Pope Francis at the Sunday Angelus: Read, reread, and be passionate about the Gospel

Pope Francis at the Angelus: Read, reread, and be passionate about the Gospel: Pope Francis on Sunday urged Catholics to read, reread, and be passionate about the Gospel.

Is it really possible to sell your soul to the devil?

Is%20It%20Really%20Possible%20to%20%u2018Sell%20Your%20Soul%u2019%20to%20the%20Devil%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTURLEY: Recent reports have spoken of rock stars selling their souls for fame and fortune. In the world of music such claims are not unknown. Three centuries earlier Paganini was said to have done so, so too in the last century was the Blues guitarist Robert Johnson. This hint of ‘devilishness’ in the public persona of musicians...

In Poland, Halloween is hallowed, not hellish

In Poland, Halloween is Hallowed, not Hellish| National Catholic Register: “The voice of the people is the voice of God,” says a Polish proverb, which could be quite rightly used on the eve of two days of celebrations surrounding the saints and the departed souls. It is indeed the voice of God that millions of Poles seek to embody by filling their streets, squares and cemeteries to honor the memory of their ancestors and celebrate the promise of eternal life in Christ.

Christ’s power shines forth in all exorcisms, including this case which one expert called the “creepiest” he had ever seen

Christ%u2019s%20Power%20Shines%20Even%20in%20%u2018Creepiest%u2019%20Exorcism%20Case%2C%20Says%20Psychiatrist%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterARMSTRONG: Eternity is a long time to be lost to the netherworld, so those in the exorcism ministry fight for souls with everything they’ve got. And they’ve got a lot. It is the power of Jesus Christ who does battle for them, but Jesus is in the business of saving souls, not taking hostages. Victims of demonic possession must ultimately...

President Joe Biden attends Mass at St. Patrick’s in Rome, receives Communion

President Joe Biden receives Communion at Mass in Rome: President Joe Biden received Communion during Mass Saturday evening in Rome, according to a report from the Associated Press. Biden met with Pope Francis on Friday, during which, he says, Pope Francis told him to “keep receiving Communion,” despite his views on abortion. According to the A.P., about 30 people attended the Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, which had a large security presence. The president and his wife sat in the last row.

Parsing Joe Biden’s account of his meeting with Pope Francis

Biden on Francis: Parsing POTUS's papal precis - by Ed. Condon - The PillarCONDON: President Biden told reporters that Pope Francis hailed him as a “good Catholic” and told the president to continue receiving Communion during their private audience on Friday morning. It is perhaps the most emphatic and dramatic papal intervention possible into debate among U.S. bishops about how to handle Biden and other pro-abortion Catholic politicians — if, that is, it actually happened.

A little spectral speculation about ghosts

On Ghosts: A Little Spectral SpeculationFITZPATRICK: There is an idea about ghosts, about those uncanny spirit-like presences, that I have picked up in talking with old men in quiet rooms, and, to those willing to entertain some ghostly speculation with me, read on. I work in a massive century-old brick building that used to be an orphanage. Many souls have passed through this place...

A haunted handful for Halloween

A Haunted Handful for Halloween ~ The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: There are good and bad ways of celebrating Halloween as there are good and bad ways of celebrating anything else. One of the best ways is with the reading of some haunting literature. Ghost stories come to mind. So does poetry which reminds us of death and the dead. Here is a handful of haunting poems that evoke the spirit and spirits of the season.

‘A Moment of Great Joy’: English Cardinal Ordains Ex-Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali as Catholic Priest

%u2018A%20moment%20of%20great%20joy%u2019%3A%20English%20cardinal%20ordains%20ex-Anglican%20bishop%20as%20Catholic%20priest: English Cardinal Vincent Nichols on Saturday ordained a former Anglican bishop as a Catholic priest. The archbishop of Westminster described the ordination of Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali at an Oct. 30 Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory, Warwick Street, London, as “a moment of great joy.”

This Sunday, Jesus wants orthodoxy, orthopraxy — and more...

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Wants%20Orthodoxy%2C%20Orthopraxy%20%u2026%20and%20More%20%7C%20Ex%20Corde%20at%20Benedictine%20CollegeHOOPES: Jesus masterfully diagnoses what makes our society sick in the Gospel this Sunday, the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, and what we can do about it. In brief, Jesus says to aim our life at its highest possible end, and not to allow anyone to push or cajole us away from that aim, but to bring them along with us instead if at all possible...

How the Catholic Church made Westerners the WEIRDest people in the world

How the Catholic Church Made Westerners the WEIRDest People in the World - Public DiscourseKACZOR: How did the modern world emerge? In his 2020 book, The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous, Harvard University Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology Joseph Henrich says the credit (or blame) falls to the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and family...

Autumn is the season when the squashes have their moment of glory

Sowing%20the%20Succulent%20Squash%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20Field: Along with their cousins the cucumbers and melons, squash are among the most easily grown and most satisfying staples of the backyard garden. They can adorn lattices and rooftops with their yellow and orange flowers, and overtake even the most well-tended beds with their sprawling vines and large fruits. Squash are not only sunk into the American food consciousness, they are one of our native botanical treasures...

“New” and “old” are not criteria for discernment of the Holy Spirit. What matters is fidelity — to Christ, the Gospel, Tradition and Truth

The%20Spirit%20groans%u2026%20%7C%20Charlotte%20was%20BothWELBORN: So there’s been a lot of talk of the Spirit recently. Rather, in this particular iteration, since the papacy of Francis began and with greater intensity in all the Synod/Synodality/Syondaliest talk. Of course, this is nothing new. The history of the Church is, in part, a history of discernment of the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit at all levels of Church life...

Why Satan is known as the “accuser”

Why%20Satan%20is%20known%20as%20the%20%u201Caccuser%u201DKOSLOSKI: Satan’s desire to accuse us in in stark contrast with the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. It is the Advocate who seeks to build us up and literally advocate for our cause before the heavenly court. To put it simply, the Advocate represents God’s merciful love towards us, while Satan the accuser seek our ruin through our sins. God wants to forgive us, while Satan wants to condemn us.

Biden meets the pope, the Knights’ gambit, and coming soon...

Biden%20meets%20the%20pope%2C%20the%20knights%u2019%20gambit%2C%20and%20coming%20soon...%20-%20by%20Ed.%20Condon%20-%20The%20PillarCONDON: The Diocese of Cleveland said Tuesday it will reopen its investigation into allegations of harassment and sexual coercion, made by several former seminarians against a diocesan priest. The allegations involve the priest allegedly giving the seminarians alcohol and telling them to be “naked before God” while encouraging them to go skinny-dipping with him. In some cases, he allegedly took photos.

Can houses really be haunted? Can the spirits of the dead roam the earth?

Trick or treat: Are hauntings real? - by Michelle McDaniel - The Pillar: Can houses — and other buildings — really be haunted? Can the spirits of the dead roam the earth? And is that weird noise in your house — right now — possibly a ghost? We wanted to separate fact from fiction, so we took our questions to Dr. Regis Martin, a professor of dogmatic and systematic theology at the Fransican University of Steubenville, and author of “The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.”

7 teachings on Hell from St. Thomas Aquinas

Seven Teachings on Hell From St. Thomas Aquinas - Community in MissionPOPE: The teachings of the Lord on Hell are difficult, especially in today’s climate. I recently gave some talks at a Renewal Ministries conference in Ann Arbor Michigan and promised the participants I would repost this for their reference. When the videos of the conference come available, I will link to them. The most difficult questions on Hell that arise relate to its eternal nature...

Catholic Politicians and Non-Admittance to Holy Communion

Catholic%20Politicians%20and%20Non-Admittance%20to%20Holy%20Communion%20%u2013%20Cardinal%20Raymond%20BurkeCARDINALBURKE: From the time of my first episcopal ministry in the Diocese of La Crosse, I had confronted the situation of politicians presenting themselves as practicing Catholics and, at the same time, supporting and advancing programs, policies and laws in violation of the moral law...

Biden Reports Abortion Did Not Come Up at Vatican Meeting; Says Pope Told Him He Was a ‘Good Catholic’ and Should ‘Keep Receiving Communion’

Biden: Pope told him he should 'keep receiving communion': President Joe Biden said Pope Francis told him he should continue to receive Communion, as the world’s two most prominent Catholics ran overtime in highly personal discussions on climate change, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic that also touched on the loss of president’s adult son and jokes about aging well.

Pope Francis Meets President Joe Biden at the Vatican

Pope Francis Meets US President Joe Biden at the Vatican| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis met Joe Biden on Friday, in the U.S. president’s first official visit to the Vatican since his inauguration. Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, is in Rome to attend the G20 summit taking place on Oct. 30-31. The president arrived at the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard at 12 p.m., after his motorcade entered the Vatican through an arch to the left of the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican abruptly cancels live broadcast of President Biden greeting Pope Francis at Vatican on Friday

Vatican cancels live broadcast of Biden greeting pope: The Vatican on Thursday abruptly canceled the planned live broadcast of U.S. President Joe Biden meeting Pope Francis on Friday, the latest restriction to media coverage of the Holy See.

Excommunication is not what you think

Excommunication: It's Not What You Think | Catholic AnswersAKIN: Excommunication is widely misunderstood. Probably the most common misunderstanding is thinking that it means you can’t go to Communion. That is part of excommunication, but only a part. Another common misunderstanding is that excommunication means being kicked out of the Church. It used to mean that, but it doesn’t anymore.

Idol threat: Hindu activists issue ultimatum to Catholic school in India, giving 15 days to erect statue to Hindu goddess

Catholic school in India given 15 days to erect statue to Hindu goddess | Crux: Hindu activists in India are demanding a Catholic school erect a statue to the Hindu goddess of wisdom. On Oct. 25, A 30-member delegation from Bajrang Dal – a militant rightwing Hindu group – served a 15-day ultimatum to the Christ Jyoti secondary school in Satna, in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Chinese Catholics ask Church worldwide to pray after Communist authorities kidnap Bishop Shao Zhumin

CHINA Wenzhou authorities detain Bishop Shao Zhumin again: Chinese authorities yesterday seized Msgr. Shao Zhumin, bishop of Wenzhou (Zhejiang). AsiaNews has learned this from sources on the ground who relay that the bishop was officially taken away "on vacation". In a message, Chinese Catholics ask for prayers for the kidnapped bishop...

Former Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali discusses his decision to convert to Catholicism

Former Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali Discusses His Decision to Convert to Catholicism| National Catholic RegisterTURLEY: “Because it is the only Church where decisions that affect everyone are made so that they ‘stick’; where there is a body of doctrinal and moral teaching that can guide the faithful; and where there is a magisterium that can teach effectively. There is also a lively sacramental and devotional tradition which appeals.”

Cardinal Pell was imprisoned but he was certainly not alone

Cardinal George Pell as Biblical Commentator| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, founded by Scott and Kimberly Hahn and Mike Aquilina, is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Thursday in Orlando, Florida, by honoring Cardinal George Pell. Cardinal Pell will join the gala virtually, offering a reflection on Philippians, inspired by his wrongful conviction and imprisonment. The St. Paul Center has had immense influence in promoting its mission...

Vatican extends All Souls’ Day indulgences through entire month of November

indulgences: This year, the Vatican has decided once again to grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who visit a cemetery to pray for the dead on any day in the month of November. In a typical year, the Church only grants this plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory to those who pray in a cemetery on Nov. 1-8, the week of the Solemnity of All Souls’ Day.

Being a godparent isn’t just a ceremonial honor. It’s an office that comes with a serious responsibility...

Godparents Are Guides to Holiness| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: In the early Church, especially during the age of persecutions, godparents (also called at the time sponsors, presenters, guardians or faith-swearers) were devout Christians who would vouch for the faith of adults presenting themselves to the bishop for baptism and who would assume the responsibility of accompanying them in their preparation for, and life after, baptism...

If a school of philosophy lacks a sense of wonder, it is not true philosophy

If a School of Philosophy Lacks Wonder, It Is Not True Philosophy| National Catholic RegisterDANTUONO: For people of faith, there may be few more intimidating places than the classroom of a secular and possibly anti-religious philosophy professor. For those attending college, whether it be a secular or religious institution, you may find yourself in this situation. Thankfully, you do not have to give up your Catholic upbringing in order to pass Introduction to Philosophy...

Here’s the story behind the viral “church brawl” video in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Updated: The story behind the viral "church brawl" video - Where Peter Is: Yesterday, October 25, 2021, Toronto Sun reporter Bryan Passifiume tweeted a dramatic video clip of an incident between a Catholic priest and another man during Mass in a Catholic church, with the comment, “Father declined to forgive those who trespassed against him.” After the priest, who was standing at the altar, pointed at the man...

The abuse uncovered should cause trembling in the Church

The Abuse Uncovered Should Cause Trembling in the ChurchSCALIA: As I write this, we Catholics, as a Church, are still processing revelations out of France and the release of yet another comprehensive report from yet another country, documenting perhaps a quarter of a million cases of horrific, extensive sexual abuse being perpetrated against our adolescent members — our children, mostly male, but also female. That the majority of cases occurred...

Good friendships are the key to guard the young from straying into error

Friendship: To Guard the Young from Straying - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Aristotle is intent on showing how friendship is necessary in every stage and condition in life. With characteristic insight, he points to the precise need it fulfills in each. Concerning the young, his statement is brief and to the point. The great danger in youth is error—going astray from the truth of reality. The young, of course, have no corner on the market of error...

Helping the poor, intelligently

Helping the poor, intelligently | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Every person should be concerned about the well-being of those who are unable to secure for themselves and their families such things as adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, basic education, and employment. With thought, we might add a few other potential deprivations to this list, such as reasonable protection against crime or unjust attack. These wholesome concerns are rightly prompted by the natural law...

Holy Beans of history, racial healing, and liturgy stuff

Holy Beans of history, racial healing, and liturgy stuff - by JD Flynn - The PillarJDFLYNN: If you’re a liturgy nerd, you already know that the Holy See published Postquam summus Pontifex on Friday, which outlines a revised process for the approval of translated liturgical texts, including the change from a recognitio to a confirmatio. If, like me, you are NOT a liturgy nerd, well, you might have no idea what that last sentence was all about...

How do I know it’s God's voice?

How do I know it's God's voice? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: There is a seductive voice that lurks amongst us as a result of the sin of our first parents. When faced with a choice, Adam and Eve preferred to live in a world without God. The original sin opened a door where we encounter a battle between good and evil. This spiritual battle is ongoing because the Devil will not cease in his desire to destroy any relationship you and I may have with Jesus Christ...

The culture of death kills 2-year-old Alta Fixsler

Culture of Death Kills Alta Fixsler | National ReviewLOPEZ: ‘Alta was alive and breathed on her own for 90 minutes after her breathing tube was removed,” Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum wrote, stating the key fact as clearly as possible. The United Kingdom wanted two-year-old Alta Fixsler, a severely disabled Hasidic girl, dead. The powers-that-be may not have put it that baldly, but they decided to end her life...

The La Palma “mega-tsunami” hypothesis, and why it doesn’t carry water

Volcano%20Watch%20%u2014%20The%20Canary%20Islands%20%u201Cmega-tsunami%u201D%20hypothesis%2C%20and%20why%20it%20doesn%u2019t%20carry%20water: “Volcano Watchers” are probably aware that an eruption began on La Palma in the Canary Islands on September 19. The eruption style is similar to Hawaiian eruptions, and both locations share the potential for flank collapse and tsunami.

Taiwan denies reports that China is asking Holy See to break ties

Taiwan denies reports that China is asking Holy See to break ties | Crux: Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hit back against rumors in Italian media that China is pressuring Vatican officials to cut ties with the island territory in exchange for full diplomatic relations, insisting their relationship with the Holy See is strong and is not at risk. In an Oct. 25 statement, the ministry stressed that it...

Pope Francis sends video to city of Mosul, praying for ‘friendship among the people’

Pope%20Francis%20sends%20video%20to%20city%20of%20Mosul%2C%20praying%20for%20%u2018friendship%20among%20the%20people%u2019%20%7C%20CruxSANMARTIN: Eight months after visiting Iraq’s war-torn city Mosul, Pope Francis sent a message to the citizens, saying that he remembers the destruction he witnessed. Pope Francis’s words to Mosul came in the form of a video recorded by historian turned journalist Omar Mohammed, who runs the blog Mosul Eye...

Pope Francis to Visit Canada in ‘Pilgrimage of Healing and Reconciliation’ Over Native Residential Schools

Pope Francis to visit Canada in 'pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation' with Indigenous peoples: The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis is considering an invitation to visit Canada in light of the Canadian bishops’ "pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples." A communique from the Holy See Press Office on Oct. 27 said that the pope has “indicated his willingness to visit” Canada on a future undetermined date.

Pope Francis, “estranged” Catholics, and Holy Communion

Pope Francis, 'estranged' Catholics, and holy communionWEIGEL: Certain Catholic media platforms that often function as de facto extensions of Jen Psaki’s White House Press Office have continually urged the U.S. bishops to dodge the issue of pro-abortion Catholic politicians receiving holy communion. Pope Francis, for his part, offered some helpful comments on this contentious matter during a September press conference...

How to get rid of the scratches on your glasses (and stop them from happening again)

How to Get Rid of the Scratches on Your Glasses: Unless you spring for the expensive anti-scratch coating, or take really good care of your glasses, chances are you’ll end up with a few scratches on your lenses from time to time. And even if you don’t wear prescription glasses, you probably have a pair of sunglasses sitting around somewhere, and they also have a tendency to get scratched (especially if you throw them in the glove compartment of your car without a case).

Few travelers have heard of this ethereal “rainbow island,” but it’s a geologist’s Disneyland

The 'rainbow island' most travellers don't know - BBC Travel: "You should get a taste of this soil," said Farzad Kay, my tour guide on southern Iran's Hormuz Island, as we stood at the foot of a ruby-red mountain that loomed majestically over the shoreline, engulfing the beach and waves in a crimson shadow. I approached his suggestion with some trepidation, as I was yet to understand this mysterious, mineral-laden landscape.

Seeing the Church and world as they are, short of heaven

Seeing the Church and world as they are, short of heaven | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Sometimes we catch an unconfused glimpse of reality here on earth, though I admit this is rare. For example, an occasional news story, appearing at precisely the right moment, can speak volumes about the state of the world. Usually we find this in accounts of unprecedented evils which are not even recognized as evils by those doing the reporting...

First, you have to recognize how low your blindness has brought you. Then you have to cry out to Jesus...

This Sunday, Jesus Ends Your Darkness | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is leaving Jericho with a large group of followers. We know from St. Luke that he has just left the home of Zacchaeus. Since he is near Jerusalem in the days leading up to Passover there would have been a large number of pilgrims on the road and beggars on the roadside looking for help...

The real Jesus of Scripture might surprise you

The Real Jesus of Scripture Might Surprise You - Community in MissionPOPE: If we could travel back in time to 30 A.D. and meet the Lord Jesus as He carried forth His public ministry, we might be quite surprised by what we saw. I say this because many of us are heirs to a rather filtered description of Him that is both Western and modern. Most picture Jesus as fair-skinned and slender, with long, straight hair and a gentle beard...

The Holy Nails: Relics of the Crucifixion?

The Holy Nails: Relics of the Crucifixion?| National Catholic RegisterMCDONALD: Between 326 and 328, St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, traveled to the Holy Land to search for sites and relics associated with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The cross, the nails, the tunic of Christ, and a rope used to tie him to the cross were recovered. Whether or not these were all genuine is another question, but any consideration of these relics begins with Helena...

Pope Francis Names Jeffrey Sachs to Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences

Pope Francis Names Jeffrey Sachs to Pontifical Academy| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis on Monday appointed the economist Jeffrey Sachs to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The Holy See press office said on Oct. 25 that the pope had named Sachs as an “ordinary member” of the academy founded in 1994 by Pope John Paul II to promote the study and progress of the social sciences.

Jesus to Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?”

What do you Want? | Parishable ItemsFELTES: John the Baptist was once with two of his disciples and as he watched Jesus walk by he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Hearing this, the two disciples began tailing Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them, and asked them a question: “What are you looking for?” Last week, we heard how James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus saying...

Pope tells religious sisters: Spurn the Devil, and don’t become worldly “spinsters”

Pope%20tells%20nuns%20to%20spurn%20the%20Devil%2C%20don%u2019t%20become%20%u2018spinsters%u2019%20%7C%20Crux%20NowSANMARTIN: Rarely one to spare his own clerical and religious circles criticism, history’s first Jesuit pope was at it again Friday, pointedly urging members of a women’s religious order – in popular parlance, nuns – to be wary of a “spiritual worldliness” sown by the Devil that could induce them to become “spinsters.” “Do not forget that the worst evil that can happen in the Church is spiritual worldliness”...

Video: Things got really weird at San Bernardino’s synod opening Mass last week. And was that the Aztec demon Texcatilpoca beating on the drum?

Indigenous prayers, dancing in San Bernardino Synod Mass spark backlash: The Diocese of San Bernardino says its opening Mass for the Synod on Synodality Oct. 17 sought to celebrate the California diocese’s rich cultural diversity and welcome those on the “periphery” of the Church. But the liturgy’s unusual pageantry, featuring liturgical dancers, a Native American prayer to the “four directions,” and the appearance at the end of Mass of a colorfully costumed figure that resembled traditional representations of an Aztec demon...

If Pope Francis goes to Congo, that trip might be more equal than others

If Francis goes to Congo, that trip might be more equal than others | Crux NowALLEN: Somewhere around the middle of this century, the Democratic Republic of Congo will become the third or fourth largest Catholic country in the world, depending on the ebbs and flows of demographic trends between now and then. As things stand now, it will be behind Brazil and Mexico and in a tight race with the Philippines for the third slot. Congo is already the largest Catholic country in Africa...

Bartimaeus was a man who saw by hearing

A Man Who Saw by Hearing - A Meditation on the Gospel of the 30th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: In today’s gospel there is a very familiar story of the healing of the blind man Bartimaeus. As with any familiar story, the danger is that we, upon hearing its opening lines say, “Oh that story,” and we just sort of tune out. But there are many things in the details of the story that we can easily miss. Ultimately the story of Bartimaeus is also our story...

Yad Vashem highlights heroism of Eugène Cardinal Tisserant for saving Jews during World War II

Yad Vashem: Vatican librarian Cardinal Tisserant made heroic efforts to save Jews: Cardinal Eugene Tisserant was a librarian who knew more than 10 languages, advised multiple popes, and held key Vatican positions. He also deserves credit for helping multiple Jews escape persecution in Europe, Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, said on Thursday. The Jerusalem-based center will remember the cardinal and two of his collaborators...

At Sunday Angelus, Pope appeals that migrants not be sent back to unsafe countries

Pope Francis appeals that migrants not be sent back to unsafe countries: Pope Francis made an appeal for migrants Sunday, calling on the international community to stop deporting migrants to unsafe countries. “I express my closeness to the thousands of migrants, refugees and others in need of protection in Libya: I never forget you; I hear your cries and pray for you,” Pope Francis said on Oct. 24. “We need to end the return of migrants to unsafe countries and prioritize rescuing lives at sea,” he said.

Christians pray, fast for release of 17 missionaries kidnapped in Haiti

Christians pray, fast for release of missionaries kidnapped in Haiti: The ringleader behind the kidnappings of 17 missionaries in Haiti has threatened to kill the hostages unless he received his demands, in a video posted online on Thursday. Meanwhile, the group that organized the mission trip has called for prayer and fasting for the missionaries’ safe release.

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they use their fingers to count

How finger counting gives away your nationality - BBC Future: How would you count to 10 on your fingers? Do you start with the thumb or the index finger? Left hand or right? Dactylonomy (counting on your hands) seems like such a simple and natural thing to do that you might assume it's nearly the same everywhere.

Seminary allegations, St. John Paul II, and a failure to communicate

Seminary allegations, St. John Paul II, and a failure to communicate - by Ed. Condon - The PillarCONDON: Happy Friday, friends — and especially a happy feast of St. John Paul II. Like a lot of Catholics of my age, JPII remains a central reference point for my life in the Church. He was the pope who exhorted us to be saints at World Youth Day, he was the author of encyclicals which shaped our first intellectual encounters with the faith, and his was the name said at Mass for the first two decades of our lives.

The desperate necessity of time travel

The Desperate Necessity Of Time TravelCLARK: I was fortunate to grow up in the 1980s, but to a young adult in America, descriptions of the 1980s — when kindness and decency mattered — seem like a fairy tale. To be sure, while the 1980s was far from a perfect society, it was a society. As a society, we were not afraid to call evil evil. More vitally, we were not afraid to call good, good. Today, we are often afraid to use such words; after all, a discussion of good and evil will eventually become a discussion about God—and we cannot have that.

The unlikely link between the Islamist murder of a Catholic British MP and the conversion of an ex-Anglican bishop

The Unlikely Link of the Islamist Killing of a Catholic British MP and the Conversion of an Ex-Anglican Bishop| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: “While it is often said that good can come out of someone’s death, it is difficult to see what good can come from this senseless murder.” So wrote Sir David Amess, the British Member of Parliament stabbed to death while meeting his constituents on Oct. 15. He was not writing about himself, of course, but of the murder of another MP, Jo Cox, in 2016. But the words apply all the more to Sir David who, by universal and multiparty consensus, was the best of the British parliamentary tradition.

20 surprising facts about the assassination attempt on John Paul II

20 Rare and Shocking Facts from the Assassination Attempt on John Paul II| National Catholic RegisterMCAFEE: On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was on the brink of death. I wasn’t alive, but I’ve seen news reports from the time, and it’s horrifying to think what the faithful and the world were going through. Like I said, I wasn’t born yet, and I’ve discovered some incredible facts about the assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square while reading Fatima Mysteries...

Vatican census shows Catholicism growing everywhere but Europe

Vatican census shows Catholicism growing everywhere but Europe: A Vatican census released ahead of World Mission Day reveals growing numbers of Catholics in what Pope Francis often refers to as “the global peripheries,” even as the number of believers continues to diminish in Europe.

From Critical Race and Gender Theory Curricula to Abortion Access for Teens, Parental Rights Battles Mount Nationwide

From Critical Race and Gender Theory Curricula to Abortion Access for Teens, Parental Rights Battles Mount Nationwide| National Catholic Register: “Parents are realizing that something is deeply wrong, and even if they don’t understand the meaning behind this movement, they sense that it does not have their children’s best interests at heart.”

As St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, every pontificate has its courtiers. The current one is no exception. Quite the opposite...

A Little Wisdom From Bernard | Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. | First ThingsCHAPUT: Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century saint and Doctor of the Church who renewed the Western monastic tradition, once warned that “The most grievous danger for any pope lies in the fact that, encompassed as he is by flatterers, he never hears the truth about his own person and ends by not wishing to hear it.” St. Bernard’s words came easily to mind as I read a recent Austen Ivereigh article for America magazine. In it, Ivereigh claimed that...

94% of galaxies in the universe are permanently unreachable

94% of the universe's galaxies are permanently unreachable - Big Think: Our universe, everywhere and in all directions, is filled with stars and galaxies. From our vantage point, we observe up to 46.1 billion light-years away. Our visible universe contains an estimated ~2 trillion galaxies. However, most of them are already permanently unreachable by us. As the universe expands, the space between all unbound objects increases over time.

Hard spiritual truths that will set us free

Hard Spiritual Truths That Will Set Us Free - Community in MissionPOPE: In today’s post I would like to ponder some hard spiritual truths, but ones that will set us free. In calling them “hard truths”, I mean that they are not the usual cozy bromides that many seek. They speak bluntly about the more irksome and difficult realities we face. If we come to accept them, though, they have a strange way of bringing serenity by getting us to focus us on the right things rather than spending our time chasing after false dreams.

Missouri Protestant church wins settlement over COVID-19 restrictions on worship

Missouri Christian Church Wins Settlement Over COVID Restrictions on Worship| National Catholic Register: A Kansas City-area Baptist megachurch has reached a $150,000 settlement with the county over coronavirus restrictions, with the church claiming that the county treated them more harshly than secular institutions when it came to COVID protocols. Abundant Life Baptist Church, which has locations in Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, Missouri, filed a lawsuit against Jackson County over a year ago...

Why is this so hard to understand?

Why Is This So Hard to Understand?RICCARDO: Try to imagine the following scenario, if you can. The parish is gathered on Sunday morning for Mass and, after the proclamation of the Gospel, I begin my homily with these words: “Brothers and sisters, it has come to my attention that Fr. X (an associate pastor at our parish) has been sexually abusing some of the children in the school.” Immediately, faces flash everything from shock to anger to everything in between. But it gets worse...

Respect Life Radio: John Martignoni on how to help Catholics learn and defend their faith

John Martignoni: Helping Catholics learn and defend their faith: "First and foremost, my target are the Catholics because Catholics don’t know their faith as well as they should, on average," said John Martignoni, founder of Bible Christian Society, longtime former host of EWTN Radio's Open Line and author of Blue Collar Apologetics (Sophia Institute Press), as well as director of the Office of New Evangelization and Stewardship for the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama...

Paul McCartney explains how the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” came to be

Paul%20McCartney%20on%20Writing%20%u201CEleanor%20Rigby%u201D%20%7C%20The%20New%20Yorker: My mum’s favorite cold cream was Nivea, and I love it to this day. That’s the cold cream I was thinking of in the description of the face Eleanor keeps “in a jar by the door.” I was always a little scared by how often women used cold cream...

In October, remember the power of the Rosary

In October Remember The Power Of The Rosary The Wanderer NewspaperFOLEY: October is the month which the Church has traditionally assigned to the rosary, and it is worth noting that this is the only such month devoted to a sacramental, an object, rather than a holy person or theme connected with them, as for example June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Strangely enough, there is no month dedicated to the cross of Christ, which is the by far the holiest devotional object for Catholics...

But love, first learned in a lady’s eyes...

Love First Learned from a Lady - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: It has been said that woman specializes in loving. There is a profound truth in this. It is not that men do not know how to love or are not called to love. But women, especially in their universal call to motherhood, exemplify a root feature of true love: affirming a person for who he is. Some might think that saying woman specializes in loving is a throw-away line. I disagree. The facts on the ground suggest otherwise.

Archbishop Gänswein says Benedict XVI is “full of zest for life,” and that recent comments on death reflected his Christian sense of “the art of dying well”

Archbishop%20G%E4nswein%3A%20Benedict%20XVI%20is%20%u2018full%20of%20zest%20for%20life%u2019: Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that Benedict XVI is “full of zest for life” after the pope emeritus expressed the hope that he would join his friends in heaven in a condolence message. Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s private secretary, spoke to Germany’s Bild newspaper on Oct. 20 after media reports suggested that the 94-year-old retired pope had a “longing for death,” said CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

This 3D visualization lets you see how California’s Dixie Fire created its own weather

See How the Dixie Fire Created Its Own Weather - The New York Times: Days after California’s Dixie fire ignited in mid-July, towering storm clouds burst from the flames, generating lightning and wild winds that pushed the fire “in every direction,” according to firefighters battling the blaze.

Scientists use new method to pinpoint age of Viking village in Newfoundland — it’s AD 1021, in the pontificate of Benedict VIII, and 471 years before Columbus

Goodbye, Columbus: Vikings crossed the Atlantic 1,000 years ago | Reuters: Long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic, eight timber-framed buildings covered in sod stood on a terrace above a peat bog and stream at the northern tip of Canada's island of Newfoundland, evidence that the Vikings had reached the New World first.

8-month-old baby among 17 Protestant missionaries kidnapped and held for $17 million ransom in Haiti, charity says

8-m-o baby among 17 kidnapped missionaries in Haiti, charity says | World News: An 8-month-old baby is among the 17 kidnapped missionaries in Haiti being held for a ransom of $17 million by the notorious 400 Mawozo gang, Christian Aid Ministries said Tuesday as officials in the troubled Caribbean nation and the U.S. continue negotiating for their release.

50 states, 50 farmers’ markets: Here’s the top spot in each state for seasonal produce...

The%20Best%20Farmers%20Market%20in%20Every%20State%20%u2014%20Eat%20This%20Not%20That: Farmers markets are spectacular places to shop year-round. (Hooray for fresh produce that packs tons of extra flavor and for supporting local farmers and artisans by shopping local!) But in the fall, farmers markets truly shine. This is the time of year that the autumnal bounty arrives, from plump pumpkins ripe for carving to winter squash varieties that make hearty soups and side dishes. Did we mention the fresh-pressed cider that pairs perfectly with chewy cider donuts?

Liechtenstein archbishop opts out of synodal process, saying it runs “the risk of becoming ideological”

Catholic%20leader%20says%20his%20archdiocese%20won%u2019t%20take%20part%20in%20synodal%20process%2C%20citing%20%u2018ideological%u2019%20risk: A Catholic leader has said that his archdiocese won’t take part in the two-year global synodal process, saying that it would run “the risk of becoming ideological.” Archbishop Wolfgang Haas of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, announced his decision on Oct. 15, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

Catholic ink? Tattoos, piercings, and the pursuit of holiness...

Catholic Ink? Tattoos, Piercings, and the Pursuit of Holiness| National Catholic RegisterLIEDL: Though Millennials and Gen Z’ers are generally less religious than previous generations, young adults who embrace Catholicism actually tend to be more orthodox in their beliefs and more traditional in their devotions than the majority of their Boomer and Gen X elders. But visit a Theology on Tap or another Catholic young adult event these days, and amongst the Marian consecration chains and scapulars you’ll also likely spot...

Have you ever received fake messages from your “priest?” Internet scammers see churches as easy prey, simple precautions can provide enormous protection...

When%20Phishers%20of%20Men%20Go%20After%20Churches%2C%20Here%u2019s%20How%20to%20Escape%20Their%20Nets%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPETERSMITH: Father David Mullen got the message every pastor dreads to hear thanks to 21st-century technology: “I think someone hacked your account.” An internet scammer had breached the Boston Archdiocese’s priests’ account back in August, looked at the content of his emails, and then proceeded to email people in his address book saying he needed to talk with the recipient “about something personal.”

Land, limits and the scandal of reparations

Land%2C%20Limits%2C%20and%20the%20Scandal%20of%20Reparations%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20FieldALLANCARLSON: We’ll call him Mr. Anderson. Featured not so long ago in The Wall Street Journal as his Kansas county’s leading farmer, the newspaper pointed to him as a model for the nation’s agricultural future. Owning thirty thousand six hundred acres, a full ten percent of the county’s cropland, he bases his decisions on “a constant analysis of efficiency and scale,” featuring the use...

16 tips to improving your parish hospitality

16 Tips To Improving Your Parish Hospitality - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Every parish has visitors, but not every visit is the same. Are your visitors having a positive experience? Will they come back? Do they feel welcomed? How is our hospitality to these visitors? Think of the last time you visited another parish for the first time. Did you know where to park? Did you find your way around easily?

5 tips on how to be a great mother-in-law

5 Tips on How to be a Great Mother in LawBRADSHAW: We have all heard mother-in-law jokes. They are usually negative humor with a bite to them. We all want to avoid the MIL stereotype and here’s some hints to help us do that. When an adult child marries, parents go from front line caregivers to the bench. That means we’re there if needed for backup but it’s up to the newly created family to take the ball down the court...

Peru’s ‘Lord of Miracles’ carried in massive five-hour procession from St. Patrick’s Cathedral through the streets of New York City

Peru's 'Lord of Miracles' Travels in Massive Procession From St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC: In the middle of the most populated city in the United States, a procession shook the hearts of believers: the ‘Lord of Miracles’ toured “The Big Apple” on Oct. 17. The Peruvian community along, with many other foreigners, processed through 5th Avenue with a replica of the indestructible Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros) image after Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Peruvian Msgr. Guillermo Cornejo concelebrated with a special Mass for the occasion.

What is wrong with me/us that Christianity keeps declining in our world?

Does the world want salvation? The victory of faith | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Almost exactly two years ago, when I was writing on the Acts of the Apostles for my series on the books of the New Testament, I pointed out a striking translation of Acts 28:28, a translation used in the Liturgy of the Hours as the meditation point for the Invitatory Psalm 67...

Watch: Labour MP defends Last Rites in powerful tribute to Sir David Amess

Video: Labour MP Defends Last Rites in Tribute to Sir David Amess| National Catholic Register: “While I have the attention of the Front Benches: Catholics believe that Extreme Unction helps guide the soul to God after death. So maybe we could come up with an ‘Amess Amendment’ so that no matter where it is, in the care home or at a crime scene, that Members, or anybody, can receive that sacrament.”

The Tuesday Pillar Post: Notes from the road

Notes from the road - by JD Flynn - The PillarJDFLYNN: Today is the memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, and this is The Tuesday Pillar Post. This will be an unusually short Post, because I’m writing to you from the road; I am on a reporting trip for a few days this week. I spent about 12 hours Monday conducting interviews, and I’ve got several more scheduled for Tuesday. It will take a little while to publish the story I’m working on, but it’s the kind of things that’s of importance to the life and holiness of the Church...

In Wake of Sir David Amess’ Murder, UK Catholic Bishop Calls for Last Rites to be Recognized as ‘Emergency Service’

Sir%20David%20Amess%20Death%3A%20Catholic%20Bishop%20Calls%20for%20Last%20Rites%20to%20be%20Recognized%20as%20%u2018Emergency%20Service%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: A Catholic bishop called on Tuesday for greater recognition of the last rites as an “emergency service” in the wake of the killing of British lawmaker Sir David Amess. Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, western England, made the appeal on Oct. 19 after police reportedly turned away a priest who sought to administer the last rites to the Catholic Member of Parliament at the scene of the attack in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Police kept a priest from giving Last Rites to Sir David Amess as he lay dying. Is this a news story?

Police%20kept%20priest%20from%20saying%20Last%20Rites%20for%20stabbed%20politician.%20News%20story%3F%20%28Yes%2C%20in%20UK%29%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: The basic facts are clear and powerful: A member of of the UK Parliament is stabbed to death by a terrorist during an open, low-security town-hall meeting with citizens in Essex. It also appears that religion is part of this story. The key question, apparently, was whether to mention that Conservative MP David Amess was Catholic...

Omaha #1: Fr. Michael Gutgsell, arrested in September for allegedly stealing $150,000+, says he paid a homeless man $700,000

Former Omaha Archdiocese chancellor says he paid a homeless man $700,000: Rev Michael F. Gutgsell, the former chancellor of Omaha's archdiocese, was arrested Friday on felony charges of Attempted Theft by Unlawful Taking, and Vulnerable Adult Abuse. According to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday, Gutgsell is accused of attempting to take $154,732 worth of property from Rev. Theodore Richling, Jr.

How is our Christian life driven by dogma?

How is our Christian life driven by Dogma? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The way man relates with God can first be identified by the image and likeness God gave man, and second, by how man freely engages in a relationship with Him especially through His Son Jesus Christ. One may argue that the seeds of our Christian life begin with Jesus’ suffering and death and then ignited by the Holy Spirit...

Omaha #2: Fr. Michael Gutgsell has been in the Catholic news before, as rector of the cathedral decorated with Buddha and Mary Poppins in 2016

Custodian Arrested for Destroying Buddha, Mary Poppins Displays in Cathedral| National Catholic Register: Annually, the Archdiocese of Omaha puts on the Cathedral Flowers Festival and this year’s theme was “A Night at the Movies”. The rector of St. Cecilia’s Cathedral, Fr. Michael Gutgsell, made arrangements to have the nave decorated as usual. One of the long-time members and current custodians decided to take matters into his own hands.

Can we drink the cup Jesus drank?

The Cup Jesus Drank | Parishable ItemsFELTES: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approach Jesus asking for a favor: “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus says to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink?” They respond, “We can!” Jesus answers them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink… but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Omaha #3: Fr. Michael Gutgsell’s brother, Fr. Stephen Gutgsell, embezzled $125,000 from his parish in 2007. The archdiocese reinstated him anyway...

Omaha Priest Who Stole Funds Heading To Another Parish | KPTM: The Omaha priest who admitted to stealing over $100,000 in church funds from his former parish is heading to a new parish. Stephen Gutgsell will return to work as an Omaha parish priest Thursday as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Gutgsell will assist with the sacramental and spiritual needs of the parish.

Pope Names Andrew Cozzens, US Bishops’ Evangelization Chairman, New Bishop of Crookston, Minnesota

Pope Francis Names USCCB Evangelization Chair as New Bishop of Crookston Diocese| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis on Monday named the chair of the US bishops’ evangelization committee as the new bishop of Crookston, Minnesota. The Pope appointed Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens, the 53-year-old auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, to the post that had remained vacant since Bishop Michael Hoeppner resigned on April 13.

No Cross, No Crown — A homily for the the 29th Sunday of the Year

No Cross, No Crown - A Homily for the the 29th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: In the Sunday Gospel, the Lord Jesus speaks of crosses and crowns. The apostles have only crowns in mind, but Jesus knows the price of the crown. So, He must teach them and us that crowns—the things we value most—come only through the cross. It may help to review the context of this Gospel. Jesus is making His final journey to Jerusalem. He is on his way to the cross and has already announced this to His disciples on two occasions...

Sicilian Catholic diocese bans godparents. Yes, it’s partly due to Mafia godfathers...

Sicilian Catholic diocese bans godparents. Yes, it's partly due to Mafia godfathers. | The Week: Earlier this month, the Roman Catholic dioceses of Catania, in Sicily, put a three-year pause on godparents, Jason Horowitz reports at The New York Times. "Church officials argue that the once-essential figure in a child's Catholic education has lost all spiritual significance," and that god-parenting has "fallen to earth as a secular custom between relatives or neighbors — many deficient in faith or living in sin, and was now a mere method of strengthening family ties. And sometimes mob ties, too."

Group of 17 American missionaries, including children, reportedly kidnapped in Haiti

American missionaries, including children, kidnapped in Haiti: A group of U.S. missionaries and their families reportedly was kidnapped by gang members in Haiti on Saturday as they were leaving an orphanage, just days after a team of U.S. officials visited the country and pledged support for its anti-gang measures.

3 reasons everyone should try anonymous Confession behind the screen

Three Reasons Everyone Should Try Anonymous Confession | America Magazine: I knew I had to go to confession at St. Peter’s Basilica. But I never guessed my confession there would change the direction of my life. While growing up in a Catholic family and attending Catholic school, I went to confession twice each year—once in Advent and once in Lent. When I studied abroad during college in 2006, I spent a week in Rome, and something in me urged me to step outside of my biannual tradition and go to confession at St. Peter’s.

Dorothy Day and Catherine de Hueck’s lessons for thinking

Dorothy Day and Catherine de Hueck's lessons for thinking - Our Sunday VisitorMILLS: The Church doesn’t really encourage us to use our minds. In theory, yes. A bishop writing in his diocesan newspaper might encourage his people to read the latest papal encyclical or a good book he likes, and that’s good. But few if any of his parishes will organize people to do that. That’s not how parish life works these days.

Pope Francis ordains Msgr. Guido Marini, longtime master of ceremonies, a bishop in St. Peter’s Basilica

PHOTOS%3A%20Pope%20Francis%20ordains%20Msgr.%20Guido%20Marini%20a%20bishop%20in%20St.%20Peter%u2019s%20Basilica: On Sunday, Pope Francis consecrated two new bishops for the Catholic Church in St. Peter’s Basilica: Bishop Guido Marini of Tortona, Italy, and Bishop Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. During the Mass, Pope Francis reminded the bishops-elect to always be close to God, their brother bishops, priests, and the People of God.

God loves you — but did you know He also respects you?

God%20Loves%20You%20%u2014%20But%20Did%20You%20Know%20He%20Also%20Respects%20You%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterSTEFANICK: “Jesus loves you, this I know.” But did you know he also respects you? Think about what that means. God respects your freedom. As mighty as he is, the one force in the universe he’s chosen not to be able to overcome is your will. He died to offer you salvation, but he’d never force it on you. If you were there when he walked to the Earth 2,000 years ago and he came to your door, he’d ask, “Is it okay if I come in right now?”

When “medical waste” is a mirror on the soul of a nation

When 'Medical Waste' Is a Mirror on the Soul of a Nation | National ReviewLOPEZ: Around 1 p.m. today, I went to pray a Rosary across the street from Planned Parenthood in Manhattan. I try to do that daily when I am in New York. For a good while, I was praying — and sometimes sidewalk counseling — there in the mornings. I watched how on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a truck would come with boxes to take away...

America needs to want a Catholic politics

America Needs to Want a Catholic Politics| National Catholic RegisterLIEDL: “Does America need a Catholic politics?” Or, in other words, does our broken political landscape, divided between two rival emphases of the same liberal individualism, need the healing balm of communal solidarity and personal dignity offered by the Church’s social application of the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Texas abortion law survives injunction effort; Supreme Court challenge next

Texas abortion law survives injunction effort; Supreme Court challenge next: A federal appeals court has allowed a heartbeat-based Texas ban on abortion to remain in effect, rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to reinstate an injunction. Biden administration officials have pledged to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate an injunction.

This Sunday, they will follow only if we suffer...

This Sunday, They Will Only Follow If We Suffer | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: There is an easy way to tell whether or not the Church is following the way of servant leadership and suffering that Jesus describes this Sunday, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Where Christian leadership means serving and suffering, numbers are growing. Where Christian leadership means “lording it over” others, numbers are falling. In the United States, our numbers are falling...

The race for chairman of the USCCB liturgy committee is strange: One candidate doesn’t use the Roman Missal, and the other is known for his sacramental ineptitude

The strange race for chair of the USCCB liturgy committee - by Ed. Condon - The Pillar: When the U.S. bishops meet next month in Baltimore, part of the business of their fall assembly will be to elect new chairs for five of their standing committees. Often, these elections throw up candidates from recognizably different wings or strains of opinion within the conference, and set the tone for one school of thought or another to shape a committee’s work.

The fraternity of ‘Vos estis,’ from the Thames to the Tiber, and Pope Francis and the Americans

The fraternity of 'Vos estis', from Thames to Tiber, and Pope Francis and the Americans - by Ed. Condon - The PillarCONDON: Earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced a massive shake up in its institutional footprint with a sweeping plan to first “cluster” parishes and, in time, merge and close many of them. These are the kind of hard choices which many U.S. dioceses are going to face in the coming years.

A tsunami may be headed for prosecutors in the Vatican’s “trial of the century”

Tsunami%20may%20be%20headed%20for%20prosecutors%20in%20Vatican%20%u2018trial%20of%20the%20century%u2019%20%7C%20Crux%20NowALLEN: Somewhere out in the ocean right now, a small buoy is measuring wave direction and speed, along with barometric pressure and water temperature, feeding that data back to observatories. Even small upticks or downticks may signal the first stirrings of what could become a devastating storm. You don’t need special equipment, however, to detect warning signs right now of a legal tsunami...

Jordan Peterson, C.S. Lewis, and the big question, “Is Christian belief just a case of wishful thinking?”

Jordan%20Peterson%2C%20C.S.%20Lewis%2C%20and%20the%20%u201Cwishful%20thinking%u201D%20objection%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportKACZOR: Is it too good to be true, a convenient creed that should be rejected because it is too convenient? C.S. Lewis provides some insights relevant for these questions, “I didn’t go to religion to make me ‘happy.’ I always knew a bottle of Port could do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” Despite its convenience, Lewis rejected a watered down Christianity...

The second conclave: A Polish cardinal returns to Rome in late 1978...

The%20second%20conclave%20begins%20-%20by%20The%20Popecast%20%uD83C%uDDFB%uD83C%uDDE6%20-%20Today%20in%20Papal%20HistorySEWELL: Today in Papal History marks the day in which the Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla, entered the conclave that would elect him pope. This was the year’s second conclave in as many months, thanks to the untimely death of (the soon-to-be-Blessed) Pope John Paul I, who reigned for just 33 days before dying of a sudden heart attack. As the story goes, Cardinal Wojtyla had suspected he might be elected pope...

Exorcist details his ongoing battle against demons in new book about possession

Exorcist Details His Ongoing Battle Against Demons In New Book About PossessionLISI: This is typically the time of year when book publicists love to send out press releases about new books that have something to do with Oct. 31. Halloween has become one of those festivities that have grown in popularity over the last few decades. Once relegated to just being a night for children to dress up and go trick-or-treating, Halloween has grown into a commercial holiday right up there with Christmas...

Sir David Amess, Catholic member of parliament, stabbed to death while meeting with constituents

Sir David Amess: Conservative MP stabbed to death - BBC News: Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex. Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack at a church in Leigh-on-Sea. They said they recovered a knife and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "our hearts are full of shock and sadness" at the loss of "one of the kindest" people in politics.

UK Catholic priest says David Amess was “one of the greatest guys” he’s ever worked with

(5) British lawmaker David Amess dies after being stabbed: Live updates: Rev. Jeff Woolnough, a priest at St. Peter's Parish in Leigh-on-Sea, said he feels "totally numb" following British lawmaker David Amess' death after being stabbed at a constituency meeting.

Could MJ really hang on during Spider-Man’s swing? Let’s do the math...

Could%20MJ%20Really%20Hang%20on%20During%20Spider-Man%u2019s%20Swing%3F%20%7C%20WIRED: I’m a huge Spider-Man fan. It's not because of the Tom Holland version. It's not because of Andrew Garfield’s or even Toby McGuire’s versions. It's thanks to the comic books that I read as a teenager. I've been a Spider-Man fan for a long time. But with great fandom comes a great responsibility

The foundations of the Church’s decline have been in place for decades. It will likely take decades to rebuild what we’ve lost...

The Managed Decline of the Catholic ChurchSAMMONS: Earlier this month the Archbishop of Cincinnati announced his plan to restructure the archdiocese in light of changing demographics and the declining number of priests. The goal: to reduce the number of parishes by 70% over time. Pause for a moment and reflect on that: a major United States archdiocese plans to shut the doors of 7 out of every 10 existing parishes. If you weren’t convinced the Catholic Church was in a state of crisis, then surely that number should wake you from your slumber.

Pope Francis calls abortion is “murder” and says health workers’ conscientious objection to abortion non-negotiable

Pope says health workers' conscientious objection to abortion non-negotiable | Reuters: Health workers have a non-negotiable right to exercise conscientious objection by refusing to participate in an abortion, Pope Francis said on Thursday, calling the procedure "murder". It was at least the third time in a month that the pope has spoken out strongly against abortion, which has become a major political issue in a number of countries, including the United States.

Respect Life Radio: Optimism and hope that Roe v. Wade will fall

Katherine Beck Johnson: Optimism that Roe v. Wade will fall: The U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming review of a 2018 Mississippi law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks "very much has the potential to undo all of the damage that Roe (v. Wade) and Casey (v. Planned Parenthood) have done and we are incredibly optimistic about it," said Katherine Beck Johnson, an attorney who is research fellow for legal and policy studies at the Family Research Council.

Jesus was not a pacifist

Jesus was not a pacifist | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The gentleman in the audience gave me an incredulous look as if he had just heard blasphemy. What drew his ire was the explanation that Jesus Christ did not come to embrace sin but to destroy it at its very core through His death and resurrection. Due to his position that Christ came to establish peace and seek the lost he was still not convinced...

Parenting is the most important work. The selflessness of mothers and fathers is a cause for hope...

Parenting Is the Most Important Work | National ReviewLOPEZ: ‘The decision to have children has always struck me as an essentially selfish one: You choose, out of a desire for fulfillment or self-betterment or curiosity or boredom or baby-mania or peer pressure, to bring a new human into this world. And it has never seemed more selfish than today. There are a lot of pressures in the world today...

Jesus in Times Square: Priests and nuns lead beautiful Eucharistic procession on streets of New York City

Jesus in Times Square: Priests & Nuns Lead Beautiful Eucharistic Procession on Streets of NYC -: The Napa Institute led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of New York City on Oct. 12, the evening before the 104th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s Miracle of the Sun. Pictures and videos surfaced online of the beautiful event sponsored by the Catholic leadership organization during its Principled Entrepreneurship Conference in Manhattan.

Christ is the key to your life — He unlocks your story and pieces it together into a coherent whole

The Image: Piecing Life Together - St. John Vianney Lay DivisionSTAUDT: When we think back on our own story, we can’t conceive of it as one coherent narrative. We might remember one moment here, and then another there, and not in any particular order. And yet, if we think for long enough, something coherent will begin to emerge. And of course, our story is not just about us; we have to think of others and their impact on us as well...

The conversion of such a high-profile intellectual as Michael Nazir-Ali is an enormous boost for the Catholic Ordinariate, set up by Pope Benedict XVI

Ex Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali converts to Catholicism | The SpectatorDAMIANTHOMPSON: Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester and one of the best-known Anglican clerics, could be ordained as a Catholic priest as early as next month. The conversion of such a high-profile intellectual would be an enormous boost for the Catholic Ordinariate, set up by Pope Benedict XVI to receive Anglicans into the Roman church...

Software piracy and a classic case of doubt of conscience

Software Piracy and a Classic Case of Doubt of Conscience| National Catholic RegisterBRUGGER: The following moral principle applies to all cases of doubtful conscience: If we are contemplating some behavior that we believe might be wrong, we should refrain from acting until we settle the question. This is because one who willfully does what he believes might be evil is willing to do that evil. And a will willing to do evil is a bad will.

High-profile Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali becomes Catholic, will be ordained a priest “in due course”

Michael Nazir-Ali, Prominent Former Anglican Bishop Received into Catholic Church| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: A prominent and retired Church of England bishop once tipped to become a future Archbishop of Canterbury has been received into the Catholic Church, becoming one of the most high-profile Anglican clergymen to make the journey to Rome possibly since Father Ronald Knox in 1917. Michael Nazir-Ali was received into the Church on Sept. 29, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel...

“And God said, Let the waters be gathered together” — Scientists say new findings are “complete reversal” in understanding why Earth became hospitable and Venus didn’t

New findings a 'complete reversal' in understanding why Earth became hospitable to life and its 'twin' didn't - CNN: Venus may be a sweltering wasteland today, but scientists have questioned whether the planet was always so inhospitable. While previous studies suggested Venus might have once been covered in oceans, new research has found the opposite: Venus has likely never been able to support oceans.

Confessions of a pro-life Catholic Democrat in a divided nation

Confessions of a pro-life Catholic Democrat in a divided nation | America MagazineLIPINSKI: One year after the most divisive elections in at least 50 years, there is little evidence that distrust and animosity laid bare by that bitter contest—and its horrific aftermath on Jan. 6—are going anywhere. Americans remain divided over longstanding culture war issues like abortion and climate change and more recent issues such as the best policy response to the ongoing pandemic.

Oct. 13 is the day of “the Miracle of the Sun,” when St. Joseph was seen at Fatima

St.%20Joseph%u2019s%20Celestial%20Appearance%20at%20Fatima%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: The Year of St. Joseph has already had its liturgical highpoints — the Feast of the Holy Family last December, the Solemnity of St. Joseph himself in March and the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker in May. Then there are the infancy feasts of Jesus where Joseph is present: Christmas, Epiphany, the Presentation in the Temple. There is even a lesser known feast of the “Holy Espousals” of Joseph and Mary (Jan. 23).

The Supreme Court regularly overturns precedents. It has even established rules for doing so. Here are 8 reasons to overturn Roe v. Wade...

Eight Reasons to Overturn Roe v. Wade ~ The Imaginative ConservativeASCIK: With the widespread public furor about whether the Supreme Court will overturn its more-than-landmark 1973 abortion decision in Roe v. Wade, it is necessary to recognize that the Supreme Court’s abortion decisions, in their content and in their judicial methods, are without precedent in American jurisprudential, political, social, cultural, and moral history...

Child’s play is a serious thing

Making Good Play Happen Today - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: What sounds like a sweet childhood ditty in fact points to one of the most significant, and challenging, of issues today. How do our children play? The play of children is a unique and wondrous thing. It is also powerfully determinative of who a child will become, and so it is worthy of more attention than we give it. For children play is serious.

John Paul I to Be Beatified After Miracle Approved by Pope Francis

John%20Paul%20I%2C%20%u2018The%20Smiling%20Pope%2C%u2019%20to%20be%20Beatified%20After%20Miracle%20Approved%20by%20Pope%20Francis%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Pope Francis has recognized a miracle obtained through the intercession of his predecessor Venerable John Paul I, who will now be declared “blessed.” Often called “the smiling pope,” John Paul I died unexpectedly on Sept. 28, 1978, after just 33 days in office. A priority of his short pontificate was carrying forward the work of the Second Vatican Council. But even before he was elected Pope, Albino Luciani was known for his humility, his emphasis on spiritual poverty, and his dedication to teaching the faith in an understandable manner.

The lies of the devil and the empty promises of the world

The Lies of the Devil and the Empty Promises of the World - SpiritualDirection.comPOPE: One of the great illusions under which we labor is that if we only get just one more thing from this world, then we will be happy. Perhaps we think that if we just had a little more money, or a better job, or the latest iPhone, or if we were married to so-and-so, or if we lived in a better neighborhood, then we would be satisfied and content at last...

CNN calls pro-abortion plan to block Texas law a ‘Hail Mary’ effort

Abortion-rights%20groups%20planning%20%27Hail%20Mary%27%20efforts%20to%20block%20Texas%20law%3F%20%23REALLY%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: Faithful followers of this website know that many, many of the news reports we critique are based on tips from readers. These emails are important to me because, frankly, there is no way for us to follow as many media sources as our readers do, combined. This is especially true now that our team, due to finances, is smaller than it was for the previous decade or so...

Prayers, questions, and the XY problem

Prayers, questions, and the XY problem - by Tim Clark - Between The PawsTIMCLARK: I love beautiful questions. While the saying may be true that “there’s no such thing as a stupid question,” it certainly does not follow that every question is beautiful. In the recent Sunday Gospels, Our Lord has answered several questions posed to Him by those who are not His followers. After meditating on these passages for a bit, and on many of the other questions that Christ is asked in the Gospel, I realized that...

The Tuesday Pillar Post: Liturgy nerds, hope in suffering, and Carlo Acutis

Liturgy nerds, hope in suffering, and Carlo Acutis - by JD Flynn - The Pillar: A Catholic school in the Archdiocese of New York aims to uniquely serve students with moderate and severe learning disabilities. While the trend in education is to focus on the inclusion of children with disabilities in typical classrooms — and while many Catholic schools have no special education programs at all...

The synod on synodality has launched, but many questions remain

Synod on Synodality Launches, Yet Many Questions Remain| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Pope Francis used a quartet of trios to launch the first phase of the synod on synodality, local meetings preparing for the regional, national, continental and hemispheric meetings that will lead up to the synod of bishops in October 2023. On Saturday, in an address to the launch meeting for the elongated synod process, he spoke of three themes...

Pilgrims flock to tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi ahead of feast day

Pilgrims flock to beatified teen's tomb in Assisi ahead of feast day - Catholic News Service: Thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian teenager whose use of technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist prompted Pope Francis to hail him as a role model for young people today.

As support for Columbus Day wanes, it’s worth revisiting the events that led to the first celebration.

Columbus Comes Full Circle - by Chris Stirewalt - The Dispatch: The bad news for proud Italian Americans is that Columbus Day looks about as sunk as the Santa Maria. It’s been 129 years since the first major national celebration of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World, and the holiday for the most famous Genoese in history has never been in lower standing in American culture.

The timing of Nancy Pelosi’s Roman holiday is remarkable, to say the least

Pelosi%u2019s%20Roman%20Holiday%20-%20by%20JD%20Flynn%20-%20The%20PillarJDFLYNN: October might be the best month to visit Rome. The summer heat has broken, and the weather is perfect. The colors are starting to change. And the food — mushrooms, truffles, pumpkin, and broccoletti are in season, and wonderful. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Rome this month, and no doubt enjoyed some of those things. But the visit was also politically convenient for the congresswoman...

Pope Francis names Msgr. Diego Ravelli Master of Ceremonies for Vatican Papal Liturgies, replacing Msgr. Guido Marini

Pope Francis Names Master of Ceremonies for Vatican Papal Liturgies| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis on Monday appointed Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli the Vatican’s next lead master of ceremonies for papal liturgies, replacing Monsignor Guido Marini, who held the post for 14 years. Monsignor Ravelli was also named head of the Pope’s Sistine Chapel Choir.

“Some of the worst we’ve seen in decades” — Vandals hit Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver

Cathedral Basilica in Denver vandalized Sunday | 9news.com: The Denver Police Department (DPD) is investigating after graffiti was found on a prominent Catholic church Sunday morning. According to Father Samuel Morehead, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Colfax Avenue and Logan Street was tagged with "some of the worst graffiti the staff have seen in decades."

Nancy Pelosi leaves Mass in Rome due to “security concerns” over Green Pass demonstration, not heckling (as some news reports had said)

Nancy Pelosi Leaves Mass in Rome Due to Security Concerns| National Catholic Register: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband left Mass at a church in Rome Saturday due to a “security incident,” the church's rector said. “You probably heard or saw the commotion. Unfortunately, I guess, there was a security incident and sadly Speaker Pelosi and her husband had to leave,” Father Steven Petroff, rector of St. Patrick's Church in Rome, said in a video posted on social media.

‘Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World’ is wildly popular — and faithfully, reasonably Catholic

Entering%20%u2018Jimmy%20Akin%u2019s%20Mysterious%20World%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTURLEY: Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World is an unusual podcast. Dealing with the fantastical, it is both wildly popular and, refreshingly, solidly Catholic. Unlike other successful and more conventional Catholic podcasts, such as Father Mike Schmitz’s The Bible in a Year, Mysterious World deals with theology and what might loosely be described as “the paranormal”...

How is racism like abortion?

How Is Racism Like Abortion?| National Catholic RegisterSTEFANICK: So how is racism like abortion — and sexual abuse, for that matter? The original temptation of the Serpent that lured Adam and Eve in the garden was, “You will be like gods.” See, God’s plan all along was to make us partakers in divine nature. He wanted us to be like him! The problem with the Serpent is that he was promising a path when we become like gods, without God, without grace...

150 years ago, the Great Chicago Fire raged — and Our Lady of Good Help worked a miracle

150%20Years%20Ago%2C%20the%20Great%20Chicago%20Fire%20Raged%20%u2014%20and%20Our%20Lady%20of%20Good%20Help%20Worked%20a%20Miracle%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterAMYSMITH: One hundred and fifty years ago the Great Chicago Fire broke out. The conflagration burned through the Windy City Oct. 8-10, 1871. And the city’s cathedral was not spared when it was a parish church. In “Chicago’s Cathedral,” the Register reported, “In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire claimed what was then Holy Name Church...

Autumn is a good time to learn a poem by heart. Here are 21 fall poems we love to memorize...

Fall Poems We Love to Memorize | Heights Forum: We all associate the cooler, shorter days with the return of many good things. Fall feels scholastic as the leaves begin to litter the campus and the boys toss footballs on the field. In the classroom, we return to memorizing poetry for the Bard Competition at the Festival Days. We memorize poetry for all kinds of great reasons, which we’ve defended in the past. This article seeks rather to celebrate and share the great poems of Fall that we’ve committed to memory and performed.

A Protestant discovers the real St. Francis of Assisi — a reformer who didn’t try to start his own Church

A Protestant Discovers the Real St. Francis - Dr. MaryJo Burchard - The Coming Home Network: As a pastor’s daughter, Dr. MaryJo Burchard was well acquainted with the challenges of reforming Christian communities due to her father’s work as a transitional leader for churches in crisis. That experience led her to pursue academic studies in organizational leadership, and in doing so, she discovered the real St. Francis of Assisi: a radical disciple of Jesus who saw the brokenness of the Catholicism of his day, but rather than leaving it to start something new, gave up everything to rebuild the Church.

This wandering wild porcupine was only the fourth-weirdest thing that happened at the Vatican this week

Wild porcupine not even the weirdest thing at the Vatican this week | Crux NowALLEN: Rome already has become grumpily accustomed to the sight of wild boars roaming through the streets, often feeding on uncollected garbage and generally making a mockery of any pretense at city management. Indeed, viral images of one such family of boars strolling downtown in late September hammered the final nail into the political coffin of incumbent Mayor Virginia Raggi, who lost her reelection bid overwhelmingly last week.

I used to chop 75 pounds of onions a day — here’s a trick I learned to stop crying

I%20chopped%2075%20pounds%20of%20onions%20a%20day%20%u2014%20here%27s%20how%20I%20learned%20to%20stop%20crying%20%7C%20Salon.com: For some people, working in a restaurant means the chance to put their hard-earned culinary degree to use. For me, it meant lots and lots of crying. After I graduated from a fancy liberal arts college and failed to get a salaried office job with a business casual dress code and summer Fridays, I decided to take a different path in order to get my dream job working as a food writer...

Bourbon whiskey is good for what ails you

Good%20for%20What%20Ails%20You%3A%20A%20Wandering%20Review%20of%20Bourbon%20Whiskey%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20FieldHANNING: “Bourbon is good medicine!” Or so claimed the lobbyist looking to leave a loophole in the 1919 Prohibition Act that banned all alcohol except that which was used for religious sacraments and those medicinal distillates prescribed by doctors. While the slogan was exaggerated by politicians (and exploited by the usual assortment of snake-oil salesmen), it turns out there was some validity to the claim...

How much does Heaven cost? And are you willing to pay it?

What Does Heaven Cost? A Homily for the 28th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: A rich man asks Jesus, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Though his question is a good one, it is problematic because he couches it in terms of his own personal power and achievement. He wonders what he himself must do to attain eternal life. The problem is that none of us has the holiness, the spiritual wealth, or the power to attain Heaven...

This Sunday, you get what you give and you lose what you take

This Sunday, You Get What You Give and You Lose What You Take | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: Jesus tells a young man who he is in the Gospel for this Sunday, the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Who is this young man? He is called to greatness, a chosen companion of Christ on earth, made to live forever in glory with the greatest people (and angels) of all time in the eternal rest of heaven that follows the hard work of earth.

Pope Francis launches two-year ‘synodal path’ with Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope%20Francis%20Launches%202-Year%20Synodal%20Path%20with%20Call%20to%20%u2018Encounter%2C%20Listen%2C%20and%20Discern%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Pope Francis formally launched the two-year global consultation process leading to the 2023 synod on synodality on Sunday with a call to “look others in the eye and listen to what they have to say.” Preaching at a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 10, the Pope said that Catholics taking part in the synodal path should strive to “become experts in the art of encounter.”

5 animals you didn’t know existed

New%20Advent%3A%205%20animals%20you%20didn%u2019t%20know%20existed: Ever heard of a humphead parrotfish, or seen a worm-eating giant snail?! Here are 5 animals you might have never heard of.

Bill Freehan of the Detroit Tigers died Aug. 19. He was a Catholic gentleman behind the plate

A Catholic gentleman behind the plateWEIGEL: As Major League Baseball begins its post-season, let us pause and remember the late, great Bill Freehan of the Detroit Tigers, who died this past August 19: a Catholic gentleman and a great ballplayer. If I say that Bill Freehan was the Motown equivalent of Brooks Robinson, please understand that as the highest tribute a native Baltimorean could pay to a ballplayer and a man.

Do you often cringe after conversations, convinced you made a bad impression? Relax. Research shows that people like you more than you think...

Why you make better first impressions than you think - BBC Worklife: After meeting someone for the first time, do you see yourself as a glittering conversationalist, a kind of Wildean wit whose bons mots sparkled and delighted? Or do you find yourself wincing at every possible faux pas, imagining all the ways you may have bored or offended?

How much does the Church influence politics? It depends on how much the Church maintains her discipline and focus on Christ

Catholic%20political%20influence%3A%20The%20elected%u2026and%20the%20elect%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: As a resident of New York State for the first nineteen years of my life, I remember hearing my mother and father discuss whether they ought to vote again for Nelson Rockefeller as Governor of the Empire State, considering that after a period of extra-marital affairs he had divorced his first wife only to marry again almost immediately...

True confessions, Miami vice, and the communion of saints

True confessions, Miami vice, and the communion of saints - by Ed. Condon - The PillarCONDON: Ever wondered if your confessor was letting you off lightly, or if Father X’s reputation for harsh penances meant he should dial it back a little? Ever wanted to know if there are, you know, rules about what a priest can assign in the confessional? Well, this week, Michelle McDaniel talked to several priests to try to answer these questions and let you in behind the grill a little...

Pope Francis and Nancy Pelosi meet at the Vatican

Pope Francis and Nancy Pelosi meet at the Vatican: Pope Francis met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Saturday. At the time of publication, the Vatican had released no information about what the pope and Pelosi discussed, in line with its usual custom for papal meetings with non-heads of state.

The mission of the Church is to recapitulate, in the deeper sense of Sts. Paul and Irenaeus

The%20Motto%20of%20St.%20Pius%20X%20and%20the%20Restoration%20of%20the%20Church%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportTSAKANIKAS: The Church Burns would be an English translation for the title of Andrea Riccardi’s recent book, La Chiesa Brucia. He began writing it after Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was severely damaged by fire. The internationally renowned professor saw in the cathedral a symbol of the situation of the Church today in crisis…the Church burns. The book’s promotions make clear that people inside and outside the Church are aware of the crisis and worry that it represents a definitive decline of Christianity.

Do we have the courage to look behind feminism’s curtain?

Do%20We%20Have%20the%20Courage%20to%20Look%20Behind%20Feminism%u2019s%20Curtain%3F%20-%20Walking%20With%20PurposeGRESS: There is something in the female nature that is drawn to fashion and trends. Words like savvy, fresh, and cosmopolitan evoke a woman who is smart and hip. Trends don’t end with skirt hems, eye shadow shades, and changing seasons; ideas can also be fashionable. For the past fifty years, western women have been told by an unrelenting chorus that feminism is a trend we should all get behind.

Biden and Becerra are making you fund Abortion, Inc. (again)

Biden and Becerra Are Making You Fund Abortion, Inc. (Again) | National ReviewSEVERINO: If there is any common ground on abortion, it consists of this: People shouldn’t be forced to assist or pay for other people’s abortions and abortion shouldn’t be used as a method of birth control. This position, held by a stable majority of Americans, recognizes the serious moral implications of intentionally ending a human life in the womb, even among those who believe some circumstances can justify it.

Former Swiss Guard: My most powerful weapon is the Holy Rosary

Former Swiss Guard: My Most Powerful Weapon - Cameron School of Business BlogMARIOENZLER: On the liturgical calendar October 7th is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast celebrates the naval victory of the Holy League fleet at Lepanto which in 1571 saved Christian Civilization from defeat at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Pope Pius V knew well the tremendous importance of resisting the aggressive expansion of the Ottomans and the certain consequences of defeat at their hands...

Why do many of the historical claims leveled against the Catholic Church fall flat?

The Catholic Problem of History | Prime Matters: Perhaps you have found yourself in this sort of a situation: you are in a conversation that touches on Christianity, and at a certain point a historical Molotov cocktail is thrown into the middle of it, “Yes, but what about the Crusades (or the Inquisition, or the trial of Galileo, or the imperialistic colonial missionaries, or the Renaissance popes with their mistresses and poisons)?” There you stand, stuttering, partly because such questions...

In money and sex abuse cases, Vatican tribunal shows some spine

In money and sex abuse cases, Vatican tribunal shows some spine | Crux NowALLEN: It’s probably fair to say that over the centuries, the pope’s criminal justice system hasn’t exactly enjoyed a sterling reputation. Nineteenth century French novelist and journalist Edmond About, whose 1859 book The Roman Question remains arguably the single best treatment of the papal court, wrote that in the unlikely event you were ever to see a Church official being prosecuted...

The Holy Rosary is so important, I’ve written on it 20 times

The%20Holy%20Rosary%20is%20so%20important%u2026I%u2019ve%20written%20on%20it%2020%20times%20%u2013%20TOM%20PERNAPERNA: Today, marks the 20th time that I have written on the great spiritual weapon known as the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary – yes, it is that important! As I reflect on the Holy Rosary, I remember that throughout my life, in times when I needed prayer the most, it was always the Holy Rosary that was in my hands. From my early college days to the week my father passed away...

‘Luxury’ 2,700-year-old toilet discovered in Jerusalem

'Luxury' 2,700-year-old toilet discovered in Jerusalem | CNN Travel: A 2,700-year-old toilet has been found during archaeological excavations of a former royal mansion in Jerusalem. Dating from the end of the 7th century BCE, the private toilet cubicle, was unearthed in the remains of the building, which overlooks the City of David archaeological site and the Temple Mount, according to a press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), published Wednesday.

Why do Carmelite rosaries have six decades? Why this extra decade?

The Carmelite Rosary - El Rosario Carmelita - Discalced Carmelite Friars: Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! If you look closely, you might notice that the rosary worn by many Discalced Carmelite friars and nuns is a little different than other rosaries. The main difference is that these rosaries often have six decades, or groups of ten beads, instead of just five decades like the rosary most people carry in their pocket or purse or have hanging in their car. Why this extra decade?

Pope Francis to Declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church with Title ‘Doctor of Unity’

Pope%20Francis%20to%20Declare%20St.%20Irenaeus%20a%20Doctor%20of%20the%20Church%20with%20Title%20%u2018Doctor%20of%20Unity%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Pope Francis said on Thursday that he plans to declare St. Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church with the title “Doctor unitatis,” meaning “Doctor of Unity.” The Pope made the announcement in a speech to the St. Irenaeus Working Group, a group of Catholic and Orthodox theologians who conducted a study together on synodality and primacy.

‘Welcome to Miami’ — Vatican defendant Enrico Crasso bought condos with shell corps

%u2018Welcome%20to%20Miami%u2019%20-%20Vatican%20defendant%20bought%20condos%20with%20shell%20corps%20-%20by%20The%20Pillar%20-%20The%20Pillar: Former Vatican investment manager Enrico Crasso is standing trial in the Vatican for embezzlement, corruption, extortion, money laundering, fraud, abuse of office, and forgery — charges which the Italian denies. Crasso managed the Vatican’s investment in a fund which backed several Hollywood films, including “Men in Black International” and the Elton John biopic “Rocketman.”

Scandal-ridden Legionaries of Christ named in Pandora Papers

Scandal-ridden Legionaries of Christ named in Pandora Papers | Crux NowSANMARTIN: Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have all been named in the exposé of the financial secrets and offshore dealings known as the Pandora Papers. However, there’s only one Catholic institution named: The Legionaries of Christ religious order.

Pandora Papers: As the Legionaries of Christ fought sex abuse claims, secret trusts devoted to it poured millions into American rental properties

As Catholic order fought sex abuse claims, secret trusts devoted to it poured millions into American rental properties - ICIJ: In January, Carlos Lomena, a truck driver in suburban Miami who lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic, begged a judge to stop his landlord from evicting him. The 37-year-old Lomena hoped to get a fair shake in court. He’d emigrated from Venezuela after high school with a sense that the U.S. had a more just legal system...

This priest was busted for homosexual abuse of minors, just two years after his ordination. How did he get past all the safeguards?

The Formation of a New Priest Who Abused Minors: How Did He Slip Past Seminary Screening Policies?| National Catholic RegisterROBERTS: When Father Robert McWilliams was charged with sex and pornography crimes involving children just two years after his ordination, few were more stunned than those who had screened and formed him for priesthood. This was a priest chosen and educated in the wake of the Church’s clergy sex-abuse scandal, someone who had undergone an intensive, detailed vetting process and seminary training steeped in teaching about sexual ethics and appropriate boundaries.

‘This is a moment of shame’: Pope Francis expresses sorrow at French abuse report

%u2018This%20is%20a%20moment%20of%20shame%u2019%3A%20Pope%20Francis%20expresses%20sorrow%20at%20French%20abuse%20report: Pope Francis expressed sadness and shame on Wednesday in response to a report estimating that hundreds of thousands of children were abused in the Catholic Church in France over the past 70 years.

In Vatican trial surprise, the defense turns the tables

In Vatican trial surprise, defense turns the tables. And it might work - by JD Flynn - The PillarJDFLYNN: The ruling wouldn’t formally bring the case to an end, but it would be widely understood as a sign that the Vatican City’s prosecutors are not up to the job they’ve been given, and need a mulligan to set things right. If judges give them a reset, there is a decent chance the case will never again see the inside of a courtroom.

Vatican finance trial: Judges order prosecutors to re-do interrogations, hand over evidence

Vatican finance trial: Judges order prosecutors to re-do interrogations, hand over evidence: Judges in the Vatican finance trial ruled on Wednesday that the prosecution’s office needs to hand over missing evidence to the defense, while also re-doing a part of the investigation into seven of the 10 defendants, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu. The Vatican tribunal also asked the prosecutor to clarify Msgr. Alberto Perlasca’s position in the case...

Hartford’s Archbishop Blair gives Dominicans the boot, ending 135 years of service at historic St. Mary’s church in New Haven

Dominican friars to leave St. Mary's Church in New Haven: In January 2022, parochial oversight of St. Mary’s Church and Priory in New Haven will return to the Archdiocese of Hartford. The announcement was made Tuesday.

Priests acquitted in historic Vatican seminary abuse trial

Priests acquitted in historic Vatican seminary abuse trial - by The Pillar - The Pillar: A Vatican City State judge on Wednesday handed down verdicts in the trial of two priests accused of abuse and cover-ups at a Vatican City preseminary for minors, clearing them both of the charges against them.

Beautiful video: Watch as a young woman bids farewell to her family and enters a cloistered convent

Beautiful: Watch as Women Enters Cloistered Convent, Family Weeps & Bids Farewell: Catholic journalist and Shalom World correspondent Sachin Jose posted a tearjerking video on the Oct. 5 feast of St. Faustina.

When it comes to the Church, Protestants say the darndest things

When it comes to the Church, Protestants say the darndest things - Our Sunday VisitorMILLS: It’s baffling how much even learned Protestants get wrong about Catholicism. They seem to do it most when they think they’re disproving the Church’s claims. They’re like a linebacker who celebrates tackling a receiver when a running back on the other side of the field runs the ball in for a touchdown.

Strands of thought, hair and prayer

Strands%20of%20Thought%2C%20Hair%20and%20Prayer%u2026%20%7C%20Sherry%20AntonettiANTONETTI: Every day, I brush my hair when it itches as I get up, and clumps come out. In my lighter moments, I can joke. In my less fun moments, my kids have seen my face fall, and they’re quick with a, “You’re still beautiful Mom.” And my husband’s line resonates for all time: “I will love you in all your seasons.” They know this is more than vanity, but it sometimes feels like it is just being vain, to cry over something that is temporary and a side effect of a necessary treatment...