe Biden, and committed himself to working with the president-elect’s administration. But the soon-to-be cardinal’s pledge could put him in tension with the work of the U.S. bishops’ conference, as it tries to speak to the White House with a unified voice.

Thank God for your life, even if it stinks

Thank God for Your Life, Even If It Sucks | The StreamMILLS: “I should thank God for my creation if I knew I was a lost soul,” G. K. Chesterton’s grandfather once declared. He tells the story in his Autobiography. Chesterton quoted his grandfather with approval. When I first read this, as someone fairly new to serious Christianity, I thought it was the craziest thing I’d ever heard...

Father Vincent Lampert: An exorcism is a prayer to God

Respect Life Radio Podcast - Fr. Vincent Lampert: An exorcism is a prayer to God | Free Listening on Podbean App: “An exorcism at its very core is a prayer. It's a prayer directed to God, who is asked to bring relief into the life of the person. In extreme cases, it's a command given to a demon, commanding it to depart based on the power of the authority of Jesus Christ. But again, it's all about bringing healing into the life of people who are suffering..."

The way things are going, I’m considering the Lakskhi Option

The%20Lakskhi%20Option%20%u2013%20Fr.%20Dwight%20LongeneckerLONGENECKER: I do my best as a Benedictine oblate, but the more I stop to think, the more I realize that it is in the traditions of monasticism that the church has her life most deeply rooted. Trendy prelates come and go. Corrupt cardinals you shall have with you always. Heretics, like parasites, will always be part of the life...

The Lord Jesus warns that many (possibly even most) are not headed for Heaven. You must be prepared for death and judgment...

Watch! A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent - Community in MissionPOPE: The Sunday Gospel announces a critical Advent theme: While I want to comment primarily on the Reading from Isaiah, the Gospel admonition surely deserves some attention as well. Too many today hold the unbiblical idea that most if not all people are going to Heaven. For weeks now we have been reading parables in the Gospels in which the Lord Jesus warns...

Getting beyond politics on Brooklyn’s fight for religious freedom

gALLEN: Probably it should come as no surprise that reaction to Wednesday’s US Supreme Court decision granting an injunction against limits on public worship imposed by New York State was immediately swept up into the broader political fulcrum of 2020. After all, the governor who imposed those limits, Andrew Cuomo, is a liberal Catholic; the bishop who challenged them, Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn...

In Advent, we prepare for the coming of Christ in three ways

i: Everyone shall remember 2020 as a year of chaos and upheaval, both in the Church and the world. Recent current events have moved many people, especially Catholics, to look for answers that make sense of what is happening right now. Many have sought answers by seeking out the messages of various mystics, apparitions, prophecies, social media figures, and conspiracy theories that warn of the signs of the end of the world.

Pope Francis creates 13 new cardinals: ‘May the cross and resurrection always be your goal’

Pope Francis to new cardinals: May the cross and resurrection always be your goal: Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals Saturday, urging them to remain vigilant lest they lose sight of their goal of the cross and resurrection. “All of us love Jesus, all of us want to follow him, yet we must always be vigilant to remain on the road,” Pope Francis said at the consistory Nov. 28.

St. Thomas More: Defender of marriage and fatherhood

St. Thomas More: Defender of Marriage and Fatherhood - Seton MagazineCLARK: Born into some of the most tumultuous times in the entire history of the Catholic Church, the brilliant Saint Thomas More has been hailed with many accolades: patriot, genius, statesman, martyr, saint. But to a group of children in the 16th Century, he was simply “father.” The legacy of Saint Thomas More is so powerful that even today, centuries later...

What is a cardinal? Here’s a basic review of the college of cardinals in history and today...

What is a Cardinal? A Basic Review of the College of Cardinals in History and Today. - Community in MissionPOPE: Now that attention shifts on Saturday to the new Cardinals, (Including Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington), it might be good to spend a brief time reflecting on what a Cardinal is and how the College of Cardinals functions. Perhaps it is good to start with a little history and then describe the present realities.

As Biden plans swift moves to enact LGBTQ promises, religious exemptions in crosshairs

Biden plans swift moves to protect and advance LGBTQ rights - ABC News: As vice president in 2012, Joe Biden endeared himself to many LGBTQ Americans by endorsing same-sex marriage even before his boss, President Barack Obama.

This Sunday, don’t grow accustomed to the dark

tHOOPES: Last week the Son of Man was resplendent in glory as angels surrounded his throne and the nations assembled before him. This week, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B, he is a long way off and we are left on our own in a dark house, hoping that he will come. The Church does that on purpose...

Patriarch of Venice calls for prayers of reparation after Virgin Mary statue decapitated

Patriarch of Venice calls for prayers of reparation after Virgin Mary statue decapitated: A statue of the Virgin Mary in a public square in a suburb of Venice, Italy, was vandalized Thursday night. “The head was decapitated and the hands of the monument lopped off” in the early hours of Nov. 26, according to a notice from the City of Venice. The statue is located in a greenspace at the center of a roundabout in the Venice municipality of Marghera...

It is our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give thanks to God

It is Our Duty and Salvation, Always and Everywhere, to Give Thanks to God| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: In December we will mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ disembarking in Plymouth, Massachusetts. What they endured, and how the responded spiritually to it, are guides for us as we mark the national holiday of Thanksgiving and begin to formulate year-end reflections.

Pandemic conditions have increased Christian persecution globally, says report from Aid to the Church in Need

Pandemic conditions have increased Christian persecution: The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated Christian persecution in some places, according to a new report from the group Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN).

In rebuke to USCCB leaders, DC’s Archbishop Wilton Gregory says he favors “common ground” approach and Holy Communion for Biden

In Washington, with new president, cardinal-designate hopes for dialogue - Catholic News Service: As Washington’s new cardinal and with a Catholic soon to be living in the White House, Cardinal-designate Wilton D. Gregory said he hopes to collaborate where possible while respectfully pointing out where President-elect Joe Biden’s policies diverge from Catholic teaching.

Watch: Thousands of starlings spotted in mesmerizing murmuration over North Yorkshire, England

Thousands of starlings spotted in - One News Page VIDEO: Thousands of starlings spotted in 'shape-shifting' murmuration above UK's North Yorkshire...

Santa Cruz Historical Commission calls replica mission bell “racist symbol,” tells city to remove it from intersection

s: The historical preservation commission of Santa Cruz, California last week advised the city council to remove a replica mission bell from a city intersection, saying the bell represents painful history for the indigenous people of the city.

I recently attended my first Traditional Latin Mass. It didn’t go well. Here’s what happened...

nARCHBOLD: One issue that became apparent very quickly as Mass started was that I don’t speak Latin and I wasn’t following along very well at all. I didn’t know any of the responses so I stood in back trying to read along. I didn’t know when to kneel, stand up — I didn’t know anything. So I hung back, leaned against the wall...

Xi Jinping gets his man: Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association announces ordination of new bishop of Qingdao

Chinese Patriotic Association announces ordination of new bishop: The Chinese Patriotic Association announced Monday the ordination of a new bishop of Qingdao. The episcopal ordination of Thomas Chen Tianhao, 陈天浩, took place on Nov. 23 in Qingdao Cathedral with the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association Chairman Bishop Fang Xingyao presiding, according to a statement and photos on the association’s website.

Catholics can morally take soon-to-be-released COVID-19 vaccines, says U.S. bishops’ internal memo

u: Days after some Catholic bishops shared misinformation on social media about Covid-19 vaccines that may soon hit the market, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops distributed a memo to all U.S. bishops stating that at least two of the vaccines are considered ethically sound. The memo also reminded bishops that church teaching allows for even the widespread use of vaccines whose origins are considered ethically unsound when other treatments are unavailable.

Can’t visit family for Thanksgiving? Interview them instead. Years from now, you’ll be glad you did...

cFISHER: After my father died, my sister called up our oldest surviving relative, my great aunt Bebe who lives in Florida, and they ended up having several conversations. The things she told us about our family have been delightful (and occasionally insane). We knew, for instance, that my mother was pregnant when my parents got married...

China criticizes Pope over comment on persecuted Uighur Muslim minority

China criticizes pope over comment on Uighur Muslim minority: China criticized Pope Francis on Tuesday over a passage in his new book in which he mentions suffering by China’s Uighur Muslim minority group. Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Francis’ remarks had “no factual basis at all.”

This is as evil as anything I’ve seen in a long time...

tZUHLSDORF: This is as evil as anything I’ve seen in a long time. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” This will be promoted...

Jupiter and Saturn are about to appear closer in the sky than they have for 800 years, aligning as a ‘double planet’

How to see Jupiter and Saturn align in rare double planet conjunction - Business Insider: Jupiter and Saturn are about to line up perfectly in the night sky — the two planets will get so close on December 21 that they seem to touch. The last time they looked this close from Earth's vantage point was nearly 800 years ago, on March 4, 1226.

Why Thanksgiving is a perfect example of the common good

Why Thanksgiving is a perfect example of the Common Good. | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: A natural precept attributed toward the dignity of the human person is to seek the good of another person through the act of community. I propose this argument from the nature of faith and reason that the human state is ordered to not only seek the good in another person but also to nurture and protect the person in order propagate a healthy society...

Vaccines and doubly remote cooperation in evil

Vaccines and Doubly Remote Cooperation in Evil - Public DiscourseSCHNEIDER: This month, two vaccines for COVID-19 finished their final tests. They proved to be 90–94 percent effective at preventing COVID, and both vaccines have been ethically produced. This is very good news indeed. Some have raised moral qualms about getting these vaccines...

Pope meets with NBA players’ union delegation at the Vatican

Pope meets with NBA players' union delegation at the Vatican: A delegation representing the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing professional athletes from the NBA, met with Pope Francis and spoke with him about their work in promoting social justice.

Why St. Cyprian says love of the world fuels the fear of death

dPOPE: As November winds down and Advent still looms, the traditional meditation we make on the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell) is still operative. A classic writing by St. Cyprian comes to mind. It is a meditation on the fundamental human struggle to be free of undue attachment to this world and to have God...

Vatican cancels public Advent and Christmas liturgies amid COVID surge

Vatican Cancels Public Advent and Christmas Liturgies Amid COVID Surge| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: As happened during Holy Week this year, liturgical celebrations in St. Peter’s Basilica over Christmas, such as midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, will be limited to a select group of faithful and live-streamed to the faithful amid concerns over a surge of COVID-19 cases. The Vatican quietly announced at the end of October that liturgical celebrations...

New York Attorney General sues Bishops Malone, Grosz, and Diocese of Buffalo for failing to protect children

New York Attorney General sues bishops Malone, Grosz and Buffalo Diocese for failing to protect children: New York State Attorney General Letitia James on Monday sued the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and former bishops Richard J. Malone and Edward M. Grosz for failing to protect children and for engaging in a decades-long cover-up of sexual abuse by diocesan priests.

How Blessed Miguel Pro continued to serve his people during church closures

How Bl. Miguel Pro served his people during church closuresKOSLOSKI: In 1926 President Calles of Mexico enacted new laws in his country that specifically targeted priests and religious, as well as Church buildings. Priests were unable to wear their religious garb in public and the government seized control of churches and monasteries. Public worship was soon banned and churches remained closed to the faithful.

Some thoughts on Jesus as a “concealed king”

Some Thoughts on Jesus as a "Concealed King" - Community in MissionPOPE: We do well to further examine a quality of Christ’s kingship mentioned in yesterday’s sermon notes, namely that he is a “concealed” King. In the gospel, both the saved and condemned are surprised and wonder when they encountered Jesus at all, whether as hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, sick or in prison.

Federal appeals court allows Tennessee abortion ban to go into effect

Court allows Tennessee abortion ban to go into effect: A federal appeals court on Friday allowed a Tennessee ban on some abortions to go into effect. A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a part of the state’s abortion law can go into effect, a “reason ban” that bars discrimination abortions.

Why you should celebrate your Name Day

Reasons to celebrate your Name DayHOOPES: Why do we celebrate our name days? In many countries, your name day is more important than your birthday. To try to understand why, I asked people who are experts in name changes — the monks and other religious who have changed their names. Here are their reasons.

Living the reality of the Kingdom of Christ

Living the Reality of the Kingdom of Christ| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: The Solemnity of Christ the King is an occasion for us every year to recalibrate our lives to the reality of Christ’s kingdom and to follow the criteria Christ gives us to enter it, live in it and proclaim it. The annual feast is much needed to fight against the perennial temptation to view the world through the lens of earthly power and squeeze our understanding of God into that prism.

‘Long live Christ the King’ — The 51 Claretian martyrs of Barbastro

ckGRAVES: At various times in history, martyrdom has been a real possibility for Christians. One such time was for Catholics during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, particularly those who were members of the clergy. The Spanish Civil War marked the most violent and prolonged spasm of the sort of religious persecution that had afflicted Spain for the last 100 years...

Newly-discovered sketch of Jesus was drawn by Leonard da Vinci, expert claims

n: A drawing that was in a private collection for years has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The Italian-language newspaper La Stampa reports that Annalisa Di Maria, a scholar who has worked with UNESCO’s Florence division, believes an image of Jesus found by a collector in Lecco to be the work of one of the Renaissance’s most high-profile artists.

Here’s an amazing, incredibly detailed reconstruction of the Beirut Port explosion, using every video and photo available

n: From Forensic Architecture on Vimeo.

Amy Coney Barrett’s critics accuse her of being a bad Catholic. She is not...

Amy Coney Barrett is Not a Bad Catholic - Catholic HeraldMILLS: Several Facebook friends and others jumped on new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s joining the majority of the court in lifting a stay of execution for Orlando Hall. He’d been sentenced to death in 1994 for kidnapping, raping, and murdering a sixteen-year-old girl by burying her alive. The appeal was his last chance to live. He died by lethal injection late Thursday night.

The battle to free the Mass

The Battle to Free the Mass | Salvatore J. Cordileone | First ThingsCORDILEONE: This year, Americans have endured not only the intertwined economic, health, and political crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also a deep spiritual shock. For the first time since the Spanish Flu of 1918, our local and state governments have restricted worship services. And while the Word can be livestreamed, the Eucharist cannot. I am well aware that this spiritual crisis has intensified the concern that faithful Catholics have about their leaders...

Pope changes diocesan celebration of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to Christ the King Sunday

Pope Changes Diocesan Celebration of WYD from Palm Sunday to Christ the King Sunday - ZENIT - English: At the end of Mass for Christ the King on November 22, 2020, Pope Francis had some important reflections on World Youth Day (WYD). First, he greeted youth from Panama and Portugal, present to transfer the symbols of WYD from the last venue to the next, Lisbon in 2023. Second, he announced a change in how WYD will be observed at the diocesan level.

What pro-lifers can expect from a divided House and Senate

What pro-lifers can expect from a divided House and Senate: With nearly all U.S. House and Senate races decided, Congress will be sharply divided the next two years—possibly undermining the viability of extreme pro-abortion policies.

The 50 most underappreciated cars of all time

The 50 Most Underappreciated Cars of All Time - InsideHook: Generational shifts almost always wreak havoc on accepted pop-culture wisdom. As one cohort ages out of a particular scene — be it music, movies, fashion or design — a new group rushes into to fill the gap, bringing with them their own ideas about what’s cool, what’s not and most importantly, where you should turn your attention next.

Two secular lawsuits, involving McCarrick and Becciu, raise deeply ecclesiastical conundra

Two secular lawsuits raise deeply ecclesiastical conundraALLEN: Within the last few days, two completely separate lawsuits have been filed in two different countries that somehow involve the Vatican. In the United States, four alleged sex abuse victims of ex-cardinal and ex-priest Theodore McCarrick are suing the Vatican, while in Italy Cardinal Angelo Becciu has filed a $12 million defamation of character claim against a news magazine.

When the time comes for civil disobedience...

When the time comes for civil disobedience... | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Here’s the question, THE question, that’s on my mind these days: As governors continue to impose tight restrictions on churches, when will Catholic bishops encourage civil disobedience? Archbishop Sample of Portland seems to have answered that question, saying it’s not going to happen.” Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco sends a different message: “I’m taking no options off the table.”

Only 36 percent of people can solve this logic problem. How about you?

3 Hats Puzzle: Answer to Logic Problem Most People Can't Solve: A survey found only 36 percent of people could find the right answer to a seemingly simple logic problem, according to economics and math pro Presh Talwalkar of the YouTube channel Mind Your Decisions.

“Shake ’em like you’re angry” — Chef demonstrates nifty trick for peeling hard-boiled eggs

e: Think peeling eggs is not fun? Lion House Pantry Executive Chef David Bench shows how to cook the same things Grandma did — just in a bigger batch.

In the hearts of so many people today, Christ the King has been dethroned, deposed, denied and rejected

sLONGENECKER: There are many forms of this atheism, but secularism is one. Secularism is not explicitly atheistic. It is atheistic by default. The secularist does not deny God. He simply does not admit God to the table. He does not reject God. He ignores God. How does this affect Catholics?

Jesus Christ our King is the strangest king you will ever hope to meet

xPOPE: The readings for this Feast of Christ the King evoke three images of Christ as King. All of them are to some extent paradoxical because they emphasize things we don’t usually associate with kings. They also tell us that we have already met King Jesus even if we don’t realize it. Let’s look at these three images of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of all Creation...

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: “The Lord of life tells us the secret of life...”

Pope Francis on Christ the King: Make choices with eternity in mind: On Christ the King Sunday, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to make choices with eternity in mind, by thinking not about what they want to do, but what is best to do. “That is the choice we have to make daily: what do I feel like doing or what is best for me?” the pope said Nov. 22.

This insect has the only mechanical gears ever found in nature

This Insect Has The Only Mechanical Gears Ever Found in Nature | Science | Smithsonian Magazine: To the best of our knowledge, the mechanical gear—evenly-sized teeth cut into two different rotating surfaces to lock them together as they turn—was invented sometime around 300 B.C.E. by Greek mechanics who lived in Alexandria. In the centuries since, the simple concept has become a keystone of modern technology, enabling all sorts of machinery and vehicles, including cars and bicycles.

Cardinal Marx dissolves embattled Catholic group in Archdiocese of Munich

Cardinal Marx Dissolves Embattled Catholic Community in Munich Archdiocese| National Catholic Register: Cardinal Marx expressed sympathy for former members of the community, which was founded in 1948 with the intention of being, in its own words, “a place for an enlightened and unabridged Christianity.”

Nobody has admitted to hitting “Like” on racy image from Pope’s account, so the Vatican is asking Instagram to get involved

Vatican%20asks%20Instagram%20to%20investigate%20%u201CLike%u201D%20by%20Pope%20Francis%27%20account: The Vatican said that no one in the Holy See “liked” a racy photograph while logged in to Pope Francis’ Instagram account, and has requested that Instagram open an investigation into how or why such a “like” appears to have happened.

Toronto’s Cardinal Collins rebukes Catholic school board members for barring Catechism reading

Toronto cardinal rebukes Catholic school board members for barring Catechism reading: Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto has rebuked members of the local Catholic school board for refusing to allow a passage of the Catechism of the Catholic Church pertaining to ministry to people with same-sex attraction to be read during a recent meeting.

Sober but serene themes of judgment in the spirituals

Sober but Serene Themes of Judgment in the Spirituals - Community in MissionPOPE: I’ve often been impressed by the ability of old African-American spirituals to treat serious subjects in a clear, memorable, and almost joyful way. This is true even of weighty matters like sin and judgment. During early November we are focused on the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and hell) and November is also Black Catholic History Month. So, this seems like a good time to look at some of the creative lines from different spirituals that articulate these topics...

Ralph Martin: The biggest crisis in the world revealed

Ralph Martin: The biggest crisis in the world revealed: The biggest crisis in the world “is alienation from God, rebellion against God, it's not believing in Jesus Christ, it's not accepting the offer of mercy and salvation that God's offering to the human race. The primary mission of the Church is not to improve the world. We should absolutely apply the social teaching of the Church, out of charity in all these different areas...

“Have you no such custom at meal?” — Praying before meals in Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”

Praying before meals in Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' - Voyage Comics & PublishingKOSLOSKI: During November in the United States of America, families will celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a national holiday where we reflect upon our state in life and express our gratitude to God for His providential care. It is also a time to be with friends and family and to be thankful for the gift of their presence.

This immersive 3D church model is enthralling — and any parish can have it done

g: We’re not sure where the church is located, but it’s called Holy Angels Chapel. This visualization was done with Nuvo360 technology (https://www.nuvo360.com).

We need to love one another. Because if we can’t do that, it matters little whom we vote for...

Healing Post-Election AmericaCLARK: In his book “Intellectuals,” Paul Johnson observes that one of the defining characteristics of insistently-hailed modern “geniuses” like Karl Marx is that while they claimed to love humanity generally, they detested actual humans individually...

November, the holy souls, and purgatory

November, The Holy Souls, And Purgatory - The Wanderer NewspaperFOLEY: November is the month of the Holy Souls, and so this is an important time to remember our loved ones, and more generally the souls in Purgatory. But our concern for them should not be limited to just one month. We can also, at any time of the year and at any time or place, pray for them, or visit a cemetery and pray for particular souls...

This Sunday, Jesus reveals Himself in glory, and in our neighbor

tHOOPES: It’s autumn in America and in the Church calendar, too. Time for one last lesson in this liturgical year, and the best one too — the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Matthew’s Last Judgment is a moment of unveiling in which we see Jesus, and each other, as we truly are...

What is holding you back from being a saint?

The Fire of Faith: Living in Christian freedom and becoming Saints - Denver CatholicSTAUDT: God’s grace flows through us like a river, washing us and nourishing his divine life in us. His grace flows freely when we let go of the attachments that dam us up, blocking grace’s entry points. If we are distracted by technology and do not make time to pray, are stuck in impurity, or consumed by work, we will miss what’s most important...

Cardinal Becciu sues news magazine for $12 million, says exposé ruined his chances of becoming pope

Vatican cardinal says ouster deprived him of possible papacy: The Vatican cardinal sacked by Pope Francis amid a corruption investigation is suing an Italian news magazine, claiming that his ruined reputation has eliminated his chances of becoming pope and will undermine the legitimacy of any future papal election.

McCarrick never tried to slink around in the shadows. He was too devilishly clever for that...

mDESOUZA: Who was the first person to forward written accusations about Theodore McCarrick to the police? Who was the first to pass them on to the apostolic nuncio? The McCarrick Report gives us this shocking and very illuminating answer: McCarrick himself. And that is the principal explanation why “Uncle Ted”...

Exactly 100 years ago, Soviet Russia became the first nation to legalize abortion — and then spread her errors worldwide

100 years ago, Soviet Russia legalized abortion. Here's what we learned from it.: On November 18, 1920, Soviet Russia became the first country to legalize abortion, marking the beginning of the legal killing of children in-utero worldwide. Russian history is a complex tale of political conflicts and tense governmental regimes, but the country’s deep-seated abortion culture is worthy of exploration...

The meanest thing Jesus ever said

The Meanest Thing Jesus Ever Said - Community in MissionPOPE: The Gospel from Wednesday’s Mass (Wed. of the 33rd Week – Luke 19:11-27) is known as the “Parable of the Ten Gold Coins.” It has an ending so shocking that, when I read it at Mass some years ago, a young child said audibly to her mother, “Wow, that’s mean!” I’d like to look at it and ponder its shocking ending. Today’s parable is like Matthew’s “Parable of the Talents,” but with some significant differences...

Liberation theologian Leonardo Boff is a keynote speaker at Vatican’s ‘Economy of Francesco’ conference

sPENTIN: The controversial Brazilian liberation theologian Leonardo Boff will be a keynote speaker at the Economy of Francesco, a three-day international Vatican-organized conference that starts tomorrow aimed at making finance inclusive and sustainable. A former Franciscan priest, Boff will speak on...

Vatican-sponsored ‘Economy of Francesco’ summit kicks off with Jeffrey Sachs, advocate for contraception and ‘reproductive justice’

Economy of Francesco speaker Jeffrey Sachs has advocated for contraception and 'reproductive justice': The Economy of Francesco summit kicked off Thursday with economist Jeffrey Sachs serving as a mentor for young “changemakers” to create a new world economy. Sachs, who has participated in numerous Vatican events in recent years, is an advocate for population control initiatives calling for the provision of contraception in the developing world, and a supporter of U.N. initiatives that call for universal access to abortion.

“All hell broke loose”: Family starts going back to church after demonic encounters in haunted home

"All Hell Broke Loose": Family Returns to Church After Demonic Encounters in Haunted Home |ROSETTI: We received a frantic call from a man in Indiana who was a non-practicing Baptist, and his wife was not a believer. They had two children. They recently inherited their house from relatives. The man who previously lived in the house was known to have molested minors and also involved in the occult. He died in April and they moved in around June.

New Catholic elected officials hope to lead with faith

New Catholic Elected Officials Hope to Lead with Faith| National Catholic RegisterLIEDL: They come from different places and different backgrounds. One spent his teenage years adjusting to life in the United States as a refugee of the Vietnam War. Another is less than a decade removed from serving as Miss Minneapolis. But whatever their differences, Catholics newly elected to state or federal office this November have responded to a similar call to enter into public service...

In surprise statement, U.S. bishops warn of “grave and imminent harm“ from Biden on “Hyde amendment, Roe v. Wade, HHS mandate, Equality Act, Catholic schools”

Whispers in the Loggia: Fearing "Attack" On "Fundamental Values," The Bishops Warn Biden's White HousePALMO: As the US bishops face a moment unseen in most of their lifetimes – the nation's election of a Catholic to the Presidency – the issue of Joe Biden's faith emerged by surprise at today's public close of the USCCB plenary, as the bench's leadership suddenly moved to draw a line in the sand with the incoming Democratic administration over its support of legal abortion.

Vatican investigating after social media team “likes” a racy picture of a lingerie-clad model — on the Pope’s official Instagram account

Vatican investigating racy Instagram 'like' by papal account: The Vatican is investigating usage of the papal Instagram account after Pope Francis’ official page liked a racy picture of a scantily-clad model. The picture “liked” by Pope Francis’ verified account, Franciscus, features Brazilian model and Twitch streamer Natalia Garibotto wearing a lingerie outfit that resembles a school uniform...

Report: Search finds $700,000 in cash at suspended Vatican official’s home

r: Police have found hundreds of thousands of euros in cash hidden in two homes of a suspended Vatican official under investigation for corruption, according to Italian media reports.

Don’t fall for the Straw Pope fallacy

jAKIN: What I call the Straw Pope Fallacy is a variation of the famous Straw Man Fallacy that is applied to the pope. The Straw Man Fallacy occurs when a person critiques an inaccurate version of someone’s position. The name of the fallacy is based on the fact that it’s easier to knock down a straw man than a real man...

McCarrick wanted this note from Cardinal Ratzinger kept secret — but with pro-abortion Biden’s election, it’s as relevant as ever

tMAGISTER: We are back in 2008, and for two years Cardinal McCarrick has no longer been archbishop of Washington. He has resigned “spontaneously,” in reality under pressure from Benedict XVI, who has also asked him to "keep a low profile and reduce travel to the minimum.” All this because of his ongoing homosexual activity with seminarians and young priests, which had come to the attention of Vatican authorities.

Life involves risks. There is no such thing as complete safety...

A Survivor of a Once Dangerous World - Community in MissionPOPE: In the video below, a comedy routine from Mad TV shows how many modern notions were non-existent even just fifty years ago. In the sketch, a pregnant mother drinks a martini and smokes a cigarette; children ride bikes without wearing helmets. Of course, like a lot of comedy, the topic is taken to excess for effect. Nevertheless, most of us who are older grew up in a “dangerous” world...

Who’s to blame for ‘Uncle Ted’ McCarrick? It depends on the news sources you follow...

wLISI: A week after the Vatican released its much-anticipated investigation of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, there remain many unanswered questions. Whether journalists will delve deeply into these unanswered questions remains to be seen. The point of any report, after all, is to uncover the culprits and hopefully detail how sins and crimes of this nature can be prevented in the future...

Making room for the common good

Making room for the common good | Catholic CultureMIRUS: In a fascinating front-page article in last week’s National Catholic Register, Jonathan Liedl documents a surprising increase in multiracial support for the Republican Party. It will take time for all the data to be solidified and interpreted, but it appears that the GOP increased its percentage of non-white voters in 2020 as compared with 2016, up 5 percent overall, including increases of 4% among Blacks and Latinos and 2% among Asian voters.

The fury of the fatherless

tEBERSTADT: The Trump administration’s recent designation of several American cities as “anarchic jurisdictions” may turn out to have been nothing more than a quixotic gambit in the supercharged run-up to November 3. But the fact that it was thinkable in the first place points to a truth beyond electoral politics: The frenzy that has been enacted in city after American city since May 2020 demands more scrutiny than it has yet received.

15 encouraging saint quotes to give you peace, home and strength in difficult times

15 Encouraging Saint Quotes to Give You Peace, Hope, & Strength in Difficult Times |: During this stressful time in our country, I’d like to provide 15 saint quotes to help give your heart peace through anxiety.

This priest was diagnosed with ALS, then hit hard by COVID. He typed out this reflection using only his eyes...

Terminally-Ill Priest Warns: COVID Is Being Used by the Enemy to Drag Souls to Hell; We Must Fight! - OnePeterFiveCHRISTENSEN: About a year ago, I was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It has already taken much from me, like the ability to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, feed myself, or walk. Yet it has also brought me great freedom to live my priesthood in a radical way. Although this disease has taken much from me...

“I couldn’t fix myself”: Bishop James Conley opens up about mental health recovery

rFARROW: In December 2019, Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln announced he was going on a medical leave of absence. Citing diagnoses of depression and anxiety, as well as chronic insomnia and debilitating tinnitus (a constant ringing of the ears), the bishop said in a public statement that he would be receiving psychological as well as medical treatment.

The return of the Sunday Mass obligation will be an opportunity to do things better — let’s not waste it

rGRONDELSKI: The modified moratorium on Mass in many parts of the country has been followed by anemic returns of parishioners. It is also accompanied by dormant fears that a resurgence of COVID infections with the arrival of the traditional winter flu season may lead to a second ecclesiastical lockdown, irrespective of what civil authorities do. Catholics lost Easter 2020. Will they also lose Christmas?

“That’s no way to live life” — Bishop Conley deserves our thanks for his witness on the importance of caring for one’s mental health...

Bishop James Conley Returns to Work after Receiving Mental Health Treatment | Where Peter IsTUROWSKY: Last year, I wrote on Where Peter Is that Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska had taken a leave of absence to receive treatment for depression and anxiety. This is, as far as I know, almost without precedent for a bishop in the era of modern mental health treatment. At the time I also read several news articles on other websites covering Bishop Conley’s decision...

‘Gender transition’ of third-grade student at Baltimore Catholic school sparks furor

sROBERTS: When a third-grade girl at School of the Incarnation here told her classmates she was a boy, parents of other students were surprised to learn that the Archdiocese of Baltimore had agreed to cooperate with her new identity. In the face of cultural trends that suggest someone can choose a gender different from his or her biological sex at birth...

New COVID-19 restrictions in Europe are depriving the faithful of Mass again

New COVID-19 Restrictions in Europe are Depriving the Faithful of Mass Again| National Catholic RegisterTADIE: A few months after the first coronavirus lockdown deprived millions of Catholics worldwide of the Holy Mass, including Easter celebrations, new coronavirus restrictions adopted by several European countries have once again plunged the faithful into disarray. Following renewed restriction in Ireland, France and Belgium, England has entered a new period of lockdown Nov. 5, which is due to last...

A recap of Day 1 of the USCCB 2020 fall meeting

USCCB 2020 fall meeting: Day 1 recap: An emphasis on the need for healing, in both the Church and broader society, was prominent throughout the first day of the fall general assembly for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In his address Monday, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the conference, called for a “heroic Christianity” that forms missionary disciples.

Father David Bonnar, ex-chaplain to Pittsburgh Steelers, named bishop of Youngstown, Ohio

Ex-chaplain to Pittsburgh Steelers named bishop of Youngstown, Ohio: Pope Francis Tuesday named Pittsburgh priest Fr. David J. Bonnar the next bishop of Youngstown, Ohio. Bonnar, 58, succeeds Bishop George Murry, S.J., who died June 5 from acute leukemia. The bishop-elect is pastor of St. Aidan Parish in Wexford, Pennsylvania. For 12 years he was chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since 2016, the bishop-elect has been director of The Priest Magazine, published by Our Sunday Visitor.

Vatican launches ‘Vos Estis’ investigation of San Jose’s Bishop Oscar Cantú

California Bishop Cantu under Vatican 'Vos estis' investigation: The Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops has ordered an investigation into Bishop Oscar Cantú’s handling of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and misconduct. The investigation is being carried out under the provisions of Vos estis lux mundi, Pope Francis’ 2019 law for holding bishops accountable in the handling of sexual abuse cases.

17 winners of Close-Up Photographer of the Year

Winners of Close-Up Photographer of the Year - The Atlantic: The second year of the Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition has just come to a close, and the winners have been announced. The contest “celebrates close-up, macro, and micro photography,” among seven separate categories. More than 6,500 entries were received from 52 countries this year...

How McCarrick got away

How McCarrick Got Away - Crisis MagazineMICHAELWARRENDAVIS: How did it happen? That’s the question the McCarrick Report was supposed to answer. How many of the bishops knew about his beach house? Who turned a blind eye? Who lied to protect one of their own? Nobody expected the Report to answer those questions, and so nobody will be disappointed. Still, it was revealing...

A 2020 message to my seminarian son

A Message to my Seminarian Son; Part Two | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: When placed in a position to make an educated decision, whether moral or otherwise there is a common denominator involved, the act of free will. If a person placed in a situation such as this appears to have full knowledge of his faculties when a decision is required, then it is reasonable to suggest that the persons decision will be carried out. You would hope that the person received adequate guidance both spiritually...

Key papal moments illustrate challenges of new COVID-19 lockdowns

Key papal moments illustrate challenges of new COVID-19 lockdownsALLEN: As both the United States and Europe face resurgences of the coronavirus pandemic and are moving towards new lockdowns in many places, it’s a good time to look back at the experience of the first wave in the spring and take stock of lessons learned...

Thanks be to God for priestly celibacy

Priestly Celibacy -- Thanks Be to God | National ReviewLOPEZ: The combination of the ongoing clerical sexual-abuse scandal and a recent wedding of a former Catholic priest has made it popular to embrace throwing out the celibacy rule in the Catholic priesthood. But as Father Carter Griffin points out in the book Why Celibacy: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest...

Experts: Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is Christian genocide under the pretext of war

Experts: Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Is Christian Genocide Under the Pretext of War| National Catholic RegisterGAETAN: Under the cover of a global pandemic, benefiting from U.S. self-absorption during the presidential election, a battle that raged for 44 days against a compact community of Armenians — some 150,000 people territorially enclosed by Azerbaijan — has ended. The region under siege is widely known as Nagorno-Karabakh...

5 myths about the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna

mPACHOLCZYK: Several popular myths about COVID-19 vaccines have been gaining traction on social media in recent months, particularly in regard to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines being developed by Moderna, Sanofi, Pfizer and a handful of other companies. I would like to consider five of these myths.

The McCarrick Report: the cover-up continues

The McCarrick Report: the cover-up continues | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The McCarrick Report, hyped for months as a candid Vatican exploration of an ecclesiastical scandal, is actually a clever bid to deflect attention away from the real scandal. The 450-page report fails to explain how Theodore McCarrick rose to prominence, influenced Vatican policies and appointments...

Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies 10 days after having Vatican sanctions imposed

Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies ten days after Vatican sanctions: A Polish cardinal recently sanctioned by the Vatican for sexual abuse has died at the age of 97. Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz died Monday morning, the Polish bishops’ conference announced Nov. 16. Earlier this month, the apostolic nunciature in Poland announced disciplinary measures...

The reality of the abuse scandals now seems A Tale of Two Cardinals

Reality of the abuse scandals now seems A Tale of Two CardinalsALLEN: Over the last three years, sexual abuse charges against two high-profile and massively influential cardinals have rocked the Catholic Church, and now, seemingly, both stories have reached their conclusions. George Pell is a free man, while Theodore McCarrick is defrocked and exposed as a cunning manipulator able to hoodwink three papacies until his string finally ran out.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Reach out your hand to the poor person: it is Christ’

Pope Francis: Stretch out your hand to the poor: Jesus is telling us today to stretch out our hand to the poor, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Sunday. Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square Nov. 15, the fourth World Day of the Poor, the pope urged Christians to discover Jesus in the needy.

Soccer fan with Down syndrome gets huge surprise during COVID lockdown

Soccer fan with Down syndrome gets huge surprise during COVID lockdown: There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has turned life upside down for most people. Yet for those more vulnerable members of society, the changes have impacted their lives in a way we might not really appreciate. Thankfully, there are some out there who making sure those in need get a little boost.

Grow in love, mature in your fear of the Lord, and reap the abundant riches of a faithful servant and child of God...

gPOPE: The past few Sundays have featured the November theme of the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. In today’s Gospel we are reminded that we will one day have to account for our use of the gifts and resources that God has given us. But today’s readings do more than that...

Gualtiero Cardinal Bassetti moved out of ICU, remains in critical condition with COVID-19

Cardinal Bassetti moved out of ICU, remains in critical condition with COVID-19: Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian Bishops Conference, has slightly improved and was moved out of the ICU, but remains in critical condition since contracting COVID-19, his auxiliary bishop said on Friday afternoon.

Does God care whether I exist?

Does God Care Whether I Exist?CLARK: It is an unfortunate and terrifying catechesis that presents God as a being whose happiness is indifferent to my existence. Over the course of my career as a Catholic apologist, I have frequently lamented the fact that the Catholic Faith has often been poorly taught. Sometimes this poverty of catechesis is easily illustrated...

We need to look very carefully at this Sunday’s Parable of the Talents

This Sunday, Talents Are Overrated | The Gregorian Institute at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: Jesus continues his discussion of living (and dying) well this Sunday, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week, it’s the Parable of the Talents. Jesus asks us to imagine a wealthy man splitting his possessions among several managers while he is away on a long journey. Imagine taking that risk: He puts other people in charge of everything...

The Kalaam cosmological argument and the first-and-last fallacy

The%20Kalaam%20Cosmological%20Argument%20and%20the%20First-and-Last%20Fallacy%20%u2013%20Jimmy%20AkinAKIN: The Kalaam cosmological argument for God’s existence has been around for centuries. It hasn’t been that popular historically, with authors such as St. Thomas Aquinas pointing out problems with it. However, it has been popular in recent years, due principally to the advocacy of William Lane Craig. I’ve written and spoken about it on a number of occasions...

3 lessons to be learned from the McCarrick Report

tMAGISTER: The first lesson is the inadequacy of the response from Church authorities, including the last three popes, to the buildup of accusations against McCarrick. The second lesson concerns McCarrick's extraordinary "success" both inside and outside the Church, despite the accusations against him and the request that he retire to private life. The third lesson has to do with Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò — and it is a disastrous lesson for him, according to what the Report documents.

On the lost art of “pairing ’em up” and its effects on marriage today

aPOPE: One of the more common concerns that young adults express to me is the difficulty in meeting and dating. Once adulthood is reached, of course, the purpose of dating is to look for a spouse. Hence their problem is a problem for all of us since marriage and family are so central to the life of the Church and is the foundation of our culture and nation...

The McCarrick Report is so breathtaking that one wonders if anyone in the Vatican actually understands the magnitude of the precedent they just set...

History-making report sets a precedent the Vatican can't walk backALLEN: When I took Western Civ in college, our professor once read aloud to the class an excerpt from the diary of a Roman senator written on Sept. 4, 476 AD. The senator described his efforts to suck up to 16-year-old Emperor Romulus Augustulus in hopes of being appointed to some high office, perhaps a tribune or magistrate.

Here’s a fascinating visualization of the largest cities around the world, compared to Vatican City and each other

na: This video shows the sizes of some cities by urban area, not just city proper (administrative) or metropolitan area...

An open letter to the men and women of ‘Courage’

aWEIGEL: Many of you were upset by what Pope Francis was reported to have said, in a documentary film, about civil unions for same-sex couples and related matters. As it’s now clear that the Pope’s comments were cut, and, pasted by an agenda-driven filmmaker, this episode was another reminder that media reports of Catholic matters should always be taken with a grain of salt...

Was there more than one “Team Ted” that helped McCarrick stay in power?

nMATTINGLY: “Team Ted” was a nickname give to a circle of journalists who depended on McCarrick as one of their prime doors into life in the American Catholic church and Vatican affairs, in general. Especially during his heady years as the archbishop of Washington, D.C., McCarrick was the unappointed voice of the U.S. Catholic establishment.

If we don’t teach the faith, the man in the Oval Office will

iALVARE: The United States has (almost certainly) just elected its second Catholic president. One thing is certain. He will be “teaching” Americans and the world what it means to be Catholic, whether or not he intends to, and whether or not what he teaches accurately characterizes the faith...

From coast to coast, the shrines to Mother Cabrini testify to her miracles and deep impact on America

mPETERSMITH: Not far from the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine where Mother Cabrini is buried, New York state put up a statue where “Mother Cabrini” looks out from Manhattan’s Battery Park toward the Statue of Liberty standing tall, holding her torch aloft, at the mouth of the harbor where many immigrants had first entered the U.S.

David Deavel: What Solzhenitsyn can teach a divided America

David Deavel: What Solzhenitsyn can teach a divided America: "Gradually, it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either — but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts," wrote Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian dissident, author and Nobel Prize winner, who died in 2008.

Video shows 90-year-old Cardinal Tumi telling kidnappers: ‘I will preach what is the truth with pastoral and biblical conviction’

v: When 90-year-old Cardinal Christian Tumi was interrogated in captivity by armed separatists in Cameroon last week, he calmly told his captors that he had been called by God to preach only what is true.

Archbishop Viganò responds to criticism leveled against him in McCarrick Report

x: The archbishop, whose explosive letter in August 2018 helped trigger the Vatican investigation into McCarrick’s misconduct, explains why he believes the report is gravely flawed.

Pope Francis congratulates Biden on election victory in phone call

Pope Francis Congratulates Biden on Election Victory in Phone Call| National Catholic Register: Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday, his office has announced. The Catholic, former vice president, and presumptive next president was congratulated on his electoral victory by the pope on the morning of Nov. 12.

The end is near — maybe

tPOKORSKY: Many years ago, during a wedding rehearsal, I pointed out that there would be plenty of time for pictures after the wedding; then I departed for the regularly scheduled Confessions. The mother of the bride was furious and demanded: “You scheduled Confessions on my daughter’s wedding day?

Theodore McCarrick, not John Paul II, is the story of the McCarrick Report

Theodore McCarrick, Not John Paul II, Is the Story of the McCarrick Report | George Weigel | First ThingsWEIGEL: Shortly after the release of the Vatican’s long-awaited report on the career of cashiered cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the media herd of independent minds decided that the Big Story here was . . . not about Theodore McCarrick. Rather, the Big Story was that Pope John Paul II, prior to appointing him archbishop of Washington, knew of allegations...

Under Luis Cardinal Ladaria, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is asserting itself with new strength, in support of Church teaching

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Asserts Itself, in Support of Church Teaching| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Theologians have praised recent documents and actions emanating from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), leading some to believe the dicastery is enjoying a kind of resurgence after a less active period during much of Pope Francis’ pontificate...

Bishop Cornelius Sim, who will soon become Brunei’s first cardinal, has a special connection with Franciscan University of Steubenville

xPETERSMITH: Bishop Cornelius Sim oversees the apostolic vicariate in Brunei Darussalam, a local Church with three Catholic parishes, three schools and just three Catholic priests in addition to himself, serving more than 20,000 Catholics. Bishop Sim, 69, is Brunei’s first native-born priest and bishop, as well as a 1988 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville...

Proposed bill to desecrate ‘Valley of the Fallen,’ Spanish Civil War memorial, raises concern among divided population

Proposed Bill to Desecrate Spanish Civil War Memorial Raises Concern Among Divided Population| National Catholic RegisterTADIE: The recently proposed Spanish bill, “Democratic Memory,” was originally meant to enable the Spanish Supreme Court to investigate the violation of human rights during the Civil War of 1936-39, as well as to search and identify the remains of missing persons.

‘We need to look this evil in the eye’ — Clergy abuse survivors respond to McCarrick Report

'We need to look this evil in the eye' - Clergy abuse survivors respond to McCarrick Report: After the Nov. 10 release of the Vatican’s McCarrick Report, some survivors of clerical abuse told CNA they remain skeptical that the report contains the full truth about McCarrick, and say the were disappointed that rumors of McCarrick’s misconduct with adults largely appeared not to have been investigated.

Click here to download a PDF version of the McCarrick Report...

m: The full title is Report on the Holy See’s Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick (1930 to 2017), Prepared by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Vatican City State, 2020...

McCarrick Report: When one mother had to speak up

McCarrick Report: When one mother had to speak up: In the early 1970s, a New York family met a priest. He came to dinner, he came to birthday parties. The family was deeply religious, the priest’s attention meant a lot. He called the boys his nephews. The priest was Theodore McCarrick. And by the 1980s, the mother in that family knew she needed to tell the Church that McCarrick, then Bishop of Metuchen, was not who he seemed to be.

Humans have lived on the ISS for 20 years — here are the coolest discoveries we’ve made

h: Twenty years ago, the Earth stopped being the only place in the universe that humans can call “home.” On November 2nd of the year 2000, three men became the first humans to live outside our planet. For 141 days, American William Shepherd and Russians Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko orbited the Earth on the International Space Station (ISS)...

McCarrick Report: Key questions brushed aside, “inaccurate and incomplete information” from bishops, criticism of Viganò, and unanswered questions

McCarrick Report: details of abuse ignored [News Analysis] | News Headlines | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The Vatican has issued a 450-page report on former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, acknowledging that reports of McCarrick’s sexual misconduct had circulated for years but insisting that Pope Francis was unaware of any serious charges against the influential American prelate until shortly before he was stripped of his ecclesiastical honors.

Inside Rome’s secure vault for stolen art — some of the art is real, some fake, but it’s all had a brush with the criminal underworld...

i: When a ceramic relief depicting the Madonna with Child was returned to the church of Scansano in Tuscany, Italy, after five decades of absence, the town threw a solemn celebration. The local bishop, priest, prefect, mayor, and law enforcement officials all attended. On a September morning in 2020, a crowd gathered. The torso-sized relief was propped up, surrounded by plants. A band blared nearby.

‘Who’s who’ profiles of key figures in the McCarrick saga

p: When the Vatican publishes its lengthy report on the rise to power of ex-cardinal and priest Theodore McCarrick today, there will likely be several influential people included both from the American Catholic Church and the Vatican. The report covers “the Holy See’s institutional knowledge and decision-making process related to former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick...

Unmasking the devil in religious education

Unmasking the Devil in Religious Education | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The virtue of assent applied in a religious education context is a distinctive and formidable attribute associated with one’s willingness to make a genuine profession of faith to Christ and His Church. If there is a singular premise in religious instruction it is that the person receiving instruction in the name of Jesus Christ...

If Joe Biden really wants to ‘heal America,’ he needs to lay off the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Knights of Columbus

Joe Biden Must Stop Harassing Catholic Agencies to Heal Country | National ReviewLOPEZ: The morning after Election Day itself, the Supreme Court heard a case on foster care and adoption that puts a heck of a lot in perspective. I listened with some frustration and bewilderment as a few of the justices talked with some hostility about the idea that Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia...

Vatican releases long-awaited McCarrick Report

The McCarrick Report: Full Text and a Vatican Summary| National Catholic Register: The report details “a tragic page in the recent history of Catholicism, a painful story from which the entire Church has learned,” writes Vatican editorial director, Andrea Tornielli.

It’s time to return to what is most essential: The Mass

mSTAUDT: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42). It would be easy to imagine Christ saying this to us now, calling us away from our anxieties to sit at his feet, like Martha’s sister Mary. Jesus wants to give us the peace that we need in the midst of our anxiety about “many things.” By calling us into communion with him, Jesus shows us that He is the one thing that is necessary, the most essential thing in our lives.

9 ways Catholics should respond to the threat of COVID-19 church shutdowns

9 Ways Catholics Should Respond to the Threat of Church Shutdowns| National Catholic RegisterPOPE: I would like to raise, once again, some urgent concerns about COVID-19 policies — both as a citizen and especially as a priest. Judging by the situation overseas, I think we are heading for trouble. As many places in Europe are locking down once again, pressure to do the same in the United States is bound to grow...

Why St. John Lateran, not St. Peter’s Basilica, is “Mother and Head” of every other church in the world

wDESOUZA: Pope Francis has made a subtle change in the past year which emphasizes the truth of the feast we mark on Nov. 9 — namely that St. John Lateran, not St. Peter’s in the Vatican, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. In each diocese, the dedication anniversary of the local cathedral is observed throughout the diocese as a feast day...

Beatification cause of Sr. Wanda Boniszewska, reputed stigmatist tortured by Stalin’s secret police, opens

b: The beatification cause of a Polish religious sister who was tortured by Joseph Stalin’s secret police and reputedly bore the stigmata opened Monday. Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz inaugurated the diocesan phase of the cause of Sr. Wanda Boniszewska in the chapel of Archbishop’s House, Warsaw, Nov. 9. Boniszewska, who died in 2003 at the age of 96, was a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Angels, a habitless Polish religious community founded in 1889.

Alex Trebek, beloved ‘Jeopardy!’ host, dies after cancer battle at age 80

Alex Trebek, beloved 'Jeopardy!' host, dies after cancer battle at age 80: Longtime ‘Jeopardy!’ host Alex Trebek, adored by generations of trivia mavens who instinctively shout out questions to answers, died on Sunday following his battle with cancer.

Video: What a Cape Canaveral rocket launch looks like from the International Space Station

New Advent: Video: What a Cape Canaveral rocket launch looks like from the International Space Station: The video comes from NASA, ISS and Riccardo Rossi (ISAA); the music is by Maryna.

5 historic instances that show most of what you know about “The Schism of 1054” is probably wrong

Doubting the Conventional Narrative About the Schism of 1054 ~ The Imaginative ConservativeYOST: You’d be hard-pressed to find a professional medievalist or Byzantinist today who will affirm, without any qualification whatsoever, that the schism between Latin Church, headed by the pope of Rome, and the Greek Church, headed by the patriarch of Constantinople, was fully realized in the year 1054...

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Keep your lamps trimmed and burning

kPOPE: The Gospel this Sunday presents a number of practical principles of preparation. As always the Lord has a way of teaching us in a very memorable way. Let’s look at four principles taught in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. In the end we will find that the Lord turns the tables on us. The text says, The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom...

Biden elected second Catholic president in U.S. history: What does it mean for a divided nation?

Biden elected second Catholic president in U.S. history: What does it mean for a divided nation?LISI: Following nearly four days of uncertainty, Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner Saturday of the U.S. presidential race. In doing so, he become only the second Roman Catholic in American history to occupy the White House. While President Trump has said he will challenge the result, Biden now has the job of leading a deeply polarized nation for the next four years...

How to combat soft totalitarianism

aFOLEY: Live Not by Lies focuses on the ongoing Culture War in the West, which, Rod Dreher argues, faces the threat of a new “soft” totalitarianism, a movement which is making disturbing progress and which threatens our basic liberties. The book is divided into two parts...

Zoom to the center of our Milky Way galaxy in 26 seconds

New Advent: Zoom to the center of our Milky Way galaxy in 26 seconds: This video zooms into a view of the center of our Milky Way galaxy, and ends on a new photo obtained by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab. The DECam image covers around 4 x 2 degrees (an area about 8 times as wide as the full Moon).

It takes a lifetime to die well

This Sunday, Death Takes a Lifetime of Preparation | The Gregorian Institute at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: In the Gospel this Sunday, the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Jesus tells a story about ancient wedding customs that delivers a lesson that we are learning today through cutting-edge technology. The wise and foolish virgins are just like us after the last few weeks of Sunday Readings: waiting...

Protests continue in Argentina over decision to close ‘conservative’ seminary; ‘final straw’ was Communion on the tongue

Protests continue in Argentina over decision to close 'conservative' seminarySANMARTIN: Tension continues to grow over the Vatican-ordered closure of a diocesan seminary in Argentina’s Mendoza region. Last week, Bishop Eduardo Taussig released a letter to the faithful, trying to calm down the situation after hundreds of people gathered to pray the Rosary in front of the seminary, but it backfired...

Suffering is inevitable, and telling the truth can bring more of it — but the reward is eternal glory

The Costs of Truth-Telling: Rod Dreher's "Live Not By Lies" ~ The Imaginative ConservativeASCIK: Under Communism, the underground church had a spiritual power that was sustained by prayer and Scripture reading, both individually, and, in a key and repeated pattern, in groups. A Russian Orthodox priest who gave sermons and spoke publicly even after having served eight years in the Gulag was regarded as “a mouthful of water” to thirsty Christians of all denominations and to others as well...

German deacon discourages dying woman from going to Confession

A Deacon Discouraged a Dying Woman from Confessing | Matthew SchneiderSCHNEIDER: First, this is an absolute disregard for the sacraments as the ordinary channels of grace. This deacon will probably incur all the purgatory intended for this woman as his words meant she did not go to confession on her deathbed. Second, we need to pray for the Catholic Church in Germany...

U.S. Catholic bishops issue statement on election of Joe Biden

US Catholic bishops congratulate Biden as president-elect: Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Saturday congratulated president-elect Joe Biden, and called for dialogue and compromise for the common good.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Prepare to meet the Lord with good deeds inspired by His love’

Pope Francis: Prepare to meet the Lord with good deeds inspired by His love: Pope Francis said Sunday that it is important not to forget that at the end of one’s life there will be “a definitive appointment with God.” “If we want to be ready for the final encounter with the Lord, we must cooperate with Him now and perform good deeds inspired by His love,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Nov. 8.

Blessed Solanus Casey — America’s modern-day miracle worker

bONEILL: Father Solanus Casey was walking though the Detroit hospital one day when he saw Art Ruledgee, one of the volunteers at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, in the hallway on a gurney. “Art, what are you doing here?” Father Solanus stopped to greet him. He had a tumor, he explained and was on his way to surgery. “Where is it?” the priest inquired...

Biden projected winner; rollbacks on pro-life and religious liberty protections expected

Biden projected winner, rollbacks on pro-life and religious liberty protections expected: Joe Biden has won the 2020 presidential election, media outlets reported Saturday morning, after five days of counting in several tight races across the country.

Thursday’s surprise announcement from the Vatican might have seemed routine, but look more carefully — three things made it remarkable...

Cardinal Pell vindicated, Cardinal Parolin rebuked | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Even after the multiple financial scandals of recent years, the Vatican is notoriously tight-lipped. If anyone were to draw his information solely from official Vatican announcements, he would have only the vaguest of notions that some unpleasantness had occurred. The Vatican press office, true to form, couched the November 5 announcement in a dull, wordy release...

People are anxious and suffering. Be lavish in doing good things for them...

Spiritual resolutions during a time of pandemic | Angelus NewsLOPEZ: Here in New York City, where I live, the pandemic has so demoralized people that one Brooklyn pizzeria just implemented a rather unconventional measure to encourage forlorn customers. For the price of one extra dollar on your order, the delivery person at Vinnie’s will look you straight in the eye and tell you, “Everything’s gonna be OK and you’re doing the best you can.”

What we can learn from Al Smith’s response to anti-Catholic bigotry

wMILLS: In his recent New York Times op-ed, “Er, Can I Ask a Few Questions About Abortion?” Nicholas Kristof makes a case against Christian pro-lifers. He writes that many Christians “support Trump, despite reservations about him, because their be-all issue is the unborn.” No Christian cares only about abortion as if other issues like religious liberty, taxes, and foreign policy don’t matter...

Anne Hendershott: Overcoming the politics of envy

Anne Hendershott: Overcoming the politics of envy: "There's a whole lot of envy going on and we're seeing symbols of envy," said Anne Hendershott, professor of sociology at Franciscan University, director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life and author of the recent book, "The Politics of Envy," published by Sophia Institute Press. Follow her @AnneHendershott on Twitter.

Can I answer a few questions about abortion?

Can I Answer A Few Questions about Abortion?KACZOR: In his recent New York Times op-ed, “Er, Can I Ask a Few Questions About Abortion?” Nicholas Kristof makes a case against Christian pro-lifers. He writes that many Christians “support Trump, despite reservations about him, because their be-all issue is the unborn.” No Christian cares only about abortion as if other issues like religious liberty, taxes, and foreign policy don’t matter...

Under a variety of titles, Our Lady is the sole patroness of all 50 states. Here’s a state-by-state litany...

State-by-State: An Election Day Litany to Mary, Patroness of America - Word on FireSCALIA: It is well known that on December 12, 1999, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe to be Patroness of the Americas. Less well known is the fact that our Lord’s holy mother Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, had been recognized as Patroness of the United States since 1846. Under a variety of titles, she is the sole patroness of all fifty states...

Pull up a chair and listen to these three Carmelites talk about the life of St. John of the Cross

c: The Discalced Carmelites are a Roman Catholic religious community of priests, brothers, nuns, and laity serving the Church through lives of prayer and ministry, in a fraternal setting. Our roots that go back to twelfth-century hermits on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. The Discalced Carmelites were established by St. Teresa of Avila in 1562 and St. John of the Cross in 1568 to renew the Order’s commitment to contemplation, simplicity and community...

USCCB set to convene virtual assembly six days after McCarrick report

USCCB set to convene virtual assembly six days after McCarrick report: The Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will be held in two live-streamed sessions on November 16 and 17.

Analysis: After the McCarrick report is released, the U.S. bishops will have a Zoom meeting

Analysis: After McCarrick report, US bishops have Zoom meetingJDFLYNN: Like a lot of people, U.S. Catholic bishops are spending a great deal of time in Zoom meetings these days. In fact in less than two weeks, their annual fall meeting will be a virtual one. The U.S. bishops’ conference has compressed its November meeting, which is usually a four-day affair, into two afternoon sessions, scheduled to take place Nov. 16 and 17...

5 things we learned about faith voters this election cycle

5 things we learned about faith voters this election cycleLISI: Election Day brought with it a series of verdicts. While the presidency remains in the balance, there were a series of trends to emerge as a result of Tuesday’s vote. The Senate, for now, remained under Republican control, while President Trump did a lot better than the pre-election polls. As the ballots continued to be counted...

Portland rioters damage Catholic parish church known for outreach to the poor

Portland Rioters Damage Catholic Church Known for Outreach to the Poor| National Catholic Register: A Catholic church in downtown Portland, Oregon - known for helping the area’s poor - suffered shattered windows during a riot Wednesday night that saw nearly a dozen protestors arrested. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office on the evening of Nov. 4 shared photos of shattered glass doors at the entrance to Saint André Bessette Catholic Church, located in Old Town Portland.

Long-Awaited McCarrick Report to be released next Tuesday

Long-Awaited McCarrick Report Due Next Week, Sources Say| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: The Vatican’s much-anticipated report on the disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is expected to be released next week, the Register has learned. Sources say its publication is likely to be between Nov. 10-12, while Reuters reported on Thursday that the report will be published “this month,” shortly before the annual meeting of U.S. bishops.

The soccer mom who became a satanist because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death

smARMSTRONG: Satan likes to operate in the shadows and convince people he does not exist. Of late, however, he has a new game — he arrives with a disclaimer, “Just kidding.” With a toehold on the anti-religious crowd, Satanic after-school clubs, statues for public display, demonic pro-abortion events and the Satanic Temple boldly promote self-empowerment...

In times like these, we need more Eucharistic Adoration, not less

In Times Like These, We Need More Eucharistic Adoration, Not Less| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: The shutdown of Catholic liturgical life by the American bishops in the wake of COVID-19 remains unabated, if somewhat modified: while some churches have reopened, far fewer bishops have reinstated the Sunday Mass obligation and many pastors observe that attendance has not yet reached even pre-March 2020’s anemia...

Pope Francis requires bishops to have Vatican permission for new diocesan religious institutes

Pope Francis Requires Bishops to Have Vatican Permission for New Diocesan Religious Institutes| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis has changed canon law to require a bishop to have permission from the Holy See prior to establishing a new religious institute in his diocese, further strengthening Vatican oversight over the process.

The recent civil unions ‘imbergoglio’ raise serious questions about the competency and integrity of Vatican communications officials

kDESOUZA: There have been spectacular mishaps before. In 2018, a quasi-official spokesman, Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, wrote that the Holy Father was “not bound” by Scripture and Tradition, a flat contradiction of Catholic doctrine and something that Pope Francis himself has never said. That same year, the prefect of Vatican communications, Msgr. Dario Viganò, lied to the press corps about what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had written about various booklets on the theology of Pope Francis.

Louisiana voters approve amendment to exclude ‘right to abortion’ from state constitution

r: Louisiana voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment, authored by a pro-life Democrat, to prevent Louisiana’s courts from finding a “right to abortion,” or to public abortion funding, in the state’s constitution.

This Captain America quote will inspire you in these days following the election

This Captain America quote will inspire you on election day (and beyond) - Voyage Comics & PublishingKOSLOSKI: Captain America is a fascinating character in the Marvel Universe, often described as the “Man Out of Time.” He doesn’t belong to the modern world and continually fights for, “Truth, justice and the American way.” For the most part, this has stayed consistent over the years in the multitude of ways he has been written in comics and movies.

Reminder: Plenary indulgences for the faithful departed have been extended throughout November this year due to the pandemic. Here’s how you can get them...

Plenary indulgences for Faithful Departed extended throughout November due to pandemic - Denver Catholic: This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a decree extending the traditional times for the two plenary indulgences applicable to the souls in purgatory during the month of November. The plenary indulgence granted for visiting a cemetery and praying for the deceased...

A word of encouragement from Elisa the Prophet for a difficult week to come

A Word of Encouragement from Elisha the Prophet for a Difficult Week to Come - SpiritualDirection.comPOPE: There is an old saying, “Stop telling God how big your storm is and start telling the storm how big your God is.” In other words, we often need to shift our focus, building up our trust and confidence. Because we are so wired for fear, we tend to overestimate the power and shrewdness of demons, or of our enemies, or of whatever it is we fear...

Francis ‘unplugged’ from being pope in meeting with Argentine ice cream shop owners

Francis 'unplugged' from being pope in meeting with Argentine ice cream shop ownersSANMARTIN: At a time when supporting your local retailers is a way of helping them weather the COVID-19 storm, one ice cream shop hiding in the shade of St. Peter’s Basilica that has one special faithful customer: Pope Francis...

When former Episcopal minister Andrew Petiprin became Catholic, he made sure his conversion was for all the right reasons

Becoming Catholic for the Right Reasons - Andrew Petiprin - The Coming Home Network: As an Episcopal priest, Andrew Petiprin loved his ministry, but was also troubled by some of the ongoing controversies within his denomination. When he started to become interested in the Catholic Church, he knew he needed to take an honest assessment of that interest...

“Changing the Sabbath” and the Antichrist

aAKIN: Recently I was contacted by someone who seems quite openminded and who asked me some questions about why we worship on Sunday rather than the Sabbath. In particular, this person was wondering why that should be the case if the only person in the Bible who seeks to change the Sabbath is the Antichrist. I responded as follows...

Election not yet resolved, with critical Catholic issues hanging in the balance

Election Not Yet Resolved, With Critical Catholic Issues Hanging in the Balance| National Catholic Register: Control of the White House and Senate remained unresolved on Election Night, with Pennsylvania expected to take days to certify a result in the presidential contest and a runoff set to be held in Georgia’s special election for the Senate.

Notre Dame’s Prof. Daniel Philpott on political rancor: ‘I am greatly anxious for our country...’

nd: I am greatly anxious for our country. The level of rancor between the two parties is so high that we commonly read predictions of violence or constitutional crisis surrounding the elections. The two presidential debates have placed this rancor on full display...

Faith, reason, and Catholic political engagement

fMAIER: Before I finish this article, it will be obvious how my family and I will vote on November 3, and why. But I’ll also speak of a man whose Catholic faith and public service I greatly admire. And he’ll very likely vote in the opposite direction, for a different set of reasons. There’s a lesson in that...

Voting and the common good

vSTAUDT: Recently, some Catholics have pushed back against the argument that the predominant issue for the election is the defense of human life, something that Pope Francis actually confirmed to the US Bishops during an ad limina in January 2020. Focusing “exclusively” on abortion, the counterargument goes, leads to the exploitation of other vulnerable people and undermines a consistent life ethic...

Austria’s Catholic bishops: pray for victims of Vienna terror attack

a: Austria’s Catholic bishops have appealed for prayers for the victims of Monday night’s terror attack in Vienna. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said Nov. 2 that he was “deeply saddened” after gunmen opened fire at six different locations in the Austrian capital, killing at least four people and injuring 17 others.

A person like Anne Barbeau Gardiner should not leave this earth unmarked by people who did not know her, but would have wanted to...

Anne Barbeau Gardiner RIP - Catholic HeraldMILLS: “I bet you didn’t expect me to look so frumpy,” she said when we first met, and laughed, loudly and disconcertingly. I had been thinking that her dress seemed to be made out of drape material. We’d arranged to meet in the lobby at a conference of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, after several years of email friendship and working together. As we walked to breakfast, she explained that no one she met ever expected her to look so frumpy...

All Souls’ Octave and Dies Irae: The four most profoundly influential notes of Gregorian chant

aLANGLEY: I am certainly not the first one to make note of the fact that the Sequence, Dies Irae, for All Souls’ Day appears to have made a profound and far ranging contribution to American Culture. From blockbusters like Star Wars to Lion King to It’s a Wonderful Life to The Hobbit to Jurassic Park to Ground Hog Day and to who knows how many other movie sound tracks, the sublimely doleful tune, reminiscent of the last things, has touched untold millions...

‘Messiah’ is a thrilling journey to the Holy Land, through salvation history

Messiah: A Thrilling Journey Through Salvation History - Messiah: An 8-part series on Jesus broadcasting Sundays this November takes viewers on a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land — and a thrilling tour of salvation history from the Exodus to the fall of Rome.

The Hope and Trust Rosary: Prayers for those overwhelmed by the pandemic

New Audio CD: Prayers for Those Overwhelmed by the Pandemic: Saint Luke Productions has created a new audio meditation to help those suffering during the pandemic. The Hope and Trust Rosary CD and download was released on October 7, 2020, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Remembering a great man and friend who died too soon: Andrew Thomas Walther, R.I.P.

rLOPEZ: Andrew Walther, one of my dearest friends in the world, died on Sunday. He was a hero and he was a saint. He loved greatly, like one of his patrons, Blessed Michael McGivney, did. Andrew Walther was a vice president at the Knights of Columbus and most recently became president for news at EWTN. He was so good...

Purgatory is based on a promise Jesus made to us

pPOPE: On this Feast of All Souls, I want to reflect on Purgatory as the necessary result of a promise. Many people think of Purgatory primarily in terms of punishment, but it is also important to consider it in terms of promise, purity, and perfection. Some of our deceased brethren are having the promises made to them perfected in Purgatory...

Andrew Walther, 45, head of EWTN News, remembered for devotion to the Church after death on All Saints’ Day

a: Andrew Thomas Walther, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, died Sunday evening on All Saints Day in New Haven, Connecticut. Remembered foremost as a loving husband and father, in his life’s work he was dedicated to serving the Catholic Church and defending persecuted religious minorities throughout the world. Walther was 45 years old.

St. Anthony’s Chapel — Where the dead live and the dying find new life

sMILLS: It sits at the top of the hill, on the street running along the ridge. It crowns a typical Pittsburgh neighborhood, Troy Hill, with houses close together and narrow streets with cars parked on both sides, a few corner shops and bars, a big brick Catholic church called Most Holy Name of Jesus...

At the end, there will be only saints and ain’ts. Which do you choose?

nPOPE: Today is the Feast of All Saints. Some saints of the Church have a particular day on the calendar associated with them and are commonly recognized by name. Many more, though not as familiar to us, are still known by God and have been caught up with Him to glory. Today is their day, the day of the countless multitude who have made it home to glory by God’s grace and by their “Amen” to the gracious call of God. Let’s consider these saints under three headings, based on today’s readings.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: The saints are ‘authoritative witnesses of Christ’s hope’

r: On the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to follow the model of the saints, who pursued virtue in contradiction to the ways of the world and thus give witness to Christian hope.