Pope Francis: ‘The Doctor Has Told Me Not to Walk’

Pope%20Francis%3A%20%u2018The%20doctor%20has%20told%20me%20not%20to%20walk%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis said on Saturday that he continues to have problems with his leg, for which his doctor has ordered him not to walk. “There is a problem: this leg is not good, it does not work, and the doctor has told me not to walk. I like to go... but this time I have to obey the doctor,” he said in a meeting with a Catholic pilgrimage group from Slovakia on April 30. At the end of his speech in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the pope said he would not be able to walk to greet the Slovakian pilgrims.

About Catherine, Edgar, and Elon

About Catherine, Edgar, and Elon - by Ed. CondonCONDON: And a happy feast of St. Catherine of Siena, to whom I have always had a special devotion. She is a saint of many virtues, and her Dialogue is about as full-bore as spiritual reading can get. But, if I am honest, it is her letters to Pope Gregory XI — the last Avignon pope — which I find myself thinking about most often.

The Vatican’s ‘Trial of the Century’ faces a backlash and comparisons to the Inquisition

Vatican%u2019s%20%u2018Trial%20of%20the%20Century%u2019%20faces%20backlash%2C%20comparisons%20to%20Inquisition%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: It’s been a rough week for the case against Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine other defendants in the Vatican’s “Trial of the Century,” with challenges facing the prosecution both inside the courtroom and also more than 230 miles away. On the inside, the court heard (and rejected) another due process complaint from defense attorneys this week, one which actually compared the current trial to the era of the Inquisition. It also heard testimony from one of the defendants that did not appear to bolster the prosecution case.

Secrets of the Moon’s permanent shadows are coming to light

Secrets%20of%20the%20Moon%u2019s%20Permanent%20Shadows%20Are%20Coming%20to%20Light%20%7C%20Quanta%20Magazine: On October 9, 2009, a two-ton rocket smashed into the moon traveling at 9,000 kilometers per hour. As it exploded in a shower of dust and heated the lunar surface to hundreds of degrees, the jet-black crater into which it plummeted, called Cabeus, briefly filled with light for the first time in billions of years.

Easter is serious business with a message that summons us to the battle with confidence...

An Easter Exhortation - Community in MissionPOPE: Despite the Easter glow, there was also at those gatherings a sober awareness that these are dark days and that the Lord is calling us to be willing to suffer and sacrifice for the truth of the gospel. Recent readings from Scripture have also had this theme. The readings in daily Mass this past week (from the Acts of the Apostles) show the joy of a poor, lame man healed by Peter and John at the Gate called Beautiful. By week’s end Peter and John were arrested for the “dangerous” act of glorifying Jesus and forced to appear before the Jewish court. More suffering and arrests would follow.

8 things to know and share about St. Catherine of Siena

8 Things to Know and Share About St. Catherine of Siena| National Catholic RegisterAKIN: April 29 is the memorial of St. Catherine of Siena. She is a saint, a mystic and a doctor of the Church, as well as a patroness of Italy and of Europe. Who was she, and why is her life so significant? Here are 8 things to know and share. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave an audience in which he discussed the basic facts of her life: Born in Siena [Italy] in 1347, into a very large family, she died in Rome in 1380.

Catholic Priests Criticize New Code of Conduct in Swiss Diocese as ‘Attempt to Implant LGBT Ideology’

Catholic%20priests%20criticize%20new%20code%20of%20conduct%20in%20Swiss%20diocese%20as%20%u2018attempt%20to%20implant%20LGBT%20ideology%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A group of priests in the Swiss diocese of Chur has raised concerns over a new code of conduct for the prevention of assault, claiming that it violates “the doctrine and discipline of the Catholic Church” in several instances. The clerics described the diocesan code as an attempt to “implant LGBT ideology in the Church under the guise of assault prevention, thereby undermining the Church’s doctrine of faith,” reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner. Bishop Joseph Bonnemain of Chur signed the code of conduct himself in early April.

Jesus said He came to cast fire upon the earth. Our task is to kindle that blaze and help it grow...

Fire Upon the Earth by Charles J. Chaput | Articles | First ThingsCHAPUT: Contempt for religious faith has been growing in America’s leadership classes for many decades, as scholars such as Christian Smith and Christopher Lasch have shown. But in recent years, government pressure on religious entities has increased. It involves interfering with the conscience rights of medical providers, private employers, and individual citizens. It includes attacks on the policies, hiring practices, and tax statuses of religious charities, hospitals, and other ministries. These attacks will get worse as America’s religious character weakens.

As St. Peter Chanel shows, God likes to write salvation history in places like Bethlehem and Nazareth — and Futuna

Holiness Off the Beaten Path: St. Peter Chanel, Protomartyr of Oceania| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Ever hear of a place called Futuna? If not, don’t be surprised — you probably haven’t unless you are a philatelist. While it’s not exactly the “remotest place on earth” (Tristan da Cunha, in the South Atlantic, claims that distinction) you probably aren’t going to wind up on Futuna unless you really want to. It’s about 3,100 miles east of Australia and 1,800 miles northeast of New Zealand in the South Pacific. By those stretches, “nearby” American Samoa — a little over 500 miles east — is practically a leisurely swim away.

Benedict XVI and Cardinal Dziwisz Meet at Vatican to Mark 8th Anniversary of St. John Paul II’s Canonization

Benedict%20XVI%20greets%20St.%20John%20Paul%20II%u2019s%20long-time%20secretary%20on%20canonization%20anniversary%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: St. John Paul II’s long-time secretary visited Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on Wednesday. Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz met with the pope emeritus at the Vatican on April 27, the eighth anniversary of the Polish pope’s canonization. The Archdiocese of Kraków, southern Poland, said that Dziwisz, who led the archdiocese from 2005 to 2016, celebrated Mass at the tomb of St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Why did Christ’s glorified body still have wounds?

Why%20Did%20Christ%u2019s%20Glorified%20Body%20Still%20Have%20Wounds%3F%20-%20Community%20in%20MissionPOPE: Several of the Resurrection accounts stress that Jesus showed the disciples His wounds. On one level we can understand that He was trying to make clear to them that the same Christ who was crucified stood before them; He was not a ghost or an apparition or simply someone who looked like Jesus. When Christ rose, He took up His same, true body, but it now manifested a perfected glory. When we rise on the last day, the same will be true of our bodies. Why, then, were Christ’s wounds visible in His glorified body? Are not wounds and scars inconsistent with a glorified body?

Take it from an exorcist: ‘Braco the Gazer’ is no joke

Take%20It%20From%20an%20Exorcist%3A%20The%20New%20Age%20Performer%20%u2018Braco%20the%20Gazer%u2019%20Is%20No%20Joke%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterARMSTRONG: When I clicked on a video about “Braco, He Who Gazes” I kept waiting for the punch line. I did not imagine that people were actually spending money for a man to look at them. It must be a satire, I thought. No way this could be serious! The video showed thousands of people who paid $8 each to see a man stare at them in five-minute sessions with a spacy, smirk-like expression. No speaking. No juggling. No singing. No punch line.

This is the best work on prayer I have ever read

This Is the Best Work on Prayer I Have Ever Read| National Catholic RegisterDANTUONO: Around the beginning of the fifth century, there was an elderly widow named Proba. One day in Church she heard the passage from Romans which says that we do not know how we ought to pray (Romans 8:26). This was confusing to hear because she knew that she ought to pray and that dedicating herself to prayer was an important role she had to play as a widow in the Church. How was it that she was supposed to give herself to intercession and prayer if, according to the Bible, we do not know how we ought to pray?

Avoid a group called “Priests for the Restoration of Catholic Life” — here’s why

Avoid the "Priests for the Restoration of Catholic Life" | FrMatthewLCSCHNEIDER: Some odd tweets from a priest on Twitter lead me to look at the Congregatio de Institione Catholica Vitae, AKA “Priests for the Restoration of Catholic Life.” It turns out that Bishop Virgil Bradley Tetherow is a key figure in this group. As I was one of the few people who had written about then Fr. Tetherow, I feel the obligation to warn people about this group. Tetherow, Fr. Stephen Lefort, Bishop Joseph Macek, and Fr. Etienne Videon are the only members I am aware of. There is little information on Macek and Videon online. The first two have very questionable backstories. Let’s look at these two, their sedevacantism, other and why Catholics should not associate with the Congregatio de Institione Catholica Vitae.

People who have suffered can tell people who are suffering: “Fear not. I have been there too. You will never be alone. Ever.”

Another Gift in Suffering - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: The incomparable Virgil once again gives us words through which to see our own life. There is a reason that in Dante’s masterpiece The Divine Comedy Virgil acts as a guide. Including to Christians. Why do we suffer? And what good can come of it? This is rightly one of the great recurring questions in human life. It is a theoretical question, worthy of much reflection and long treatises. It is also a profoundly personal issue, arising with poignancy for each of us, more at some times than at others.

Pope Francis has begun a wave of new appointments at the Vatican

Pope Francis Has Begun a Wave of New Appointments at the Vatican| National Catholic RegisterGAGLIARDUCCI: With the appointment of two secretaries at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and the confirmation of new leaders at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Francis has embarked on a series of personnel changes before the new Vatican constitution comes into effect in June. Published on March 19, the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium regulates the tasks and offices of the Roman Curia. Almost nine years in the making, the document will enter into force on June 5.

Catholic priest reveals his role in DC aborted babies case: ‘I buried them myself’

Catholic priest reveals role in DC aborted babies case: 'I buried them myself' | Catholic News Agency: A West Virginia priest is speaking publicly about his role in providing a funeral Mass and dignified burial for more than 100 aborted babies that pro-life activists say they rescued outside of a Washington, D.C., abortion clinic. “I buried the babies myself,” Father Bill Kuchinsky, 62, a longtime advocate for the unborn who also runs the Catholic prison ministry for the entire state of West Virginia, revealed in an interview with CNA. He declined to disclose the burial location other than to say it was in a private cemetery.

A French nun just became the world’s oldest person — here’s her secret to longevity

French Nun Becomes World's Oldest Person - Her Secret to LongevityBURKEPILE: French Sister André Randon became the world’s oldest person after the death of 119-year-old Japanese woman Kane Tanaka. Tanaka passed away on Tues., April 19 in Japan. Sister Randon turned 118 in February, celebrating with a glass of wine and some chocolate. She also survived Covid-19 prior to her 117th birthday.

Confessors: Know when to be an editor, an umpire, an observant spouse or a GPS. Penitents: Know how to be blunt, be brief, and be gone...

A Stylist Manual for Confessors | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: In His first appearance to His assembled Apostles after the Resurrection, Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” These newly ordained priests, therefore, became His first confessors. Jesus sends them to hear confessions and to forgive sins in His name.

The number of infant baptisms is way, way down in our American churches. If you don’t realize how bad this is, you’re part of the problem...

An epidemic of unbaptized Catholics | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Crisis editor Eric Sammons calls attention to a frightening statistic. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate finds that in American Catholic churches, the number of infant baptisms—which has been dropping steadily for 20 years—went into a nosedive in 2020. “I know many 2020 Baptisms didn’t happen because of Covid restrictions, but do we really think they were later baptized?” Sammons asks. For many thousands of “cultural Catholics,” Baptism is a social event. The family gathers to welcome a newborn baby. The baby born in 2020 is now two years old; does that party still seem appropriate? By now the new parents have settled into a new household routine; do they even remember that their child is unbaptized?

You have one job to do: To persevere in the love of God

One job: Perseverance in the love of God | Catholic CultureMIRUS: I opened my Bible today at random and found myself on the page which includes chapters 10 and 11 of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. In these chapters, Paul deals with one of the greatest mysteries of salvation history—the mystery that, through the disobedience of the Jews, salvation was mercifully offered to the godless Gentiles, such that while the natural Jewish branches of the tree of life were cut off, the Gentiles were grafted on in their place. But through their disobedience, the Jews put themselves in the same position, of having nothing to rely on but God’s mercy. Therefore, through the same mercy shown to the Gentiles, the Jews will be grafted back onto the tree.

Puerto Rico’s Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres, deposed by Pope Francis, pushed back ahead of his removal

Deposed Puerto Rico bishop pushed back ahead of removal: Newly obtained correspondence shows the deposed Bishop of Arecibo repeatedly denied allegations that he had been disobedient to Pope Francis, and says he attempted to resolve some issues of disagreement between himself and other Puerto Rican bishops in the months before he was removed from office.

Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, there’s an amazing manuscript from 100 BC called the ‘Melchizedek Document,’ which depicts the future Messiah with uncanny accuracy

Jesus in the Dead Sea Scrolls | Catholic AnswersLOFTON: There I was, reading a translation of the Melchizedek Document—that is, manuscript 11Q13, a text from the Dead Sea Scrolls. And my mouth was hanging open in awe. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a group of mostly Hebrew manuscripts found in the mid-twentieth century that date back to the period between the third century B.C. and the first century A.D. They are a significant resource for understanding the first-century Jewish context of the New Testament.

A homily for a suicide and their survivor loved ones

%u2018Homily%20for%20a%20Suicide%20and%20Their%20Survivor%20Loved%20Ones%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterNASH: We gather here to mourn the loss of John [not a real person], and provide support for his friends and family, particularly his mom and dad, brothers and sisters, and high school classmates. We commend John’s soul to God’s mercy and offer this funeral Mass precisely for that reason. Thus, while you may hurt more deeply than ever before, and understandably so, I ask you to join me — in prayer — in interceding for John and also each other. Because in Our Lord Jesus Christ, death doesn’t have the last word. He does. Continue offering Masses and other prayers for John, and yourselves, in the coming weeks, months, and, yes, years ahead. Though John is no longer with us here on earth, we can still have hope that he is not beyond the reach of our prayers, and no prayer is wasted in the kingdom of God.

Leila Miller: Catholics, rise up to protect the innocence of children

Leila Miller: Catholics, rise up to protect the innocence of children: “Not enough people are standing up. Catholics, especially, have a role in society and the world to be salt and light, to be different. So when the world is becoming corrupt all around us, and when it’s taking our children — when it’s trying to steal our children for the devil — it’s our job to be there as the one voice that says, ‘No, we’re not letting you have the children, we're not letting you have their innocence,’” said Leila Miller. “It starts in the womb and goes all the way through. We need to be paying attention to every angle of this.”

Have you had an abortion? Vicki Thorn lived to help you...

Post-Abortion Healing: Remembering Vicki Thorn & Project Rachel | National ReviewLOPEZ: One of the greatest friends to women died suddenly just after Easter Sunday. Vicki Thorn was the founder of Project Rachel, a post-abortion-healing ministry. “She was a voice for us when we were not able to speak yet,” Theresa Bonapartis, who had an abortion and now works with women who have had one. “She heard us when others did not want to listen and definitely opened the door of healing in the church.” Project Rachel and other ministries, including Bonapartis’s Lumina, are internationally available now, but that’s because Thorn started the essential work.

On Italy’s liberation day, recalling a priest who gave his life for freedom

On%20Italy%u2019s%20liberation%20day%2C%20recalling%20a%20priest%20who%20gave%20his%20life%20for%20freedom%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Today is “Liberation Day” in Italy, a holiday that commemorates the liberation of Italy from fascism and the Nazi occupation of the country during the Second World War. It was on April 25, 1945, that the Committee for National Liberation, the main umbrella group for the Italian resistance, called for a nationwide uprising against the fascists and the Germans. Although April 25 was instituted as a national observance in 1946, over the years it’s become associated largely with the political left in Italy, which touts the role of communists and other progressives among the partigiani, meaning the Italian resistance forces. Meanwhile on the Italian right, there’s long been ambivalence about celebrating armed resistance against fascism, which, to some conservatives, seems uncomfortably close to socialist revolutions in other European nations, and which, for a while, seemed a live possibility in Italy too.

Through the mercy of God, Poland is a spiritual powerhouse

Polish Spiritual Powerhouse| National Catholic Register: Universal devotion to Divine Mercy, with its simple and profound message — “Jesus, I trust in you” — is one of the most fitting prayers for today, especially in relation to the upheaval in Eastern Europe. The origins of the Divine Mercy prayers, taken from the writings of Polish St. Faustina Kowalska and brought to worldwide importance by Polish Pope St. John Paul II when he established Divine Mercy Sunday, stand as a reminder of the power of prayer in the resistance of evil and despair.

Pope’s Wednesday Audience: ‘I Invite You to Rediscover the Book of Ruth’

Pope Francis wants Catholics to rediscover this book of the Bible | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to rediscover a book of the Bible that offers “valuable teaching on the alliance of the generations.” In his general audience address on April 27, the pope praised the Book of Ruth’s positive depiction of relations between a woman and her mother-in-law. “I invite you to rediscover the Book of Ruth. Especially in the meditation on love and in catechesis on the family,” he said.

Pope Francis Names Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Lille New Archbishop of Paris

Pope Francis names new Catholic archbishop of Paris | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis on Tuesday named Archbishop Laurent Ulrich as the new Catholic archbishop of Paris. Ulrich, the archbishop of Lille, northern France, succeeds Archbishop Michel Aupetit, who resigned in December. The new Paris archbishop was born in 1951 and ordained a priest of the diocese of Dijon, eastern France, in 1979. He was appointed archbishop of Chambéry, southeastern France, by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000. He was transferred to Lille in 2008 by Benedict XVI.

Can Catholics be registered at two parishes?

Can Catholics be registered at two parishes? - Our Sunday VisitorPOPE: In terms of Canon Law, no distinctions or requirements should be based on the question of “registration” in a parish. The concept of registration is a very American one — and a concept that helps in many ways, but it is not a strict requirement of Church law. A parish or a pastor who refuses to extend sacraments or other ministrations based on whether a person or family is registered is violating the rights of such Catholics. There may be other canonical grounds wherein a pastor or parish seeks to delay the celebration of sacraments until certain expectations are met, but registration is not one of them.

The Catholic monasteries that invented your favorite cheeses

The Catholic monasteries that invented our favorite cheeses: Picture this. It’s a sleepy October afternoon sometime in the 10th century in a monastery not too far from Paris, France. Two monks are testing out different ways to ferment the cow’s milk from the monastery’s cattle. After trial and error, they discover that adding salt to fermented cow’s milk would draw away enough moisture to make it a gooey yet firm substance. That salted mound of cheese would later be sprayed with a fungi (Penicillium) to create a thick crust, and put in a cellar for six weeks. The result? The iconic white-crusted Brie cheese that is now loved all around the world.

The faith of Pittsburgh Steelers fans offers lessons for the Catholic Church

The Faith of Pittsburgh Steelers Fans Offers Lessons for the Catholic Church| National Catholic RegisterMILLS: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is finally gone, a couple years after he should have retired. It’s the offseason, but with the draft coming up this week and the team pursuing free agents — and getting a new quarterback, who may or may not be good enough — Steelers fans have started talking about the team again. They expect the team to win big, because it used to win big. They still win, but not so big. As a childhood Giants fan, I’d be very happy if the Giants did as well as the Steelers, but the fans here expect success. The team disappointed them the last few seasons, but they still hope. There’s a lesson for the Church here, in the way the Steelers’ fans respond to their team.

‘Extraordinary Courage’: 72-Year-Old Nun Intervenes to Stop Man Stabbing Catholic Priest Before Mass in France

%u2018Extraordinary%20courage%u2019%3A%20Nun%20intervenes%20to%20stop%20man%20stabbing%20Catholic%20priest%20in%20France%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A 72-year-old religious sister has been praised for her “extraordinary courage” after she sought to disarm a man stabbing a priest at a Catholic church in Nice, southeastern France.

Why did Francis really pull the plug on a summit with the Russian Orthodox patriarch?

Why did Francis really pull the plug on summit with Russian Orthodox leader? | CruxALLEN: From the first moments after his election, Pope Francis has defied conventional Vatican wisdom more times than even NASA supercomputers could calculate, from the choice not to live in the papal apartments to the titles he uses. In all honesty, the unofficial anthem of this papacy probably ought to be Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” This is a papacy, after all, for which bucking tradition and courting confusion in the name of evangelical authenticity is essentially its modus operandi.

Divine Mercy does not mean there is no Hell. Divine Mercy exists because Hell exists. Here are 4 things you should know about Divine Mercy...

17 Things Jesus Revealed to St. Faustina About Divine Mercy| National Catholic RegisterPRONECHEN: As a person, as a country, as a world, do we not need God’s mercy more and more in these times? For the sake of our souls, can we afford not to listen to what Jesus told us through St. Faustina about his mercy and what our response to is should be? Benedict told us “It is a really central message for our time: Mercy as the force of God, as the divine limit against the evil of the world.” Let’s remind ourselves right now. Or learn the highlights for the first time. Divine Mercy Sunday is the perfect day to start listening to what Jesus himself tells us...

The New York Times misses some key voices as Ukraine prepares for Pascha

Podcast%3A%20The%20New%20York%20Times%20misses%20some%20key%20voices%20as%20Ukraine%20prepares%20for%20Pascha%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: I have said it before and I will say it again: If I could pick a major event from my life and live it over again — knowing what I know now — it would probably be the trip that I took to Moscow in 1991, arriving the week after the events that ended the Soviet Union. There were still flowers on the sidewalks (near our hotel) where protesters were killed by Soviet tanks. There were Orthodox icons, as well. I was an evangelical Anglican, at that time, and really didn’t grasp the importance of many of the Orthodox people and places I encountered during that stay. I was there as part of the Moscow Project, an effort to help the emerging Russian Bible Society print 4 million Bibles.

Pope’s Regina Coeli for Divine Mercy Sunday: ‘Jesus Always Comes Back, Showing Us His Wounds’

Pope Francis: 'The Lord is not looking for perfect Christians' | Catholic News Agency: Jesus’ merciful words to a doubting St. Thomas reminds us that the Lord does not expect us to be “perfect Christians,” Pope Francis said Sunday. Instead, Jesus wants us “to seek him, to call on him, or even, like Thomas, to protest, bringing him our needs and our unbelief,” the pope said. In his reflections prior to the recitation of the Regina Caeli, Pope Francis spoke to a large crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Divine Mercy Sunday about the gospel account of Jesus’ encounter with Thomas in the Upper Room.

Pope Francis Names Secretaries of Doctrinal and Disciplinary Sections of CDF

Pope Francis names secretaries of doctrinal and disciplinary sections of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis on Saturday appointed secretaries of the doctrinal and disciplinary sections of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The pope named Monsignor Armando Matteo, 51, as the secretary of the doctrinal section of the CDF and Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy, 53, as the secretary of its disciplinary section on April 23. Cardinal Luis Ladaria, 78, remains as the head of the CDF with the new appointments. He has served as its prefect since July 2017.

The followers of Jesus were filled with horror after his death, but Our Lord turned their horror into hope...

This Sunday, Jesus Turns Horror Into Hope | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: On Easter Sunday II, Divine Mercy Sunday, the risen Jesus shows his wounds to his disciples to show that he is the same Jesus who suffered and died on the cross. Then he breathes on them to give them the ability to forgive sins. And with that, he changes the story of his death from defeat to a new beginning. St. John Paul II renamed this Sunday “Divine Mercy Sunday” and it couldn’t be more appropriate. We witness this same story unfold each time we go to confession.

Here is a list of 7 “wills and won’ts” for good bishops

When bishops disagree: Salvation, not inclusion | Catholic CultureMIRUS: I admit it; I’m sharing the luster of Phil Lawler’s excellent commentary entitled Discord among Catholic bishops: a healthy sign. Just a week or so ago, it infuriated me to read of some of the speeches at the mysterious meeting of Catholic “leaders” in Chicago. Perhaps the most notable story was this: Speaker at meeting of cardinals, theologians rips ‘Catho-capitalists,’ ‘culture warriors,’ National Catholic Bioethics Center—an address from a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life! With a pope who can often at least be interpreted as undermining sound Catholic thought and action in the world, it is not surprising to find conferences held and attended by prominent ecclesiastics and their appointees—conferences to “figure out” the best way to counter regressive forces within the Church who are deemed to be out of step with the program of the current pontificate.

The candle-lit darkness at the Easter Vigil is a powerful experience. Why can’t we do lights-out Masses more often

Lights-Off%20Liturgies%3A%20Why%20Don%u2019t%20We%20Have%20More%20of%20Them%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: If you attended the Easter vigil this past weekend, you experienced one of the Catholic liturgy’s most unique (and arguably spiritually compelling) aesthetic sequences: a pitch-black church, increasingly illuminated by the light from the Paschal candle. But you also might have been left with a question: Why aren’t more liturgies celebrated with the artificial lighting off — or at least far more dimmed than seems to be typical?

Garth Fritel is a man of heroic courage, nailed to the cross of ALS

A Man of Heroic Courage, Nailed to the Cross of ALS| National Catholic RegisterWELLS: This is the story of how a man wins a war in the soul by crossing into the unknown territory of pain, isolation and a collapsing body to say one thing: “Yes, God — I give it all to you.” One afternoon this past winter Father Jeff Lewis, pastor of St. Mary’s parish in Spokane, Washington, was listening to Al Kresta’s radio interview when I requested listeners to pray for Venerable Aloysius Schwartz’s intercession for anyone suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). I mentioned that the Church lacked a patron saint for ALS, the neuromuscular disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. “Father Al” died from ALS in 1992.

Pope Francis’ agenda canceled for needed ‘medical checkups,’ Vatican says

Pope%20Francis%u2019%20Agenda%20Canceled%20for%20Needed%20%u2018Medical%20Checkups%2C%u2019%20Vatican%20Says%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Pope Francis’ agenda was cleared on Friday for needed medical checkups, a Vatican spokesperson said. Francis, who is 85 years old, has been suffering from pain in his right knee, causing him to take smaller roles in some Vatican liturgies and to remain seated more often. “The Pope has slowed down his activities today because of medical checkups that are needed today. That is why the schedule is empty today,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said on April 22.

Father Augustus Tolton’s possible miracles examined for canonization process

Father Tolton's possible miracles examined for sainthood process | KHQA: The Catholic Church could be just a few years away from declaring the first African-American priest in the U.S. a saint, and he happens to be a Tri-State native. The process for Father Augustus Tolton began more than 10 years ago. Father Tolton was born into slavery in Ralls County, Missouri in 1854. He was baptized in the Catholic Church in Rensselaer - a small community located just to the southwest of Hannibal.

Prehistoric humans turned their campfires into makeshift movie theaters

Prehistoric humans turned their campfires into makeshift movie theaters - CNN: Our Stone Age ancestors didn't just share stories by the side of a fire -- they may have watched them too. Early humans living in what's now France carved art on rock tablets and placed them by the flickering light of a fire to give the illusion of movement -- an early form of animation, according to new research. Researchers from the University of York and Durham University in the United Kingdom studied 50 stone plaquettes held in the British Museum that were engraved by hunter-gatherers about 15,000 years ago.

Let us not forget, no one is beyond the mercy of Jesus Christ

Let us not forget, no one is beyond the mercy of Jesus Christ | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: When Jesus Christ, the Son of God resurrects from his scourged, crucified body and reveals Himself in a glorified resurrected state, we encounter a progression of His life from Jesus as son of God to Jesus Christ the King. The significance of Jesus’ resurrected identity is that sin and death have been destroyed. Now, the Messiah walks amongst his followers lovingly revealing Himself through the breaking of the bread to his Apostles and encouraging them to speak and teach in His name in anticipation of their hopeful final journey which is Heaven.

If Paris was worth a Mass, maybe Ukraine was worth a Pope/Orban summit

If Paris was worth a Mass, maybe Ukraine was worth a Pope/Orban summit | CruxALLEN: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán came calling on Pope Francis Thursday, and, according to the official chronology, the encounter lasted a robust 40 minutes. From one point of view, the headline could well be that the two leaders could spend that much time together without coming to blows. They disagree on almost everything, from the migrant and refugee crisis in Europe to the war in Ukraine. When Orbán won a crushing reelection victory on April 4, he boasted that he had defeated his “opponent” in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and he took a congratulatory phone call from President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. Here’s how to obtain a plenary indulgence...

Divine Mercy Sunday 2022: Here's how to obtain a plenary indulgence | Catholic News Agency: What do a certain Polish nun and a certain Polish pope have in common? They both became saints and they were both instrumental in the institution of Divine Mercy Sunday, which offers many graces to the faithful. Be sure to thank St. John Paul II and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska this April 24 because as Divine Mercy Sunday rolls around again this year, the faithful have the opportunity to take refuge in the depths of Christ's mercy by receiving either a plenary or partial indulgence.

Pope Announces in Interview: ‘I Regret That the Vatican Has Had to Cancel a Second Meeting With Patriarch Kirill’

Pope Francis says Vatican canceled meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill | Catholic News Agency: In an interview with an Argentine newspaper, Pope Francis said a meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will no longer take place as planned. The summit, which would have been the second meeting of the pope and patriarch, was expected to take place in Jerusalem in June, during the pope’s June 12 trip to Lebanon.

Easter, Ælfheah, and embryo adoption

eeeeCONDON: Happy Friday friends, and a very happy Easter to you all, for it is very much still the Octave. As serial readers of this newsletter know, the measure of time is something of a fascination of mine, and the idea of a feast so powerful that a day becomes a week is deeply appealing to me. Easter was a joy in our house, I can tell you, even if a five hour vigil which comfortably straddled midnight did leave the three of us a little tired on Sunday. Even if it has been back to work for us since Tuesday, it’s still a long way from business as usual, still less ordinary time. The feast is meant to be a blinding explosion of the light of the Gospel which illuminates the rest of the year for us, so please, do not be in a hurry to let it go.

False assumptions destroy evangelization

False Assumptions Destroy Evangelization - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: When another person self-describes as "raised Catholic", what assumptions do you make about them? Many would assume they go to Mass. Others would assume they know Catholic teaching or that they pray regularly. It could mean the person is living like the next St. Teresa of Calcutta. Yet, it could also mean they have never stepped foot inside a Catholic church and that their grandmother was a Catholic and because of her the family has always called themselves “Catholic”. In other words, the label doesn't tell us anything except that the person self-identifies as "raised Catholic". Everything else will need to be figured out.

Here’s the secret trick stenographers use to type 300 words per minute

New%20Advent%3A%20Here%u2019s%20the%20secret%20trick%20stenographers%20use%20to%20type%20300%20words%20per%20minute: Courtesy of Half As Interesting...

Why male mosquitoes leave humans alone

The Rockefeller University Why male mosquitoes leave humans alone: Male mosquitoes won’t bite you. For one thing, they cannot—males are hopelessly bad at finding humans and lack a specialized stylet to pierce your skin. But even if they could bite you, they would not want to. They refuse blood meals served to them in the lab through netting, even as their female counterparts engorge on what must appear to be a free lunch. Now, a new study from the laboratory of Rockefeller’s Leslie Vosshall helps explain why. It appears that both mosquito sexes share the same neurons and brain structures needed to find humans, but that this hardware is hidden in the male mosquito brain, locked behind a simple genetic switch. Mutate the right gene, the researchers discovered, and male mosquitoes begin buzzing toward human scents in search of a prize that they do not even want.

7 ocean mysteries scientists haven’t solved yet

7%20ocean%20mysteries%20scientists%20haven%u2019t%20solved%20yet%20-%20Vox: The Earth is mainly a water world — more than 70 percent of its surface is covered by oceans — and yet we know so little about what resides beneath the waves. The ocean, in this light, is like an alien world within our own. Many of its creatures are still unknown to us — both in kind and number. Their behaviors and adaptations remain inexplicable. Even the very contours of this world are still unmapped: We probably know more about the surface of Mars than we know about the ocean floor.

Why the culture was healthier when Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers were on TV

The Culture Was Healthier With Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers AroundBARRON: When I was a kid, it was a bit of a rite of passage in my family to receive permission to stay up late enough to watch Johnny Carson’s monologue on the Tonight Show. So, I followed Johnny from the time I was about fifteen until he retired in 1992. Not long ago, my Facebook feed offered up a video of one of Johnny’s monologues from the 1970s, and because I clicked on it and liked it, my algorithms presented a whole slew of these stand-ups. I got a kick out of the jokes, but something else impressed me as I took in these performances from long ago. The audience laughed hard at some of Johnny’s witticisms; they reacted mildly to others; and sometimes they barely made a sound. On very, very rare occasions, if they were truly impressed by a joke, they would applaud. Of course, a mark of Carson’s genius is that he made great hay out of the clunkers—tapping the mike to see if it was working, laboriously explaining why the crowd should have laughed, and in extreme cases, filling in the time with a little dance!

Two news items underscore that the future belongs to the ‘PINS’ nations

Two%20news%20items%20underscore%20that%20the%20future%20belongs%20to%20the%20%u2018PINS%u2019%20nations%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Two small news items from the past week underscore a much bigger reality about the Catholic Church in the 21st century. In a phrase, they confirm the centrality of the “PINS” nations to Catholic fortunes, especially in the English-speaking world. I coined the term “PINS” several years ago, with the reference being to the Philippines, India, Nigeria and South Korea. Together they represent a vast pool of 144 million Catholics for whom English is a primary language, including 84 million in the Philippines, 24 million in India, 30 million in Nigeria, and 6 million in South Korea.

What JPII would tell besieged Ukrainians today: ‘Do not be afraid because God is always one day ahead of us’

From Academics to Survival: A UST student in Ukraine: When Dr. Mario Enzler, Dean of the Cameron School of Business at University of St. Thomas – Houston (UST) came in contact with Father Volodymyr Malchyn in August of 2021, little did he know that in a matter of months their conversation topics would go from academics to survival. Father Malchyn, his family, and parishioners live in Vyshneve, a suburb in Kyiv in war-torn Ukraine.

As Eastern Churches Prepare to Mark Easter This Sunday, Pope Backs Appeal from UN Secretary-General for Paschal Truce in Ukraine War

Pope%20Francis%20joins%20UN%20chief%u2019s%20appeal%20for%20Ukraine%20war%20Easter%20truce%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis has joined the head of the United Nations and the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in a call for a four-day truce in Ukraine for the Triduum and Easter. The Eastern Orthodox churches and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church follow the Julian calendar, meaning they will celebrate Easter on April 24 this year.

Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ and the road to Emmaus

Chaplin%2C%20%u2018City%20Lights%u2019%20and%20Emmaus%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTURLEY: In 1914, a 25-year-old English music hall artist was asked to come to California to make a screen test. Later, he stood dressed with a cane and bowler hat, and a director shouted: “Action!” By the end of the year, Chaplin had made 36 “shorts” and was the most popular comic actor in Hollywood. By the end of the following year, he was the most famous man on the planet.

When converting hurts, do it anyway

When Converting Hurts, Do It Anyway | Catholic AnswersHESCHMEYER: Once you’re convinced Catholicism is true, is converting really necessary? That question might sound strange to some readers. After all, if you believe that the Catholic Church really is the Church founded by Christ, why wouldn’t you convert? Well, lots of reasons. Maybe you’re part of a solid Protestant community. Maybe converting would create serious tension in your marriage or with your parents. Maybe you would lose your job in ministry. In some of the most extreme cases, maybe you live in a country in which converting to Catholicism is a capital crime. In short, people weighing whether to become Catholic are often dealing with much more than simply answering the question, “Is it true?”

The Holy Eucharist is not simply strength, inspiration, or instruction for justice — the Eucharist IS justice. Benedict XVI gave us a vivid metaphor to explain this...

The Eucharist Is Justice | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DamePHILPOTT: earning that only one-third of American Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the body of Christ, the U.S. Catholic Bishops issued “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church” this past November. Even devout and knowledgeable American Catholics, though, may be surprised by what the bishops spend nine sections explaining—that the Eucharist animates work for justice. After the bishops recount that the Eucharist is an act of worship and thanksgiving (what American Catholics will find most familiar) they teach that people conformed to the Eucharist “[reach] out to every sphere of Christian life” and “[reshape] the life of our society.” Such people love the poor in particular, in whom, like Mother Teresa, they find Christ.

What should Catholic converts do with their old Protestant books?

What Should Converts Do With Their Protestant Books? Episode 2 - The Coming Home Network: When someone becomes Catholic, especially if they are an avid reader, they often have lots of titles on their bookshelf that reflect years of study and meditation about questions of faith. But what should happen to those books once someone becomes Catholic? Matt Swaim talks to Andrew Petiprin and Shaun McAfee about what they did with their old Protestant books when they became Catholic. Which ones did they keep? Which ones did they give away? Which ones were they tempted to destroy?

Biden Making Plans to Rescind Trump Conscience Protections for Health Workers

Biden%20admin%20to%20rescind%20Trump%20%u2018conscience%u2019%20rule%20for%20health%20workers%20-%20POLITICO: The Biden administration is preparing to scrap a Trump-era rule that allows medical workers to refuse to provide services that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, three people familiar with the deliberations told POLITICO. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the policy change is underway, saying: “HHS has made clear through the unified regulatory agenda that we are in the rulemaking process.”

I am grateful to God for Deirdre McQuade, an icon of courage and faith

An icon of courage and faith - Our Sunday VisitorLOPEZ: As I write, a pure soul, Deirdre McQuade, is spending “most of her time beneath the gentle waves.” That’s how one of those closest to her explains her days, in what are almost certainly her last on earth. She “continues to rise to the surface every so often for a minute or less.” During Holy Week and Easter, she and her housemates and sister found themselves inundated with yellow flowers, as she loves the cheerful color.

He is Risen, news from all over, and “praying in quicksand”

He is Risen, news from all over, and 'praying in quicksand'JDFLYNN: Happy Easter. Really, I mean that. I hope you’re having a blessed Easter Octave, and that you’re celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with real and actual feasting and merry-making. If you observed Lent for 40 days, it would be a shame to reduce Easter, for which you spent all that time preparing, to just one day. Easter, after all, is the eternal feast we hope to enjoy. So if you haven’t let the Easter party extend past Sunday, consider it — there’s a lot of time left.

Second-wave feminists pushed the sexual revolution to end America, and it’s working

Feminists%20Pushed%20The%20Sexual%20Revolution%20To%20End%20America%2C%20And%20It%u2019s%20WorkingGRESS: The hottest flashpoint in the culture today is the trans movement, with the mob coming after anyone, like J.K. Rowling, who dares to oppose the idea that men can become women and women men. Few are aware that the seeds for this effort were planted decades ago by a small group of women who gathered regularly to promote the creed of Marxism. We live under their triumphant umbrella daily.

Father Stu Long, icon and ambassador of Divine Mercy

Father Stu Long, Icon and Ambassador of Divine Mercy| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: Thanks to Mark Wahlberg’s new movie, Father Stu, the world outside of Helena, Montana, is being introduced to an extraordinary story of an ordinary man to whom God, contrary to worldly and ecclesial logic, gave the vocation to the priesthood and through whom God was able to meet, strengthen and sanctify many over his six-plus years of priestly labor. And through the interest Father Stu is generating as a result of Wahlberg’s perseverance, personal investment, financial risk and faith, God is able to reach and inspire millions more.

According to many saints, after His Resurrection, Our Lord appeared first to His Mother

After His Resurrection, Jesus Appeared First to His Mother Mary, Say the Saints| National Catholic RegisterPRONECHEN: The Gospels mention nothing about Jesus appearing to his mother Mary after his Resurrection. Do we ever wonder whether he did see her? After all, she was his mother, the first to see him at the Nativity, his birth. She was the first Christian from the moment of the Annunciation and Incarnation. Wouldn’t he want to see his mother first?

What will our resurrected bodies be like?

What Will Our Resurrected Bodies Be Like? - Community in MissionPOPE: I think most of us can relate to the desire that our current body be improved. And it surely will be. Notice that the passage above says that our lowly (weak, diseased, and often overweight) bodies will be changed and will reflect the glory of the resurrected body of Jesus. Yes, this old general issue clunker is going to be upgraded to a luxury model; I’m headed for first class. When we recall the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell), we ought to consider for a moment what Scripture and Tradition have to say about what our resurrected bodies will be like.

Hong Kong Bishop ‘Hopes’ for Women’s Ordination ‘One Day’

Hong%20Kong%20bishop%20%u2018hopes%u2019%20for%20women%u2019s%20ordination%20%u2018one%20day%u2019: Hong Kong’s Bishop Stephen Chow expressed hope April 13 for the Catholic ordination of women, joining several European bishops who have expressed similar sentiments in recent years.

Why a Ukrainian Orthodox split from Kirill may not lead to unity

Why a Ukrainian Orthodox split from Kirill may not lead to unity: Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began almost two months ago, some priests have said rifts amid the Orthodox dioceses subject to Moscow’s governance have become a “crisis.” Tension between Orthodox leaders could eventually lead to a formal ecclesiastical split between Kyiv and Moscow, and some Orthodox priests in Ukraine say that Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill should be tried for heresy by a council of Orthodox patriarchs.

Burger King in Spain apologizes for offensive Holy Week ads

Burger King in Spain apologizes for offensive Holy Week ads | Catholic News Agency: The fast-food chain Burger King in Spain has withdrawn and apologized for an offensive ad campaign that sparked outrage among Catholics during Holy Week. “We apologize to all those who have felt offended by our campaign aimed at promoting our vegetable products during Holy Week. Our intention has never been to offend anyone and the immediate withdrawal of the campaign has already been requested,” Burger King announced Easter Sunday on its official Twitter account.

Why did Jesus tell St. Mary Magdalene, the first witness of His resurrection, not to “cling” to Him? The Catholic explanation offers some food for thought...

Christ Is Risen! Now Don't Touch Him! | Catholic AnswersWHITEHEAD: A young man inquiring into the faith recently asked me why Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, the first witness of his resurrection, “Touch me not” (John 20:17). While on a trip to Europe, this young man had visited an art museum where he saw a painting that greatly moved him. It showed Mary Magdalene and Jesus reaching out to each other yet holding back from touching. The young man was moved by the painting because it seemed to express our yearning to be with God.

The idea that we should eat three meals a day is surprisingly modern. How many meals a day is best for our health?

Should we be eating three meals a day? - BBC Future: It's likely you eat three meals a day – modern life is designed around this way of eating. We're told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we're given lunch breaks at work, and then our social and family lives revolve around evening meals. But is this the healthiest way to eat? Before considering how frequently we should eat, scientists urge us to consider when we shouldn't. Intermittent fasting, where you restrict your food intake to an eight-hour window, is becoming a huge area of research.

Here are 7 ways our Risen Lord can work a moral resurrection in our lives

An Easter Particular Exam| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: One of the classic practices of Catholic spirituality is the particular exam, which is a positive resolution to do something concrete to grow in a specific virtue or eliminate a vice or imperfection. For example, if you want to grow in humility, you might make a particular exam to listen to others’ opinions before you share your own, or do menial tasks you would prefer not to do, or praise others rather than yourself.

German Bishop Responds to Letter Criticizing Synodal Path

x: Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German bishops’ conference, responded Thursday to a letter warning the country’s synodal path could lead to schism by defending the process as a response to abuses in the Church. The Synodal Path is our attempt in Germany to confront the systemic causes of the abuse and its cover-up that has caused untold suffering to so many people in and through the Church,” Bishop Bätzing wrote April 14 to Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver. The German bishop’s letter was published April 16 at the German bishops’ conference website.

Christ Is Risen! Pope Francis Offers Mass in St. Peter’s Square for Easter 2022

Pope%20Francis%20celebrates%20Mass%20in%20St.%20Peter%u2019s%20Square%20for%20Easter%202022%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated Easter Mass for around 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square — the first Easter Mass with the public after two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. On a sunny and windy morning in Rome, Pope Francis also participated in the “Resurrexit,” an ancient rite honoring an icon of the Holy Savior.

Full Text of Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi Blessing 2022

Full text of Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi blessing 2022 | Catholic News AgencyCOATOFARMS: Jesus, the Crucified One, is risen! He stands in the midst of those who mourned him, locked behind closed doors and full of fear and anguish. He comes among them and says: “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). He shows the wounds in his hands and feet, and the wound in his side. He is no ghost; it is truly Jesus, the same Jesus who died on the cross and was laid in the tomb. Before the incredulous eyes of the disciples, he repeats: “Peace be with you!”

We have not seen the risen Lord — not yet, anyway — but we see the evidence and we believe

From Fear to Faith on Easter Morning - Community in MissionPOPE: One option for Easter Sunday morning’s Mass is from the Gospel of John (20:1-8). Like most of the resurrection accounts, John’s version paints a portrait of a journey that some of the early disciples have to make: out of fear and into faith. It shows the need to experience the resurrection and then come to understand it more deeply. While the Gospel account begins with Mary Magdalene, the focus quickly shifts to St. John; let’s study his journey.

Why we remember music and forget everything else

Why We Remember Music and Forget Everything Else | Time: or many people, music feels like a part of our subconscious. It’s constantly playing in the background, whether we’re at a coffee shop, in the elevator, working from home, or even just walking down the street. Every year, Spotify tells us how many minutes we’ve spent listening to music. I spent 53,402 minutes in 2021—17 hours a week—which is far more time than I’ve spent doing most other things. In 2017, Nielsen estimated that Americans spend over 32 hours a week on average listening to music. It’s no surprise that we have such a strong memory for music and can easily recall lyrics and melodies, even if we haven’t heard them in years.

How tall will Mount Everest get before it stops growing?

How tall will Mount Everest get before it stops growing? - BBC Future: Aurora Elmore was approaching Mount Everest's South Base Camp in Nepal. But rather than taking the traditional 12-day hiking route, she was soaring between the frozen peaks, the rotor blades of her helicopter slicing through the thin air with a whap, whap, whap.

We face people who are hopeful about Christ, disappointed in Christ, angry about Christ, and indifferent to Christ. So this Easter, let’s get back to fundamentals...

This Sunday, Easter in Our Time of Apostasy and Awakening | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: On this Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord answers a fundamental doubt that has driven many people away from the Church. The fundamental pieces of the story about Jesus often don’t make sense to us. Why did he have to die? Why did we have to be saved? Why would God create us and then treat us as if we deserve hell, which only the slaughter of his Son could prevent?

Ignore celebrities and admire the virtuous people you know

Ignore celebrities and admire the virtuous people you know - Our Sunday VisitorMILLS: The main headline blazed out on the cover of one of those magazines grocery stores set out where you’d see it while waiting in line. It asked where Meghan Markle had gone. A subhead told the world that Harry was out partying. The editors wanted people to infer a scandal and buy the magazine to read about it. I have no interest in the English royal family, and think the doe-eyed interest so many Americans have in it a little weird and sad — my wife, for instance, and it baffles me. But the Harry and Meghan vs. Royal Family battle tells us something about what we can know and who we ought to admire.

The true size of megalodon is staggering

The True Size of Megalodon Is Staggering: When you hear a word like “megalodon” to describe an animal, ancient or not, you’re probably picturing something – in this case, a shark – that’s really, really big. Just how big megalodon likely was, though, really only comes into a clear focus when we compare it to things we’re relatively sure of the size of in our minds – and even then, it was so big that the concept can be hard to wrap our minds around.

Who’s in your wallet? A fun visual tour of the world’s paper money...

Who%u2019s%20in%20Your%20Wallet%3F: If you open your wallet right now, who do you see there? You’re probably looking at people who made history in your country. Without even noticing, you’re always carrying around reminders of prominent people in your wallet, but have you ever wondered, who gets to be on banknotes?

The search for the Holy Grail

The%20Search%20For%20The%20Holy%20Grail%20%u2014%20Google%20Arts%20%26%20Culture: How much do you know about one of history's most mysterious and intriguing religious relics?

The real “Father Stu” talks about his life, and why Catholics should defend life, in this rarely-seen 20-minute interview

New%20Advent%3A%20The%20real%20%u201CFather%20Stu%u201D%20talks%20about%20his%20life%2C%20and%20why%20Catholics%20should%20defend%20life%2C%20in%20this%20rarely-seen%2020-minute%20interview: An interview from Montana Catholic...

The goal of salvation: A new life in the Resurrection

The goal of Salvation: A new life in the ResurrectionSTAUDT: “Are you saved?” This is something you might hear after the doorbell rings. “What does that even mean?” you might wonder, as you think of what to say in response. The door-to-door evangelist would tell you that Jesus died to forgive your sins and if you believe the truth of that statement, you will be saved. That is an important part of salvation but by no means the full account. To be saved is not simply to have your sins forgiven or to be given a ticket to heaven, because God wants more for you. Jesus gives the best explanation of salvation: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

How to cook the perfect ribeye steak at home

How To Cook the Perfect Ribeye Steak at Home | The Manual: If you love a good steak, chances are you have a favorite cut. For those who like things a little lighter, a good filet is always lovely. The versatility of cuts like flank and skirt steak are the resourceful cook’s dream. If it’s a warm and cuddly, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal you’re in the mood for, beautifully braised short ribs are always a comfort. The list goes on, and, yes, can be a bit daunting. The world of meat cuts is a complex one, and you aren’t alone if you’ve stood in front of the butcher counter, befuddled and overwhelmed. So we’ll make it simple for you. If it’s a lusciously meaty, gorgeously marbled, rich and tender, melt-in-your-mouth, fill-you-with-love-for-your-fellow-man kind of steak you want, go with the ribeye.

Finding faith at Harvard: These 5 Easter conversion stories will make your day...

Finding faith at Harvard: These 5 Easter conversion stories will make your day | Catholic News Agency: One convert’s journey to Catholicism began with an invitation to an ice-cream social. Another says he instantly believed in the Real Presence the moment someone explained what the round object was that everyone was staring at during eucharistic adoration. For a third, the poems of T.S. Eliot — and a seemingly random encounter with a priest on a public street — led to deeper questions about truth and faith.

Easter 2022: ‘Evil Has Been Robbed of Its Power ... With Jesus, the Risen Lord, No Night Will Last Forever’

Easter%20Vigil%202022%3A%20Full%20text%20of%20Pope%20Francis%u2019%20homily%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Many writers have evoked the beauty of starlit nights. The nights of war, however, are riven by streams of light that portend death. On this night, brothers and sisters, let us allow the women of the Gospel to lead us by the hand, so that, with them, we may glimpse the first rays of the dawn of God’s life rising in the darkness of our world. As the shadows of night were dispelled before the quiet coming of the light, the women set out for the tomb, to anoint the body of Jesus. There they had a disconcerting experience. First, they discovered that the tomb was empty; then they saw two figures in dazzling garments who told them that Jesus was risen. Immediately they ran back to proclaim the news to the other disciples (cf. Lk 24:1-10). They saw, they heard, they proclaimed. With these three verbs, may we too enter into the passover of the Lord from death to life.

Joseph Ratzinger: A man sent from God

Joseph Ratzinger: A Man Sent From God ~ The Imaginative ConservativeSTAUDT: Fitting words escape me to praise a man who has impacted the Church so profoundly. I found myself turning to God’s own words to capture the impact of Joseph Ratzinger’s teaching, leadership, and liturgical sense: “There was a man sent from God. ... He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.” Although intended for John the Baptist, these words do justice to Ratzinger as a great witness to the light for our times.

Where is Jesus between His death and resurrection?

Where Is Jesus Between His Death and Resurrection? - Community in MissionPOPE: Where is Christ after He dies on Friday afternoon and before He rises on Easter Sunday? Both Scripture and Tradition answer this question. Consider an excerpt from a second-century sermon as well as this meditation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Scripture also testifies to Christ’s descent to the dead and what He did: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.

Cardinal Koch, high-ranking Vatican official, says critics of Germany’s “Synodal Path” have raised “legitimate concerns”

Top Vatican cardinal: 'Legitimate concerns' about Germany's 'Synodal Path' | Catholic News Agency: A top cardinal at the Vatican has confirmed Pope Francis’ apprehension about Germany’s “Synodal Path,” telling EWTN in an exclusive interview that critics have raised “legitimate concerns” about the controversial re-assessment of Church teaching on sexual morality and other critical issues. "I very much hope that the German bishops will not simply defend themselves but really enter into a dialogue. Because there are legitimate concerns behind this that have to be taken seriously,” Cardinal Kurt Koch said Thursday.

Why Benedict XVI said Holy Saturday, “a day of darkness, could almost be an image of the history of our times”

Pope Benedict XVI's birthday and the mystery of Holy Saturday: Today, April 16, 2022, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrates his 95th birthday. The Pope Emeritus remains in good health and was visited earlier this week at his home, a monastery in the Vatican Gardens, by Pope Francis. It’s remarkable that the Pope Emeritus should observe his birthday during the Paschal Triduum, the holiest of days. It must be a special joy for someone who has an evident love for the liturgy.

Joseph Ratzinger was born on Holy Saturday in 1927. How fitting that he should be a child of the Paschal Triduum...

Holy Saturday Fits the Life of Pope Benedict XVI| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: The long Holy Saturday life of Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger will mark a final milestone this April 16. Unless he lives until 106, his 95th birthday will be the last time his calendar birthday and his liturgical birthday coincide. Ratzinger was born in the early hours of Holy Saturday 1927. The practice at the time was to celebrate the Easter vigil in the morning, so baby Joseph was taken to the church within hours of birth to be baptized in the freshly blessed Easter water.

Go to the Easter Vigil this year — you won’t regret it

Holy Saturday and the Night That Sets Christian Believers Apart| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: The Easter vigil is by far the most important and beautiful Mass of the entire year. It’s the Mass that contains the Church’s greatest promises. It’s the Mass that impels us to maximize our liturgical love and gratitude to God in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and what it means. Yet it’s also a Mass that many Catholics, including those who otherwise take the faith very seriously, rarely attend. It’s much longer than other Masses and therefore demands greater spiritual stamina and attention. It can also require greater faith and love, since it’s the antithesis of, and antidote for, the religious minimalism that looks, even on Easter, for the fastest way to fulfill one’s Sunday Mass “obligation.”

Benedict XVI Marks His 95th Birthday on Holy Saturday 2022

5 things to know about Benedict XVI on his 95th birthday | Catholic News Agency: Benedict XVI was born on Holy Saturday, April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria. According to CNA’s count, this year is his fourth Holy Saturday birthday; the last time his birthday fell on this day was in 1960. The pope emeritus has also had three birthdays occur on Good Friday: In 1954, 1965, and 1976. But he has had four Easter Sunday birthdays to make up for it.

On Holy Saturday this year, you can visit U.S. National Parks for free...

You Can Visit U.S. National Parks For FREE This Saturday (April 16th): Are you looking to save some money while visiting your favorite National Park? This Saturday, the National Park Service is beginning National Park Week by waiving entrance fees for one day only. After that, the various sites will celebrate National Park Week through “a variety of special programs, events, and digital experiences.” Not every park has an entrance fee, but it’s a good opportunity to save some money to see some of the popular parks like Acadia, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, and many more. You can read more about National Park Week here.

Don’t forget — Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy novena

Divine%20Mercy%3A%20The%20Meaning%20and%20Background%20of%20the%20Chaplet%20Prayers%20%u2013%20Building%20Catholic%20CultureSTAUDT: Good Friday through the Second Sunday of Easter is the time of mercy, the time when Jesus redeemed us from sin and established new life in his Resurrection. This is why it is the time Jesus asked us to pray a novena invoking his Divine Mercy for the Church and the world. The Gospel of Divine Mercy Sunday points us to the portal of mercy, as Thomas sticks his finger into the wound of Jesus’s side. Divine Mercy is an extension of devotion to the Sacred Heart, the place where blood and water flowed out for the salvation of humanity, which in turns points us to the eternal loving mercy of the Father. Although the Divine Mercy devotion dates only from the mid-twentieth century, in a series of revelations to St. Faustina Kowalska, there is much tradition behind the prayers of the chaplet, drawing from the Church’s liturgy and piety, which I will explain below.

Meditate on these beautiful new Stations of the Cross in Oklahoma’s St. Francis Xavier Church

New%20Advent%3A%20Meditate%20on%20these%20beautiful%20new%20Stations%20of%20the%20Cross%2C%20painted%20by%20classical%20painter%20Leonard%20Porter%2C%20in%20New%20York%u2019s%20St.%20Francis%20Xavier%20Church: Denis McNamara, Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College, introduces you to a stunning artistic achievement which not only serves to support the Catholic faith, but shows that sophisticated traditional art is still alive and well...

Pray for the soul of Ernest Hemingway. He crafted words that sink deep into the mysteries of life. And on Catholicism, he once said he “cannot imagine taking any other religion seriously”

Hemingway%u2019s%20Good%20Friday%20%7C%20Heights%20ForumORTIZ: Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) plunged into World War I, the Greco-Turkish War, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II with the confidence of a skilled matador twirling his cape over a furious 1200-pound bull. He was a journalist in all but The Great War, in which he was an ambulance driver who sustained serious injuries at the front. Survival was thrilling (so were the drinks afterwards), and then he got to write about its gory, mud-flecked glory. Well, mostly the mud and the gore. Glory wasn’t really Hemingway’s thing...

Death on a Friday afternoon — stay with the Passion and Death before rushing to Easter

Richard%20John%20Neuhaus%20%u2018Death%20on%20a%20Friday%20Afternoon%u2019%20--%20Focus%20on%20the%20Meaning%20of%20Good%20Friday%20%7C%20National%20ReviewLOPEZ: The late Father Richard John Neuhaus, Catholic convert and editor of First Things, was our religion editor for a time at National Review. Every Good Friday I like to read through some of his Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. And especially his reminder about the importance of Good Friday. In talking about these sacred days of the Holy Triduum...

Thoughts on a third of a century as a columnist (and a symbolic SCOTUS ruling)

Podcast%3A%20Thoughts%20on%20a%20third%20of%20a%20century%20as%20a%20columnist%20%28and%20a%20symbolic%20SCOTUS%20ruling%29%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: This week marked a rather symbolic anniversary for my national “On Religion” column, which I have been writing now for a third of a century. As you would imagine, I spend some time thinking about the subject for this week’s column: “Why 'religious liberty' has ended up inside quotation marks.” This column was also the hook for this week’s “Crossroads” podcast. Anyone who has followed my work with GetReligion and “On Religion” will not be surprised that I chose to write about the First Amendment and and a highly symbolic religious liberty case (no scare quotes there) at the U.S. Supreme Court.

What happened with the Lord on Good Friday?

What Happened With The Lord on Good Friday? - Community in MissionPOPE: Jesus was arrested late Thursday evening. The Scriptures recount, “They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together.” According to Mark’s chronology there was a sham of a trial, based on false evidence and distortions of Jesus’ teachings. According to tradition, Jesus spent the rest of the night in the dungeon under the House of Caiaphas. It had doubled as a kind of cistern for holding rainwater.

A group of liberal Catholic bishops met in secret last month to discuss “culture war” issues — what does that mean for the Church?

Catholic%20Bishops%20Meet%20In%20Secret%20To%20Discuss%20%u2018Culture%20War%u2019%20Issues%3A%20What%20Does%20It%20Mean%20For%20The%20Church%3FLISI: While Pope Francis was presiding over a ceremony at the Vatican to consecrate Ukraine and Russia on March 25, a group of high-ranking American bishops met in Chicago. The gathering at Loyola University — entitled “Pope Francis, Vatican II and the Way Forward” — was co-sponsored by Boston College’s Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life and Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture. Its aim was, according to news coverage, to create a dialogue between theologians and bishops.

Pope says journalists accusing him of pro-Russian stance have a fetish for excrement

Pope says journalists accusing him of pro-Russian stance have a fetish for excrement | CruxSANMARTIN: Pope Francis says journalists who accuse him of being pro-Russian for not condemning Vladimir Putin by name for his invasion of Ukraine are falling into “disinformation, slander, defamation, and coprophilia.” The pontiff was responding to a letter sent to him by Argentine journalist Gustavo Sylvestre, who works for the C5N television station, which is aligned with the current government of the South American country.

9 things you need to know about Good Friday

9 Things You Need to Know About Good Friday| National Catholic RegisterAKIN: Good Friday is the most somber day of the Christian year. It is the day our Savior died for us. It is the day we were redeemed from our sins by the voluntary death of God Himself at the hands of man. Here are 9 things you need to know. Why is this day called “Good Friday?” It's not for the reason you might think. Despite the fact that "good" is a common English word, tempting us to say the name is based on the fact that something very good (our redemption) happened on this day, that's not where the name comes from. Precisely where it does come from is disputed.

Is ‘Father Stu’ based on a true story? Here are 9 things to know about the real Father Stuart Long

Is%20the%20%u2018Father%20Stu%u2019%20Movie%20Based%20on%20a%20True%20Story%3F%209%20Things%20to%20Know%20About%20the%20Real%20Father%20Stuart%20Long%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMURPHY: Father Stuart Long was a real priest who served countless Catholics across Montana before succumbing to a fatal disease that almost kept him from the priesthood. Traveling to Helena, the diocese where Father Stu served as a priest to attend the premiere of the movie offered a great opportunity to not only meet the actors and producers of the film, but also Father Bart Tolleson, a close friend of Father Stu’s who was ordained alongside him. Having such an intimate knowledge of his life, he also worked closely with the movie crew including producer and actor Mark Wahlberg and screenwriter Rosalind Ross to achieve an authenticity to the real life of this unlikely priest.

God was crucified. God died on Good Friday. How does this give us such hope?

God%20Was%20Crucified%20%u2014%20How%20Is%20This%20Hopeful%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterSAMPLE: God is crucified. He has died. Today, we remember that Truth was crucified. Love was crucified. Take a moment and imagine something with me. Imagine how the crucifixion of Jesus looked to the disciples. It seems the father of lies has won. Death and indifference have won. The great Messiah, my long-awaited leader and king is dead. Imagine how the disciples must have felt. Can you feel their loss, their confusion, their agony and desperation, even their despair? They must have felt so oppressed, so lost.

In Good Friday TV Interview, Pope Discusses Ukraine, Hope and the Reality of Satan’s Existence

In Good Friday TV Interview, Pope Discusses Ukraine, Hope and the Reality of Satan| National Catholic Register: “Today, Good Friday, in front of Jesus Crucified, let him touch your heart, let him speak to you with his silence, and with his pain,” Pope Francis told Italian journalist Lorena Bianchetti in the interview broadcast on Good Friday afternoon on the show A Sua Immagine (In His Image) on Italy’s state television channel Rai Uno.

What was the Lord doing on Thursday of Holy Week?

What was the Lord Doing on Thursday of Holy Week? - Community in MissionPOPE: According to the Synoptic Gospels, sundown of Holy Thursday ushered in the Passover. Later on this evening, the Lord will celebrate the Passover meal with His disciples. Indeed, this is an evening of affliction for Jesus. Much transpires at the Last Supper that is emblematic of our human foibles and sinful tendencies, but thanks be to God, He takes this “bread of affliction” we dish out to Him and lifts it to the glory of the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.

No, Virginia, Pope Francis can’t play Santa Claus on Ukraine

No%2C%20Virginia%2C%20Pope%20Francis%20can%u2019t%20play%20Santa%20Claus%20on%20Ukraine%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Recently, The Economist published a fascinating map of the world indicating which nations are anti-Russian in the Ukraine crisis and which either lean to the Russian position or wholly support it. The good news for the pro-Ukraine, anti-Russian coalition is that it numbers 131 countries which, together, account for 70 percent of the world’s GDP, helping to explain why the sanctions on Moscow have been reasonably consequential for the Russian economy, even if they haven’t halted Putin’s war.

Pope Francis at Chrism Mass: The devil tempts priests with ‘hidden idols’

Pope%20Francis%20at%20Chrism%20Mass%3A%20The%20devil%20tempts%20priests%20with%20%u2018hidden%20idols%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis warned priests at the Chrism Mass on Thursday about the temptation of “hidden idols” — the poison the devil uses to draw them away from Christ’s presence and love. “There is something about idols that is personal,” the pope said in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 14. “When we fail to unmask them, when we do not let Jesus show us that in them we are wrongly and unnecessarily seeking ourselves, we make room for the Evil One.”

There are many contenders claiming to have the real Holy Grail, but the Cathedral of Valencia tops the list

Is this the home of the Holy Grail? - BBC Reel: The Holy Grail is one of the most important relics of Christianity. According to Christian tradition, it is the cup Jesus supposedly drank from during the Last Supper. Scholars are not certain if the Holy Grail ever existed. But there are many contenders vying for the title of the real Holy Grail and the Cathedral of Valencia tops the list. The vessel attracts pilgrims from all over the world, and has even been used in Christian ceremonies by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

How to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit without doing any math

How to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit Without Doing Any Math: I consider myself pretty conversant in metric units. I know that 20 kilograms is 44 pounds (double it and add 10%) and that 5 kilometers is 3 miles (I’ve, uh, run a lot of 5Ks). But celsius temperatures have always been a bit of a mystery to me—until now.

A German conflagration may engulf the Church within the next year, and there is no fire extinguisher...

Pope%20Benedict%20XVI%20and%20the%20%u2018German%20Question%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: This Holy Saturday the entire Catholic Church will turn its eyes toward Benedict XVI. It will be his 95th birthday and his liturgical birthday. Both coincide this year for the last time in the long life of Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (unless he lives until his 106th birthday in 2033). In 1927, April 16 fell on Holy Saturday, as it does again this year. Chronos and kairos, the temporal and eternal, the civil calendar and the liturgical year, all coincide this week for the most important German Churchman of the last 100 years.

‘The Fighting Sullivans’ (1944) is a movie that lovingly portrays the Catholic faith and the happiness of practicing it

New%20Old%20Movie%20Review%3A%20%u2018The%20Fighting%20Sullivans%u2019%20%281944%29%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCLARK: Released in 1944, and set in the period between the 1920s to the 1940s, The Fighting Sullivans is a true story about an Irish family in Waterloo, Iowa. The Sullivan parents were blessed with six children — five boys and a girl. In their service during World War II, the Sullivan boys made military history by serving together on the same ship. That was their deal with the Navy: “If we go, we go together.” This was a band of brothers in truest and noblest sense, and the movie helps us understand how and why this loyalty came to be.

Internet Catholics have been talking a lot about “integralism” lately. So what is integralism, anyway?

What is integralism, anyway? - by Charlie CamosyCAMOSY: One of the more talked about phenomena in American Catholicism in recent years has been the rising popularity of “integralism” among a section of Catholic commentators and academics. The term can seem to mean different things to different people, and lead to calls for different, sometimes competing, visions of the relationships between faith and public affairs or Church and state. So, what is integralism, anyway, and what does it mean for Catholics trying to pick their way through a period of political and social discord?

This is what popular music in Ancient Rome sounded like

This Is What Popular Music in Ancient Rome Sounded Like � TwistedSifter: In Ancient Rome, popular musicians were pretty much the equivalent of modern rock stars. They filled theaters with fans, started riots, and showed disrespect for Roman rulers. Soloists were the most popular musicians during this time and they toured the Roman Empire playing to huge crowds and making a lot of money. They were also renowned for their arrogance. One musician even went so far as to refuse to play for Emperor Augustus because he simply didn’t want to. The most famous musicians were even known to inspire something close to Beatle-mania.

Benedict XVI Was ‘a Prophet’ of Church’s Future, Pope Francis Tells Malta’s Jesuits

Benedict%20XVI%20was%20%u2018a%20prophet%u2019%20of%20Church%u2019s%20future%2C%20Pope%20Francis%20tells%20Malta%u2019s%20Jesuits%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis has described Benedict XVI as “a prophet” for predicting that the Catholic Church would become a smaller but more faithful institution in the future. Speaking during a private meeting with Jesuit priests and seminarians earlier this month, the pope said he believed that this was one of the pope emeritus’ most “profound intuitions.”

College enters fray with bishop over gay pride, BLM flags at Jesuit school in Massachusetts

College enters fray with bishop over gay pride, BLM flags at Jesuit school | Catholic News Agency: Students, staff, and alumni at the College of the Holy Cross are petitioning the administration to disinvite Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester from attending this year’s graduation ceremony, although he he has already announced he will not do so, because they say his request of a local Catholic school to cease flying gay pride and Black Lives Matter flags is “antithetical to the ideals, values, and mission” of the college.

A postgame press conference after Daniel didn’t get eaten by the lions

New%20Advent%3A%20A%20postgame%20press%20conference%20after%20Daniel%20didn%u2019t%20get%20eaten%20by%20the%20lions: From ‘The Ten Minute Bible Hour’ on YouTube...

Raising Father Stu: On-screen dad Mel Gibson and real-life dad Bill Long discuss beloved priest

Raising%20Father%20Stu%3A%20On-screen%20dad%20Mel%20Gibson%20and%20real-life%20dad%20Bill%20Long%20discuss%20beloved%20priest%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportSCHIFFER: I confess: I’ve already seen Father Stu, the much anticipated film scheduled for release this week from Sony Pictures. I’ve seen it twice, in fact – and I loved it! So when I was invited to talk with Mel Gibson, who plays Father Stu’s father in the movie, and with Bill Long, Stu’s real-life father, I jumped at the chance. The two men have never met in person, but have talked by phone. “I talked with Mel Gibson quite a bit on the phone the first time,” Bill Long recalled, “and he said he was interested in studying my voice. Everyone who has seen the film says that he got that down pretty well!” Mel Gibson also recalled their conversations. “He’s not overly verbose,” Gibson told me. “He says the necessary things, but it’s almost what he doesn’t say that tells you more. He’s just a regular, good guy.”

Pro-life doctor in South Africa, suspended in 2017 for saying abortion was “the killing of a human being,” will be allowed to practice medicine once again

Anti-abortion doctor Jacques de Vos suspension lifted: Anti-abortion doctor Jacques de Vos is able to complete his community service and practice medicine. He was suspended in 2017 while doing an internship at the 2 Military Hospital, for allegedly dissuading a pregnant woman from terminating her pregnancy, likening it to the “killing of a human being”.

Pope’s Wednesday Audience: ‘Armed Aggression’ Is ‘an Outrage Against God’

Pope%20Francis%20at%20the%20general%20audience%3A%20%u2018Armed%20aggression%u2019%20is%20%u2018an%20outrage%20against%20God%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis said on Wednesday that the “armed aggression of these days” is “an outrage against God.” In his general audience address on April 13, the pope contrasted the peace given by Jesus with idolatrous attitudes that lead to war. “Jesus’ peace does not overpower others; it is never an armed peace: never! The weapons of the Gospel are prayer, tenderness, forgiveness, and freely given love for one’s neighbor, to any neighbor. This is how God’s peace is brought into the world,” he said.

What was the Lord doing on Wednesday of Holy Week?

What Was the Lord Doing on Wednesday of Holy Week? - Community in MissionPOPE: Two momentous days have passed: On Monday there was the cleansing of the Temple and the laments over Jerusalem’s lack of faith; Tuesday featured exhaustive teachings by Jesus and interrogations by His opponents. Today, Wednesday, it would seem that Jesus stays in Bethany. The Lord Jesus and the Twelve likely spent a quiet sort of day and it is now later in the afternoon. Matthew’s Gospel places Jesus in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6-7). According to Luke (7:36), Simon was a Pharisee. His leprosy was in remission and he had been readmitted to the community. Could he have been one of the lepers Jesus cured? We do not know. The story here is complex; there are significant differences among the various Gospel accounts. Matthew records it as follows:

Francis and Kirill: A meeting on the margins?

Francis and Kirill: A meeting on the margins?CONDON: In the nearly two months since the invasion of Ukraine took steam, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has planted himself ever more firmly behind President Vladimir Putin’s war. With accounts of war crimes, massacres, and even acts of genocide emerging in the wake of the Russian withdrawal from the Kyiv region, Kirill finds himself increasingly isolated among the global Christian community, and within the Orthodox communion.

Chicago’s sandwich kings take you through the ins and outs of how to build the perfect Italian sub

Building the perfect Italian sub - by Matthew Ritchie: At the summit of every respectable deli menu across the country rests a sandwich that is known by many names. Whether your regional dialect refers to it as Hero, Hoagie or the Works, it’s widely recognized across the country by one name, the Italian sub. According to sandwich lore, the sub was invented in 1899 in Portland, Maine, when Italian baker Giovanni Amato decided to create a portable and inexpensive lunch for construction workers. It's a blue-collar sub, equal parts delicious and affordable, and that never goes out of style.

11 facts about Babe Ruth — and why he called Xavieran Brother Matthias ‘the greatest man I’ve ever known’

11 Facts About Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat. The Great Bambino. The Caliph of Clout. Babe Ruth has been known by many names, including George Herman Ruth, Jr., which is the name he was born with on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. After a rocky childhood, he'd make a mark not just on American sports, but on a nation emerging from the horrors of WWI and the Great Depression.

Bishop Georg Bätzing is the head of the German bishops’ conference. Which makes what’s happening in his Diocese of Limburg all the more alarming...

For%20Catholics%20%u2018Concerned%u2019%20About%20Germany%2C%20What%u2019s%20Happening%20in%20B%E4tzing%u2019s%20Limburg%20Offers%20a%20Case%20in%20Point%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: “The focus is too much on homosexual men!” said Eric Tilch at a panel discussion in Frankfurt last Wednesday hosted by the Diocese of Limburg — the bishopric headed by Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German Catholic bishops’ conference. But Tilch, a Church youth education officer, wasn’t protesting against the homosexual agenda or seeking to uphold the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family. Rather he was proposing the Church accept “other forms of love that are still in the dark,” according to an article on the panel posted on the diocesan website.

The real Father Stu, ‘Webmaster Becciu,’ and John Oliver’s blackmail

The real Fr. Stu, 'Webmaster Becciu,' and John Oliver's blackmailJDFLYNN: If you’ve been following the long, complicated story of Pillar reader Cardinal Angelo Becciu, now on trial for corruption and abuse of office, you probably have questions about the two million Australian dollars he authorized to be wired Down Under during the criminal trial of Cardinal George Pell. Most people do. Well, Italian media reported last week that the money might have been sent on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, in order for the Vatican to acquire control of the top-level internet domain .Catholic.

Orthodox priests in Ukraine seek removal of Patriarch Kirill

Orthodox priests in Ukraine seek removal of Patriarch Kirill | CruxSANMARTIN: As buzz continues around a possible second meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, many within Orthodoxy are calling for Kirill to be tried by church authorities for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate are collecting signatures for an appeal to the Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches for “a lawsuit against Patriarch Kirill.” If found guilty by a pan-Orthodox tribunal, the signatories want Kirill to be deprived “of the right to occupy the patriarchal see.”

Art forgers reveal secrets of their paintings that fooled even the experts — and the simple ‘fatal error’ that led to their capture

%u2018We%20got%20a%20kick%20out%20of%20it%u2019%3A%20art%20forgers%20reveal%20secrets%20of%20paintings%20that%20fooled%20experts%20%7C%20Art%20%7C%20The%20Guardian: Their forgeries of 20th-century masters such as Max Ernst and Fernand Léger duped the art world into parting with millions of pounds – until a modern pigment gave them away. Now, after serving lengthy prison sentences, Wolfgang Beltracchi and his wife Helene have told the story behind the hundreds of paintings that tricked even the artists’ families. In interviews with Jeannette Fischer, a Zurich-based psychoanalyst and author, the couple described their motivation for fooling what they believed was a “fraudulent” art world.

Why you shouldn’t snap the ends off asparagus — and why you should overcook it

New%20Advent%3A%20Why%20you%20shouldn%u2019t%20snap%20the%20ends%20off%20asparagus%20%u2014%20and%20why%20you%20should%20overcook%20it: Asparagus is such a widely popular vegetable, that even the oldest surviving cookbook features a recipe for it. Dan chats about how it's grown, how to prepare it, and the absolute best ways to cook it.

How a mapping error left this American city under the control of Canada

New Advent: How a mapping error left this American city under the control of Canada: The Northwest Angle (Angle Inlet), that small bit that sticks out of northern Minnesota, exists because of an accident made by map makers before the United States border was established.

Francis, and Francis alone, is the pope. You may lament this, but it is reality. ‘Benevacantism’ is scandalous and pointless...

Edward Feser: Benevacantism is scandalous and pointlessFESER: It is not news that Pope Francis has, over the years, made a number of theologically problematic statements (about Holy Communion for those living in adulterous relationships, capital punishment, and other matters) and done a number of problematic things (such as reversing Benedict’s motu proprio on the Latin Mass). I’ve addressed these controversies many times before and am not going to rehash it all here. The point to emphasize for present purposes is that Benevacantists suppose that the problem posed by Francis’s questionable statements and actions can be dissolved if it were to turn out that Benedict is still pope. For in that case, the problematic statements were not made by a true pope, so that there is no need to explain how a pope could commit such errors.

Angry trans activists are melting down on Twitter over a lunch J.K. Rowling just hosted

Let%u2019s%20do%20lunch%20%7C%20Charlotte%20was%20BothWELBORN: I offer this to you not assuming you are particularly interested in politics over the pond, but because it’s a guide and a warning for the American scene. There are people talking out loud about these issues, articulating them clearly and refusing to be rolled over and gaslight by “be kind.” I will have more about the US political situation, particular the Biden administration’s proposed changes to Title IX, which will be coming up for public comment very soon. You can predict what the changes are centered on: adding “gender identity” to the non-discriminatory wash, and there friends, is a disaster.

What was the Lord doing on Tuesday of Holy Week?

What Was the Lord Doing on Tuesday of Holy Week? - Community in MissionPOPE: It is Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus likely arises early, as did all the ancients. Days both ended and started early, at dusk and dawn, prior to the advent of electric lighting. They leave Bethany and head back to Jerusalem. Perhaps a few converts can be made before the transcendent events of the Passion begin. It is only a couple of miles, mostly downhill, to Jerusalem. As they come down the steep hill they see the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before.

There is a connection between Divine Mercy and the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago

Divine Mercy and the Sinking of the Titanic| National Catholic RegisterTURLEY: Toward the end of 1911, Father Thomas Byles, parish priest of St. Helen’s Church in Chipping Ongar, Essex, England, was invited to officiate at the marriage of his brother William to Miss Isabel Katherine Russell. The ceremony was to take place at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church on Sixth Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, on April 21, 1912. His initial trans-Atlantic booking for the voyage across the Atlantic had been with the White Star Line, but due to industrial action he was unable to sail, so, at the last minute, his ticket was transferred and a berth secured on a new ship, RMS Titanic.

Cardinals Pell, Arinze, Napier and 71 Other Bishops Send ‘Letter of Concern’ to Errant German Bishops Over ‘Synodal Path’

BREAKING%3A%20International%20Coalition%20of%20Bishops%20Offers%20%u2018Fraternal%20Letter%20of%20Concern%u2019%20to%20German%20Episcopacy%20Over%20%u2018Synodal%20Path%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: Seventy-four Catholic bishops from four continents have signed a “fraternal open letter” to their episcopal counterparts in Germany, expressing concern over the German Church’s controversial “Synodal Path.” While noting the need for reform in the life of the Church, the letter states that “Christian history is littered with well-intended efforts that lost their grounding in the Word of God, in a faithful encounter with Jesus Christ, in a true listening to the Holy Spirit, and in the submission of our wills to the will of the Father.” The letter states that Germany’s controversial “Synodal Path” — a reform effort, backed by the majority of German bishops, that calls for fundamental changes to the Church’s teaching on sexuality, blessings for same-sex sexual unions, and the priestly ordination of women — “risks leading to precisely such a dead end.”

How to obtain a plenary indulgence during Holy Week 2022

How to obtain a plenary indulgence during Holy Week 2022 | Catholic News Agency: A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary and all the saints to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. The indulgence applies to sins already forgiven. A plenary indulgence cleanses the soul as if the person had just been baptized. A plenary indulgence can be obtained during Holy Week for oneself or for a deceased person if one of the following works established by the Church is performed.