Thank you, Your Majesty

Thank you, Your MajestyWEIGEL: Americans have many reasons to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the few truly noble figures on the contemporary world stage. We were deeply touched by her decision to have the band play our national anthem at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace the day after 9/11. We were tickled by her puckish sense of humor: while visiting USS Constitution in Boston Harbor during the Bicentennial, the royal eye noticed that some of Old Ironsides’ ancient guns bore the monogram of her ancestor, King George III, and the Queen said to her husband, Prince Philip, “We really must have a talk with the Defense Minister about these foreign arms sales.” We were delighted when, in a whimsical moment during her platinum jubilee, she pulled a marmalade sandwich out of her handbag during an encounter with Paddington Bear.

This Sunday, put your tiny faith to work and score big

This Sunday, Put Your Tiny Faith to Work and Score Big | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: The apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith,” in this Sunday’s Gospel, and Jesus’s strange reply seems less strange when you see how it answers that prayer. It does seem pretty strange at first, though: Jesus tells them that, if only they had faith, they could plant trees in the sea and work ceaselessly for a demanding boss. But not only are Jesus’s words not strange, but we have probably experienced what he is talking about nearly every day. “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you,” he says.

Today is the feast day of St. Jerome, the Thunderer

Happy Catholic*: Feast Day of St. Jerome, The Thunderer: I do not have that "friendly feeling" with St. Jerome that I have with many other saints. However, I do love the fact that he was well known to be cantankerous and had to fight his temper constantly. It gives me that fellow feeling of someone who has to fight the same failings I do. I also highly respect him for his supreme love of Scripture as the path to God. (Protestants should enjoy this Church Father's works for that very reason.) This might be the best short summary I've ever seen of St. Jerome's life, and, specifically, why he is such a good patron saint for us bloggers.

The Vatican’s Synod organizers keep giving Catholics more reasons to be concerned — and they don’t even seem to care...

Synod Organizers Are Making Their Crisis of Credibility Worse| National Catholic RegisterLIEDL: As it transitions into its continental phase, the multi-year Synod on Synodality process faces an ironic crisis of credibility: How can it be considered an accurate portrayal of Catholics’ experience of how the Church listens, when the Synod itself has largely failed to hear from a significant number of Catholic voices? At least in the West, participation levels in the diocesan phase of the Synod were abysmally low. The USCCB’s synthesis of diocesan reports indicates that among a U.S. Catholic population of 66.8 million, only 700,000 people — just over 1% of all U.S. Catholics — participated.

‘All Their Errors Summarized’ — Catholics Criticize Bizarre Image Posted on Vatican’s Synod Facebook Page

Priests%20reject%20controversial%20synod%20poster%3A%20it%u2019s%20%u2018out%20of%20bounds%20and%20confusing%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Father Francisco “Patxi” Bronchalo, a priest of the Diocese of Getafe, Spain, recently posted on social media that a controversial drawing on the official Facebook page of the Synod on Synodality “is out of bounds and confusing.” Father Jesús Silva of the Archdiocese of Madrid also criticized the image. The drawing shows a group of young people in front of church, including a woman dressed in a white chasuble and red stole and another young man wearing a multicolored LGBT “Pride” shirt.

This Baptist was told to try mindfulness. She decided to try the Rosary instead...

Mindfulness, Meditation, and the Rosary - Lauren De Witt - The Coming Home Network: As a Baptist preacher’s kid, when Lauren De Witt hit an extremely low point and sought out counseling, some of the mindfulness techniques that were recommended didn’t sit quite right with her. In researching Christian meditation techniques, Lauren asked a Catholic friend about the rosary, even though se had a lot of reservations about trying it. Lauren shares what she discovered when she finally decided to give the rosary a shot.

Misunderstanding the rise of the nones

Misunderstanding the Rise of the Nones | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: By now it is well known that the Catholic Church in America—and organized religion more generally—must contend with the sudden growth of people who identify with “no religion.” Nearly 30% of Americans now check the box for “no religion,” including 40 percent of millennials. The Catholic Church has been hit especially hard: for each person who joins the Catholic Church, nearly seven leave. Many who become religious “Nones” claim they no longer affiliate with organized religion because of its closemindedness, corruption, or an apparent incompatibility between science and religion.

In gratitude to St. Michael the Archangel, my brother’s patron saint

In%20gratitude%20to%20Michael%20the%20Archangel%2C%20my%20brother%u2019s%20patron%20Saint%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportNASH: My brother Mike died in early July. He was 71, the oldest in our big Catholic family, about whom I’ve written before, especially in light of the inspiring witness of my Mom and Dad, and also my little sister Mary, who had Down Syndrome. Mike walked away from full participation in the Catholic Church for several decades, yet never lost touch with his patron saint, Michael the Archangel. This is the story of mine and Mike’s journey together: how we loved each other while often disagreeing, and how I’m grateful for the intercession of St. Michael—and also St. Joseph, Terror of Demons (Mike’s middle-name patron)—for their love of my brother and our family. While Mike was the eldest of the boys in our family, I was the youngest, more than eleven years his junior. He graduated from high school (1969) when I had barely begun my education, and then he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Thankfully, the draft board unexpectedly diagnosed Mike with swimmer’s ear at his would-be induction at Fort Wayne in Detroit; otherwise, we might not have walked these many years together.

The sparkling story of the world-famous ‘Smiling Angel of Reims’

The%20Sparkling%20Story%20of%20the%20World-Famous%20%u2018Smiling%20Angel%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: The Cathedral of Our Lady of Reims, with its more than 2,000 sculptures, contains by far the most important statuary of the Gothic cathedrals in the world. However, enthroned on the north portal of the main façade of this jewel of medieval architecture, the one that is known as the Smiling Angel — or “St. Nicasius’ Angel” — catches in a special way the attention of the more than 1.5 million visitors every year. The story of this enigmatic smiling angel is indeed unique.

Ohio State’s Catholic student center is becoming more Catholic and more student-centered — and some older folks aren’t too happy about it

Who owns the Newman Center? Shake-up at Ohio State highlights the tension between students and older parishioners | America Magazine: Ben Bohman attended a student activities fair his freshman year at The Ohio State University, and he left with two goals: to learn to play the ukulele and to start reading the Bible with regularity. By the time he graduated, last year, he had not mastered the musical instrument—but he was still reflecting on the Gospels. And he credits that habit, in part, to the group of Paulist priests who staffed the Newman Center at the Columbus, Ohio, university during his time there as a student.

So are there errors in the Bible or not? Here’s what the Church really teaches...

So Are There Errors in the Bible or Not? | Catholic AnswersLOFTON: The following is a fictitious conversation between two friends, Seraphim and Elijah, on the question of inerrancy in the Catholic Church. Elijah: Seraphim! It is a pleasure to see you here at the coffee shop. I haven’t seen you here before! Seraphim: Hi, Elijah! Great to see you. I don’t come here often, but I’m glad we ran into each other. Elijah: It seems like God’s providence. Seraphim: How so? Elijah: I’ve been wrestling with some questions about the concept of inerrancy in relation to the Catholic Church. I know you are a Catholic and well studied. Do you have a moment for me to ask a few questions?

Gratitude begins in observation and ends in charity...

Cultivating a sense of gratitude - and the compassion that should flow from it - Our Sunday VisitorMILLS: We once had to live without a big refrigerator for a couple months. The first one we bought was back-ordered and never came, the second one came and didn’t work, and getting our money back both times took forever. You might be surprised at how uneager some companies are to stand behind their products. We got by with a dorm-room sized one and more trips than usual to the grocery store down the hill. For Americans, a refrigerator is a necessity, almost like a piece of furniture. You have a refrigerator the way you have a kitchen sink. They’re both part of the life you expect to live. As my friend, the painter Timothy Jones, wrote: “We quickly adjust so that the abundant blessings and graces of life become the baseline, what is merely expected. What we are owed.”

Invasion of Ukraine was barbaric, but war is complicated, Pope tells Jesuits

Invasion of Ukraine was barbaric, but war is complicated, pope tells Jesuits | Crux: Pope Francis said that while he has defined Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “unacceptable, repugnant, senseless aggression, barbaric (and) sacrilegious,” he also said that too many people have taken a simplistic view of the war. “There is a war underway, and I think it’s wrong to think of it like a cowboy movie where there are good guys and bad guys. And it’s wrong to think that this is a war between Russia and Ukraine and that’s it. No. This is a world war,” Pope Francis told a group of Jesuits, according to an Italian transcript of the conversation released Sept. 28.

Church Imposed Sanctions on Nobel Laureate Bishop Belo After Receiving Accusations in 2019, Says Vatican

Vatican sanctions Nobel laureate after Timor accusations | AP News: The Catholic Church’s decades-long sex abuse scandal caught up with a Nobel Peace Prize winner Thursday, with the Vatican confirming that it had sanctioned the East Timor independence hero, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, following allegations that he sexually abused boys there during the 1990s. The Vatican admission came a day after a Dutch magazine, De Groene Amsterdammer, exposed the claims against the revered Catholic bishop, citing two of Belo’s alleged victims and reporting there were others who hadn’t come forward in East Timor, where the church wields enormous influence. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Vatican office that handles sex ab

Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

On avoiding repentance | Catholic CultureMIRUS: We live in a human culture that is seriously intent on hiding from God, very often even within the Church herself. This is particularly obvious in the widespread abuse of the sexual appetite today—the eager justification of perverse sexual behaviors, the control of which lies so close to the heart of what it means to be human. Therefore, instead of the use of our procreative powers to beget children within stable families rooted in the lifelong marriage of one man and one woman, we now justify every sort of shameful behavior: Pornography, prostitution, sexual slavery, masturbation, contraception, extra-marital sex, elective divorce, serial monogamy, and sexual relations between two or more persons of the same sex, which may even be called “marriage”.

True accompaniment to Jesus Christ involves a conversion of the heart

True accompaniment to Jesus Christ involves a conversion of the heart | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The recitation of the Prodigal Son brought the man to tears. No one understood the deep spiritual wounds he was carrying until he heard for the very first time what the meaning of the prodigal son represented. How could a father forgive a son for squandering his inheritance and in essence, betraying his family? Can there be such a thing as unconditional love and true forgiveness of sins? These were the questions pondered by this man as he contemplated his journey to Jesus Christ and whether he would eventually encounter the answers to these questions in the Catholic Church.

The ‘smiling pope’ died after just 33 days — did he know it was coming?

The Smiling Pope dies after just 33 days...did he know it was coming?SEWELL: September 28 typically marks the Feast of St. Wenceslaus – yes, THAT Wenceslaus – the “Good King” of Christmas lore, but in the realm of papal history it holds even more significance, particularly over the past two centuries. But in 1978, following the death of Pope St. Paul VI on August 6, the cardinals of gathered in Rome to elect St. Peter’s next successor, entering the conclave on August 25.

Why does fighting come more naturally to boys? Because someday they’ll become fathers, and fatherhood requires the readiness to fight...

Boys: Fighters So They Can Be Fathers - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Boys tend to be raucous. The overthrow of the harmony of home or school, and the bane of many a parent’s or teacher’s peace of mind, boys’ over-the-top if not downright chaotic energy can seem a serious flaw of nature. We want to throw up our hands: what is going on? Why can’t they be calmer and more focused? There is much in play here. There can be significant aggravating factors that are chemical/biological as well as of course family and social environment. These must be considered. But regardless of circumstances, there is clearly something of nature at work here. And it always behooves us to turn a docile ear to what nature is saying. This can make a great difference in how we think about our troubles with boys. If fighting seems to come more naturally to them, what might this bespeak?

Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, 1996 Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize, Accused of Sexually Abusing Teenage Boys

Nobel Prize-winning Bishop Belo accused of sexual abuse: Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of East Timor has been accused of sexually abusing several teenage boys, according to a report published Wednesday in a Dutch news magazine. Belo, 74, came to international attention in the 1990s for his outspoken role in opposing the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, which lasted from 1975 until 1999. The bishop was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his work “towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor.” He shared the prize with José Ramos-Horta, who went on to become president of East Timor.

Will God give me whatever I want?

Will God Give Me Whatever I Want? | Catholic AnswersAKIN: The Gospels contain some remarkable statements about prayer. They’re found particularly in the Gospel of Matthew, though there are parallels in Mark and Luke. These statements sound very positive—as if you can ask God for anything you want, and he’ll give it to you so long as you believe. When people take these passages in isolation—apart from other things the New Testament says—they can develop a false theology of prayer.

Did Italy’s elections identify the country’s ‘Pope Francis’ party?

Did%20Italy%u2019s%20elections%20identify%20the%20country%u2019s%20%u2018Pope%20Francis%u2019%20party%3F%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: By sheer coincidence, Pope Francis spent last Sunday in southern Italy, in the city of Matera, which has long been a symbol of the poverty and neglect that’s enveloped Italia meridionale, meaning the southern part of the country, since the theoretical unification of the nation in 1870. Sunday was also the day Italians went to the polls to elect a new government, and it’s entirely possible that the pope’s southern hosts that day may just have identified the “Pope Francis” party in national affairs.

USCCB officials say synod process is ‘not perfect’ but synodality is ‘not over’

USCCB: Synod process 'not perfect,' but synodality is 'not over': At the end of the local phase of the Church’s synod on synodality, organizers at the USCCB have said the Church’s experience of the process is more important than the documents it has produced. USCCB organizers also acknowledged that consultation sessions in recent months had only limited participation - with many Catholics wholly unaware they were taking place - but said they view those sessions as only a start to the potential of synodal engagement in the Church.

38 Wonderful Words With No English Equivalent

38 Wonderful Words With No English Equivalent: Sometimes we must turn to other languages to find le mot juste. Here are a whole bunch of foreign words with no direct English equivalent. 1. Kummerspeck (German) Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon. 2. Shemomedjamo (Georgian) You know when you’re really full, but your meal is just so delicious, you can’t stop eating it? The Georgians feel your pain. This word means, “I accidentally ate the whole thing."

Does the Church ever allow for ‘transgender’ surgeries?

Does the Church ever allow for transgender surgeries? - Our Sunday VisitorPOPE: In truth, there is no such thing as “transgender surgery.” Surgery cannot alter the true sex of a person. Transgenderism is based on a lie that one’s sex (sometimes called gender) can be changed. It cannot. No, there is not a broad spectrum of “genders.” Scripture is clear that we come in one of two sexes: “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gn 1:27). Since Scripture is truth, what contradicts it is untrue.

Through study and prayer, it’s not too late to get Vatican II right

Through study and prayer, it's not too late to get Vatican II right - Our Sunday VisitorBRISCOE: Sixty years ago, on Oct. 11, 1962, Pope St. John XXIII solemnly opened the Second Vatican Council. Addressing the council fathers, he said, “The major interest of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred heritage of Christian truth be safeguarded and expounded with greater efficacy.” Referring to the sweeping political and economic changes that had occured in the 19th and 20th centuries, John XXIII rejoices that the Church would have the opportunity to return to the essentials of the spiritual life, particularly the instruction of the faithful. Free from “worldly fetters that trammelled her in past ages,” Holy Mother Church had a new opportunity to preach and catechize.

Hurricane hunters are flying through Ian’s powerful winds to get the forecasts you rely on — here’s what happens when the plane plunges into the eyewall of a storm

Hurricane%20hunters%20are%20flying%20through%20Ian%27s%20powerful%20winds%20to%20get%20the%20forecasts%20you%20rely%20on%20%u2013%20here%27s%20what%20happens%20when%20the%20plane%20plunges%20into%20the%20eyewall%20of%20a%20storm: As Hurricane Ian intensifies on its way toward the Florida coast, hurricane hunters are in the sky doing something almost unimaginable: flying through the center of the storm. With each pass, the scientists aboard these planes take measurements that satellites can’t and send them to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.

On Wearing Socks and the Death of the Queen

On Wearing Socks and the Death of the QueenGREVING: “But, sir: Why do we have to wear socks?” This was asked after I told a student that the next time he came to class without said foot covering he would have lunch detention. Being a veteran teacher, I sensed in the question the time-honored student ploy of diversionary tactics in place of study, so I simply answered, “Because the school says so” and left it at that. He had a point, though; socks are, at least to teenage boys, useless things, the donning of which requires extra effort and seems a meaningless institutional and societal custom. The two often go together in teenage minds. This made me think of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

Those ‘inclusive’ Flemish bishops are excluding Christ

%u201CInclusive%u201D%20Flemish%20Bishops%20Exclude%20ChristFITZPATRICK: Jesus Christ caused a stir when He reached out to prostitutes and ate with tax-collectors, but He did so because He came for the sick, for sinners. In this, however, Our Lord did not bless their sin. On the contrary, He challenged them to sin no more and follow Him. The Flemish bishops caused their own stir this week by reaching out to those living a homosexual lifestyle. They issued a document outlining a liturgy for blessing same-sex couples who wish to live “in lasting and faithful union with a partner” and “express before God how they are committed to one another.” The Flemish bishops say they want “a welcoming Church that excludes no one.” But in their efforts to be inclusive, they exclude Christ Himself.

Salving the Wounds That Remain: On the Sex Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church

Salving%20the%20Wounds%20That%20Remain%3A%20On%20the%20Sex%20Abuse%20Crisis%20in%20the%20Catholic%20Church%20%u2013%20arcoftheuniversePHILPOTT: U.S. Catholics widely believe that the “enduring wounds” from the sex abuse crisis are foremost among wounds in the Church. This was one of the main conclusions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ synthesis of U.S. Catholics’ views in its recent report for the global synodal process. “Salving the Wounds That Remain: Where the Catholic Church Can Find Healing for its Sex Abuse Crisis” is the name of a lecture that I delivered at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 15th. The lecture can be viewed here. It runs about 35-40 minutes, followed by a lively question and answer session that brought out heartfelt testimonies and views of survivors, for which I am grateful.

Protestantism has an Old Testament problem

Protestantism%u2019s%20Old%20Testament%20Problem%20%7C%20Catholic%20AnswersDEVINROSE: I have found that the canon of Scripture is the single most fruitful topic to discuss with Protestant friends. The canon is the set of books that make up the Bible—Scripture’s “table of contents”—and it is one of the most important issues between Catholics and Protestants for two reasons: first, because the Catholic and Protestant canons differ (Catholics have seventy-three books in their canon and Protestants have sixty-six); second, because Protestants believe in a doctrine called sola scriptura or “the Bible alone.”

On Being Man’s Best Friend

On%20Being%20Man%u2019s%20Best%20Friend%20%7C%20Parishable%20ItemsFELTES: In the 1996 film “Independence Day,” we get introduced to a single-mother named Jasmine, played by Vivica Fox. With alien ships hovering ominously above the world’s major cities, she decides to flee Los Angeles. When the aliens begin their attack, Jasmine is stuck in a traffic jam inside a tunnel with her little boy, Dylan, and their handsome pet Labrador Retriever, named Boomer. A wall of fire rushes from behind, tossing cars into the air before it and incinerating everyone it catches. Jasmine grabs her son and runs between the cars until she spots the door to a maintenance room. She kicks down the locked door and they huddle inside, but their dog has not followed them. Jasmine cries out, “Boomer! Boomer!” And Boomer sprints toward them, jumping over cars, and leaps safely into the side room at the very last second, just as the inferno passes by. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are killed in the tunnel, but Boomer survives.

Daily Mass changed my life — and it can change yours, too

How partaking in the Eucharist daily changed my life - Our Sunday VisitorSPITZER: The holy Eucharist has been integral to my priestly vocation. My mother was a devoted daily communicant, so I was predisposed to the graces of this sacrament throughout primary and secondary school. When I went to Gonzaga University, a friend asked what I was going to do for Lent. I responded, “I am not really sure, but I think I will give up meat on several days — or something.” He said, “Not me; I am going to go to daily Mass.” I thought to myself, if he can go to daily Mass, perhaps I should consider it. After all, it’s just for Lent.

Cardinal Zen Stands Trial in Hong Kong for Violating ‘National Security Law’

Cardinal Zen stands trial in Hong Kong | Catholic News Agency: Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others stood trial in Hong Kong on Monday for failing to properly register a fund to provide legal aid to pro-democracy protesters. The 90-year-old cardinal and retired bishop of Hong Kong arrived at the court in West Kowloon on Sept. 26 using a cane to walk. He was arrested in May along with other democracy activists under Hong Kong’s strict national security law. In addition to Zen, who has been free on bail since early May, several others have been charged for failing to apply for local society registration for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund between 2019 and 2021.

Joshua Nelson: How to offer up your fear

Joshua Nelson: How to offer up your fear: "We submit ourselves to fear and that's a kind of enslavement to passion. And that kind of enslavement to passions damages us. It leads us to sin. It leads us to not fight for the greater good — to sins of omission when we should have done the greater good," said Joshua Nelson, who wrote an article, "Offer Up Your Fear," on Catholic Exchange. "By keeping Christ in mind, and at the forefront, it helps us put our attachments in perspective. Because, in many times and many circumstances that I've experienced fear, it's because I'm overly attached to something else."

Revealing report offers a rare glimpse inside an American diocese, post-pandemic

Anatomy%20of%20a%20Diocese%2C%20Post%20Pandemic%20%u2013%20The%20Five%20Beasts: A revealing publication recently released by the Diocese of Oakland, the Mission Alignment Project Interim Report, represented an effort to include priests and laity in the bishop’s inevitable decisions to cluster, merge, or close a number of its 81 parishes. The 73-page report is a fascinating read for its raw data and transparency.

What does Sunday night’s celestial event have to do with Church history?

What%20Does%20Sunday%20Night%u2019s%20Celestial%20Event%20Have%20to%20Do%20With%20Church%20History%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRANEY: So what does seeing Jupiter’s moons have to do with Church history, other than perhaps the Galileo connection? It’s those dots of light, and their sizes, that are the history connection. They have played a role in discussions of Genesis, and in the Church’s opposition to Galileo’s ideas. In Genesis 1:14 God says, “let there be lights in the dome of the sky.” Genesis 1:16 says, “God made the two great lights ... and he made the stars.” If the sky is a dome, this is all straightforward. The sun, our moon and the stars are lights on that dome, all the same distance from Earth. Their sizes are therefore just as they appear — the sun and moon appear larger than the stars, and so they are larger.

Dare we hope that the rich who ignore the poor will be saved?

This Sunday, Dare We Hope That the Rich Who Ignore the Poor Will Be Saved? | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: Dare we hope that the rich who ignore those suffering on their doorstep will be saved? Certainly not, says Jesus — especially when that rich person is us. St. Paul and the Old Testament heartily agree on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The real hope for the world comes from the saints who throughout history have unambiguously warned us that we are courting destruction. Jesus tells a parable (or perhaps a true story?) in the Gospel this Sunday that we can easily apply to ourselves.

Ignoring the poor is a damnable sin

Ignoring%20the%20Poor%20Is%20a%20Damnable%20Sin%u2014A%20Homily%20for%20the%2026th%20Sunday%20of%20the%20Year%20-%20Community%20in%20MissionPOPE: This Sunday’s Gospel about the rich man and Lazarus contains some important teachings on judgment and Hell. We live in times in which many consider the teachings on Hell to be untenable. They struggle to understand how a God described as loving, merciful, and forgiving could assign certain souls to Hell forever. Despite the fact that the Doctrine of Hell is taught extensively in Scripture as well as by Jesus Himself, it does not comport well with many modern notions and so many people think that it has to go.

As Italy votes, the Pope channels the Stones: Getting what you need, not what you want

As Italy votes, Pope channels the Stones: Getting what you need, not what you want | CruxALLEN: Italians go to the polls today, in national elections expected to produce a big win for conservatives led by post-fascist politician Giorgia Meloni, who appears set to become the country’s first female Prime Minister, and including the right-wing, anti-immigrant Lega party under former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. The Italian results seem destined to bolster a recent European trend, including victories for right-wing populist forces in the Czech Republic and Sweden.

There is a hell. Hell is real. And many people go there...

26th%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20%u2013%20There%20Is%20a%20Hell%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: Today’s Gospel is the Parable of Lazarus (or Dives) and the rich man. The parable is about two people: a rich man and a poor man. The rich man “dressed in purple garments” (a sign of wealth) and “dined sumptuously.” The poor man dressed in rags and lived on the verge of starvation, hoping for “scraps.” The rich man was apparently healthy. The poor man was covered in sores licked by dogs. And they lived side-by-side. The poor man “was lying” at the rich man’s door. We’re told nothing of their encounters, whether the rich man actively tried to drive this “bum” away or was too taken up with his meals to even notice.

Pope Francis Appeals for the Release of Kidnapped Catholics in Cameroon

Pope Francis appeals for the release of kidnapped Catholics in Cameroon | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Francis has appealed for the release of nine Catholics kidnapped in southwest Cameroon. “I join in the appeal of the bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of some people kidnapped in the diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister,” the pope said on Sept. 25. Speaking in his Angelus address at the end of a Mass in the southern Italian city of Matera, the pope said that he was praying that the Lord may grant peace to Cameroon, where a civil war has been raging since 2017.

Of Hunger and Hallucinations — How the Stages of Starvation Describe the Decaying West

Of%20Hunger%20and%20Hallucinations%20%u2013%20How%20the%20Stages%20of%20Starvation%20Describe%20the%20Decaying%20West%20-%20Community%20in%20MissionPOPE: Physical hunger is a serious problem; We are obliged to assist the starving and malnourished. But even more prevalent these days is spiritual hunger, if not outright starvation. As is the case with physical hunger, the source of spiritual hunger is not God, who has given us abundant grace and truth; it is we who are the source. It is a strange starvation to be sure, for it is largely self-inflicted. Further, it seems to be at an advanced stage.

Founder of Catholic Apostolate ‘The King’s Men’ Charged With Violating FACE Act With Alleged 2021 Assault on Abortion Clinic Escort

Founder of Catholic apostolate for men charged with assaulting Planned Parenthood abortion clinic escort | Catholic News Agency: A Catholic speaker and author who regularly prays the rosary outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia was charged Friday with physically assaulting a Planned Parenthood clinic escort last year. Mark Houck, 48, of Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, is the co-founder and president of the Catholic ministry The King’s Men, which aims to give spiritual formation to Catholic men. News of Houck’s arrest on Friday morning was widely shared on social media after another well-known Catholic speaker, Chris Stefanick, posted about it online. Houck’s wife, Ryan-Marie Houck, told CNA about the arrest Friday.

Cardinal Zen is going to trial, “I think,” says the Pope...

The%20Pope%u2019s%20betrayal%20of%20Cardinal%20Zen%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureLAWLER: The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen has been postponed, but the indomitable 90-year-old prelate will face judgment soon enough, under the draconian new “security laws” imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese government. Meanwhile Pope Francis faces his own judgment, in the court of public opinion, for his failure to defend Cardinal Zen—or, for that matter, to criticize the regime that is prosecuting him. When questioned about the trial, by a reporter who accompanied him on his flight home from Kazakhstan, the Pontiff gave this utterly unsatisfactory reply

What happens if you fall on a cruise ship?

New Advent: What happens if you fall on a cruise ship?: In this video, we investigate what happens when someone falls overboard from a ship. We look at the immediate actions taken by the bridge team, as well as subsequent man overboard maneuvers and search patterns.

How super-recognizers — people with a rare and uncanny ability to remember faces — are helping police solve crimes

How Super-Recognizers Are Helping Police Solve Crimes: It was news that captured attention around the world: In March 2018, former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned by a nerve agent in Salisbury, England. Suspicions quickly mounted that Russia was responsible for the attack.

Two Commentaries on Bishops “Blessing” Same-Sex “Unions”

Two%20Commentaries%20on%20Bishops%20%u201CBlessing%u201D%20Same-Sex%20%u201CUnions%u201D%20-%20The%20Catholic%20Thing: The Flemish bishops of Belgium published a document this week on pastoral care for homosexual persons. The most notable aspect of the document is its inclusion of a text for blessing same-sex couples. The bishops plan to present the text to Pope Francis when they travel to Rome for their ad limina visit later this year. One of the more exasperating particulars in this case is that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a response to questions about the blessing of same-sex unions just last year. That document, published with the express approval of Pope Francis, makes clear that, “the Church does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex.”

Back-to-the-landers aren’t running away from community — they’re running toward it

Back-to-the-Landers%20Aren%u2019t%20Running%20Away%20From%20Community%20%u2014%20They%u2019re%20Running%20Toward%20It%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCRAIG: A consistent charge against the various iterations of “back-to-the-land-ism” is that wannabe farmers are fleeing society at a time when society needs Christians more than ever. When I announced a move from Denver back to my home state of North Carolina in order to start a farm, a friend quipped, “No missionary ever declared he was going to the country!” Other than his historical ignorance (St. Louis de Montfort, anyone?), and perhaps forgetting that rural people also have souls, I did take to heart his point. By design, God has Christians in the world. We are communal and social creatures. Was I doing something inhuman by “fleeing to the fields,” as the famous distributist book by that name put it?

St. Augustine is still an essential teacher for the Church today

The Essential AugustineSTAUDT: On the 28th of August, we celebrated the feast day of the great St. Augustine, the anniversary of the day he died in the year 430 A.D. His name providentially points to his august status in the Church as one of the greatest theologians in her history. We love him for another reason, however. More than any other figure in history, we can follow Augustine’s inner life, tracing the steps of his conversion, thinking through his doubts and questions, feeling his moral anguish and following the ascent of his soul into God. His Confessions — one of the most essential texts of intellectual and spiritual history — is a must read for any Catholic.

Evangelization, yes — but with what message and by what means?

Evangelization: What and When?WEIGEL: At the “information meeting” of the College of Cardinals this past Aug. 29-30, there was considerable agreement that evangelization is Catholicism’s prime imperative for the 21st century — a consensus understandably gratifying to the author of a 2013 book with the then-provocative title, Evangelical Catholicism. Within that consensus, however, serious questions remain to be resolved. Surveying the world Catholic scene today, and considering the past decade of ecclesiastical air turbulence, there are four “what” questions and one “when” question to be settled, if the consensus on the necessity of evangelization is to be fruitful in drawing others to, or back to, Christ.

President Biden Fundraiser Remarks Muddle Catholic Teaching on Abortion

President Biden fundraiser remarks muddle Catholic teaching on abortion | Catholic News Agency: President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to suggest — erroneously — that the Catholic Church makes exceptions for rape and incest in its condemnation of abortion. Biden made the remarks at a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee at a private home in New York City’s Central Park South neighborhood while discussing a Republican-backed congressional bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks into pregnancy. The president incorrectly said the bill has no exceptions for rape and incest.

Bishop Kevin Rhoades approves cause of Holy Cross Brother Columba O’Neill, who gained a reputation as a miracle worker for thousands who wrote to him at Notre Dame

An American Andre Our Sunday VisitorHEINLEIN: With the acceptance and approval of Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, a new American canonization cause was formally opened in the summer of 2022. The cause of Servant of God Brother Columba O’Neill, CSC, who lived in the diocese for many years at the University of Notre Dame, is being petitioned by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious community that operates the university and to which O’Neill belonged as a consecrated religious brother.

Head of New Belgian Homosexual Ministry Says Its Agenda Is ‘In the Spirit of Our Pope’

Head%20of%20new%20Flemish%20LGBT%20ministry%20confident%20it%u2019s%20%u2018in%20the%20spirit%20of%20our%20pope%u2019%20%7C%20Crux: Willy Bombeek, the head of a new “contact point” for gay Catholics that’s backed by the Flemish bishops, says he is confident that his ministry is something the pope would approve. Bombeek is the coordinator of a new “Homosexuality & Faith” contact point which was announced by the Flemish bishops Tuesday with an accompanying document that included proposed blessings for same-sex couples.

The Belgian bishops and the fight for Francis’ legacy

The%20Belgian%20bishops%20and%20the%20fight%20for%20Francis%u2019%20legacyCONDON: Belgium’s Flemish bishops published on Tuesday a text on the pastoral care of Catholics who identify as LGBT, including a prayer for the “love and fidelity” of same-sex couples widely understood as a text to be used for blessing for gay relationships. The francophone portion of Belgium’s episcopal conference is expected to issue its own version of the text soon. The prayer is predictably controversial, with critics maligning it as a repudiation of Vatican guidance on the subject. Will Pope Francis intervene on the matter? That’s not yet certain. But its publication could signal the beginning of a public battle in the Church over the legacy of Pope Francis. And whether the pope will step in to define that legacy for himself remains an uncertain - but pressing - question.

The 27 almost-best decluttering tips of all time (The best is, ‘Sell all you have, give to the poor, then come and follow Me’)

The 27 Best Decluttering Tips of All Time | Apartment Therapy: Decluttering is just editing your home. And since your home story is always being written, decluttering is a never-ending task. The reward—and the reason that keeps me going when decluttering seems like an overwhelming task—is that at the end, your home will contain only the things that serve you. You’ll be surrounded by things that make you happy. Because just like editing, once the extra, unnecessary stuff is deleted, only the best is left.

Correct the Pope? Or assist him in his Catholic mission?

Correct%20the%20Pope%3F%20Or%20assist%20him%20in%20his%20Catholic%20mission%u2026%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: It seems to me that there are two primary ways to respond when any pope writes something in one of his officially-promulgated texts which at first strikes us as incorrect. The first way is to assert that the pope is wrong (and perhaps begin immediately to alert all who will listen to this “fact”). The second way is to consider carefully how a statement which strikes us as questionable could be understood (perhaps even better understood) to be perfectly true. A case in point arises from those who claim that, in his Apostolic Letter on the Liturgy (Desiderio Desideravi, June 29, 2022), Pope Francis has misstated the requirements that must be fulfilled for someone to receive Communion.

How do genealogies work in the Bible?

How do biblical genealogies work? - Our Sunday VisitorPOPE: The Church proclaims Mary’s descent from King David through sacred Tradition and the ancient liturgies. Beyond this, it was the usual custom that marriages take place within tribes. So, if Joseph was the Tribe of Judah (David’s line), so was Mary. However, Luke’s Gospel describes Elizabeth (a kinswoman to Mary) as belonging to the daughters of Aaron of the priestly tribe of Levi. Was then Mary of Levite heritage? But then again, the legal adoption of Jesus and marriage to Mary by Joseph would make Jesus and Mary members of the House of David (Judah).

Meet Giorgia Meloni, the woman who could be Italy’s next prime minister

Giorgia%20Meloni%u2019s%20Politics%20And%20Faith%3A%20Meet%20The%20Woman%20Who%20Could%20Be%20Italy%27s%20Next%20LeaderLISI: Italians will vote in national elections this coming Sunday after Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s unity government was brought down by party infighting in July. That has ushered in a summer of fierce campaigning and feisty debates, both on television and along sidewalk cafes, during a time when most Italians are relaxing at the beach.

The pope (Conon) with rugged good looks, the pope (Vitalian) who put organs in churches, and the pope (John Paul I) whose only ad limina came from America

A pope with rugged good looks and a visit from the AmericansSEWELL: Vitalian reigned for a decade and a half in the mid-7th Century, having dealt with some bad blood between East and West, as well as some hefty heretical disputes – Monothelitism in this case, the belief that Jesus Christ had only one will (he has two – divine and human), which was condemned by the Council of Constantinople not long after Vitalian’s death in 672. However, neither of those, nor his personal holiness, are what Vitalian became best known for. Instead, it’s the use of organs in church worship, which are thought to have come into practice specifically during Vitalian’s papacy.

Mexico City has been hit by three big earthquakes in the last 40 years — all on September 19. So what’s the probability of this happening?

What%u2019s%20the%20probability%20of%20three%20earthquakes%20hitting%20Mexico%20City%20on%20the%20date%20September%2019%3F%20%7C%20International%20%7C%20EL%20PA%CDS%20English%20Edition: An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck Mexico City on Monday, September 19 – the same date as the deadly quakes in 1985 and 2017. According to experts, the probability of an earthquake hitting the capital on the exact same day in between 0.000751% and 0.00000024%.

Great music has the power to help us become great. It’s not magic. It’s better. It’s a natural path that’s meant for us...

The Power of Music - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Reading good books is an irreplaceable means for cultivating right reasoning. We can enter the minds of the wise, following their train of thought. Listening to good music is similar. But music is an intimate expression with a more immediate effect than the written word. This is because music—which Plato and Aristotle see as an imitation of human states—makes present something of the reality it imitates. Despairing music really has something of despair in it. You can feel it. Courageous music really has something of courage in it. Just how this is so is hard to grasp. Here we bump up against one of those aspects of reality that causes wonder. Aristotle is insistent. A painting of a courageous man simply ‘points’ to courage; yet music can actually imitate courage itself. “Even in mere melodies there is an imitation of character,” he writes in the Politics. He concludes “music has a power of forming the character.” It is no surprise the ancients saw music as a gift from the gods—a gift that can be used for great good, or evil.

How many ants are crawling on Earth? Scientists say 20 quadrillion — about 2.5 million for every human

How many ants are crawling on Earth? Scientists say 20 quadrillion | Reuters: The world's human population is forecast to surpass 8 billion in the coming months. Compared to ants, that is a mediocre milestone. Researchers have made the most thorough assessment to date of the global population of ants - insects that have colonized almost everywhere on the planet - and the estimated total is a mind-blowing 20 quadrillion of them, or approximately 2.5 million for every human.

Belgium’s Catholic Bishops Publish Text for Ritual Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships

Belgian bishops publish text for same-sex blessings: Belgian bishops published Tuesday a new document on the pastoral care of Catholics who identify as LGBT, which includes a text allowing for a ritual blessing of same-sex couples. The bishops of Flanders said that the three-page document, entitled “Being pastorally close to homosexuals: For a welcoming Church that excludes no one,” aims to “structurally anchor [the Church’s] pastoral commitment to homosexual persons and couples.”

Evangelicals are becoming more open to the Catholic Church — here’s why

Evangelicals%20Are%20Becoming%20More%20Open%20to%20the%20Catholic%20Church%20%u2014%20Here%u2019s%20Why%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMILLS: He’s the Episcopalian from central casting: the old-fashioned Kennedy haircut, the blue blazer and chinos, the bowtie, the fact that he has “the third” at the end of his name, the social confidence of a man who knows he belongs. “Geoff,” he told me, “is doing a great job.” That one sentence represents a movement among separated Christians that offers hope for the Catholic Church and for all of God’s people scattered in other bodies. Because my old friend Laurie was the president and dean of a strongly evangelical Protestant seminary and he had named Geoff his dean of students. He put him in charge of the students’ well-being and formation, and to a great extent their pastoral care. At this very evangelical seminary.

What do you think about ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?’ Is it a contribution to Tolkien’s world, or a corruption?

%u2018The%20Rings%20of%20Power%u2019%3A%20A%20Contribution%20to%20or%20a%20Corruption%20of%20Tolkien%u2019s%20World%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: Few fan bases are more passionate about their subject matter than devotees of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and the mythic universe within which it is contained. And few corporations are viewed with more trepidation these days than Amazon.com, Inc. So when it was announced in 2017 that the multinational, multiplatform company had acquired the rights to create its own Middle-earth-themed television series, speculation raged over whether the new offering would be a worthy contribution to the world Tolkien created — or a corruption of it.

The synod, an antipope, and ‘a mortal sinner’

The synod, an antipope, and 'a mortal sinner.'JDFLYNN: On Sept. 20, 1378, most of the Church’s College of Cardinals met under lock and key outside of Rome, to elect Cardinal Robert of Geneva as the pontiff, Pope Clement VII. Robert had been an archbishop in France, a pastor in England, and a papal legate — and in 1377, he had led a cadre of papal troops to quelch a rebellion in the city of Cesena, a part of the Papal States. But there was a problem with Clement VII’s election to the papacy, and the problem was this — just five months before, the same cardinals had elected as pope the Archbishop of Bari, Bartolomeo Prignano, who had taken the name Urban VI.

Snapshots From the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

Snapshots From the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Reporting from on the ground at the ceremony, the Register’s Rome correspondent provides a compelling in-person account of today’s historic event, in words and pictures. The simple yet traditional ceremony — as the Queen herself had wished — was rich in scriptural references that had guided her reign, as well as passages dwelling on the Lord’s resurrection from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

Gender ideologies and the need for Christian anthropology

Gender ideologies and the need for Christian anthropology - Our Sunday VisitorUSSELMANN: Societal talk about gender identity and gender affirming care fills our news feeds. It concerns me especially when these refer to children. Our society may benefit from an understanding of Christian anthropology. Videos from Boston Children’s Hospital promote gender-affirming surgeries on children as young as 15 and hormone therapy on children as young as three. One professional even said some kids know from the minute they were born what gender they identify as. Well, that’s astounding! Babies only want love and food, so I’m pretty sure they don’t know or care about their gender as infants.

A new liturgical war — and the path to liturgical victory

A%20New%20Liturgical%20War%u2014and%20the%20Path%20to%20Liturgical%20Victory%20-%20AdoremusCARSTENS: There appear many reasons for discouragement these days for traditionally minded Catholics. Ad orientem prayer faces dark times in many places. Latin in the liturgy seems more ancient than ever (despite Vatican II’s calls to the contrary). Gregorian chant, not heard in years in most places, anticipates no reunion tour. Given that today’s Roman Rite “embrace[s] one and the same tradition” as the Tridentine Missal (see General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 6), these are challenging times for the postconciliar Missal. A quick glance around the web, the blogs, and print matter only exacerbates the mood—these seem to report only bad news. The hierarchy governs too ideologically, we read. Liturgical abuse garners the most glaring headlines

The secret to creating a soulful, beautiful (and kid-friendly) home

The%20Secret%20to%20Creating%20a%20Soulful%2C%20Beautiful%20%28and%20Kid-Friendly%21%29%20Home%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20Home: When my first child was born, I remember sitting on the couch in our one-bedroom apartment, holding her as she slept, realizing that all of life had grown a thousand times more complicated. I was relieved to hold her in my arms but also so tired and so fearful that anything should happen to her. I knew that I loved her intensely but also that I did not yet know who she was. Many of us have experienced something of this: amid its many joys, parenting brings a host of complexities, some wonderfully mysterious and others overwhelming. And it just gets more complicated as children grow up: the relational dynamics, the forays into defiance and discipline, the goal to love them unconditionally and also train and challenge them to be their best selves.

Computers can never be persons...

Can Computers be Persons? | Parishable ItemsFELTES: I cannot see Catholicism ever attributing personhood to complex machines, but I predict that others will begin to in the coming decades. As new applications are programed to increasingly replicate human conversation and emotion I could see young people imagining them as their real friends. As anthropomorphized technology’s creative feats far surpass our human abilities, I could even see some adults revering them as wise and powerful idols. If so, then these passages of Psalm 115 will find a new fulfillment: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell. They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk; they produce no sound from their throats. Their makers will be like them, and anyone who trusts in them.”

A lesson from Tolkien on grief (and hope)

A lesson from Tolkien on grief (and hope) - Our Sunday VisitorMILLS: Today, as I write, is the sixth anniversary of my sister’s death. Two years younger, and my only sibling, she’d gone to the ER six months before for a blood clot and found she had terminal cancer. I was with her most of those six months. Karen died in hospice, just before the sun came up, about 10 hours after she went in. My wife and I kept vigil. It was time for her to go, her body so ravaged by the cancer and she feeling such pain, even with the drugs. I wrote about her death here. C.S. Lewis called such a death “a severe mercy,” and it was, but I don’t think people who see those words always realize how ambiguous is such a mercy for those left behind. You see the mercy, but you also feel the severity, the pain of separation, of loss, and often guilt for things we did and things we failed to do.

Finding the bishops we need

Finding the bishops we needWEIGEL: There was considerable excitement in some quarters this summer when Pope Francis appointed three women as members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, which makes recommendations to the pope for episcopal appointments in much of Latin-rite Catholicism. Whether this innovation will make any significant difference at the final stage of a long, complex process remains to be seen; given the byzantine ways of the Roman Curia (and its boys club atmosphere and dynamics), I have my doubts. But we shall see.

The triumph of failure: A tale of two bishops

The triumph of failure: A tale of two bishopsSTAUDT: “If we achieve great things outside of ourselves, and the achieving of them does not effect any change or development in ourselves, we have done nothing. Life’s purpose is to purify us, not gratify us.” So says Father Edward Leen reflecting on “the triumph of failure,” the way in which God’s work in the soul, and correspondingly in the world, cannot be judged on the surface (see his book In the Likeness of Christ). Judged rightly, Leen tells us that “there is nothing so sad as the sight of those who once pressed forward to the goal of perfection frittering away the days and hours in silly preoccupation about things that are futile, transient and unsubstantial.” Those are precisely the things that take up most of our attention! The things we seek to avoid — suffering, misunderstanding, and even failure — are precisely the tools God uses to purify us.

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was strikingly Christian

The Strikingly Christian Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: It was the grandest state funeral in history for history’s longest-serving monarch. First and last, though, it was a Christian funeral. The Church of England rendered a signal service to all Christians in providing a model for how funerals ought to be conducted, in a time when both sacred and civic funeral liturgies have become rather emaciated. The Queen was rightly and well eulogized in various ceremonies in the past week. The day of her funeral was a day for prayer.

Say what you will, but this cardinal’s sheer bravado is breathtaking

Say%20what%20you%20will%2C%20this%20cardinal%u2019s%20sheer%20bravado%20is%20breathtaking%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Imagine that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior or some such official was leading a humanitarian convoy in Ukraine, at the direct request of U.S. President Joe Biden, when it came under fire from Russian forces. She’d be swarmed by her security detail, whisked off to some impenetrable bunker and then shoved onto the first flight home, never to see the light of day again until she was in airspace considered secure. Yet when the same thing happened to Krajewski on Saturday, how did he react?

After Roe, we must treasure adoption

Adoption after Roe: 'Lifemark' Movie a Testament to Its Value | National ReviewLOPEZ: hanksgiving has come early this year. The dialogue comes from the movie Lifemark, currently in a limited run at theaters. It’s a true story of adoption. Lifemark was inspired by the documentary I Lived on Parker Avenue, which chronicled a young man (David Colton) as he journeyed to meet his birth mother and father. (The abortion clinic that Colton’s birth mother walked away from in Indiana is on Parker Avenue.) The words above come from when they finally met.

Trial opens for Hong Kong’s Cardinal Joseph Zen

Trial%20opens%20for%20Hong%20Kong%u2019s%20Cardinal%20Joseph%20Zen%20%7C%20Crux: On Monday, the trial against Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other defendants formally opened in Hong Kong, initiating highly controversial proceedings that could end in heavy fines or jail time, and which has been widely criticized as an attack against democracy. Zen, 90, and five others were arrested in May under a Beijing-imposed national security law for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.

Here’s the right way to approach a dog you don’t know, according to veterinarians

The Right Way to Pet a Dog, According to Veterinarians: After reading that above headline, you may have thought to yourself, “There’s no right or wrong way to pet a dog. I’ve had dogs my whole life!” It’s true that canines tend to be less persnickety than cats when it comes to human affection, but veterinarians stress that there’s still some etiquette you should follow when petting a dog. This is especially true if it’s a dog you don’t know.

Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples on feast day

Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples on feast day | Catholic News Agency: The blood of Saint Januarius liquefied on Monday at a Mass in Naples, where the archbishop sharply condemned the city’s “cancerous mafia culture.” Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples held up an ampoule containing the relic of the third-century martyr-saint’s blood in the Naples Cathedral on Sept. 19, revealing the liquefaction to shouts and cheers.

Queen Elizabeth II Laid to Rest at Windsor: ‘Her Allegiance to God Was Given Before Anyone Gave Allegiance to Her’

Catholic%20prayers%20for%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20%u2014%20and%20the%20new%20king%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: As millions across the United Kingdom and the whole world today witness the final farewell for Queen Elizabeth II, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales have released statements, made comments, and issued pastoral letters about the death of Her Majesty. The Catholic archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales paid a strong personal tribute to the queen.

Catholic celebrities, sought-after pastors, internet personalities: Beware! Popularity changes you imperceptibly and carries a high cost. Welcome your humiliations and setbacks...

Catholic Celebrity Neal Obstat Theological OpiningNEAL: I was texting with a Greek Orthodox priest friend this summer about celebrity in ecclesiastical culture, after sending him a clip from a popular Orthodox nun on YouTube. After a number of comments on that, he said: In American culture, the cult of celebrity is a dangerous field to enter. Especially in a digital age. Popularity carries a high cost. In our [Orthodox] tradition, achieving celebrity in the church is highly discouraged, especially for clerics and monastics. It’s seductive because it seems so effective.

Mass used to involve precise rubrics for the priest. Now it’s more about micro-managing some made-up rubrics for the congregation...

Railing | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: Over the weekend I headed up to Louisville to celebrate another family birthday. There was no sightseeing along the way, as there had been last time, but I did get to Mass at another Louisville parish – the beautiful St. Martin de Tours. It was the 10am Ordinary Form (the parish also offers EF and Ordinariate). The church was pretty full, with tons of families and children. Music was beautiful and reverently simple. I’ve been to Mass in quite a few Catholic churches across the country, from New York City to New Mexico, over the past couple of months, and it’s interesting to note...

What does Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral liturgy tell the world about her faith?

Podcast%3A%20What%20will%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20tell%20the%20world%20about%20her%20faith%20with%20her%20funeral%20liturgy%3F%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: This week something unexpected happened after I filed my national “On Religion” column, something that I have never seen before in my decades of religion-news work. What? A retired literature professor responded to my column with a poem. The topic was easy to predict. Like millions of other people around the world, but especially in Great Britain and the Commonwealth, I have spent many hours watching (primarily on British television) the rites and public drama surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Take a lesson from the Dishonest Steward’s bold shrewdness

Learning from the Dishonest Steward | Parishable ItemsFELTES: In today’s strange parable, Jesus presents the scheming of a thief and a liar as an example we can learn from. We are not to imitate this dishonest steward’s treachery, but rather his proactive shrewdness, “for the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” How shrewdly proactive are we in doing good? We hunt for bargains at the store or online. But do we pursue opportunities to be generous? You have wealth and skills – so share them creatively. We invest and save for retirement. But do we intentionally store up treasure in heaven like Jesus tells us to? You can take nothing with you when you die; but you can increase what wealth awaits you by sending it ahead of you beforehand through generous deeds done now on earth. Jesus tells us to be “as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.” He wants us, in cooperation with his grace, to show initiative in strategically and sinlessly serving his Kingdom for God’s glory, for our good, and for the good of all. That’s a worthwhile takeaway, but let’s look a little deeper. Like many of Jesus’ stories, today’s parable contains weird details which goad us to grapple with it further. What do we discover when we imagine ourselves in the shoes of the dishonest steward?

To grasp what today’s complicated Gospel means, let’s start by retelling it in modern terms...

This Sunday, Use Money Well; Use Grace Better | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: Great teachers make difficult things simple so that you can understand them right away. But the greatest teachers also give you lessons that you have to sit with and ponder, because the lessons you personally discover sink even more deeply into your soul. Jesus, the master teacher, does both. In last Sunday’s Gospel, he told us complicated lessons in a simple way in the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Prodigal Son. But now we get a lesson we have to ponder

It’s better to be faithful in a few things than ruler over many things

On Being Faithful in a Few Things before Being Ruler over Many Things - A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: In this Sunday’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus gives a penetrating analysis of the state of the sinner and some very sobering advice to us would-be saints. Let’s look at the Gospel in two stages. First, in the opening lines of today’s Gospel, Jesus describes a sinful steward. Then, after analyzing the sinner, the Lord has some advice for those of us sinners who want to be saints. He lays out four principles we ought to follow...

Pondering the Church’s electoral college one year from now

Pondering%20the%20Church%u2019s%20electoral%20college%20one%20year%20from%20now%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Exactly one year from yesterday, assuming nothing unexpected happens in the meantime, Italian Cardinal Angelo Comastri will turn 80 and lose his right to vote in a papal election. By that point, ten of his fellow Princes of the Church also will have crossed the 80-year-old threshold, leaving the number of cardinal electors at precisely 120. That number, 120, is the ceiling established by St. Paul VI in 1975 for the total body of cardinal electors, though popes ever since routinely have exceeded the limit when they distribute new red hats. The reasoning is that since you never know when an election will occur, by the time it happens the number probably will have come back down to around where it’s supposed to be. In 2005 and 2013, the actual number was 115.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Be Creative in Doing Good With the Prudence and Cleverness of the Gospel’

Pope at Angelus: Be creative and clever in doing good always - Vatican News: Speaking to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis offered his weekly reflections on the Sunday Gospel, which recounts the parable Jesus told about the corrupt manager who squandered his master's property, but was discovered and set to be fired. The manager quickly and shrewdly found a way out of the situation to save himself. The Pope said understanding the point of this parable can be difficult at first, and we need to reflect on what lesson Jesus is giving us here.

Pope Francis: ‘The West Has Taken the Wrong Paths’

Pope%20Francis%3A%20%u2018The%20West%20has%20taken%20the%20wrong%20paths%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Discussing on the flight from Kazakhstan to Italy on Thursday the moral degradation of the West, particularly concerning the advance of legal euthanasia, Pope Francis said the region has taken the wrong path and that killing should be left “to the animals.” “It is true that the West degenerates,” the pope said during his Sept. 15 in-flight press conference in response to a question about the loss of values in the West, and in particular to the push for legal euthanasia in France, Italy, and Belgium.

How do ants crawl on walls? A biologist explains their sticky, spiky, gravity-defying grip...

How do ants crawl on walls? A biologist explains their sticky, spiky, gravity-defying grip: When I first started my job as a biologist at the University of South Florida, I drove my Jeep to a grassy field, dug up a mound of fire ants and shoveled it into a 5-gallon bucket. Immediately, thousands of ants swarmed out of the soil and up the walls of the bucket headed for freedom. Luckily I had a lid. How do ants make climbing walls, ceilings and other surfaces look so easy? I’ve been studying ants for 30 years, and their climbing abilities never cease to amaze me.

There are currently 3,311 billionaires in the world. Here’s a breakdown of where they live...

Mapped: The World's Billionaire Population, by Country: The world’s billionaires—only 3,311 individuals—represent almost $11.8 trillion in wealth. The global billionaire population continued to grow in 2021, increasing by 3%. Over the same period, billionaire wealth also increased by 18%.

People are lining up for miles to walk past the Queen’s coffin because love, honor and sacrifice matter to them. The bishops who water down Catholicism need to learn from this...

A 5 Mile Queue for ERII: Bishops Missing a God-Given Cue - The AnchoressSCALIA: We’ve seen nothing like this since the funeral of John Paul II, but in England, an uncountable crowd is queueing up and patiently waiting to quietly file past Queen Elizabeth’s flag-draped coffin. People are being warned that this may involve standing and creeping along for as much as thirty hours in the autumn dampness and chill. On one hand, it’s not surprising. Aside from authentic grief, there is always a “be here, now” sort of pull to these once-in-a-lifetime sorts of events that helps us recall Rene Girard’s mimetic theory, “Man is the creature who does not know what to desire,” he wrote, “and he turns to others in order to make up his mind. We desire what others desire because we imitate their desires.”

Interreligious Dialogue ‘Urgently Needed,’ Pope Francis Says at Close of Kazakhstan Congress

Interreligious dialogue an urgent need, Pope Francis says at close of Kazakhstan congress | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: In his final remarks in Kazakhstan on Thursday, Pope Francis said interreligious dialogue is an urgently needed path to peace. “The path of interreligious dialogue is a shared path to peace and for peace; as such, it is necessary and irrevocable,” he said Sept. 15 at the closing ceremony of the Seventh Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the capital city of Nur-Sultan.

Catholic hospitals serve the sick and dying — and they have a duty to serve them as Catholics

Editorial: The indispensable duty of Catholic hospitals - Our Sunday Visitor: In early September, NPR reported that a change in student health services at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, would leave students without ready access to contraceptives. Oberlin is not a Catholic college, so why was this change brought about? Oberlin, like many colleges and universities, outsources student health to an outside provider. The change in what the college provided students came when, on Aug. 1, the college contracted with Harness Health Partners — a subsidiary of Bon Secours Mercy Health, a Catholic health care network — to run the student health center.

A Post-Classical Perspective on Valuing Children During the Back-to-School Season

A Post-Classical Perspective on Valuing Children During the Back-to-School Season | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: ometime in the first century CE in Rome, a child disgruntled over educational drudgery etched a curious graffito on the wall of his schoolroom. A delightfully executed donkey turns a millstone, grinding grain, while the accompanying inscription states with all the sarcasm this young scholar could muster, “work, little donkey, as I have worked, and it will be for your benefit.” To be fair, there are reasons to suspect that our reluctant scholar may have been enslaved, and his bitter words may have been, therefore, a response to the harsh physical labor that he endured, in addition to mere schoolwork.

Being a man or woman is nature’s gift

Being a Man or Woman: Nature's Gift - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: It is not surprising that the most controversial, and personally challenging, moral issues of our day touch directly upon what is ‘by nature.’ An important distinction can help us think more clearly about this. It is one thing to discern what is ‘by nature’ or not. It is another thing to see whether and to what extent what is ‘by nature’ should be a guide for our action. Failure to grasp this distinction leads to much misunderstanding and miscommunication. For instance, one person argues that such and such is by nature, assuming that to secure this point in itself makes clear the path of action, while another person is not interested in the question of what is by nature since his view of human moral agency gives no importance to the category of ‘natural.’

It is too common today to hear Christians, including popes, emphasizing ‘peace’ while ignoring the hard sayings of the Gospel

Peace or a sword? Is the whole truth always out of season? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: It is the point of Christ’s coming that we humans cannot understand and live by even shared human values without a willingness to accept and grow in the grace that comes through Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. It is most deeply for this very reason that we must at all costs avoid making peace by ignoring or repudiating the immense gift that is Jesus Christ, hard sayings and all. I recall, for example, the occasion on which Christ insisted that we could not have life within us unless we received His body and blood in the Eucharist.

Two dead popes, the loss of Avignon, and the first American canonized

Two dead popes, the loss of Avignon, and the first American canonizedSEWELL: Today in Papal History, the 110th pope of the Catholic Church – Pope Stephen V (VI) – died after a 6-year reign. Stephen, who immediately preceded Pope Formosus of Cadaver Synod fame, had been elected to follow Pope Adrian III, who ended up being canonized literally 1000 years later (by Leo XIII in 1891). Apparently the Roman clergy and citizens wanted two holy guys in a row, so Stephen ended up getting the nod. Late-9th Century Rome was a pretty depressing place. Although Stephen’s family was wealthy and were members of the Roman aristocracy, famine, the neglect of infrastructure, and a literal plague of locusts were hitting the Eternal City by the time of his election, so he largely spent his years feeding the poor, ransoming slaves, and restoring Rome’s churches.

What does the Catholic Church think of monarchy?

What Does the Catholic Church Think of Monarchy? | Catholic AnswersJOSEPHSHAW: During the year celebrating the unprecedented seventieth anniversary of her reign, and at the age of ninety-six, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain died last week. People are often puzzled about the institutions and customs of other countries, but outsiders must remember the hereditary monarchy is not controversial in the United Kingdom; republicanism is a very marginal opinion. Britain’s monarch is also the head of state of fifteen other countries, including Canada and Australia. Many other countries, including Japan, the Netherlands, and Spain, have monarchies of their own. The American executive president seems normal to Americans, but this is an unusual institution: the presidents of most republics are ceremonial figures with a few reserve powers for emergency use, like a constitutional monarch.

Pope Offers Mass in Kazakhstan Capital for Feast of Exaltation of Cross, Says His Thoughts Are With ‘Beloved Ukraine’

Pope Francis says his thoughts are with war-torn Ukraine on feast of the Holy Cross | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Francis said that his thoughts are with Ukraine on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Speaking at a large outdoor Mass in Kazakhstan’s capital of Nur-Sultan on Sept. 14, the pope said he was thinking of “all the war-torn areas of our world, particularly beloved Ukraine.” “May we never grow accustomed to war, or resigned to its inevitability. Let us come to the aid of those who suffer and insist that genuine efforts be made to achieve peace,” the pope said. “What still needs to happen, and how many deaths will it still take, before conflict yields to dialogue for the good of people, nations and all humanity?”

These three children will someday lose their eyesight to a rare genetic condition — so their parents are taking them around the globe to store up ‘visual memories’ for later

The parents taking a world trip with children before they lose their vision | CNN Travel: Their daughter Mia was just three years old when Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier first noticed that she was having vision problems. A few years after they first took her to see a specialist, Mia, the eldest of their four children, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that causes a loss or decline in vision over time. By this point, Lemay and Pelletier, who've been married for 12 years, had noticed that two of their sons, Colin, now seven, and Laurent, now five, were experiencing the same symptoms. Their fears were confirmed when in 2019 the boys were diagnosed with the same genetic disorder; their other son Leo, now nine, was given the all clear.

How to accompany someone toward Jesus Christ

How to accompany someone toward Jesus Christ. | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The ability to listen is a pivotal attribute of the human being because it is associated with a willful intent to act on what was heard. Abraham heard the voice of the Lord and in faith was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. Mary, the Mother of God listened to the voice of the angel Gabriel and responded by saying “yes” to be the Mother of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church associates the term to listen with obedience which is the act to submit freely to the word that has been heard because its truth is guaranteed by God who is truth itself.

The German ‘council,’ the Queen’s horses, and the Archdiocese of New York in court

The German 'council', ArchNY in court, and the Queen's horsesJDFLYNN: The Archdiocese of New York was in court on Friday morning, arguing against a subpoena of records and documents compiled during Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s Vos estis lux mundi investigation into retired Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard, who has been accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse against minors, and who admitted last year that he transferred several priests to new parish ministries without contacting police after they were accused of sexual abuse. The attorney for a woman allegedly abused by Hubbard has asked a judge to review more than 1,400 pages of documents on Hubbard, and turn over anything that might be germane to her client’s sexual abuse lawsuit.

Pope Francis Travels to Kazakhstan, Says ‘I’m Always Ready to Go to China’

Pope%20Francis%20on%20papal%20plane%3A%20%u2018I%u2019m%20always%20ready%20to%20go%20to%20China%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMARES: Pope Francis told journalists on the papal plane Tuesday that he is ready for the first papal trip to China. In a conversation with reporters on the flight from Rome to Kazakhstan on Sept. 13, the pope said: “I’m always ready to go to China.” Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Kazakhstan on Sept. 14, midway through Pope Francis’ three-day trip to the Central Asian country. Reuters reported that the pope said he did not “have any news” about the speculation that he might meet Xi during the trip.

Film based on Indiana woman’s true story ‘reclaims the beauty of adoption’

Film based on Indiana woman's true story 'reclaims beauty of adoption' - Catholic News Service: Melissa Coles received a call in the late summer of 2019. She didn’t listen long before she figured it was a prank call and hung up. When the person called back, she hung up again. “On the third call, they had all the producers on the line — Kirk Cameron and the Kendrick brothers,” she said, referring to Alex, Shannon and Stephen Kendrick, producers of Christian films such as “Fireproof,” “War Room” and “Courageous.” “They said they wanted to make (the documentary) ‘I Lived on Parker Avenue’ into a movie.”

3 Simple Steps to a Well-Behaved Child

3%20Simple%20Steps%20to%20a%20Well-Behaved%20Child%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20HomeMERING: There are inevitable periods in the life of most any mother when she is no longer on top of her mothering game. Perhaps she is post-partum, or ill, or exhausted, or all of the above. I remember many times when, in the throws of small children, nursing a baby and watching my beloved toddler/5 year old/young child act like a not-so-adorable tyrant/whiner/stinker and wondering when the competent woman would arrive to mother this child.

Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist explains...

Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor and mindset: It’s rare to attend an outdoor party in warm weather without hearing people complain about mosquitoes. They swat away, sit in campfire smoke, cover up with blankets and eventually just give up and go indoors. On the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of people who don’t seem bothered by mosquitoes in the slightest.

The Heavenly Father’s love for you stretches the limits of human thinking

Crazy! A Homily for the 24th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: The three parables in this Sunday’s lengthy Gospel challenge conventional thinking. They describe people doing things that we most likely would not do. All three of them – especially the first two – seem crazy. Who would ever do what the shepherd of the lost sheep does or what the woman with the lost coin does? Probably no one. Likewise, the father in the Prodigal Son parable breaks all the rules of “tough love.” His forgiveness has an almost reckless quality to it. No father in Jesus’ time would ever have tolerated such insolence from his sons. So all three of these parables, on one level, are just plain crazy.

We have much to learn from the Queen, the ‘Grandmother to Us All’

We%20Have%20Much%20to%20Learn%20From%20the%20Queen%2C%20%u2018Grandmother%20to%20Us%20All%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterBOGLE: As Britain mourns our monarch, bus stops in London carry illuminated pictures of the Queen, with a tribute from Transport for London. Major railway stations also carry her portrait, as do many shops, banks and other institutions. In churches, there are pictures with candles, and many people come to pray and add candles of their own.

Pope Francis is likely to find three empty chairs in Kazakhstan

Pope Francis in Kazakhstan likely to find three empty chairs | CruxALLEN: In American politics, the “empty chair” is a gimmick used when a candidate refuses an invitation to a campaign debate, so the other tries to capitalize on his or her absence by making the story about who isn’t there. Pope Francis, of course, isn’t a politician, and he’s not heading to the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan this week for a debate. Still, there’s a sense in which the biggest story still is likely to be about who isn’t on hand as much as who is.

Pope Seeks Prayers for His Three-Day ‘Peace Pilgrimage’ in Kazakhstan Beginning Tuesday

Pope seeks prayers for his 'peace pilgrimage' in Kazakhstan | AP News: Pope Francis on Sunday asked for prayers to accompany him this week on what he calls his “pilgrimage of peace” in Kazakhstan for a meeting of religious leaders. In remarks to the public in St. Peter’s Square, Francis noted that on Tuesday he begins a three-day visit to that central Asian country to participate in a gathering of heads of world and traditional religions. “It will be an occasion to meet so many religious representatives and to dialogue as brothers, animated by the common desire for peace, the peace for which our world is thirsting,” Francis said.

German ‘Synodal Way’ Votes to Establish Permanent ‘Synodal Council’ to Oversee Church and Dioceses in Germany

%u201CSynodal%20Way%u201D%20votes%20to%20establish%20permanent%20%u201CSynodal%20Council%u201D%20to%20oversee%20Church%20and%20dioceses%20in%20Germany%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: In a move aimed at achieving what critics have compared to communist councils in the Soviet Union, participants of the German “Synodal Way” on Saturday voted to create a “Synodal Council” that would permanently oversee the Church in Germany. At the Frankfurt meeting on Sept. 10, the controversial suggestion won almost 93 % of all votes. Only five bishops rejected the document, CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language Partner agency, reported. The bishops’ names are a matter of public record because the vote was not by secret ballot — a change of proceedings after bishops blocked a pro-LGBT document earlier.

Catholic Medical School Named for Padre Pio Planned at Benedictine College

Catholic medical school named for Padre Pio planned at Benedictine College | Catholic News AgencyKEVINJONES: Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, has signed a collaboration agreement to host a proposed medical school that aims to train medical doctors faithful to Catholic ethics while addressing national shortfalls in medical care. The proposed St. Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine will be an independent institution located on the Benedictine campus, which is about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City.

Amazon, Tolkien, The Rings of Power and the American technocracy

Amazon%2C%20Tolkien%2C%20and%20the%20American%20Technocracy%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20Field: Seldom has a television series generated so much controversy as Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The trailer alone became the subject of white-hot internet controversy within days of its release, pitting devotees of Tolkien against defenders of Amazon. Each side scored its victories. On the one hand, the American version of the trailer was ‘disliked’ millions of times on YouTube, and video essays criticizing the project accumulated hundreds of thousands of views; on the other, prestigious media outlets such as The Atlantic characterized critics of the show as racists and fretted about the impact of ‘toxic’ fans. The debate rolled on in the following months, and it seems unlikely that it will crest any time soon. We have lately witnessed Amazon Studios scrambling to shore up support for the billion-dollar project, while critics have dug in and redoubled their attacks.

Mother Teresa documentary coming to U.S. theaters following Rome premiere

Mother Teresa Documentary Coming To U.S. Theaters Following Rome PremiereLISI: Mother Teresa — one of the most famous saints to emerge from the 20th century for her work helping the poor in India — is the focus of a new documentary that will hit U.S. theaters in October following the film’s recent Rome premiere. “Mother Teresa: No Greater Love” — produced by the Knights of Columbus — will be in nearly 1,000 theaters across the United States for an exclusive two-day only event from Oct. 3 to 4. The documentary is part of Fathom Events’ “Saint Series”, a collection of films that delves into the lives of Catholic saints.

La Ermita: the Miami home of Cuba’s patroness

ADOM :: La Ermita: the Miami home of Cuba's patronessJIMDAVIS: A mysterious floating statuette – or rather, the Lady it portrays – has reached across four centuries and thousands of miles to unite Cubans in patriotism, peoplehood, Christian faith and Marian devotion. Our Lady of Charity, whose feast day falls on Sept. 8, is honored at the Vatican, in Washington, D.C., and in her original shrine in El Cobre, Cuba – and, for Catholics in South Florida, at the National Shrine just south of downtown Miami. Her story began on the Bay of Nipe, near Santiago, Cuba. In 1612, three young men – two Indians and a black slave – sailed out to collect salt for preserving meat at a slaughterhouse. On their way back to shore, a storm sprang up and threatened to destroy their boat. Then the sea miraculously calmed, and the three saw a white object on the water.

Papal streaks, ‘nein’ is the hardest word, and God save the Queen

Papal%20streaks%2C%20%u2018nein%u2019%20is%20the%20hardest%20word%2C%20and%20God%20save%20the%20QueenCONDON: The British sovereign, who is also head of the Church of England, is the last monarch to be crowned liturgically. Elizabeth’s coronation was famously the first to be broadcast on television, but, at her own insistence, she was screened from the assembly and the cameras for her anointing, a moment she believed to be of deeply solemn and spiritual importance. The queen considered her role to be, in the fullest sense, a vocation. She vowed before God to serve her people all her life and, as her people’s mourning attests, her service was deeply felt.

This Sunday, Jesus presents three telling images of sin and our souls

This Sunday, Jesus Presents Three Telling Images of Sin and Our Souls | Ex Corde at Benedictine CollegeHOOPES: Jesus tells three different stories about sin and mercy this Sunday, the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. Together, they tell us what makes human souls unique — and how sin thwarts our very identity. The first icon of sin and the soul is the individual cut off from others, helpless and vulnerable. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?” asks Jesus. “And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.”

Just a speed bump on Germany’s Synodal Path toward schism?

Just a speed bump on the Synodal Path? | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Well, we dodged a bullet again. So if you are confident in our ability to keep dodging bullets, you can relax. I’m not so confident. The German bishops narrowly defeated a statement that would have put them on record in favor of a radical change in Church teaching on sexuality. Should we view yesterday’s vote as a victory for orthodoxy, a reassuring affirmation of unity within the universal Church? Or was it merely a speed-bump on their Synodal Path toward schism?

Why do so many journalists choose to edit faith out of Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas talks?

Elizabeth%20the%20Great%3A%20Why%20do%20many%20journalists%20choose%20to%20edit%20faith%20out%20of%20her%20Christmas%20talks%3F%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: The Queen is dead. God save the King. It’s hard to edit the religion content out of that equation. However, when journalists are asked to deal with the death of the queen who was, it can be argued, the most famous woman of the past 100 years, there are plenty of important, “real,” issues to deal with other than the state of her soul and her Christian faith. I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening watching the BBC Global coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, as opposed to, shall we say, American “telly.” The BBC focused on the death of one of the greatest, if not “the” greatest, monarchs in Great Britain’s history. There were many references to her Christian faith. American television, for the most part, offered discussions of the death of a great celebrity. If I have been too harsh with that judgment, please send me some quality URLs.

People loved Queen Elizabeth not because she was great, but because she was good...

Elizabeth the Good - by Michael Warren DavisMICHAELWARRENDAVIS: When Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952, Britons had a very definite idea of what monarchs look like. They were tall, handsome men in huge epaulettes, like George VI. At the very least, they might be stately old women like Victoria. And yet here was their new sovereign: a pretty young woman, shy and slight. In her coronation photos, the hand holding the orb rests on her lap, as though her thin arms couldn’t hold it up for long enough to take the photo.

Pope Francis Praises Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Steadfast Witness of Faith in Jesus Christ’

Pope%20Francis%20praises%20Queen%20Elizabeth%u2019s%20%u2018steadfast%20witness%20of%20faith%20in%20Jesus%20Christ%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis in a telegram late Thursday offered his condolences and prayers upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the head of the Church of England. She was 96. “Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” the pope wrote in the Sept. 8 telegram to Britain’s new monarch, King Charles III. “I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”

A Tribute to My Queen

A Tribute to My Queen| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the only British monarch the vast majority of my countrymen have ever known. Most of us grew up with great admiration and filial affection for her — this formidable woman with an untiring sense of duty who was an example to us all. She was our sovereign for 70 years who, with her deep sense of service that emanated from her Christian faith, brought stability and unity to the whole nation.

Don’t mix apples and oranges in the argument from fruits

Don%u2019t%20Mix%20Apples%20and%20Oranges%20in%20the%20Argument%20From%20Fruits%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMILLS: Not long after we entered the Church, an evangelical friend put me in contact with a friend of his, a missionary in South America — in the mountains of Peru or maybe Colombia, if I remember right, working among the poor. He did hard work, in a difficult place, serving God as he felt God had called him to do. But part of that calling was to free the peasants from their Catholicism and bring them the pure gospel of grace, etc. He wanted to free them from their Catholic superstitions, which he felt the same kind of thing as their pagan superstitions. Pray to Mary and the saints or pray to ancestors and spirits, it was all the same thing to him.

A look back at Queen Elizabeth II’s encounters with five popes — Pius XII, John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis

Queen Elizabeth met five popes in her lifetime | Catholic News AgencyMARES: With the Royal Family gathering in Balmoral Castle Thursday amid concerns for Queen Elizabeth II’s health, Catholic bishops in England and Wales have offered their prayers for her and her family. Queen Elizabeth, who turned 96 in April, is England’s longest-serving monarch, having acceded to the throne in 1952 at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. In June, the United Kingdom celebrated Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as monarch.

A monarch has died — a Christian monarch. That is a solemn reminder of great and serious things...

In%20Gratitude%20for%20the%20Queen%u2019s%20Long%20Life%20of%20Noble%20Service%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterBOGLE: No one under 70 can remember a time when she wasn’t here. No one can really — actually, in practical terms — imagine a Britain without her. The Queen was part of our landscape, part of the structure in which we live and operate. This has been a scorching summer: London parks brown and dusty, suburban lawns gray, fierce heat melting the road surfaces. And then, as September opened, the glorious rain came, and everything became green and fresh. This afternoon, Sept. 8, walking through the delicious freshness with water pelting down, I had a quiet, insistent sense of drama: The news hadn’t been confirmed, but somehow it was, in the very rain, the autumn feel of things — the Queen was passing; an era was ending.

On the Feast of the Nativity of the Queen of the Universe, Queen Elizabeth II Dies Surrounded by Royal Family at Balmoral Castle

UK and world react to death of Queen Elizabeth II - BBC News: The flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast at 6.30pm. As the news of Queen's death was announced, hundreds of people were gathered outside the gates. Some began crying. A single helicopter circled the sky above.

German bishops spike radical ‘synodal way’ document on sex; 61 percent of bishops voted aye, short of two-thirds majority needed to pass

German bishops spike 'synodal way' sex documentCOPPEN: Members of the German “synodal way” failed to pass on Thursday a resolution calling for a change in the Church’s approach to sexual ethics. The resolution failed to gain enough support from bishops at the synodal meeting. The majority of participants in the synodal way process voted to adopt a 30-page document entitled “Life in succeeding relationships – The principles of renewed sexual ethics.” But the resolution did not gain a two-thirds majority among the synodal way’s bishop participants, a requirement for the passage of any resolution. Sixty-one percent of German bishops voted in favor of the resolution, according to initial German media reports.

Cardinal Nichols of Westminster: ‘I Am Concerned to Hear the News About Her Majesty the Queen’s Health’

Cardinal Nichols prays for Queen Elizabeth II amid concerns about her health | Catholic News Agency: Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, England, offered prayers on Thursday for Queen Elizabeth II, who is reportedly under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with multiple family members traveling to be by her side. “I am concerned to hear the news about Her Majesty the Queen’s health. I offer my prayers for her and her family. May the blessings of the Lord strengthen and comfort her and her family,” Nichols, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, wrote on Twitter Sept. 8.