Group spiritual direction is in vogue in some circles today. Is this a good thing?

Is Group Spiritual Direction a Good Thing? - SpiritualDirection.comBARTUNEK: The essence of spiritual direction is the relationship between the spiritual director and the directee. The interaction and dialogue that happens in that relationship is deeply personal and personalized. Discerning God’s action and invitations in one’s life requires that kind of intensely personal and personalized dialogue. A group setting, with one spiritual director and a bunch of directees, would significantly change that essential dynamic...

How often do bishops hear the truth?

How often do bishops hear the truth? | Catholic CultureLAWLER: After an episcopal ordination some time back, I was sitting at lunch with the newly consecrated bishop, the archbishop who had ordained him, and several other older prelates. The archbishop addressed his young colleague: Now that you’re a bishop, there are two things you never have to worry about again. You’ll never want for a good meal. And you’ll never hear the truth. He was joking. Or was he?

What’s up with Tom Cruise and all the Catholic stuff in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies?

%u2018Mission%3A%20Impossible%u2019%3A%20What%u2019s%20Up%20With%20Tom%20Cruise%20and%20All%20the%20Catholic%20Stuff%3F%20%7C%20Kate%20O%27HareOHARE: In preparation for seeing Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, I fired up Paramount+ and watched all the previous MI films. And I noticed something interesting. There’s a crazy number of Christian references, most of them overtly Catholic. Now, I have read that Cruise was baptized Catholic, and for two years, he attended high school at St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, where reportedly he had the beginnings of a vocation.

Catholic Blogger Remains Detained in Belarus After Criticizing Regime

Catholic blogger remains detained in Belarus after criticizing regime | Catholic News AgencyMCKEOWN: Catholic blogger and father Ihar Losik remains incarcerated in Belarus more than three years after being arrested for criticizing the country’s regime. Prior to his sentencing, Losik wrote to Pope Francis to ask for prayers and support for himself and other political prisoners. Losik, 31, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2021 following a five-month trial...

Are you taking your pills wrong? Your posture can make a huge difference. According to the latest science, here’s what you need to do...

Are You Taking Your Pills Wrong? | Valet.: Maybe you’ve got a headache. Or your back is acting up again after a particularly active weekend. In any case, you've got some pain. And the modern solution to that discomfort (along with countless other ailments) is to pop a pill. You could also be one of the 86% of Americans that regularly takes a vitamin or supplement. Down the hatch! You're probably not thinking about your body position when you take a pill, right?

Citing ‘Relations Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox,’ Ukraine Moves Christmas and Other Feasts to Gregorian Calendar

Ukraine moves its Christmas Day holiday in effort to "abandon the Russian heritage" - CBS News: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it. The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to "abandon the Russian heritage," including that of "imposing the celebration of Christmas" on Jan. 7. It cited Ukrainians' "relentless, successful struggle for their identity" and "the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays," fueled by Russia's 17-month-old aggression against the country.

Notre Dame cathedral reconstruction project takes a big leap forward

Notre Dame cathedral reconstruction project takes a big leap forward - CBS News: Four years ago, the world looked on in horror as Paris' Notre Dame cathedral was engulfed in flames. As the fire took hold, the church's iconic spire, made of oak and metal, was swallowed by the blaze. Firefighters battled the flames through the night. Astonishingly, most of the church structure survived, but the massive timber roof was lost and the 19th century spire was destroyed.

This Sunday, Catholics know exactly what Jesus means by “treasure box,” “pearl” and “net”

This Sunday, Catholics Know Exactly What Treasure Box, Pearl, and Net Jesus Means | Benedictine College Media and MoreHOOPES: What Jesus says this Sunday, the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, is literally true. We really can find a bright shining treasure box. We really do get a beautiful, white, round pearl of enormous value. The Lord really has gathered us to himself out of the cold, murky depths of darkness we were immersed in, dragging us up into the light. And the First Reading for Sunday, about Solomon, is true for us too. We each receive wisdom greater than anyone ever received before us.

What is a superhero? And why are they so popular?

What is a superhero? (And why are they so popular?) - Voyage ComicsKOSLOSKI: Ever since Superman debuted in 1938, pop-culture has been obsessed with superheroes. At first superheroes dominated the “comic” newspaper strips and then eventually those strips were compiled into what would become the first “comic books.” Once movies and television became an essential part of modern entertainment, it didn’t take long for superheroes to make the leap to the big screen. More than 70 years later superheroes continue to captivate the modern imagination...

The Church Points Us to Angels, Because Angels Point Us to God

The Church Points Us to Angels, Because Angels Point Us to God| National Catholic RegisterMARTIN: The Book of Tobit, written two centuries before the coming of Christ, tells the story of two families, both Children of the House of Israel, whom, in the midst of the pain and bewilderment of exile, God miraculously joins in holy matrimony. Thanks to the ministrations, to be sure, of an exceedingly clever archangel named Raphael, who, in the exercise of his office as God’s healer...

What Do You Say When Kids Ask About Dinosaurs?

What Do You Say When Kids Ask About Dinosaurs?| National Catholic RegisterTRASANCOS: Suppose you catechize your children properly and teach them all about Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden and original sin. Suppose you sit on the sofa one Sunday evening, read the Bible with them and explain how God created all of the plants and animals. On Monday morning, they return to their science classes and learn about fossils and dinosaurs, which have sparked an interest and led them to browse the Internet for more information.

Grimm truth, the 14 million dollar man, and stars in our eyes

Grimm truth, the 14 million dollar man, and stars in our eyesCONDON: You have probably heard of Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group which has been operating in Nigeria for more than a decade. I think we all remember the 2014 kidnapping of 276 school girls from the town of Boro, and you’ve probably seen the name float across your screen since then in connection with other attacks. As with so many stories, the violence of Boko Haram has largely dropped off people’s radar, simply because it’s been going on for so long...

I wish someone had warned me that the denouement of ‘The Miracle Club’ involves abortion

The Miracle Club (2023): Review - Roseanne T. SullivanSULLIVAN: The superficially charming portrayal of 1960s Irish Catholics dressed up in the bright fashionable colors of the era (even the doors of the Dublin row houses where they live are painted with the same bright colors, in contrast with the shabbiness inside) with some stellar actors, including Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney, is rotten at its core. A lot could have been shown in this movie about the cruelty of the double standard that was in effect during those years...

What are the philosophical and theological roots of the widespread confusion that reigns in the West?

WATCH: What Are the Philosophical and Theological Roots of the Confusion in the West?| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: What went wrong in philosophical and theological thought that has brought the West to what Benedict XVI once called “the edge of the abyss”? These are the questions that led two highly distinguished English scholars — Professors John and Anna Rist — to delve into the probable causes and propose possible solutions, resulting in a new book: Confusion in the West: Retrieving Tradition in the Modern and Post-Modern World (Cambridge University Press 2022).

Vatican, Vietnam Announce Agreement on Permanent Papal Representative

Vatican, Vietnam announce agreement on permanent papal representative | Catholic News AgencyJONES: Praising improved relations, the Holy See and the government of Vietnam have announced an agreement allowing the Vatican to have a permanent resident papal representative in the communist country. The announcement came Thursday during the visit of Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong to the Vatican. He held talks with both Pope Francis and Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Catholics gather in Napa, California, for 13th annual conference

Senior US Catholics gather in Napa Valley for annual conference - Catholic Herald: Leading US Catholic think tank The Napa Institute begins its 13th annual conference “What We Need Now” today at the Meritage Hotel in Napa, California, an hour north of San Francisco in the heart of the California wine country. The four-day conference, attended by the Catholic Herald, features a wide range of meetings, Masses, movies, rosaries, retreats and other liturgies, gourmet meals, tours and other events...

Let’s look ahead to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)

Looking ahead to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) - AdoremusCARSTENS: Like Jesus, Mary’s Son—who is the Word in the beginning, the Second Adam at the center of salvation history, and the Bridegroom whose wedding banquet at the end lasts forever—Mary appears to us at the beginning, middle, and end of Sacred Scripture. A type of “second Eve” announced after the Fall, she gives birth to the Savior in time, and at the end of her life is assumed by God to her glorious reward in heaven. Today’s Solemnity of the Assumption celebrates her heavenly destiny—and invites us to renew our own desire to achieve this same goal.

Shark Week! Catholic detective work reveals details of colonial shark attack, including date (Aug. 15, 1640), species (bull shark) and possible motive (“divine vengeance”)

Shark Week: Researchers Say Fatal 1640 Maryland Attack Possesses Deeper Catholic Context| National Catholic Register: A Maryland colonist, in an effort to beat the heat of a hot summer day in 1640, waded into the cooling waters of St. Mary’s River for an afternoon swim, oblivious to the presence of a lethal predator lurking nearby. “Scarcely had he touched the water” when a “huge fish” seized him, biting off “a large portion” of the man’s thigh, according to a contemporary account. He died from his wounds soon after. As shark researchers, we’ve taken a keen interest in this little-known episode, originally chronicled in Latin by one of Maryland’s earliest and most respected Jesuit missionaries.

‘Is WYD for Rich People Only?’: Pilgrims in Developing World Denied Portuguese Visas

%u2018Is%20WYD%20for%20rich%20people%20only%3F%u2019%3A%20Pilgrims%20in%20developing%20world%20denied%20visasCOPPEN: Junaid Javed, a Catholic living in Pakistan, was looking forward to his appointment Monday to collect a visa to travel to World Youth Day with his wife, Sunaina. But to his dismay, the Portuguese embassy returned his passport without a visa July 24, making him one of a rising number of people prevented from traveling to Lisbon for the world’s largest Catholic youth event.

The Curious Case of Father Marko Rupnik and the Society of Jesus

The Curious Case of Father Marko Rupnik and the Society of Jesus| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: There is something rather too clever about how the Society of Jesus has handled the case of the now notorious Father Marko Rupnik. It’s Jesuitical actually, and not in the good sense. Late last year, multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by Father Rupnik were reported in the Italian media. They mostly concerned sexual abuse of adult women who were part of Father Rupnik’s quasi-religious community...

Remembering the Dead, One Year Later

Remembering the Dead, One Year Later - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: How we remember the dead is significant in how we live. Good ‘remembering’ in general is part of how we live in the present. This is very human, for to be in time is to be on the boundary of the eternal, where past, present and future are as one. The Byzantine tradition prays for the deceased ‘may their memory be eternal.’ This fascinating prayer intends something for both the deceased and those praying...

These 81 easy pasta dinners are all practical and delicious

81 Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners | Bon Appetit: Sure, these easy pasta recipes are fairly simple to make: you’ll find most of the ingredients in your pantry, pasta is, by nature, only a quick boil away, and let’s be honest, you probably have pre-grated parm in the fridge right now. (Oh, you have a wedge do you? That’s grate!) But they’re all more than just fast and convenient: They’re all big on flavor, too. So yeah, you’re making no-cook puttanesca and that sizzling one-pot sausage number because they’re easy pasta recipes—but also because they’re so damn tasty!

Scientists and amateur astronomers are abuzz over what could be the next great comet. We’ll get to see next autumn whether it fizzles or dazzles...

A Potentially Spectacular Comet Will Fly by Earth Next Year - Scientific American: It was just a faint speck seen through powerful telescopes on Earth when astronomers discovered Comet C/2023 A3, also known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, earlier this year. But despite this object’s unassuming initial appearance, its orbit was immediately eye-catching: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is on track to zip quite close to the sun and Earth alike in the autumn of 2024, setting the stage for what could be a fantastic celestial spectacle.

I'm a mess at Christian charity, but we need more of it...

I'm a mess at Christian charity, but we need more of itLOPEZ: “This is no time for Christian charity.” That was what stood out among the responses to a recent nationally syndicated newspaper column I wrote about a recent controversial country-music song/video. Jason Aldean was singing about how small towns handle violence better than urban areas. He mentioned his grandfather’s gun, as a warning, among other things. I grew up in New York City, strangely enough, listening to country music, so I’m aware that Johnny Cash among others could get dark along the way...

Is the occasion of sin a sin?

Is the Occasion of Sin a Sin? - SpiritualDirection.comBARTUNEK: To sin, we must make some kind of a decision, whether clear and firm, or vague and wishy-washy. For sin to be present, our freedom must somehow be involved. This means that we are always responsible, to some extent, for our sins. If we just make a mistake, we can’t call that a sin. If I take someone else’s luggage home from the airport because it looks like mine, that’s a mistake, not a sin. But if I grab someone’s briefcase while they are not looking and disappear with it into the crowd, that’s more than a mistake...

Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, and two anointings: Why the Bible offers good reason to believe the traditional view is the right view

A Retrieval of the Traditional View of Mary Magdalene From the Fringes of Theology | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DameHARROLD: It was during a visit to the Holy Land in the summer of 2019 that I first got to know one of history’s most mysterious saints. While sitting at the base of one of the many columns in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, I found myself meditating on Saint John’s description of the first encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord (see John 20:11–18). Realizing I was just a few feet away from the spot where this profound exchange took place brought tears to my eyes.

Feminism Gets All Dolled Up To Appeal To A New Generation In ‘Barbie’

Feminism%20Gets%20All%20Dolled%20Up%20To%20Appeal%20To%20A%20New%20Generation%20In%20%u2018Barbie%u2019%20%7C%20The%20Daily%20Wire: The ideological roots of feminism are at least 200 years old, but somehow, as a movement, it has been able to rebrand itself anew every few generations to maintain relevance. The essentials to the feminist movement – free love, the occult, and smashing the patriarchy – were first brought together as the “women’s revolution” by poet Percy Shelley. I discovered this when researching my forthcoming book

Looking for the Lord Jesus in Lisbon

Looking for the Lord Jesus in Lisbon�WEIGEL: In mid-May, I spent two intense days in Lisbon, where a new Portuguese edition of my Letters to a Young Catholic was being prepared as a catechetical resource for World Youth Day-2023. In and around that wonderful city, I had the pleasure of meeting with Catholic educators from all over Portugal; I was hosted for talks at two vibrant parishes; and I got a whirlwind tour of World Youth Day GHQ...

Real marriage is a holy thing. Let’s not lose it to artificial intelligence — or to garden variety selfishness...

AI Marriage: Better than the real thing?BONACCI: I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. Specifically, healing podcasts. Because everybody needs healing. Perhaps me most of all. Of course, I don’t need all of the types of healing I’m learning about. For instance, recently I listened to a series on “healing in marriage.” When it comes to marriage I have lots of theories, but no actual spouse...

Vatican Prosecutor Seeks 7 Years in Prison, $15 Million in Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s Financial Trial

Vatican%20prosecutor%20seeks%207%20years%20in%20prison%2C%20%2415%20million%20in%20cardinal%u2019s%20financial%20trial%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The top public prosecutor for the Vatican on Wednesday asked the judge in Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s financial malfeasance trial to serve the embattled prelate with seven years and three months in prison and to confiscate more than $15 million in connection with his alleged mismanagement of Holy See funds.

From a Florist: Good Advice for a Catholic Wedding

Weddings%20in%20Bloom%2C%20Advice%20from%20a%20Florist%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20Home: Weddings and flowers have become synonymous over the ages. What is it that marries these two together (pun intended)? Throughout history, flowers have played a major role in weddings (most notably bridal bouquets) primarily to mask odor. As hygienic practices have improved over the ages, the role of flowers has changed. In modernity, the importance of flowers is perhaps found in the recognition of the sacrament's significance and flowers' unique ability to enhance every occasion.

15 Must-Know Camping Tips From a Lifelong Camper

Camping Tips From the Years - Outside Online: Over the years, as a kid and then a climber, I’ve camped a lot, starting in a moldy canvas army pup tent with my friends in the backyard, age 9. Or in tents with classmates on trips to Assateague or Catoctin, in Maryland, where it always seemed to rain and our tents always leaked. Or in my own tent at Miguel’s Campground, Red River Gorge, in Kentucky, where it poured day after day and, as if in a horror movie, salamanders began coming out of holes in the muddy ground by my door...

9 Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Lawn or Yard

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes - How to Clear Mosquitoes Completely: After spending winter indoors, we're all itching to head outside for a bit of sunshine and fresh air. Whether you're playing in the garden or hosting a barbeque, the warm weather brings another source of itching: mosquitoes. Bites from these pesky little bugs are uncomfortable and occasionally even deadly. They can raise red welts and more seriously spread diseases like malaria, Zika, West Nile and more.

A Pilgrimage to Honor St. Anne, the Grandmother of God

A Pilgrimage to Honor St. Anne, the Grandmother of God| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Catholics have always had a special devotion to Sts. Anne and Joachim, in no small part because people have always had a special relationship with their grandparents. Grandparents were often the kinds of parents kids hoped they’d have: more relaxed than their own parents because less immersed in the day-to-day demands of parenting, and usually more indulgent. Grandma said “yes” to what Mommy said “no.” It’s not accidental that the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim has, in recent years, been retooled with a focus on grandparents, a process abetted by the efforts of Pope Francis.

Catholic teaching on birth control is unpopular. So why is pop culture starting to agree with it?

Catholic teaching on birth control is unpopular. So why is pop culture starting to agree with it? | America MagazineSOLENNI: Taylor Tomlinson is the star of the Netflix comedy special “Look At You” and is not known to be Catholic, other Christian or conservative. Yet in a video short, she shared her interest in getting off birth control: “Cause I’d love to meet me.” Provocative. Ms. Tomlinson goes on to ask the audience if anyone’s gone off birth control. One responds that she did and then broke up with her boyfriend of six years...

We Finally Know Why Ancient Roman Concrete Stood The Test of Time

We Finally Know Why Ancient Roman Concrete Stood The Test of Time : ScienceAlert: The ancient Romans were master builders and engineers, perhaps most famously represented by the still-functional aqueducts. And those architectural marvels rely on a unique construction material: pozzolanic concrete, a spectacularly durable material that gave Roman structures their incredible strength.

Earth to WYD: God permits, not desires, many religions

Earth to WYD: God permits, not desires, many religions | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Anyone who has read and believed the history of the Jews in the Old Testament knows that God abhors false religions. Anyone who has read and believed the words of Christ in the New Testament knows that he who rejects Christ’s messengers rejects Christ, and that Christ has commissioned the Church to preach the Gospel to the whole world. One wonders, then, how the head of World Youth Day in 2023...

In the tabernacle, a true friend awaits

In the tabernacle, a true friend awaitsMILLS: He was there — reliably there, always ready for a visitor, always happy to listen. Al Williams was a saintly Baptist deacon who influenced me a lot in my youth, and many others as well. In the evening, unless he was at church, he was usually to be found at home, watching a Red Sox, Celtics or Bruins game, depending on the season, and kids knew they could drop by if they wanted to talk.

Why Would God Sow Seed He Knows Will Bear Little or No Fruit?

Why Would God Sow Seed He Knows Will Bear Little or No Fruit? - Community in MissionPOPE: At Sunday Masses the past two weeks we have heard parables about seeds and sowers. In Sunday’s Gospel we pondered the mystery that God permits weeds to grow and counsels patience in too radically seeking to prevent or remove them. This demonstrates his respect for our freedom and his power to draw good even from evil and suffering.

Is Natural Family Planning a contradiction to Marital love?

Is Natural Family Planning a contradiction to Marital love? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The idea that a marriage between a man and a woman requires a willingness to sacrifice for one another and expect nothing in return should be no surprise to anyone. Historically speaking, the exercise of natural marriage encompassed the human and spiritual compatibilities between a man and a woman. Each possesses a unique identity that exhibits a unified spiritual, moral, and sexual compatibility that presents natural marriage as a sacrificial gift of grace as ordered through the sacrament of holy matrimony and not a utility that can be used as one’s pleasure at the expense of the other.

Gallup Poll: Americans’ Belief in God, Heaven, Hell Continues Prolonged Decline

Americans%u2019%20belief%20in%20God%2C%20heaven%2C%20hell%20continues%20prolonged%20decline%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Americans are increasingly rejecting the idea of God along with other religious and spiritual concepts, continuing a decades-long trend that shows an ongoing decline in belief in key religious tenets. A July poll from Gallup shows a marked decrease in belief in “God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil” among U.S. adults since the last time the survey question was asked in 2016.

World Youth Day, and Ed’s got a fast car (allegedly)

World Youth Day, and Ed's got a fast car (allegedly)JDFLYNN: If you ask me, one of the most significant stories happening in the Church right now is this: Tens of thousands of pilgrims have already started making their way to World Youth Day in Lisbon, which will take place Aug. 1-6. Nearly 29,000 pilgrims are traveling to World Youth Day from the U.S., making the American contingent one of the largest groups of attendees in the world. I wish I were among them...

The Catholic press, and Ross Douthat, remain must-reads during a busy Vatican summer

Catholic%20press%2C%20and%20Ross%20Douthat%2C%20remain%20must-reads%20during%20a%20busy%20Vatican%20summer%20%u2014%20GetReligionLISI: It should come to no surprise to any reader that we live in a polarized nation. We are separated along political partisan lines and in our own media universes. There are those who watch and/or read Fox News on the web and consume copious amounts of information regarding President Joe Biden and his son’s alleged ties to corruption. On the other side, the Hunter Biden is ignored. Instead, we get investigative journalism from The New York Times looking into the dealings and relationships of conservatives such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Theology of Pilgrimage — Our Path Home to Heaven

The%20Theology%20of%20Pilgrimage%20%u2014%20Our%20Path%20Home%20to%20Heaven%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Every single one of us is a pilgrim on a journey. For us Christians, as Pope St. John Paul II said, this journey should ultimately lead us to the heart of the Father. But do we truly believe that? Too often, we can get lost in the demands and routines of our everyday lives. That is why pilgrimages to holy sites are so important...

St. James the Greater — Fisherman and Son of Thunder

St.%20James%20the%20Greater%20%u2014%20Fisherman%20and%20Son%20of%20Thunder%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: James the Greater was a fisherman from Galilee whom Jesus called to be an apostle. This James happened to be part of a trio of apostles who were with Jesus during three particular occasions. James, his brother John, and Peter made up this distinctive group. The first James-John-Peter event was the raising of the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official who sought out Jesus for her healing...

Spain Honors Its Patron, St. James the Greater

Spain Honors Its Patron, St. James the Greater| National Catholic RegisterCRAUGHWELL: Every July 25, the two-week-long celebration in the small Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela reaches its highpoint with High Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago, the Cathedral of St. James. A capacity crowd of 1,200 worshippers fills the cathedral — among them the king of Spain, or his representative from the Royal Family. Amid half a month of feasting, and dancing, and music, and fireworks, the Mass on the feast day of the apostle and martyr is the heart of Catholic Spain’s national festival.

Eucharistic Adoration is on the rise, but some Catholics still object to it. Here are 4 responses to their objections...

On Eucharistic Adoration: Against Its Detractors | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: I take it as a privilege to be a forty-one-year-old Catholic theologian in the year 2023. Born in 1982, only twelve years after the promulgation of the reformed rites of the Second Vatican Council, I am in the main sympathetic to those who are often called Vatican II Catholics. My theological education benefited from a close reading of primary sources both ancient and modern. I learned from professors at Notre Dame and Boston College who were involved in teaching and research during the Council...

Jesuits Confirm Expulsion of Father Marko Rupnik, Say Vatican Norms Blocked Harsher Sanctions

Jesuits confirm expulsion of a priest artist and lament that Vatican norms block harsher sanctions | AP News: The Jesuits said Monday that a famous artist priest is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women, and lamented they couldn’t prosecute him more vigorously under the Vatican’s internal procedures.

3 Ways to Cultivate Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

3 Ways to Cultivate Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus - SpiritualDirection.comDAMM: In the 2004 movie The Passion of the Christ, there is a poignant scene after the brutal scourging at the pillar. Jesus’ bloody Body is dragged away from the pillar, and the ground is covered with His Blood. The Blessed Mother enters the courtyard with Saints John and Mary Magdalene, she kneels down, and with maternal love and devotion, she carefully begins cleaning up His Blood from the ground.

The worst pitcher ever to take the mound for the Detroit Tigers became a Catholic priest...

Father Allan Travers: The one-game pitcher who might have saved the Detroit Tigers | Catholic News AgencyMELOY: Granted, Allan Travers was already on the path to the priesthood before suiting up for Detroit on May 18, 1912. But his story — and place in baseball history — is the prime example of being in the right place at the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time). Travers played in only one game, but one was enough to show that God had plans for him that didn’t involve the big leagues.

Ballot-Initiative Battle: Ohio Pro-Lifers Face Abortion Groups’ Push to Enshrine Abortion in the State Constitution

Ballot-Initiative%20Battle%3A%20Ohio%20Pro-Lifers%20Face%20Abortion%20Groups%u2019%20Push%20to%20Enshrine%20Abortion%20in%20the%20State%20Constitution%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterBROWN: Ohio is the most recent battleground in abortion groups’ ongoing efforts to add nearly unlimited abortion access to state constitutions. As pro-life battles have largely shifted to the states a little over a year out from the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the latest showdown will be in Ohio, where abortion groups are pushing an amendment to the state Constitution that would ensure virtually unlimited access to abortion.

Pope Francis Marks Third Annual ‘World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly’ With Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope%20at%20Mass%3A%20Grandparents%20and%20young%20%u2018grow%20together%u2019%20in%20fruitful%20exchange%20-%20Vatican%20News: Pope Francis presides over Mass on the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, and praises intergenerational exchange as a means to learn the beauty of life and strengthen the life of the Church.

The World’s Largest Waterfall Is Under the Ocean, and 24 Other Interesting Geography Facts

25 of Our Most Interesting Geography Facts: The world is as full of wonders as it is wide, and we’ve rounded up some of our most astonishing geography facts to show you just how many wonders there are. From the world’s tallest waterfall being underwater to there being four North Poles, these facts may help you see the globe in a new light — a light possibly even brighter than Las Vegas, the brightest city on Earth. Read on for 25 of our most mind-blowing geography facts from around the website.

This Sunday, Jesus tells us what to do when weeds infest the Kingdom, his Church. The answer: Plant mustard!

This Sunday, the Sower and the Synod: Jesus on Wheat and Weeds; Devotion and Dissent | Benedictine College Media and MoreHOOPES: The kingdom of God is the Church, and here in the Church we have the wheat and the weeds, side by side, benefiting from the same good soil: the good, fruitful and the nourishing along with the bad, parasitic, and poisonous. But don’t make the mistake that there are purely evil or purely good people. As Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said...

If “synodality” is not about making people holier, it will be a scandalous waste of time and money

Synodality and SanctityWEIGEL: Pope Benedict XVI often said that, in today’s skeptical and cynical world, the saints make a more persuasive case for the truth of Christianity than the most sophisticated arguments. One has to wonder, then, why the Working Document (Instrumentum Laboris, or IL) for October’s Synod on Synodality is virtually devoid of references to the saints, or to the Church’s heritage of holiness over two millennia, or to the holy ones who surround us in this third millennium...

Vatican to Investigate Sodalitium Christianae Vitae Lay Society in Peru; Visitation to Be Led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna

Vatican to investigate Sodalitium Christianae Vitae lay society in Peru | Catholic News Agency: The Vatican has commissioned a new investigation of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodality of Christian Life), a lay society of apostolic life founded in Peru. The investigation will be led by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, assistant secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and an expert on sexual abuse, the Peruvian newspaper La República reported on July 20.

What is a blessing? Who (or what) can be blessed? And what effect do blessings have? Here are 7 things to know and share...

7 Things to Know and Share About Blessings| National Catholic RegisterAKIN: There is currently considerable discussion about whether it is possible to bless persons in same-sex unions. In light of this, it can be useful to step back and take a look at the topic of blessings in general. Here are 7 things to know and share about blessings. First, the English word bless is used to translate the Latin word benedicere and the Greek word eulogein. Both of these mean “to speak good.” In Scripture, the terms have a variety of uses. For example, one may bless God by speaking good of God...

Going home, inviting disappointment, and for the record

Going home, inviting disappointment, and for the recordCONDON: We covered this week the strange story of an Omaha priest who pled guilty last month to charges of theft. The priest, Fr. Michael Gutgsell, took nearly $200,000 from an elderly priest for whom he had power of attorney. He was also accused of stealing thousands from a Nebraska parish where he was pastor. The case gets stranger from there: According to charging documents, Gutgsell gave the stolen money, along with hundreds of thousands from his own savings...

North Carolina Woman Sues Doctors and Therapists in Wake of Gender Transition Surgery as a Teen

North Carolina woman files lawsuit in wake of gender transition surgery as a teen | Catholic News Agency: Prisha (Abigail) Mosley, 25, a detransitioning woman formerly known as Charlie Mosley, filed a lawsuit July 17 in North Carolina’s Gaston County Superior Court naming her therapists, physician, surgeon, and their corresponding medical facilities who facilitated her medicalized gender transition to a man during her late teens as defendants.

This summer, kibosh the gadgets and encourage real play. Your children’s response might surprise you. And one day, they might thank you...

Good Playing: For Their Sake and Ours - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: They – whoever ‘they’ were – clearly did this child a good turn. They brought him to a good place, and they gave him a good ‘toy’–if we call it a toy. The best ‘play’ is a kind of first exercise in the deeper things of life: such as playing house, playing workman, or playing army. Or simply digging in the earth. Children have a kind of natural fascination with many things, some of them good, some of them not. How they play, what they play and with whom they play will either grow or diminish these fascinations.

80 years ago, Pope Pius XII defied American bombs to become ‘Defender of the City’

80%20years%20ago%2C%20a%20Pope%20defied%20American%20bombs%20to%20become%20%u2018Defender%20of%20the%20City%u2019%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Rome is a city that prides itself on having seen it all over the course of its millennia-long history, so much so that “Been there, done that” might well be the unofficial civic motto. Here’s how journalist Fabrizio Roncone summed up Roman reaction to the record heat this week, which reached an official peak of 109 degrees on Tuesday.

Boots on, and do better, Hierarchs!

Boots on, and do better, Hierarchs!SCALIA: “A lie can travel around the globe in the time it takes the truth to get its boots on.” The line, or variations of it, has been attributed to Mark Twain, Jonathan Swift, Terry Pratchett, Confucius and various Victorian-era preachers, but its authorship cannot be rightly pinned down. That’s not surprising; a sentiment so true has likely arisen organically from frustrated minds in every generation because, as the saying goes, “T’was ever thus.” And today the expression is truer than ever.

The 50 Best Pizzerias in America, Ranked

These%20Are%20the%2050%20Best%20Pizzerias%20in%20the%20United%20States%20for%202023%20%u2013%20Robb%20Report: Anthony Mangieri is still the king of the U.S. pizza scene. The chef’s New York City restaurant, Una Pizza Napoletana, was named the best pizzeria in the entire country by the 50 Top Pizza organization. Mangieri’s restaurant received the same honor last year, and its Neapolitan-style pies continue to impress the judges.

How old is the water we drink? Probably far older than you think...

How Old is the Water We Drink? | Discover Magazine: Back in 2016, geologists from the University of Toronto announced they had discovered water at the bottom of an old mine in Canada that was 2 billion years old. The claim was based on the presence of dissolved salts and noble gases, which suggests how long the water had been isolated.

European Countries’ Restrictions on Gender Treatment for Minors Contrasts Sharply With US Push

European%20Countries%u2019%20Restrictions%20on%20Gender%20Treatment%20for%20Minors%20Contrasts%20Sharply%20With%20US%20Push%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: At both the federal and the state level, and in the American culture more broadly, there is a concerted effort to remove obstacles to minors’ access to controversial “gender affirming care.” California, Minnesota and New York have passed legislation establishing their state as a “trans youth refuge,” while the federal government is challenging...

5 Convert Saints from the Month of July (Print and Share!)

Five Convert Saints from the Month of July: Print and Share! - The Coming Home Network: The Church’s calendar has some great convert saints on it for the month of July! Many are familiar with the dramatic stories of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Ignatius of Loyola, but did you know about the mercenary soldier and compulsive gambler who had a major conversion while doing a construction project on a monastery, or the first native-born Chinese priest to suffer martyrdom?

‘I Feel I Have Arrived Home’: Former Anglican Bishop Discusses His Journey to the Catholic Church

%u2018I%20Feel%20I%20Have%20Arrived%20Home%u2019%3A%20Former%20Anglican%20Bishop%20Discusses%20His%20Journey%20to%20the%20Catholic%20Church%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register:PENTIN: “I honestly feel I have arrived home,” says Richard Pain, who, on July 2, became the 11th former Anglican bishop — and the first Anglican bishop of Wales — to be received into the Catholic Church through the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham since its creation in 2011.

Two More Anti-Catholic Attacks: Church in El Paso and School in Denver

Two more anti-Catholic attacks: church in El Paso and school in Denver | Catholic News AgencyBUKURAS: Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in northeast El Paso, Texas, was vandalized on July 17. The parish did not release information about the vandalism, citing an ongoing investigation by the El Paso Police Department. “The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Community and Diocese of El Paso [wish] to thank our local law enforcement for their attention in regard to this matter. We ask for your prayers for all involved as we continue to work with law enforcement on this matter,” the church said in a Facebook post Monday.

‘Sound of Freedom’ Makes History at the Box Office With $85 Million Gross and Counting

%u2018Sound%20of%20Freedom%u2019%20makes%20history%20at%20the%20box%20office%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The independent, crowd-sourced film that no major studio wanted to touch continues to over-perform thanks to the support of millions.

ChatGPT Encounters the Catechism of the Catholic Church

ChatGPT Encounters the Catechism of the Catholic Church| National Catholic RegisterTURLEY: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” So said more than 350 technology executives, researchers and academics in a signed statement that warned of the existential threats of Artificial Intelligence. That statement was published in May 2023, and, hot on its heels, came another warning, this time from Twitter boss Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple.

21-Year-Old Terminally Ill Spanish Carmelite Dies on Eve of Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

21-Year-Old Terminally Ill Spanish Carmelite Dies on Eve of Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel| National Catholic Register: A 21-year-old Carmelite friar who had been admitted to a Carmel in Spain “in articulo mortis” (at the point of death) died July 15, the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. “We inform you that this morning in the Carmelite Convent of St. Andrew in Salamanca, Friar Pablo María de la Cruz Alonso Hidalgo has given his life to the Father,” prior provincial Friar Salvador Villota Herrero said in a statement.

European Bishops Condemn Drafting of ‘Right to Abortion’ in European Union’s ‘Charter of Fundamental Rights’

Bishops%20condemn%20European%20Union%u2019s%20drafting%20of%A0%u2018right%20to%20abortion%u2019%A0%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: European bishops on Tuesday released a statement condemning the drafting of a right to abortion in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, arguing that the proposed amendment would run afoul of European Union law and human dignity.

Has the Holy See Surrendered to the Chinese Communist Party?

Has the Holy See Surrendered to the Chinese Communist Party?| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Does the Holy See’s stand-down in the Shanghai standoff signal surrender in the Sino-Vatican relationship? An unusual interview arranged by the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, suggests as much. On Saturday, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to the Diocese of Shanghai, the most important diocese in mainland China.

‘The mosquitoes are special’ — Summer pests remind us to meditate on graces of Precious Blood

%27The%20mosquitoes%20are%20special%3A%27%20Summer%20pests%20remind%20us%20to%20meditate%20on%20graces%20of%20Precious%20Blood%20%u2014%20Elizabeth%20Scalia%20-%20The%20DialogSCALIA: July is one of those months. The heat of summer sets in and elderly uncles come to visit and delight in declaring – with an hourly gasp and a wipe of the forehead — that “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” He’ll persist even after some smart-mouth growls that the inside of an oven is pretty dry, but still an unpleasant place to sit.

Pope Francis Names Four New Auxiliary Bishops of Los Angeles

Pope Francis names four new auxiliary bishops of Los Angeles | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed four new auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest archdiocese in the United States. The Vatican announced on July 18 that Monsignor Albert Bahhuth, Father Matthew Elshoff, Father Brian Nunes, and Father Slawomir Szkredka will be consecrated as bishops to assist Archbishop José Gomez in leading the more than 4.3 million Catholics in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Today Is the 700th Anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Canonization

Today%20Is%20the%20700th%20Anniversary%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Aquinas%u2019%20Canonization%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: July 18 is a special day this year for Dominicans: it marks the 700th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274) is arguably the most important saint in the Order of Preachers after its founder, St. Dominic. He’s certainly had a great impact on the Church at large...

‘The Growth of Catholic Theology’ — Pope Francis’ Doctrinal Chief Speaks

%u2018The%20growth%20of%20Catholic%20theology%u2019%20-%20Pope%20Francis%u2019%20doctrinal%20chief%20speaks: Earlier this month, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez as prefect of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith. The archbishop, an Argentine, had been since 2018 the Archbishop of La Plata, and was before that the rector of Argentina’s Catholic University — a role to which he was appointed by then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.

10 Principles for Genuine Catholic Conservatism

10 Principles for Genuine Catholic ConservatismSTAUDT: Conservatives often receive a bad rap as negative reactionaries who continually complain about the state of society and the Church. Conservation, however, flows from our original mission to till and protect the Garden, implying that God entrusted a good to us that must be preserved and cultivated within the limits of his original work. Conservatives reject the myth of progress that “new” necessarily means “better,” even if it might be on occasion...

The “Synodal Process”: Talking a New Church Into Being?

The%20%u201CSynodal%20Process%u201D%3A%20Talking%20a%20New%20Church%20into%20Being%3FWEIGEL: One of the worst of contemporary hymn-texts bids us to “Sing a new Church into being.” Not only does this injunction debase the noble hymn-tune “Nettleton;” it teaches a pseudo-Christian hubris that is contrary to the Gospel. I know of more than one bishop who has banned “Sing a New Church” in his diocese. That ban should be universally enforced...

I’m giving 5 presentations at WYD in Lisbon — and my aim is to help “convert the young people to Christ”

World Youth Day and Converting Everyone to Christ - Word on FireBARRON: You have probably heard by now that a statement made by Bishop Américo Aguiar has caused quite a stir. Aguiar is the auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, Portugal, and he is the chief coordinator of the upcoming World Youth Day. Moreover, he was, in a very surprising move, just named a cardinal by Pope Francis. So he is a man of considerable weight—which is one reason why his remarks have gotten so much attention...

Francis Poulenc’s 1957 masterpiece, ‘Dialogues of the Carmelites,’ about 16 martyrs executed during the Reign of Terror, is the greatest Catholic opera ever

The Greatest Catholic Opera | Algis Valiunas | First Things: Opera has traditionally had little interest in Christian orthodoxy, except as a foil for some preferred spiritual excellence. The lyric stage has concerned itself mostly with the political life and especially with the erotic life, and left conventional godliness out of the picture. Of course Teutonic gods who go up in flames, quasi-karmic Fate, demonic religious personnel, and even some actual demons may have their appointed place...

Haiti in ‘Desperate’ Security Crisis as Catholic Leaders Urge Search for Solutions

Haiti%20in%20%u2018desperate%u2019%20security%20crisis%20as%20Catholic%20leaders%20urge%20search%20for%20solutions%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The U.S. and other countries have called for international intervention in Haiti due to the government’s inability to provide basic security amid the rise of criminal gangs. For their part, Catholic leaders continue to advocate on behalf of the Caribbean country only 900 miles southeast of Florida.

A Vatican without sovereignty? Consider the Russian Orthodox...

A Vatican without sovereignty? Consider the Russian Orthodox | CruxALLEN: Back in 2007, the prestigious English news magazine The Economist carried an article on Vatican diplomacy, which concluded with a bit of unsolicited advice: The Vatican, the journal opined, “could renounce its special diplomatic status and call itself what it is – the biggest non-governmental organization in the world.” The then-Secretary for Relations with States...

My Word Shall Not Return to Me Empty

My%20Word%20Shall%20Not%20Return%20to%20Me%20Empty%20%u2013%20A%20Homily%20for%20the%2015th%20Sunday%20of%20the%20Year%20-%20Community%20in%20MissionPOPE: What do you expect to happen as a result of reading and hearing God’s Word? Do you expect to encounter something that will change you? The response of most people is pretty tepid and uninspired. Most don’t really expect much nor have they ever. For them, reading or hearing God’s Word is more of a tedious ritual than a transformative reality. The readings for this Sunday clearly set forth that God’s Word can transform, renew, encourage, and empower us...

The Martyrs of Compiègne sang all the way to the guillotine

They Sang All the Way to the Guillotine | Catholic AnswersBUNSON: On January 26, 1957, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan was the site of a new opera by noted French Catholic composer Francis Poulenc. Dialogues des Carmélites (Dialogues of the Carmelites) was based in part on a screenplay written by the Catholic writer Georges Bernanos and inspired by Gertrud von le Fort’s German novella, Die Letzte am Schafott (” The Last on the Scaffold“). The new work presented a seemingly odd choice for its subject...

Pope Francis’ Preferential Option for Diplomats

Pope%20Francis%u2019%20Preferential%20Option%20for%20Diplomats%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Ten years into the Francis pontificate and the triumphant return of the nuncios goes from strength to strength. And the nuncios are returning the favor, speaking of the Holy Father in increasingly exalted terms. In his recent consistory announcement, Pope Francis chose to elevate three nuncios to the college of cardinals: Archbishop Christophe Pierre, nuncio to the United States...

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Never Tire of Sowing Goodness. The Good Seed Remains and Will Take Root in Due Time’

Pope at Angelus: Never tire of sowing goodness, following Jesus' example - Vatican News: Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis turned to the day's Gospel passage containing the parable of the sower. The Pope explained that he is attracted by the metaphor of sowing and invited everyone to do as Jesus does. The Pope noted that, although Jesus knows our 'soil', He does not tire of trusting that the fruit will be abundant.

This Sunday, the Divine Sower Changes Everything (Especially You)

This Sunday, the Divine Sower Changes Everything (Especially You) | Benedictine College Media and MoreHOOPES: I never really liked the parable Jesus tells in the Gospel for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. But one benefit of preparing my Extraordinary Story podcast on the Life of Christ is that it forces me to spend time with parts of the Gospel I have tended to skim through. My appreciation for this Sunday’s Gospel grew by leaps and bounds after the Parable of the Sower episode, and looking back I see how the parable is a linchpin in Jesus’s life, teaching and saving action.

Pixar’s new movie ‘Elemental’ astoundingly violates many of the studio’s ‘22 Rules of Storytelling’

Breaking%20Its%20Own%20Rules%3A%20Pixar%u2019s%20Inexcusable%20%u2018Elemental%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterNICOLOSI: In 2011, storyboard artist Emma Coats, who had worked on hugely successful films including Up and Brave, tweeted out a list of what she called “Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling.” Everybody in filmmaking pored over what was, in succinct fashion, the inside stuff that produced the wonders of Toy Story I-IV, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., and the other 20 films that have made Pixar’s brand the most successful in cinema history.

Remembering the 200th Anniversary of the Burning of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls

Remembering%20the%20200th%20Anniversary%20of%20the%20Burning%20of%20St.%20Paul%u2019s%20Outside%20the%20Walls%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLANDRY: Earlier this week, I was in Rome teaching at the pilot EWTN Summer Academy for young media professionals. At breakfast, one of the participants, looking for an interesting subject to cover for a video project, asked me whether I knew of any major anniversaries in the Church that would have connections to the Eternal City. I began going back in time by 50-year intervals. 1973, 1923 and 1873 all came up empty in the memory banks.

New comic book on the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha

New comic book on the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha - Voyage ComicsKOSLOSKI: Caught between two worlds, Kateri Tekakwitha wants to live out her newfound Christian faith with every ounce of her being. However, she is also under intense pressure from her Mohawk tribe to remain steadfast in the beliefs and traditions of their community. What will she do? Will she abandon her Christian faith? Or will she find a way to live in both worlds as a faithful Native American Christian?

Here’s why you should only ever book a flight for the early morning

Why You Should Only Ever Book an Early Morning Flight: Waking up before dawn isn't everyone's cup of tea, but we're here to tell you that it is indeed worth it if you're flying. That's because booking the first flight of the day comes with some significant benefits. Although it may be annoying to miss out on precious sleep time, the earlier you get to the airport, the smoother your experience will be.

After Bipartisan Backlash, California Legislators Vote Trafficking Bill Through Committee

After Bipartisan Backlash, California Legislators Vote Trafficking Bill Through Committee| National Catholic Register: California Democratic legislators on Thursday hastily voted an anti-child-trafficking bill through a key committee after significant backlash to their initial scuttling of the measure. Legislators on the state Assembly’s Public Safety Committee had earlier this week voted down Senate Bill 14, which would elevate child trafficking to a “serious felony” in the state. The committee is controlled by six Democrats, with two Republicans also sitting on the panel.

10 of the Best Cities in America to Raise a Catholic Family

10 of the Best Cities in America to Raise a Catholic Family - Crisis Magazine: In an era in which America is becoming an increasingly anti-Catholic place to live, Catholics desperately need to be supported by a strong Catholic community in order to live out their faith. For some, the community in which they were born supplies that need. However, for many others there exists a desire to find a community where orthodox Catholicism is supported and lived out. To help those who are looking for such communities...

Is it morally okay to buy things from places like China? Here are 5 points to ponder about material cooperation with evil...

5 Points to Ponder About Material Cooperation With Evil| National Catholic RegisterBRUGGER: Catholics and all people of goodwill should exercise reasonable solicitude in their choices of commercial vendors. The question of who is producing, distributing and advertising the products we buy is morally relevant because, among other reasons, the money generated from sales, even if the sales themselves are not immoral, is used ultimately to fund and advance the worldviews and value systems of those in company leadership.

Vatican: Seal of Confession Not Violated in ‘Vatican Girl’ Investigation

Vatican%3A%20Seal%20of%20confession%20not%20violated%20in%20%u2018Vatican%20girl%u2019%20investigation%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: In the latest twist in the 40-year-old cold case of the disappearance of 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi, who lived in Vatican City, investigators are reportedly looking into the possible involvement of the uncle of the missing “Vatican girl.”

8 Takeaways From the Pope’s Latest Selection of Cardinals

Eight%20Takeaways%20From%20the%20Pope%u2019s%20Latest%20Selection%20of%20Cardinals%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: The next consistory for the creation of new cardinals has the typical flourishes of Pope Francis. The Holy Father chose three nuncios, reflecting the high priority he gives to the diplomatic establishment, elevated an auxiliary bishop, rewarded the return of Italian control in the Holy Land, comforted a bishop challenged by his people, promoted the traditional curial officials, and passed over various prominent dioceses.

Cardinal-Elect Fernández’s Week in the Media Leaves Questions Unanswered

Cardinal-Elect%20Fern%E1ndez%u2019s%20Week%20in%20the%20Media%20Leaves%20Questions%20Unanswered%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: On July 1, Pope Francis tapped his close collaborator, Archbishop Victor Manuel “Tucho” Fernandez, to be the next prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF). Just eight days later, the Pope announced at his July 9 Sunday Angelus that his longtime ghostwriter and theological adviser would also be among a group of new cardinals to be created at an upcoming September consistory.

The Mystery Hidden Behind the Carmelite Grille

The Mystery Hidden Behind the Carmelite Grille| National Catholic RegisterEVINGER: Behind the cast-iron grilles and beautiful, solemn, reverent chapels of Carmelite cloisters all over the world lies a mystery — a mystery of divine faith, ardent love and unfailing hope. “When I was 12 years old, I read a children’s book on the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and I was so taken by her passionate love for Jesus and how she gave herself to him in Carmel at such a young age,” says a young solemn-professed nun from Pleasant Mount Carmel in the Diocese of Scranton...

In Fairbanks, being bishop means duffel bags, snowmobiles and sleeping on floors

In Fairbanks, being bishop means duffel bags, snowmobiles and sleeping on floors | CruxLAVENBURG: When Crux asked Bishop Chad Zielinski some months ago what it takes to lead the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska, he explained that it takes a missionary zeal to embrace a different culture, along with the stamina to travel 65 percent of the time, live out of duffel bags, sleep on church floors and travel between villages via snowmobiles, boats and four-wheelers.

The rise of Bishop Américo Aguiar, the young auxiliary bishop in Lisbon who was just named to the College of Cardinals

The rise of Bishop Americo Aguiar: In an unusual move, Pope Francis on Sunday named a young auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon to the College of Cardinals. The patriarch — Lisbon’s archbishop — is usually made a cardinal, both by tradition and according to Clement XII’s 1737 bull Inter praecipuas apostolici ministerii which stipulates that he should be elevated in the first consistory after his nomination.

This old Irish priest forgot to say, ‘You may now kiss the bride’ — but he made up for it in a most charming way

New%20Advent%3A%20This%20old%20Irish%20priest%20forgot%20to%20say%2C%20%u2018You%20may%20now%20kiss%20the%20bride%u2019%20%u2014%20but%20he%20made%20up%20for%20it%20in%20a%20most%20charming%20way: “You don’t expect an old bachelor now to remember something like that.”

Pope Francis Names Dominican Priest and Former Military Chaplain as Alaska’s Next Bishop

Pope%20Francis%20names%20Dominican%20priest%20and%20former%20military%20chaplain%20as%20Alaska%u2019s%20next%20bishop%A0%A0%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis has named Dominican Father Steven Maekawa, a former active duty military chaplain, as the next bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Vatican announced the appointment on July 11. Maekawa will take on the role of leading a diocese that spans more than 400,000 square miles, the largest diocese in the United States geographically.

Synodicalisminity

Synodicalisminity | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: I maintain – and have since the beginning of this nonsense – that while self-described Catholic progressives have made careers out of sneering at the “Catholic ghettos” of past eras, I don’t think the tightest community of Irish Catholics crowded on Orchard Street in 1873 have a thing on the the Synod-obsessed of 2023 when it comes to solipsistic insular clubiness. Ghetto, indeed. Bubble, indeed.

Father Augustus Tolton, the First Black American Priest, Knew Freedom in Christ

Father Augustus Tolton, the First Black American Priest, Knew Freedom in Christ| National Catholic RegisterTURLEY: At night the river looked deeper than ever as the woman rowed across it with her three small children. That was dangerous enough, but they were being pursued. They were being shot at. They were fleeing for their lives. The Civil War had just begun. The woman and her children were slaves. They had fled Missouri and were crossing over to freedom in Illinois, and to freedom. That night, the woman evaded her pursuers. When she landed on the northern bank of the river, she pulled her children to their knees and prayed: “Now, you are free; never forget the goodness of the Lord.” And, with that, one of her children, Augustine Tolton, later to become the first African American to be ordained a priest, was “freed.”

Nobody ever warned me how OCD and scrupulosity can take the thing you care about most (your faith) and turn it against you...

Living with Religious Scrupulosity or Moral OCD by Alan Noble: Growing up evangelical, I was taught that your personal conscience is law. God uses the Holy Spirit to guide and convict us through our innermost selves. So when the conscience speaks, not to listen is a sin. Your conscience can be mistaken, of course, but really only in one direction: a seared conscience...

Do not be ashamed of the Gospel! It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith

Should we be ashamed of the Gospel? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: There is a beautiful concept about the origin of life that the Catholic Church proposes and teaches; we were created out of love. The basis of this proposal stems from an understanding that an omnipotent, all-knowing being took the time to make man after his image and likeness and further strengthened man’s identity through the creation of woman...

Portuguese Soon-to-Be Cardinal on World Youth Day: ‘We Don’t Want to Convert the Young People to Christ’

Future%20Portuguese%20cardinal%20on%20WYD%3A%20%u2018We%20don%u2019t%20want%20to%20convert%20the%20young%20people%20to%20Christ%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: “We don’t want to convert the young people to Christ or to the Catholic Church or anything like that at all,” said Bishop Américo Aguiar, the head of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 who will be created a cardinal by Pope Francis in September.

Stop Yoking Around — A Homily for the 14th Sunday of the Year

Stop Yoking Around - A Homily for the 14th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: We in the West live in a place and at a time in which almost every burden of manual labor has been eliminated. Not only that, but creature comforts abound. Everything from air conditioning to hair conditioning, from fast food to high speed internet, from to indoor plumbing to outdoor grilling, from instant computer downloads to instant coffee machines. You don’t even have write letters anymore, just press send and a text or email is delivered nearly instantaneously...

Pope Francis Names 21 New Cardinals, Including US-Born Prevost, Nuncio to US Pierre, New DDF Head Fernández

BREAKING: Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Archbishop Fernandez | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis said on Sunday that he will create 21 new cardinals, including the Vatican’s recently appointed doctrinal chief Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, at a consistory on Sept. 30. The 86-year-old pope made the announcement from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square after reciting the Angelus prayer on July 9.

If you want to experience the joy of getting more work done in a day than you thought was possible, learn to work smarter AND harder

New Advent: If you want to experience the joy of getting more work done in a day than you thought was possible, learn to work smarter AND harder: The best thing you can do if you want to become a more productive hand, if you want to experience the joy of getting more work done in a day than anybody thought was humanly possible, is make it a point to learn something from everyone ...

Catholics in Goa Threatened by Calls to ‘Wipe out’ History of Portuguese Presence

Catholics%20in%20Goa%20threatened%20by%20calls%20to%20%u2018wipe%20out%u2019%20history%20of%20Portuguese%20presence: While most of India achieved independence from Britain in 1947, Portugal ruled Goa as a colony from 1510 to 1961, when the recently independent Indian Union invaded, sounding the death knell for European power on the subcontinent.

A Concise Introduction to Marriage (with Addenda)

A Concise Introduction to Marriage (with Addenda) | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: Our view of marriage is a reliable spiritual barometer to measure our attitudes toward the practice of the faith. The Catholic faith and families reflect each other and are intertwined. Rules have been given a bad rap since the 1960s. We need reminding why righteous rules are good for us and set us free. Practicing Catholics “play by the rules.”

Are these the End Times? Here’s what the Catechism says...

Are These the End Times? What the Catechism Says - Community in MissionPOPE: The Catholic approach to the end times is different from that in certain (but not all) Protestant circles, especially the Evangelicals, who have a strong and often vivid preoccupation with signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Many of the notions that are expressed there are either erroneous or extreme. Some of these notions are rooted in a misunderstanding of the various genres of Scripture; others are caused by reading certain Scriptures in isolation from the wider context of the whole of Scripture; and some are rooted in reading one text while disregarding others that balance it.

Most Canadians live farther south than Seattle, and Atlanta is farther west than Detroit. If this surprises you, here are some other facts to help reboot your mental map...

Most Canadians live south of Seattle and other mental map surprises - Big Think: “Most Canadians live south of Seattle,” my editor Alex writes. “You probably knew this, but have you ever done a map on that?” I’m pretty sure I have, some years ago on the Strange Maps Facebook page. As I try to locate that particular post, it gets me thinking about other examples of this phenomenon.

A spiritual father is a man convinced that Jesus Christ is the only real answer to the challenges of life

Spiritual Fathers: Prophets in a Technologized World - SpiritualDirection.comLILLES: Ashield from the competitiveness of the world, a spiritual father sows seeds of hope, encourages forgiveness and teaches how to sacrifice in a way that only a father can do. He answers doubts and reproposes the faith when it is shaken. In this way, a spiritual father helps men and women answer the call of God and step into the greatness for which they are made. In a culture overtly hostile to the faith, such fathers gather islands of humanity and are needed more than ever.

There is something new and wonderful happening in sacred architecture. Here are some examples...

There is a new movement in sacred architectureBEATTIE: When the Christian duty to share the Good News is brought up, it is usually in the context of verbalizing something. Artistic works, however, can complement words or show the way to salvation even more clearly. Indeed, when words fall short in explaining the glorious truths of the Catholic faith, visual artistry comes in quite handy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following, quite notably, in the treatment of the commandment not to bear false witness

However clever we might be, our wisdom fails if our heart is in the wrong place...

This%20Sunday%2C%20The%20Wise%20Don%u2019t%20See%20Him%20Like%20We%20Do%20%7C%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20and%20MoreHOOPES: If someone said you had to give everything you own and spend all your days serving another person, 24/7, 365 days a year, you would say “No way. That too much: It’s slavery!” But that’s exactly what we promise to do for the one we love when we get married. The old exhortation from Catholic weddings puts it well: “Sacrifice is usually difficult and irksome. Only love can make it easy, and perfect love can make it a joy.”

‘Warning and Hope’ — ‘Dramatic’ Photo Exhibit on the Persecuted in Iraq and Nigeria Opens in New York

%u2018Warning%20and%20Hope%u2019%20%u2014%20%u2018Dramatic%u2019%20Photo%20Exhibit%20on%20the%20Persecuted%20in%20Iraq%20and%20Nigeria%20Opens%20in%20New%20York%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: A new photographic exhibition documenting the lives and suffering of persecuted Christians in Iraq and Nigeria aims to act as a “warning and hope” for the faithful, the exhibit’s photographer has said. Stephen Rasche, an American Catholic lawyer who left his commercial practice almost 10 years ago to help persecuted Christians in Iraq and then Nigeria...

In today’s razed and ravaged landscape, a happy family is like a cathedral — drawing people in and pointing them above...

The Long March Through the Soul - The American MindMERING: Many conservatives have been caught off guard by the acceleration of the woke movement over the last few years. The onslaught feels to them, as Francis Maier notes, “like an ambush when it’s actually been a long march through the institutions.” The phrase “long march” refers to the strategic subversion of Western society by the patient installation of revolutionary ideology in our institutions of power: K-12 schools, universities, courts, media, popular culture, art, and corporations.

Friday, July 7, is the feast of Blessed Peter To Rot, a Papua New Guinean catechist martyred during World War II

Blessed Peter To Rot | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: His memorial is today. Here is a good version of his life: One of the patron saints of World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia, was Bl. Peter To Rot, a native son of Papua New Guinea. A second-generation Catholic during the evangelization of his Southern Pacific island in the early twentieth century, Peter was an exemplary husband, father, and catechist...

Vatican Publishes Full List of 364 Delegates to October’s Synod on Synodality

Synod on Synodality: Vatican publishes full list of participants | Catholic News AgencyMARES: The Vatican published Friday the full list of participants who will take part in the upcoming Synod on Synodality assembly in October. Nearly a third of the 364 voting delegates in the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops were chosen directly by Pope Francis, including the American Jesuit Father James Martin...

Fra Angelico’s Rare Painting of the Crucifixion Fetches Record Price for Artist at Christie’s Auction House

Fra Angelico's rare painting of the Crucifixion fetches record price at Christie's auction house | Catholic News Agency: The most publicized painting of the summer sale season is from the Italian Renaissance — and it’s unrepentantly religious — Fra Angelico’s Crucifixion just sold July 6 at Christie’s for over £5 million (about $6.4 million) to an unknown buyer, setting a new auction record for the artist.

CDC gives guidance for trans people ‘chestfeeding’ kids, accused of failing to consider possible health risks

CDC advises trans people 'chestfeeding' kids, accused of neglecting health risks: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s official website published advice for trans and non-binary individuals on seeking guidance on how to “chestfeed” their infants. In sections of the major health institute’s guidance on breastfeeding, it contained information for those who have had much of their breasts removed in gender-reassignment surgeries, or for biological men taking hormones to grow breasts, on how to feed their newborn children.

Tennessee teens who were in NICU at same time as infants attend prom together years later

Tennessee teens who were in NICU at same time as infants attend prom together years later: Two Tennessee teens — who once spent critical days together in a hospital NICU — enjoyed a fairytale ending when they attended a high school prom after staying in touch for 17 years. "It just brings you joy," Jaime Horton, neonatal intensive care unit nurse manager at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, told Fox News Digital.

Jesuit priests in the 1600s were the first to figure out hurricanes. Here’s why that matters...

Jesuit priests were 1st to figure out hurricanesGRANEY: The month of June ushered in both the Atlantic hurricane season in the northern hemisphere and some new research about who first envisioned the physics of hurricanes. Who did that? Scientists with the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), that’s who. A hurricane’s rotation comes from something called the Coriolis Effect. That effect is caused by Earth’s spherical shape and its rotation...

Reject the cult of ‘intelligence.’ You’re worth more than that...

Reject%20the%20cult%20of%20%u2018intelligence.%u2019%20You%u2019re%20worth%20more%20than%20that.%20%7C%20America%20Magazine: In 1925, the lawyers Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan duked it out in front of a packed courthouse over evolution. This has often been portrayed as one of history’s ultimate science-versus-religion fights in which science, of course, won. Except, it wasn’t, and it didn’t. What “Inherit the Wind” and all the other dramatizations about the “Scopes Monkey Trial” leave out is...

A question of ‘discipline’: Is Archbishop Fernández up to the DDF job?

A%20question%20of%20%u2018discipline%u2019%3A%20Is%20Archbishop%20Fern%E1ndez%20up%20to%20the%20DDF%20job%3FCONDON: Following his appointment Saturday as the new prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope Francis’ choice of Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández faced immediate criticism. While much of the reaction to Fernández’s appointment has concerned his theological writing and engagement with issues like blessings for same-sex couples, some has focused on his canonical qualifications and experience handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse.

Pope Francis receives Bill Clinton and Alex Soros, son of billionaire financier George Soros, in private audience at Casa Santa Marta

Pope Francis hosts Bill Clinton, foundation head Alex Soros | Catholic News AgencyJONES: Pope Francis met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in a private audience at the Casa Santa Marta papal residence on Wednesday. Clinton’s delegation included several prominent Americans, including Alex Soros of the Open Society Foundations.

Cardinal Müller Confirms Vatican Doctrinal Office Had File Warning About Archbishop Fernández

Cardinal Mueller Confirms Vatican Doctrinal Office Had File Warning About Archbishop Fernandez| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Cardinal Gerhard Müller has confirmed the Vatican’s doctrinal office had a file containing theological concerns about Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández, whom Pope Francis last week appointed to head that office. The file, also confirmed by a second senior Church source, dates to when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires appointed then-Father Fernández rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in 2009.

St. Thomas Aquinas prescribes two remedies for your daily afflictions: A good night’s sleep, and talking to yourself

Two Remedies for Affliction: Sleep and Talking to Oneself - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: “Sorrow is mitigated after sleep.” When we wake up in the morning we can have a fresh perspective. Often what seemed an insurmountable problem the night before becomes at least tolerable the next morning. At issue here is not forgetfulness. Denial and avoidance are not helpful means of addressing affliction...

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria: Let us run like madmen!

%u2026let%20us%20run%20like%20madmen%21%20%7C%20Charlotte%20was%20BothWELBORN: Today is the memorial of St. Antony Mary Zaccaria, founder of the Barnabites. The letter from which that last quote is taken is here. I find letters to be some of the most interesting and illuminating historical documents, particular in relation to the spiritual life. They tend to be not quite as carefully constructed as other formally written works, even those from past ages in which all written communication was more formal than today’s.

Who’s next? Here are the other cardinals Francis will soon have to replace

Who%u2019s%20next%3F%20The%20other%20cardinals%20Francis%20will%20soon%20have%20to%20replaceCONDON: Pope Francis on Saturday named a new prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, replacing Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer with the Argentine theologian Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández. While the pope’s decision to name Archbishop Fernández took many by surprise, the appointment itself was long overdue. Cardinal Ladaria turned 79 in April, and was closer to the mandatory age of exclusion for cardinals from a conclave (80) than to the nominal episcopal retirement age of 75.

Has Pope Francis finally found his Ratzinger in Archbishop Fernández?

Pope Francis Finds His Ratzinger| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: On July 1, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández of La Plata, Argentina, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), the Vatican department once known as “La Suprema.” Archbishop Fernández now occupies the office once held by Pope St. Pius V and most famously in recent times by Pope Benedict XVI — Joseph Ratzinger.

July 9 Rally in Illinois Aims to Reignite the Rescheduling of Venerable’s Beatification Mass

Sheen%20Rally%20Coming%20to%20Illinois%20Aims%20to%20Reignite%20the%20Rescheduling%20of%20Venerable%u2019s%20Beatification%20Mass%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPRONECHEN: The Fulton Sheen Movement has announced plans for a “Fulton Sheen Rally” — an all-day event on Sunday, July 9, at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, Illinois. The family-friendly event will focus on rediscovering Venerable Fulton Sheen’s messages for our times, signing a petition to have his beatification Mass rescheduled soon, and several Sheen-related activities.

Two Rites and Two Shares in the One Priesthood of Christ

Two Rites and Two Shares in the One Priesthood of Christ | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DameFREY: he most recent documents governing priestly formation in the United States, the Ratio Fundamentalis and the sixth edition of the Program of Priestly Formation, place a renewed emphasis on the foundational importance of the royal priesthood of the baptized in the formation of the ministerial priest. Both documents point to what is now called the “discipleship phase” early in formation...

Pope Francis Creates Vatican ‘Commission of New Martyrs’ to Collect Stories of Christians Killed Since 2000

Vatican to collect stories of Christian martyrs killed since 2000 | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: The Vatican announced Wednesday the creation of a commission to research and catalog the stories of Christian martyrs from the third millennium. In a letter published July 5, Pope Francis said he has established the “Commission of New Martyrs — Witnesses of the Faith” within the Dicastery for the Causes of the Saints.

Fourth of July: ‘May We Be Blessed in the Knowledge of Your Most Holy Law’’

Prayer for our Government by Archbishop John Carroll - Archdiocese of Baltimore: We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.

Las Vegas archbishop learned early on: Ignore Rome ‘at your own peril’

Vegas%20archbishop%20learned%20early%20on%3A%20Ignore%20Rome%20%u2018at%20your%20own%20peril%u2019%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Chronologically speaking, George Leo Thomas is America’s most recent archbishop. The Archdiocese of Las Vegas was erected just over a month ago, on May 30, and Thomas was in Rome June 29 for a Mass in which Pope Francis blessed the pallium, or woolen stole, which will be the symbol of his office when he formally receives it from the papal ambassador in a ceremony Oct. 2.

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about Catholics in America almost 200 years ago, but his keen insights ring true even today

Tocqueville and Catholicism in America| National Catholic RegisterCLARK: In 1831, a French aristocrat named Alexis de Tocqueville was commissioned to travel to the United States of America and report back on its prison systems. Once he arrived, however, Tocqueville became broadly fascinated with the upstart nation. Spending nine months in the U.S., Tocqueville richly observed American people and America’s political system. His observations were published in two volumes, in 1835 and 1840, titled Democracy in America...

Semper Fidelis: A Story of Family, Sacrifice and Love of Country

Semper Fidelis: A Story of Family, Sacrifice and Love of Country| National Catholic RegisterHERRERA: I was just a little girl when I found myself surrounded by red, white and blue decorations at my aunt’s house. I didn’t quite understand what all the tears and laughs were for, but I was told my older cousin had enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. In just a few days, at the ripe age of 18 years old, my cousin Mario would leave for boot camp. I stood there hugging everyone and taking in the joy and pride of my family members, knowing that our lives were about to change.

Archbishop Fernández Defends His Controversial ‘Heal Me With Your Mouth’ Book as ‘Catechesis for Teens ... Not a Theology Book’

Archbishop%20Fern%E1ndez%20defends%20controversial%20book%20as%20%u2018catechesis%20for%20teens%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández has responded to criticism from what he termed “anti-Francis groups” of a book he wrote as a priest in the mid-1990s called “Heal Me With Your Mouth: The Art of Kissing.” Writing on his personal Facebook page on July 3, Fernández said the book was written as “a pastor’s catechesis for teens” and “not a theology book.”

Pride month is over; I have notes

Pride month is over; I have notesSCALIA: As his sixth birthday approached, my younger son made a big noise about it. His anticipation was so great that he got jolly a week early, counting down each day, reminding everyone that it was “almost” his birthday, and even declaring — many times — that his sibling should be extra nice to him because “my birthday is coming!” When the day finally arrived, we did everything we could to ensure it was all he clearly hoped it would be.

Cardinal Dolan: Did we go too far with COVID-19 restrictions?

Cardinal Dolan: Did we go too far with COVID-19 restrictions?DOLAN: While I was recently preparing my sermonette for Mass on the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, I was reminded he died at only 23, having contracted the virus while ministering to victims of the plague in Rome. Then, on my radio show, I hosted “Conversation with Cardinal Dolan” on The Catholic Channel of Sirius XM, talking with Francis Malone, the bishop of Shreveport, Louisiana, talking about the devotion...

A laborious, and vacuous, instrument

A laborious, and vacuous, instrumentWEIGEL: It would not be quite accurate to describe the Working Document for the October 2023 Synod (its Instrumentum Laboris, or IL) as “disappointing.” No one who has followed the “synodal process” underway since 2021 could reasonably have expected an IL of spiritual depth and evangelical passion...

Gil Bailie: “I have confidence in the power of our religious tradition to revive our culture”

Gil Bailie: Revival through religious tradition | Respect Life Radio: "(In my new book) I analyze the crisis of the self, that as our Christian patrimony has been lost, many of our contemporaries have become slavishly obedient to political or ideological or sexual doctrines which make the parting of the Red Sea or the Resurrection of Christ seem perfectly logical by comparison," said Gil Bailie, Founder of the Cornerstone Forum and author of the forthcoming book...

These 10 churches are among the most beautiful in the world, says Architectural Digest (they got it right on some of these, but not all — see what you think)

10 Beautiful Churches Around the World | Architectural Digest: The most beautiful churches are the ones that provide comfort, peace, and an accepting place to worship for those who choose visit. Of course, there are also a number of aesthetically stunning sacred sites around the world—worth a trip whether one considers themselves religious or not. Here, AD journeys to 10 of the most beautiful churches in the world, from one carved directly into volcanic rock to a 12th century stave church...

Meet Venerable Antonietta Meo — a shining example of Eucharistic holiness who died in 1937 at age 6

Venerable Antonietta Meo: A Shining Example of Eucharistic Holiness| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: On July 3, the Church marks the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, whose conversion from doubt to faith after the Resurrection led to the greatest confession of Christ’s divinity in sacred Scripture. After the Risen Jesus appeared to him and invited him to put his fingers into the wounds of his hands and place his hand in Jesus’ pierced side, the formerly doubting disciple simply cried out, “My Lord and my God!”

Doing many little things, for the right reason, with the right heart, out of love, will surely not lose its reward...

Great Rewards From Small Deeds | Parishable ItemsFELTES: The Old Testament Prophet Elisha was the immediate successor to the Prophet Elijah, ministering as a traveling prophet and wonderworker in the 800’s BC. One day, he came to a town of northern Israel called Shunem in which lived a “woman of influence.” Other Bible translations of this same text describe her as “prominent, influential, and wealthy”—“a great lady.” Curiously, she along with her husband go unnamed in the text...

I was 12 when Raiders of the Lost Ark opened in 1981, and it changed my relationship with movies...

Indiana%20Jones%20movies%20and%20Raiders%20of%20the%20Lost%20Ark%3A%20Why%20the%20original%20still%20stands%20alone%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportGREYDANUS: There’s a Casablanca-like magic about Raiders, a serendipitous perfection of parts somehow coming together in a way not foreseen from the outset, when all Lucas had was “something better than Bond.” It could easily have been otherwise. Exhibit A: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Maybe Kasdan was right that the chaos in Lucas and Spielberg’s personal lives at that time...

This July 4th: the freedom to love or leave God - Biweekly Newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond %

This July 4th: the freedom to love or leave God - Biweekly Newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond %REED: Reminiscent of advice once given to Peter Parker (aka Spider-man): with freedom comes great responsibility. One winter when I was in the fourth grade, my mother allowed me to join my friends, snow sleds in tow, to the golf course behind our home. There was one spot, Hill 16, which had a pretty significant drop, or so it seemed to me. At that age, and from my perspective, the thing looked like an Olympic ski slope. As we set off, my mother called out, “Bobby, you are free to go, but be careful!” What a staggeringly huge idea — that a Creator being would give his own creatures the freedom to love (or not)

New Report Analyzes Origins and Phenomena Behind Abuse in France’s St. John Community

New%20report%20analyzes%20origins%20and%20phenomena%20behind%20abuse%20in%20France%u2019s%20St.%20John%20community%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The Brothers of St. John Community in France published on June 26 the findings of its internal investigation into a system of sexual and spiritual abuse initiated and propagated by its founder, Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, a charismatic figure who died in 2006.

American summer, Roman art, and Russian icons

American summer, Roman art, and Russian iconsCONDON: I’m looking forward to the Fourth. I had big plans for a “real” American summer, but they haven’t exactly panned out thus far. The family signed up for the local Knights of Columbus pool, and I had soaring ambitions to work from the poolside most afternoons, diligently laboring under an umbrella while my daughter frolicked and my wife relaxed.

America’s floating Overseas Highway, an engineering marvel, stretches 113 miles into the open ocean

The Overseas Highway: The US' 'floating' highway - BBC Travel: Seagulls cried overhead as I glided across miles of glistening waters somewhere between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The sky melted into the teal sea, which turned turquoise as it shallowed into channels between the coral and limestone islands. It was a tableau of blue, extending as far as I could see.

‘Nefarious’: Screwtape Meets Hannibal Lecter

"Nefarious": Screwtape Meets Hannibal Lecter ~ The Imaginative Conservative: Perhaps the darkest of all C.S. Lewis’s works and probably the strangest is The Screwtape Letters in which the narrative voice is that of a demon giving instructions to a junior devil. Throughout its pages, Screwtape teaches Wormwood, the novice demon, how to work and worm his way within the mind and emotions of his human victim, offering suggestive rationalizations and excuses for sin. The satanic mission of this demonic duo is nothing less than to lead their victim into temptation...

Judge Dismisses Texas Monastery’s Lawsuit Against Fort Worth Bishop; Arlington Police Say ‘Case Is Now Considered Closed’

Judge%20dismisses%20Texas%20monastery%u2019s%20lawsuit%20against%20Fort%20Worth%20bishop%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMULLEN: A Texas judge has dismissed a Carmelite monastery’s civil lawsuit against Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson. Without comment, Tarrant County District Court Judge Don Cosby, sitting in Fort Worth, issued a ruling June 30 granting the Fort Worth Diocese’s motion to dismiss the monastery’s complaint, which accused Olson of theft, defamation, and abuse of power.

This Sunday, the Grave Danger and Devastating Consequences of Loving Family More Than God

This Sunday, the Grave Danger and Devastating Consequences of Loving Family More Than God | Benedictine College Media and MoreHOOPES: Chances are you or someone you know is failing to follow the warning Jesus gives on the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. And chances are, this doesn’t feel like a failure at all. It feels like the loving, righteous thing to do. But what Jesus warns about in Sunday’s Gospel is one of the greatest threats the Church faces in any age, and failing to listen to his warning has literally laid waste to the Catholic faith in large parts of the world today.

Pope Francis Appoints Argentine Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández as Head of Dicastery of Doctrine

Pope Francis appoints Argentine Archbishop Fernandez as head of doctrine dicastery | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: Pope Francis has named Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, his longtime personal theologian and ghostwriter, to lead the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Argentine prelate succeeds Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, 79, who has been prefect of the dicastery since 2017. Fernández, almost 61, will take up his new post in the middle of September, the Vatican said. The prolific writer has been archbishop of La Plata, Argentina, since 2018.