Here’s an update on the status of Fulton Sheen’s beatification cause

An%20update%20on%20the%20status%20of%20Fulton%20Sheen%u2019s%20beatification%20cause%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyDENNELLY: That’s the message from Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, regarding the status of the cause for beatification of “America’s bishop,” the late televangelist Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. “I think it’s safe to say that I don’t think any cause for beatification has been subjected to more scrutiny than Archbishop Sheen, both ecclesiastically and civilly,” Gray said in an Aug. 24 interview on “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo.”

St. Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us!

St.%20Raymond%20Nonnatus%20%u2013%20August%2031%20%7C%20Charlotte%20was%20BothWELBORN: Well, that’s not appropriate, is it? Okay, not really, but it’s what naturally popped into my head when I learned about today’s saint and what his name means. Born in Spain in the 13th century, yet “not born” – the meaning of his nickname, nonnatus. How could that be? Because he was taken from mother, who had died in labor, one month prematurely. The meaning of “born” was via the birth canal, hence emerging via Caesarean section would not come under the strict definition of “born.”

Massachusetts’ Dismissal of Charges Against Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick ‘Hugely Disappointing,’ Say Victim Advocates; Wisconsin Charges and Lawsuits Still Pending

Bishop%20accountability%20group%3A%20Dismissal%20of%20charges%20against%20McCarrick%20%u2018hugely%20disappointing%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyPINEDO: A group known as BishopAccountability.org, which tracks sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, condemned a Massachusetts district judge’s Wednesday decision to dismiss criminal charges against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The criminal charges involving the sexual assault and abuse of a minor were dismissed Wednesday after a judge ruled McCarrick, 93, was not mentally competent to stand trial.

5 Things to Know About the Pope, St. Vincent of Lérins and Doctrinal Development

5 Things to Know About the Pope, St. Vincent of Lerins and Doctrinal Development| National Catholic RegisterAKIN: In a recent interview, Pope Francis invoked St. Vincent of Lérins in relation to the concept of doctrinal development — especially as a remedy to what the Pope called indietrismo (an attitude of “being backward-looking”) among some Catholics. He has done so previously. The linkage of doctrinal development to Vincent of Lérins may come as a surprise for two reasons. One is that the concept is commonly linked to St. John Henry Newman, and the other is that Vincent is most famous for a quotation that some might take as rejecting doctrinal development.

Let’s be realistic: Deep friendship requires unity of worldview. Where less is shared, less can be shared...

To Be Realistic about Friendships - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Once after giving a lecture on friendship I was told I was undermining the hearers ability to have relationships with diverse people. Clarity on this issue is crucial. What had I asserted in my lecture? Aristotle’s principle: deep friendship requires unity of worldview. The longer I live the more I discover just how true this principle is, even if also at times heartbreaking. It is not simply characteristic of our ‘liberal’ age to seek relationships across lines of deeply held differences...

Why is authentic Catholic renewal so hard to grasp?

True Renewal: Why is it so hard to grasp? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: The problem of authentic Catholic renewal is very much in the air leading up to the Synod on Synodality. Indeed, the preparations for the Synod itself often highlight the problem by giving worldly participants an opportunity to advocate changes that undermine authentic Catholic renewal. Of course, in Church affairs there is often significant good behind the scenes which seems far too boring to report. But one thing has become clear through this synodal process: There is a great deal of confusion about what it means to renew the Catholic Church.

The Mystery of the Bloomfield Bridge

The Mystery of the Bloomfield BridgeVIGEN: This pedestrian bridge crosses I-494 just west of the Minneapolis Airport. It connects Bloomington to Richfield. I drive under it often and I wondered: why is it there? It's not in an area that is particularly walkable, and it doesn't connect any establishments that obviously need to be connected. So why was it built? I often have curious thoughts like this, but I dismiss most of them because if I answered all of them I would get nothing else done. But one day I was walking out of a Taco Bell and found myself at the base of the bridge.

“I am here to teach, not evangelize”

I am here to teach not evangelize | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: While teaching at the temple, the Jews were astonished at Jesus’ command of the Torah and his ability to convey it. Noticing the Jew’s amazement, he reminds them ... my teaching is not my own but his who sent me. Jesus reminds the Jews and Gentiles that he comes bearing the Word of God as the Incarnate Word. He proclaims that we are called to proclaim the glory of God and not our own; he reminds his Jewish audience that Moses gave them the law and asks, why have you not kept it?

Catholic podcaster Timmerie Geagea gets banned on YouTube

Trending Gets Banned on YouTube (Special Podcast Highlight) - Relevant RadioGEAGEA: The show has been banned on YouTube! Timmerie talked about the health dangers of taking contraception and this was flagged as “medical misinformation.” She soon realized that she couldn’t even get into her account! This proves that some people are afraid of the facts. Timmerie reports on this and shares why Relevant Radio is so important as an independent media outlet.

“That They May Be One”: A Sacramental-Ecclesial Approach to Eucharistic Revival

%284%29%20%u201CThat%20They%20May%20Be%20One%u201D%3A%20A%20Sacramental-Ecclesial%20Approach%20to%20Eucharistic%20RevivalVYNER: The postmodern condition leads to fragmentation and isolation.1 This fragmentation makes vital the sought for healing of the National Eucharistic Revival. In its promotional materials this Revival speaks of healing through unity with Christ in the Eucharist as one of its fruits. Implicit in this is what can be termed the ecclesial dimension of the Eucharist, that is, our unity with Christ in the Church brought about through receiving Holy Communion...

Pro-Life Activists Found Guilty of Violating FACE Act, Conspiracy Charges for 2020 Incident at D.C. Abortion Clinic

Pro-Life Activists Found Guilty of Violating FACE Act, Conspiracy Charges for 2020 Incident at D.C. Clinic | National Review: Five pro-life activists have been found guilty on charges of conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in connection with a 2020 “rescue action” they undertook at a Washington, D.C.–based abortion clinic.

‘God’s Architect’ Antoni Gaudí left us the Sagrada Familía, and much more — here are 5 must-see Gaudí landmarks in Barcelona

5%20Must-See%20Gaud%ED%20Landmarks%20in%20Barcelona%2C%20Spain%20%u2014%20Daily%20Passport: One of the world’s most famous architects, Antoni Gaudí adored Barcelona, Spain’s second-most populous city and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. The Catalan architect adorned it with so many stunning designs that his work is almost synonymous with the city itself. From light posts — his first public commission — to private homes, parks, apartments, and churches, Barcelona is a wonderland of Gaudí’s ornate and whimsical works...

Rock star Alice Cooper and guitarist Carlos Santana push back against transgenderism

Rock Stars Take on Transgender Agenda: A rock and roll legend is taking on woke culture and the transgender agenda, despite the backlash. In an interview last week with Stereogum, shock-rocker Alice Cooper shared his thoughts on how ridiculous woke culture is. “The whole woke thing ... who’s making the rules?” he asked. “Is there a building somewhere in New York where people sit down every day and say...

A history of the Islamic ‘abaya’ (full-length robe), which France just banned in its schools

France Bans The Abaya In Schools: A History Of The Islamic GarmentLISI: It’s back to school time across much of the world, but nowhere has the annual ritual drawn more attention this week than in France. This attention comes after French officials said on Monday they will bar children in public schools across the country from wearing the “abaya,” a full-length robe used by some Muslim women to convey modesty...

There’s a cliché that religion is for old people — but in the U.S., the younger a county is, the more religious it’s likely to be. Here’s why...

Religion is For Older People, Right? How Age Impacts Religion at the County LevelBURGE: I was talking to someone who works in the nursing home industry a couple of weeks ago, and she said a term that I had never heard: “the silver tsunami.” It’s the demographic reality facing the United States and most other industrialized countries — that the population is getting a heck of a lot older, and most of these countries are just not ready to handle the hundreds of thousands of people who will need some type of assisted living/nursing facility in the near future.

Berlin Archbishop Heiner Koch’s letter on same-sex blessings is causing a stir worldwide. Here’s what he said, and what might happen next...

What%20Berlin%u2019s%20archbishop%20said%20about%20same-sex%20blessingsCOPPEN: In the Aug. 21 letter, Archbishop Heiner Koch assures the Berlin archdiocese’s priests, deacons, and lay pastoral workers that he will not take disciplinary action against them if they bless couples “who cannot or do not want to marry sacramentally.” In the almost 2,000-word letter, he offers a detailed explanation for his decision, which he says he has taken in view of strong disagreements within the archdiocese, which serves around 373,000 Catholics.

St. John the Baptist Was Martyred for Telling the Truth

St. John the Baptist Was Martyred for Telling the Truth| National Catholic RegisterMURRAY: It is impossible to imagine the terror that surely struck the heart of John the Baptist as the executioner approached his prison cell. The executioner would have been hurrying, since the king, Herod Antipas, was waiting for the bloody deed to be done. The man would have been flanked by soldiers, who were there to drag the chained man out of his cell. John was probably someone people gawked at because he wore animal skins...

Losing one’s head, Texas Carmelites v. Bishop Michael Olson, and is the Pope talking about you?

Losing one's head, and is the pope talking about you?JDFLYNN: Today is the feast of the beheading of St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist was given the great honor to announce the Lord, and to baptize him — and the Lord said of him that “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” What a gift, for the Baptist, to be called to such an intimate and important vocation of prophetic witness — even if it meant losing his head.

Poll: Two-Thirds of Britons Favor Legalizing Assisted Suicide Ahead of Possible Law Change

Poll: Two-thirds of Britons favor legalizing assisted suicide ahead of possible law change | Catholic News AgencyPAYNE: A majority of Great Britons are in favor of making assisted suicide legal, a figure that comes as British political leaders are debating whether or not to move toward legalizing the practice throughout the Commonwealth. The poll results come from the U.K. polling firm Ipsos, which queried British adults in July. Poll respondents were asked if they believed...

If You Read One Book This Year, Make it St. Augustine’s “Confessions”

If%20You%20Read%20One%20Book%20This%20Year%2C%20Make%20it%20Augustine%u2019s%20%u201CConfessions%u201D%20-%20Word%20on%20FireKACZOR: Have you ever run into an old friend, one you haven’t seen for years, and the person looks fantastic? You think to yourself, “I didn’t really remember how beautiful she is!” Or maybe you hear a song from decades ago, turn the volume way up, and are transported. Well, I just had a similar experience rereading the Confessions of St. Augustine...

A Pentecostal Discovers Liturgical Worship

A Pentecostal Discovers Liturgical Worship - Fr. Michael Rennier - The Coming Home Network: Fr. Michael Rennier grew up in a Pentecostal environment, and the worship services he went to focused on contemporary praise music, with a sermon as the centerpiece. When he discovered liturgical worship, with Holy Communion at the center, he was both intrigued and uneasy; he wanted to know more, but wasn’t sure at first how to enter into it fully...

Maryland school ruling should serve as a warning to parents

Maryland%20school%20ruling%20should%20serve%20as%20a%20warning%20to%20parents%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportCIANCIO: The latest news involving the usurpation of parental rights is a disturbing story out of Maryland’s Montgomery County school district. A district judge has ruled that parents cannot opt their children out of curricula that uses books with “references to . . . gender transition and pronoun preference.” The case came about because this school district recently introduced into its curriculum 22 books—for pre-K-8th grade—that feature these themes. Parents now plan to appeal the ruling.

How to make work a continual prayer in the age of distraction

How to make work a continual prayer in the age of distractionWINKLER: In today’s fast-paced and media driven world, where information bombards us from various sources such as TV, computers, cell phones and billboards, it is amazing to realize that the average person processes as much as 74 GB of information every day. This data overload, equivalent to watching 16 movies, continues to increase by approximately 5% each year. Sabine Heim and Andreas Keil, authors of the article “Too Much Information, Too Little Time” highlight this phenomenon.

Good in Disasters and Mishaps?

Good in Disasters and Mishaps? - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: How should I think about a sprained ankle, a tree fallen in the road, a case of indigestion or insomnia, a disease in fruit trees, a drought, or even a devastating storm this time of year? What about a malfunctioning computer, a broken-down car, a power outage, or a burst pipe. Very different would be my experience of each day if I hold what Thomas Aquinas says here: literally everything that happens in the corporeal realm redounds to our good. This is an astounding assertion. But right off the bat we might wonder: OK, then why isn’t our good coming about left and right?

The Keys to the Kingdom

The Keys to the Kingdom | Parishable ItemsFELTES: The great doctor of the Church St. Augustine of Hippo taught that the New Testament is concealed in the Old and that the Old Testament is revealed in the New. We see an example of this in our readings. In the days of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord chose “Eliakim son of Hilkiah” to become chief steward of the royal house, that is, prime minister for the reigning Davidic king...

Jim Buckley was among the best of us — he modeled civility and gave us a vision for civic renewal

Jim Buckley: Among the Best of Us | National ReviewLOPEZ: “The Founders were not afraid of religion,” James L. Buckley explained in a reflection in his book Gleanings from an Unplanned Life. Buckley was a one-term senator from New York. He was elected on the Conservative Party line. His funeral Mass was the morning after the first Republican presidential debate this year, and just about everything about that liturgy seemed to contrast with much of our politics today...

What’s the least-traveled highway in your home state? Here’s a map of America’s 50 loneliest roads...

Mapping the Quietest and Most Scenic Routes in America - Bloomberg: Among road-trip enthusiasts, the Alaska Highway is a favorite. It runs more than 1,300 miles, dazzling travelers with tundras and sightings of eagles, caribou, and the like. But if you want to take the road less traveled, a study by the GPS-company Geotab suggests you should go north to the James W. Dalton Highway, Alaska’s hidden gem. It runs 414 miles from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, and sees mostly ice road truckers, with few service stations and small towns in between...

Pope Francis Praises Historical Russian Imperialism Amid War in Ukraine, Celebrates Czars Who Subjugated Ukraine for Their ‘Great Culture and Great Humanity’ [WSJ Paywall]

Pope Francis Praises Historical Russian Imperialism Amid War in Ukraine - WSJROCCA: Pope Francis praised 18th-century Russian emperors whom President Vladimir Putin has invoked as models for his territorial annexations in Ukraine, in the pontiff’s latest controversial statement relevant to the war. On Friday, speaking by video to a gathering of Russian Catholic youth in St. Petersburg, Pope Francis urged them to follow in the path of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, whom he called rulers of a “great, enlightened empire of great culture and great humanity.”

In New Interview, Pope Francis Says He Laments When ‘Ideology Replaces Faith’ in Segment of U.S. Catholics

Pope%20Francis%20laments%20when%20%u2018ideology%20replaces%20faith%u2019%20in%20segment%20of%20U.S.%20Catholics%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: In a conversation with Jesuits in Portugal at the beginning of August, Pope Francis commented on a “climate of closure” in the United States, which he said sometimes replaces faith with ideology. Pope Francis’ comments were made during a meeting with Jesuits Aug. 5 at the Colégio de São João de Brito, a Jesuit-run primary and secondary school in Lisbon, Portugal. An English translation of Francis’ private conversation with members of the Society of Jesus was published Aug. 28 by the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica.

St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Pray For Us!

St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Pray For Us!| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Anyone who doubts St. Augustine’s centrality to Catholic theology has to consider that (a) he is considered the greatest among the Western Fathers of the Church during the Patristic era and that (b) nobody else is as much quoted in Western theology until St. Thomas Aquinas comes around in about 850 years. Born in Tagaste (today’s Souk-Ahras in Algeria) in November 354 to a Christian mother (St. Monica) and a pagan (later convert) father (Patricius), Augustine was intelligent...

‘I Will Give You the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven’

%u2018I%20Will%20Give%20You%20the%20Keys%20to%20the%20Kingdom%20of%20Heaven%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: This month has been witness to two key Christological Gospels. The Gospel of the Transfiguration reveals vital truths about who Jesus is and our possible share in him. Today’s Gospel again tells us who Jesus is and what is Peter’s role in the Christian community. Jesus and his Apostles have come to Caesarea Philippi, still in the far north of what we today call Israel...

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Who Do Men Say That the Son of Man Is?’

Pope at Angelus: We are not alone on the path of life - Vatican News: Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square and invites Christians to renew their trust in the Lord, cultivating His presence through the Word and the Sacraments.

What Pope Francis’ trip to Mongolia could mean for Vatican relations with Russia and China

What%20Pope%20Francis%u2019%20trip%20to%20Mongolia%20could%20mean%20for%20Vatican%20relations%20with%20Russia%20and%20China%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMARES: Pope Francis’ next international trip will bring him to Mongolia, a democracy sandwiched between the authoritarian powers of Russia and China. When Pope Francis lands in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 1, he will become the first pope in the history of the Catholic Church to visit Mongolia, but the trip could have geopolitical implications beyond the country’s small population of just 1,450 Catholics.

BRIC by BRIC, the foundation for Pope’s geopolitical endgame is being laid

BRIC%20by%20BRIC%2C%20the%20foundation%20for%20Pope%u2019s%20geopolitical%20endgame%20is%20being%20laid%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: One of the great Vatican success stories of the past half-century has been its exponential growth in diplomatic relations. When Pope John Paul II took office in 1978, the Holy See had full relations with 84 nations; with the latest addition of Oman in February, that total now stands at 184, meaning the Vatican has added a robust 100 countries in just 45 years.

There’s a natural affinity between evil and bureaucracy

The natural affinity between evil and bureaucracy | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: Across the pond, in England, one of the major news stories of the past week has been the conviction of Lucy Letby to life in prison. You can read much more at the link or any of the other dozens of articles written about the case through a search. In the wake of the conviction, the question of cover-up and protection has arisen with great force. Doctors and others who for years suspected Letby’s role in these suspicious deaths are coming forward claiming that they were discouraged from making their concerns public...

What’s the Difference Between the Drawers in Your Refrigerator?

What's the Difference Between the Drawers in Your Refrigerator? - Better Report: A refrigerator might be silver or white, its freezer might be on the top or the bottom – or maybe it’s a double-door with a whole side dedicated to frozen goods. No matter the make or model of your fridge, it’s very likely it’ll be outfitted with a series of drawers and compartments. It’s tempting, of course, as a busy and lovingly disorganized person to just throw your food in wherever it fits...

The Poles are an iron-forged people, shaped by the resilience of the Catholic Faith

Poland%3A%20Europe%u2019s%20Heroic%20Heart%20%7E%20The%20Imaginative%20ConservativePEARCE: There is something special about Poland. This, however, is saying nothing special. There is something special about every nation. Each nation is a unique cultural flowering of a people’s shared collective heritage. Each nation is a beautiful and unique flower in God’s multicultural garden. This is why the globalist goal of imposing a single monocultural brand on the peoples of the world is a crime against humanity. It is a crime against cultural diversity in all its multifarious splendour.

Pope Warns of Social Media Perils: Relationships Reduced to Algorithms, Partisan Propaganda, Hatred

Pope warns of social media perils: relationships reduced to algorithms, partisan propaganda, hatred | AP NewsPope Francis on Saturday warned against the danger of reducing human relationships to “mere algorithms” and urged lawmakers to be vigilant against “partisan” propaganda and divisiveness on social media. In a speech to participants of the International Catholic Legislators Network, who were holding their annual conference in the Rome area, Francis noted that social media networks can be a way to help people realize they are part of something larger than themselves.

The early Christians saw popes martyred regularly. We don’t, and so we tend to forget the enormous sacrifices Jesus asks of our shepherds...

This%20Sunday%2C%20the%20Incredible%20Authority%20and%20Enormous%20Sacrifice%20Jesus%20Gives%20Popes%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: In the Gospel for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A), Jesus gives the keys to the kingdom to Peter. From the very beginning of the Church, Christians understood that this gives Peter incredible authority. We know that too. But we may have forgotten something just as important: They saw popes martyred regularly; we don’t — and so we tend to forget the enormous sacrifices Jesus asks Christian leaders to make.

When God Says No – A Meditation on the Sometimes Mysterious Providence of God

When%20God%20Says%20No%20%u2013%20A%20Meditation%20On%20the%20Sometimes%20Mysterious%20Providence%20of%20God%20-%20Community%20in%20MissionPOPE: In last Sunday’s Gospel, we read of the Canaanite Woman who persevered and got the answer to her prayers. Beautiful though that story is, there are some who may wonder sadly why they did not receive a better answer to their prayers; why their loved one died. Such stories might even serve to deepen their sorrow. All of us struggle with the great mystery of God’s providence and will. Sometimes it is our own struggle and sometimes we must commiserate with others who are in distress.

Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality ‘Truly Important for the Church’ Despite Being ‘of Little Interest to the General Public’

Pope%20Francis%3A%20Synod%20on%20Synodality%20%u2018truly%20important%u2019%20despite%20being%20%u2018of%20little%20interest%20to%20the%20general%20public%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMARES: Pope Francis acknowledged Saturday that the upcoming Synod on Synodality may be “of little interest to the general public,” but underlined that the synod is “truly important” for the Catholic Church. “I am well aware that speaking of a ‘Synod on Synodality’ may seem something abstruse, self-referential, excessively technical, and of little interest to the general public,” Pope Francis said on Aug. 26.

Rigidity in reality: On Pope Francis’ use of the term

Rigidity%20in%20reality%3A%20On%20Pope%20Francis%u2019%20use%20of%20the%20term%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: In a recent Angelus address, Pope Francis highlighted Our Lord’s willingness to “change his mind” about healing the daughter of the Canaanite woman in response to her pleas, as recounted in Matthew’s gospel (15:21-28). Thus, the Pope recommended Christ as a model for avoiding what Francis so clearly regards as a capital sin: Rigidity. Our news story on this particular address already provided background information showing that former saintly commentators...

“No one” supports abortion up until birth? In a twisted sense, that’s true...

%u2018No%20one%u2019%20supports%20abortion%20up%20until%20birth%3F%20In%20a%20twisted%20sense%2C%20true%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureLAWLER: “No one supports abortion up until birth,” tweeted Jen Psaki, the former Biden press secretary, after this week’s GOP presidential debate. She was wrong — quite obviously, demonstrably wrong. But in several twisted senses she was right. If you take things literally — that is, if you use words to convey truth rather than propaganda —then Psaki was dead wrong.

Journalists need to ask if Colorado has “good” and “bad” religious preschools

Podcast%3A%20Journalists%20need%20to%20ask%20if%20Colorado%20has%20%27good%27%20and%20%27bad%27%20religious%20preschools%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: I was never a Ronald Reagan fan, but — let’s face it — he would have to rank No. 1 among American politicians when it comes to having the “gift of gab.” Thus, with a tip of the hat to the Gipper, let me make this observation: You know that there are church-state experts — on the new illiberal side (cheering) and on the old-liberal side (groaning) — who are watching recent events in Colorado and saying, “There you go again.”

My appetite for information is endless. Is curiosity bad?

My Appetite for Information is Endless: Is Curiosity Bad?BARTUNEK: As we all know, the digital revolution has also spawned an information revolution. Today, our fingertips have immediate access to more information than world scholars could have gathered in an entire lifetime just a couple hundred years ago. As with all technological advancements, the digital revolution is morally neutral. Our increased access to information can either aid our pursuit of holiness, or hinder it. It makes the virtue of learning easier to develop, but it also makes the vice of curiosity easier to fall in to. That’s the key distinction for answering your question: learning vs. curiosity.

The Carnegie riot, the rule of law, and No Touchee Run

The Carnegie riot, the rule of law, and No Touchee RunCONDON: Today marks the centenary of the Carnegie Klan Riot, aptly named to describe what happened that time the KKK got it into their heads to march through the heavily Catholic town of Carnegie, just outside of Pittsburgh. Their aim was to stick it to the papists, who were also overwhelmingly Irish immigrants and thus doubly objectionable. Things didn’t, as the word “riot” will have alerted you, go well for their little racist pajama party.

Greek Catholic bishop says Synod on Synodality is not like synods in the East, warns against “Christian parliamentarianism”

Greek Catholic Bishop: Synod on Synodality Is Not Like Eastern Synods| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Despite claims to the contrary, the upcoming Synod on Synodality is unlike any synod of the Eastern Churches — it resembles a parliamentary process, and lacks a clear and coherent goal, a Greek Catholic bishop who will participate in the meeting has said. In an Aug. 3 commentary published on the Greek Catholic Exarchate website, Bishop Manuel Nin, the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church’s apostolic exarch to Greece...

Pope Francis: The Holy Eucharist Can Fill ‘the Wounds and Voids Produced by Sin’

Pope%20Francis%3A%20The%20Eucharist%20can%20fill%20%u2018the%20wounds%20and%20voids%20produced%20by%20sin%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMARES: Jesus’ healing presence in the Eucharist can “fill with tenderness” the voids and wounds produced by sin in individual lives and in society, Pope Francis said on Friday. In a meeting at the Vatican with a pilgrimage group led by the Sister Disciples of Jesus in the Eucharist on Aug. 25, the pope noted that in the eyes of the world, it might appear “absurd” to begin confronting societal problems by prayers on one’s knees of “adoration and reparation,” but that it is always effective.

Scientists discover why an incredible 20,000 octopuses are brooding off the coast of Monterey...

Largest-known octopus nursery identified off the coast of Monterey: Five years ago, a group of scientists stumbled upon 20,000 pearl octopuses brooding their eggs near the base of an extinct volcano, 80 miles off of the Monterey coast. They had discovered the largest known “Octopus Garden” on the planet. But for years a question eluded Jim Barry and his team at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: “What the heck are they doing there?”

Report: Four Priests Ordered to Leave Syro-Malabar Seminary Over Liturgy Protest

Report: Four priests removed from Syro-Malabar seminary over liturgy protest: Four priests of the Syro-Malabar Church have been ordered out of a seminary in southern India after refusing to adopt the uniform mode of the liturgy. The instruction is the first act of discipline against local clergy since the August 20 deadline for priests to cease opposition to the liturgical norms set by the pope’s representative last week.

Bishop Howard Hubbard died last week. Scandal and shame marked his last years. So what now? We have 3 main options...

How to Bury a Disgraced Deceased Bishop?| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: De mortuis nil nisi bonum. So goes the ancient Latin aphorism: Speak no ill of the dead. But what of the dead who did so much ill that any speech at all would have to include it? That’s the dilemma facing Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany, New York. What should he say about Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard? Or perhaps he should say nothing?

A visit to New York City’s first perpetual adoration chapel

A visit to NYC's first perpetual adoration chapelLOPEZ: “Free humanity.” That’s a bit of graffiti I saw after visiting the Catholic Center at New York University yesterday. It was emphasized by a heart. At the time, an ice-cream truck was beside it on a hot summer’s day. But there was something more refreshing not too far away. If you look to the right, you see an image of Jesus on the cross. Breaking news: It’s happened already. Jesus has freed humanity.

The adventures of K. Troy, a “constant pilgrim” and Irish tour guide in Rome

The%20adventures%20of%20an%20Irish%20guide%20in%20Rome%3A%20An%20interview%20with%20K.%20Troy%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportOLSON: Tour guide K. Troy has been leading pilgrim groups to Catholic shrines across Europe for over twenty-five years now. And he has many stories to tell. His book In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes: Tales of an Irish Tour Guide in Rome (Ignatius Press, 2023) has been described as “Captivating” by Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History; “entertaining” by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archdiocese of Armagh, Ireland; and “engrossing” by Justice Teresa Doherty, High Court of Sierra Leone.

Should I deviate from teaching the Catholic faith?

Should I deviate from teaching the Catholic faith? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: As we moved into the question-and-answer portion of my in-service to the staff of the Catholic school, one of the teachers asked how she should teach the Catholic faith to her non-Catholic students. The question was precipitated by my closing remarks about the importance of the teacher expressing a sincere attraction and desire in front of their students to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. I explained that what moves a student to believe that Jesus is real is those around him who genuinely believe in the Son of God as God...

Cluny Media is rescuing lost and neglected Catholic books of the not-so-distant past

Cluny Media is rescuing lost and neglected Catholic books of the not-so-distant past | Catholic News AgencyCALDWELL: John Emmet Clarke, the 31-year-old editor-in-chief of the Catholic publishing house Cluny Media, based in Providence, Rhode Island, is on a mission to rescue lost and forgotten Catholic books. Unlike other publishers who publish the works of living authors, Cluny deals mostly with the dead — writers whose books have been out of print for decades and can only be found in used bookstores, if at all.

‘Oh, the Depths!’ — A Look Ahead to the Upcoming 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

%u2018Oh%2C%20the%20Depths%21%u2019%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Twenty-First%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” Paul exclaims in today’s Epistle. Today’s Psalm, too, takes up the triumphant note of joy and thanksgiving. Why? Because in the Gospel, the heavenly Father reveals the mystery of His kingdom to Peter. With Peter, we rejoice that Jesus is the anointed Son promised to David, the one prophesied to build God’s temple and reign over an everlasting kingdom. What Jesus calls “my Church” is the kingdom promised to David’s son...

The Bishop Perceiver Interview

The Bishop Perceiver Interview | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: Looking through the rearview mirror of memories is one of the advantages of growing old. Disturbing events that were out of focus years ago take shape to explain current events. It is wise for priests and bishops to revisit the occurrences of several decades ago, when it was so fashionable to question all Church teaching. The pop-theological denial of the bodily Resurrection of Jesus is a prime example.

‘Rome as a Guide to the Good Life’ is a fine book for every thoughtful traveler

(4) Rome as a Guide to the Good Life - ClassicalEd ReviewANDREWMORAN: In a letter to Nancy Mitford, a Francophile English novelist living in Paris, Evelyn Waugh wrote, “Say what you will about your [French], but when it comes to fun the [Italians] are still Top Nation.” When it comes to philosophy, as Scott Samuelson recognizes in Rome as a Guide to the Good Life: A Philosophical Grand Tour, Rome is still Top City, at least in terms of human things...

How AI may be able to improve journalism when it comes to reporting on Catholicism

How%20AI%20may%20be%20able%20to%20improve%20journalism%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20reporting%20on%20Catholicism%20%u2014%20GetReligionLISI: One of the things I enjoy about the summer is catching up with people I haven’t seen all year to discuss news, politics and culture. Since so many of my friends are in the news business, inevitably the state of the mass media comes up as a topic. The one constant subject that has arisen from these conversations is the rise (and potential threat) of artificial intelligence. Specifically, the topic of how AI can (and will) replace humans who report and write for a living.

You haven’t heard ‘Gladiator’ till you’ve heard it performed by the Bands of HM Royal Marines in London

New%20Advent%3A%20You%20haven%u2019t%20heard%20%u2018Gladiator%u2019%20till%20you%u2019ve%20heard%20it%20performed%20by%20the%20Bands%20of%20HM%20Royal%20Marines%20in%20London: Recorded July 27, 2023, at Horse Guards Parade...

Classic Catholic Comics: Restoring and Republishing Forgotten ‘Treasure Chests’ for Kids

Classic%20Catholic%20Comics%3A%20Restoring%20and%20Republishing%20Forgotten%20%u2018Treasure%20Chests%u2019%20for%20Kids%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPRONECHEN: From 1946 to 1972, children in Catholic schools around the country eagerly awaited their next issue of Treasure Chest of Fun & Facts. They looked forward to opening these “treasure chests” of illustrated stories of the Catholic faith and historic American heroes and saints — and following continuing original adventure stories that carried a Christian moral, working on the puzzles, and being excited over so many other colorful features and projects.

Sharing Your Faith With a World That Doesn’t Want It (and a Haka!)...

New Advent: Sharing Your Faith with a World that Doesn't Want It and a HakaSTEFANICK: In this episode of the Chris Stefanick Show, we are reminded of Christ's call to be fishers of men! See firsthand the encouragement Chris gave to a huge crowd in Portugal on how and why to share the love of Jesus with others and hear from some Missionaries of Joy of how they live out their faith...

Ethan Hunt’s Second Act and Tom Cruise’s Third: The Unending Impossible Mission

Ethan%20Hunt%u2019s%20Second%20Act%20and%20Tom%20Cruise%u2019s%20Third%3A%20The%20Unending%20Impossible%20Mission%20%7C%20Features%20%7C%20Roger%20EbertGREYDANUS: If there’s a “before” and “after” in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, an obvious dividing point is the Burj Khalifa. This now-iconic sequence in the fourth film, 2011’s “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” revolutionized the series around spectacular set pieces centered on Cruise actually performing jaw-dropping, death-defying practical stunts on location. By contrast, in 2006’s “Mission: Impossible III,” when Ethan Hunt needed to access the roof of a heavily guarded Shanghai skyscraper, while Cruise really did the swing and the wirework the stunt called for, he did it on a stage with green screens...

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone Announces Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing for Archdiocese of San Francisco

San Francisco Archdiocese announces Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing | Catholic News Agency: San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone on Monday announced that the archdiocese would be submitting a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, a development the prelate had earlier warned might come about as a result of numerous abuse filings against the bishopric.

Read this and learn how to explain Catholic teaching on gender to your friends and family

How to Explain Catholic Teaching on Gender to Your Friends and Family| National Catholic RegisterDANTUONO: As the end of the school year approached, I overheard a student talking in a private conversation about something he had read about gender. He told a couple of his classmates about a study which found that the number of people born with intersex conditions (conditions where people have both male and female characteristics and the person’s gender is not clear, according to the student) is one in every 50, as many people as there are with red hair...

Queen Mary, ‘funereal coherence,’ and fightin’ rams

Queen Mary, 'funereal coherence,' and fightin' ramsJDFLYNN: Mary is the antidote to a lot of temptations for Christians — especially the contemporary temptation to reduce the faith to a rigid moral system, or to reduce it to a set of ideals, or to a culture. The faith is a person — Jesus of Nazareth, the image of the invisible God. That person has a mother — the queen of heaven — to whom we can turn as our own, loving, mother. Of course, it would be a good idea to pray the Glorious Mysteries today...

Queen of Heaven and Earth, Pray For Us!

Queen of Heaven and Earth, Pray For Us!| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: The Church marks the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary on Aug. 22. Every year, we celebrate two “royal” feasts: the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (on the last Sunday in Ordinary Time) and the Queenship of Mary. Separately, the Queenship of Mary falls a week after the Solemnity of her Assumption. With those two celebrations, the Church concludes the last two Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary: Mary’s Assumption and her Coronation.

You can take Italians out of church, but you can’t take church out of Italians

You can take Italians out of church, but not the church out of Italians | CruxALLEN: According to the most recent data from ISTAT, Italy’s national statistics bureau, the share of Italians who go to Mass on a regular basis reached a depressing new low in 2022. Only 18.8 percent now say they attend Mass at least once a week, in contrast with 31 percent who report they never go at all except for special events such as weddings or baptisms. Twenty years ago, the situation was reversed.

Why did Jesus resist the Canaanite woman and say that thing about the puppies? He did it for our good and her greater glory...

Testing Hearts | Parishable ItemsFELTES: A Canaanite woman calls out to Jesus, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” And Jesus, surprisingly, ignores her. She persists and his annoyed disciples complain: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Jesus replies, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is similar to what Jesus said in this gospel five chapters earlier...

An app to reveal how the BBC has long given up on neutrality...

An app to reveal how the BBC has long given up on neutrality - Catholic HeraldGOOCH: John Reith, the first Director-General of the BBC, was intensely high-minded. A Scottish Presbyterian, he imbued the organisation with a sense of seriousness and moral purpose which endured long after he left the role of DG in the 1930s. The adjective “Reithian,” still in occasional use today, was coined to refer to his emphasis on high culture, intellectualism and probity.

7 Surprising Facts About the Age of Dinosaurs

7%20Surprising%20Facts%20About%20the%20Age%20of%20Dinosaurs%20%u2014%20History%20Facts: For millions of years, the predominant class of animal on Earth was that of the dinosaurs — a name that comes from the Greek words for “terrible lizards” (even though dinosaurs were reptiles but not lizards at all). From around 252 million to 66 million years ago, these incredible creatures evolved in every corner of the globe, even Antarctica. Although the age of dinosaurs stretched far longer than humans have even walked upright...

Pope Francis Writing a Second Environmental Document After ‘Laudato Si,’ Vatican Confirms

Pope%20Francis%20writing%20a%20second%20environmental%20document%20after%20Laudato%20Si%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: Pope Francis announced during an audience with lawyers Monday that he is writing a second part to his 2015 environmental encyclical Laudato Si’. The pope said with this new writing he is updating Laudato Si’ to cover current issues. The Holy See Press Office Director, Matteo Bruni, confirmed to CNA Aug. 21 that “the pope is working on a letter updating Laudato Si' with regard to the recent environmental crises.” He could not provide any information on when the letter will be released.

Politician who calls Pope ‘imbecile’ and various dirty words comes out top in Argentine primaries

Politician who calls Pope 'imbecile' and 'son of a b*' comes out top in Argentine primaries - Catholic Herald: Catholics in Argentina appear both somewhat startled and also divided by the surprising recent success of a firebrand politician who’s termed the country’s most famous native son, Pope Francis, a “communist,” an “imbecile” and even a “leftist son of a b*.” That politician, Javier Milei, was the big winner of the country’s August 13 primaries...

How much do you know about discipleship, evangelization, and Catholic culture? Take this 9-question quiz to find out...

A Catholic Discipleship Quiz - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Jesus and the Church have provided the answers to these questions long ago. Unfortunately, many modern Catholics no longer hold to the same understanding. Too often we have allowed ourselves to give into mission drift. That is, we are not operating based on what is most important, but on secondary issues. Rather than aiming to be saints and fruitful disciples who are acting as agents of God’s transformative grace in the lives of others...

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘The Lord Cannot Resist Us When We Pray to Him’

Pope at Angelus: The Lord cannot resist us when we pray to Him - Vatican News: During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis insists that Jesus cannot resist us when we insistently turn to Him in prayer, and calls for us to become concrete in our faith by cherishing our personal relationship with Christ.

We all expect excellence in restaurants, hotels and retail stores. So why do we tolerate mediocrity in our parishes?

Pat's Point of View: The War on MediocrityLENCIONI: Mediocrity is one of those words that seems relatively innocuous but gets people’s attention. I suppose there is something particularly stinging about the prospect of being called mediocre. There are those who say that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Well, perhaps the opposite of excellence is not “badness,” but mediocrity. Whatever the case, mediocrity is at the heart of so many problems in parishes.

“Well-versed” in Patristic preaching? Look again...

%u201CWell-versed%u201D%20in%20Patristic%20preaching%3F%20Look%20again.%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: Mike Aquilina gets what my title means by the term “well-versed”, and if you have been following his Way of the Fathers podcast, you just might get it, too. For a big hint, see episode 28, Ephrem, Symbolist. In this episode you will learn something that is quite startling to us: There was a Syrian Catholic tradition of preaching in verse. It turns out that St. Ephrem, a particularly brilliant theologian and defender of the Faith, was a poetic dynamo in his teaching and preaching.

Rejoice in the truth, not in the scandal

Rejoice in the truth, not in the scandal | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Earlier this week, an internet search took me to the web site of the Diocese of Albany, New York, where I happened upon an official profile of retired Bishop Howard Hubbard. The profile is formulaic, listing his various pastoral assignments and committee memberships. Still it is interesting for the facts it does not mention. The bishop’s “marriage” is invalid, of course; a cleric is not free to marry...

This Sunday, a Wise Woman Begs Jesus for Scraps. Will We?

This%20Sunday%2C%20a%20Wise%20Woman%20Begs%20Jesus%20for%20Scraps.%20Will%20We%3F%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: There is a huge mismatch between the Canaanite woman who approaches Jesus Christ and the Apostles in the Gospel for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A — and St. Paul reminds us that we should feel the full force of it today when we each approach Jesus Christ. The important clues are all there at the very beginning of the Gospel story — in the “who, what, where, when, why?” Matthew does a great job at news reporting with this story. Right away, he answers the Five Ws of journalism:

The Vatican’s China deal unravels further

The%20Vatican%u2019s%20China%20deal%20unravels%20furtherWEIGEL: The latest self-inflicted blow to the Vatican’s China policy came in mid-July, when the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had “recognized” Bishop Joseph Shen Bin as Bishop of Shanghai — despite the fact that the bishop had been “transferred” to China’s most important and prestigious diocese by the Xi Jinping regime, not by the pope. A few days later, America published a lengthy analysis of this Roman kowtow by Gerard O’Connell, its Vatican correspondent...

Denver's revolution of holiness

Denver's revolution of holinessBONACCI: Thirty (thirty!) years ago, I experienced probably one of the greatest privileges of my life. I spoke at World Youth Day in Denver with St. John Paul II. Well, I didn’t speak with him. We spoke at the same event. He was the headliner. I was one of the many “filler acts” that were basically killing time until the Big Man arrived. I doubt that anybody was particularly interested in what I had to say. But still, it was the largest audience I ever spoke to.

‘Young men are puttin’ themselves six feet in the ground’ and other suicide news

Podcast%3A%20%27Young%20men%20are%20puttin%27%20themselves%20six%20feet%20in%20the%20ground%27%20and%20other%20suicide%20news%20%u2014%20GetReligionMATTINGLY: Here’s a sad question for the day: How many opioid overdoses could be classified as suicides? There’s no way to know, is there? If people are trying to bury their pain, depression and anxiety in pills or needles, how would public officials know — without a suicide note — that an overdose was intentional? What if victims are on a path suggesting that they simply don’t care whether they live or die?

Ethiopia’s Food Crisis Deepens as Catholic Leaders Plead for Relief in Tigray

Tigray food crisis deepens as Catholic leaders plead for relief | Catholic News AgencyMCKEOWN: Widespread starvation is being reported in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, an area that was embattled in a brutal conflict from 2020–2022 that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. The BBC reported Friday that at least 1,400 people have starved to death in Tigray since food assistance from the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP), the global humanitarian organization addressing food security...

16 Cities and Towns Built in Unusual Locations

16%20Cities%20and%20Towns%20Built%20in%20Unusual%20Locations%20%u2014%20Daily%20Passport: The globe is dotted with villages and cities built in unlikely places, but some take their unusual locations and environments to an entirely new level. From underground dwellings to communities tucked into cliffside precipices and even one built on the rim of a volcano, these 16 cities and towns are some of the most uniquely located communities in the world.

Target Reports First Sales Decline in 6 Years After Boycotts Over ‘Pride Month’ Merchandise

Target%20reports%20first%20sales%20decline%20in%206%20years%20after%20boycotts%20over%20%u2018Pride%20Month%u2019%20merchandise%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyPINEDO: Target reported its first sales and revenue decline in six years on Wednesday, with comparable sales dropping by 5.4%. Target’s decline comes after a nationwide conservative-led boycott of the store over its promotion of LGBTQ+ ideology and transgender products for adults and children during June’s “Pride Month.”

St. Francis De Sales on How to Fight Temptation

Saint Francis De Sales on How to Fight Temptation: Although we should do what we can to avoid the temptations we are able to foresee, temptations will nevertheless arise that we are unable to avoid. These we are called to resist. The first measure in resisting temptation is to seek the help of God. If we think that we must resist all temptation by the sheer force of our will, we will fail...

Even in the darkest of times, the Kingdom of God is in our midst — we just need eyes to see it and ears to hear it

Eyes to See & Ears to Hear in Dark Times ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: It is easy to be down about the state of the Church and our culture today. Saying things are secularized doesn’t seem quite right. Today all sorts of ideas about what human life and happiness mean are presented to us as dogmas. Or perhaps counter-dogmas, since they are negations of Divine Revelation and, quite often, of reason itself. A lot of people seem to be listening to those ideas and, if not affirming them wholeheartedly, accepting them with a shrug...

Can You Recognize Superstition When You See It? Take This 10-Point Quiz to Find Out

Can You Recognize Superstition When You See It? Take This 10-Point Quiz to Find Out| National Catholic RegisterARMSTRONG: Catholics can slip into superstition without realizing it. Exorcists warn against getting involved in the occult and superstitions since they open the door to powers not of God. In the spirit world, there are only two choices: God or the devil. Between many interviews with exorcists over the years and also witnessing good Catholics put faith into superstitious beliefs, I devised a quiz to help identify common spiritual traps.

Former Liberation Theologian, Brother of Leonardo Boff, Says Movement Fueled Decline of Catholicism in Brazil

Former liberation theologian says movement fueled decline of Catholicism in Brazil | Catholic News Agency: The long dominance of liberation theology is at the root of the decline of Catholicism in Brazil, according to Friar Clodovis Boff. Until 2007, the religious was an important theologian of liberation theology, although not as famous as his brother Leonardo, a former Catholic priest who is one of the founders of the movement, which gained popularity in the 1970s and emphasized freedom from poverty and oppression as the key to salvation.

‘Grandparenting’ the Faith, in the Spirit of Sts. Joachim and Anne

%u2018Grandparenting%u2019%20the%20Faith%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPRONECHEN: Pope Francis said in his message for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 that “there is no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down traditions to your grandchildren.” The Anne and Joachim Grandparenting Workshops in Cleveland are proof positive. More than 400 grandparents attended four all-day workshops over four weeks “to train them how to evangelize their grandchildren,” said Father Damien Ference...

Mobs in Pakistan Attack Christian Communities, Burn Churches Over Blasphemy Accusations

Pakistani mobs attack Christian communities, burn churches over blasphemy accusations | Catholic News AgencyPINEDO: Several mobs attacked Christian communities and set fire to several churches on Wednesday in the town of Jaranwala, in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district, after two Christians were accused of defiling the Quran. Up to 15 church buildings have been desecrated, hundreds of Christian homes destroyed, and thousands of Christians have been forced to flee because of the attacks, according to a Wednesday statement by Maria Lozano, head of press for the Catholic relief group Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN).

Meier in the Middle: Why This German Bishop May Be a ‘Roman Bellwether’ on the Synodal Way

Meier%20in%20the%20Middle%3A%20Why%20This%20German%20Bishop%20May%20Be%20a%20%u2018Roman%20Bellwether%u2019%20on%20the%20Synodal%20Way%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: In any account of episcopal resistance to Germany’s Synodal Way and its most controversial aims, the name “Bishop Bertram Meier” figures prominently. After all, the bishop of Augsburg was one of only a handful of German bishops to publicly vote against proposals to attempt to bless same-sex sexual relations and to sacramentally ordain women at this past March’s Synodal Way assembly...

Pope Francis Merges Two Dioceses in Japan

Pope Francis merges two dioceses in Japan | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis this week merged the Diocese of Takamatsu with the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Osaka in Japan. Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, archbishop of Osaka since 2014, was named on Aug. 15 as the first archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu. The last bishop of the Diocese of Takamatsu, John Eijiro Suwa, died in 2022.

I’m a mother of five. No one fights like moms to protect their children [warning: autoplay video]...

I'm a mother of five. No one fights like moms to protect their children | Fox NewsGRESS: The battle between parents and school officials continues to rage, with many elected officials, including President Biden, claiming that children belong to the state, not parents. The latest battle is a face-off in Maryland over books with seemingly innocuous names like "Pride Puppy," "Born Ready" and "Prince and Knight," all of which explore LGBTQ+ themes...

7 Ways Grandparents Assist in the Salvation of the Human Race

7 Ways Grandparents Assist in the Salvation of the Human Race| National Catholic RegisterLANDRY: When Pope Francis was giving his aerial press conference returning from World Youth Day in Lisbon, he said the main issue in caring for the young is “accompaniment,” but “the problem is to know how to do this.” He described what he thinks is the most important part of that know-how: the “dialogue between old and young, between grandparents and grandchildren. This dialogue is important,” he emphasized, “more important than dialogue between parents and children.”

The Mass is filled with awe. But our sense of awe is extraordinary...

Awesome and Extraordinary | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: Our daily duties are necessarily practical. We make money for a living. We feed our kids. We go on vacations. We’re usually not conscious of the little mysteries in our day-to-day duties. We strive to live functional, productive lives. We also have emotional encounters in daily life. We enjoy the thrill of roller coasters at summer amusement parks. Our bodies react to the excitement of an action film with adrenaline...

Summer called for certain things, but now we are moving on...

Ending 'Summer' Intentionally - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: ‘Summer’ is a season given bounds as much by schooling, work, and vacation as by the earth’s relation to the sun. Though we have another month until the autumnal equinox, most of us experience summer as ‘done’ by around mid-August. I think it reasonable that we accept this and ask how we might ‘go with it’ and make the most of it.

Our Lady’s Assumption and Coronation were God’s gifts to her — and to us...

Assumption of Mary - Arlington Catholic HeraldMANGAN: Our Lady’s Assumption into heaven was more of a continuation than an end. Yes, it signaled the conclusion of her earthly life. But the Assumption was for Mary the logical next step. Her fidelity to Christ in this life translated into everlasting glory with him in the next. Our Blessed Mother is now in paradise where she prays for us to her Divine Son and awaits our victorious entry into the kingdom of God...

Mary, the Mother of God, is not buried anywhere — which is a cause of great joy for all of us

Where Is Mary Buried?CLARK: We are not going to make you wait for the answer. Mary, the Mother of God, is not buried anywhere. Instead, here is what happened. “…(T)he Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” Known as the Assumption of Mary, this is an official dogma of the Catholic Church...

‘Body and Soul to the Glory of Heaven’: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pope%20at%20Angelus%3A%20Mary%u2019s%20life%20marked%20by%20service%20and%20praise%20-%20Vatican%20News: Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square on Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

The Assumption, the news, and why I don’t like ‘Oppenheimer’

The Assumption, the news, and why I don't like 'Oppenheimer'JDFLYNN: Today the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which, for most readers of The Pillar is a day of precept — so get to Mass, if you’ve not been already! The Assumption is the sort of solemnity with great customs of processions and festivals to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. In New Jersey, where I’m from, a growing number of parishes are taking up again a longstanding Assumption custom that had, for some, fallen by the wayside.

The Secret Sisterhood of Widows

The Secret Sisterhood of Widows| National Catholic RegisterMURRAY: You can spot us in a fancy restaurant. We’re at a table for two from which the waiter has discreetly removed a place setting. We put on a good face as we sip our glass of wine and sample our salad. You might think we are people that simply love experiencing life alone. You might imagine us touring Europe all by ourselves and enjoying every moment.

Sound Experts Use Latest Technology and 125 Miles of Fiber Optics to Restore Traditional Acoustics to St. Peter’s Basilica

Acoustics%20expert%20brings%20rock-and-roll%20touch%20to%20sound%20of%20St.%20Peter%u2019s%20%7C%20Crux: An architect and acoustics expert who’s worked on some of the most famous concert venues in the world said he brought a touch of rock and roll to a recently debuted new sound system in St. Peter’s Basilica, creating a wave of sound radiating out from the main altar. The system was used for the first time on July 23 for a Mass for the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly...

What happened to St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard? The answer may surprise you...

What%20happened%20to%20St.%20Maximilian%20Kolbe%u2019s%20beard%3F%20The%20answer%20may%20surprise%20you%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMCKEOWN: Last year, the Catholic Church in Poland shared a photo commemorating the 81st anniversary of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s arrest by the Nazis. The image, the last one taken of the saint before his final arrest, was notable for what it didn’t show — his signature long beard. By the time the photo was taken, Kolbe had already been arrested by the Nazis once but was clearly resolved to continue his nationwide evangelization efforts...

Why do archaeologists rebury their excavations? There’s a good reason for it...

Why Do Archaeologists Rebury Their Excavations? | History| Smithsonian Magazine: Hadrian’s Wall in northern England is a popular tourist spot for those interested in British history. This year, visitors will get the chance to see the Roman bathhouse at Birdoswald Roman Fort before it is reburied by archaeologists.

How to avoid “rookie mistakes” as a new Catholic convert

Managing Your Zeal as a New Convert - Sam Guzman - The Coming Home Network: Many of us who became Catholic – especially if we came from Evangelical Protestant backgrounds — entered the Church full of excitement, fervor, and a desire to do what we’ve done our whole Christian lives, which is to share our experience of Jesus with everyone we encounter. In doing so, however, some of us have let our zeal run ahead of our prudence, and either ended up with strained relationships, an inflated sense of the role knowledge plays in the Christian life, and even spiritual burnout.

7 things you should know about the upcoming beatification of the Ulma family and their unborn baby

An%20Unborn%20Saint%3A%20Reflections%20on%20the%20Ulma%20Family%20Beatification%20%u2013%20Building%20Catholic%20CultureSTAUDT: I was recently interviewed by Maria Wiering of Our Sunday Visitor about the upcoming beatification (on Sep. 10th) of the Ulma Family, who was martyred by the Nazis for hiding Jews on their farm in Poland. Although only a few points could make it into the final article, I’m providing the whole interview here, which I hope sheds light on the Church’s first beatification of an unborn baby.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Take Heart! Jesus Tramples Our Enemies — Death, Sin, and the Devil’

Pope at Angelus: Call on and welcome the Lord in life's storms - Vatican News: Greetings the crowds of visitors in Saint Peter's Square for the midday Angelus, Pope Francis offered his customary reflections on the Sunday Gospel which today narrates when Jesus walks at night on the waters of the lake of Galilee to reach his disciples in their boat being tossed about by strong headwinds and choppy waters.

Eucharistic Vessels: Fête-Dieu du Teche Bayou Once Again Coincides With Solemnity of the Assumption

Eucharistic Vessels: Fete-Dieu du Teche Bayou Once Again Coincides With Assumption Solemnity| National Catholic RegisterGRAVES: The faithful kneel in the bow of a boat, prayerfully adoring our Eucharistic Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The gold monstrance glistens in the sun as the craft traverses the waterway, carrying Christ further along the bayou. These are among the reverent scenes from the annual Fête-Dieu du Teche South in the Pelican State. In this time of Eucharistic Revival, as proclaimed by the U.S. bishops, organizers see the event as a way to bring Christ into the public square...

‘Veritatis Splendor’ and the Spirituality of Youth

%u2018Veritatis%20Splendor%u2019%20and%20the%20Spirituality%20of%20Youth%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: The final Mass of World Youth Day Lisbon coincided with the 30th anniversary of Veritatis Splendor, one of the most important encyclicals of the entire post-conciliar period. Pope St. John Paul II formally signed it on the Transfiguration, Aug. 6, 1993, though, as is customary for Vatican documents, it was not released until later (Oct. 5).The anniversaries of Veritatis Splendor have been well marked...

Priest First and Soldier Second: ‘God Gave Me the Gift of Serving Those Who Serve in the Army’

Priest%20First%20and%20Soldier%20Second%3A%20%u2018God%20Gave%20Me%20the%20Gift%20of%20Serving%20Those%20Who%20Serve%20in%20the%20Army%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTURLEY: “Becoming an Army chaplain was my first thought when I first considered being a priest,” says Father Peter Pomposello. “I had been in the Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps; and when I first started thinking about being a priest, I said to myself, ‘Well, they need priests in the Army so I should be a priest for the Army!’” However, it was not as simple as that, as he explains: “I needed the permission of my bishop; and, after lots of twists and turns, seven years of study...

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus Walks on Water

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus Walks on Water| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Today’s Gospel speaks of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee and inviting an incredulous Peter to do the same. He starts out successfully then, lacking faith, begins to drown, only to be rescued by Jesus. First, let’s address the miracle. Moderns may not be inclined to believe it; they may call it a nice “story” but deny its truth. Nobody can walk on water and why would anybody do so, anyway?

Giuseppe Profiti, an unwitting metaphor for the ambiguities of Vatican justice, dies at 62

Unwitting metaphor for the ambiguities of Vatican justice dies at 62 | CruxALLEN: With the sudden death of Giuseppe Profiti on Aug. 10 from a heart attack, at the relatively young age of 62, not only has Italy lost one of its most veteran leaders in public health administration, but the Catholic Church has lost a figure who became an unwitting metaphor for the ambiguities of Vatican justice in the Pope Francis era. Born in Calabria in southern Italy, Profiti graduated in public administration from the University of Genoa in 1985 and began a long career as a manager of hospitals...

A look behind the controversy over how the Holy Eucharist was treated at World Youth Day

A look behind the WYD Eucharist controversyDAVILLEZ: While Lisbon’s World Youth Day is over, debate lingers over some liturgical decisions made during the week-long festival held for Catholic pilgrims from around the world. Pope Francis has said that Lisbon was the most well-organized World Youth Day he has seen as pope, but some Catholics are calling foul, with controversy brewing on social media over the treatment of the Eucharist in Lisbon.

The search for the elusive “Lazarus bird,” the ivory-billed woodpecker, has obsessed believers and exasperated doubters for a century

Chasing%20the%20Ivory-Billed%20Woodpecker%20%u2013%20Garden%20%26%20Gun: Any day now, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) will decide whether to declare the ivorybill extinct, which would strip it of all protections and put an official death stamp on a species that has sparked a heated, century-long debate; captured imaginations; marred reputations; influenced the creation of Congaree National Park; and sparked infighting in the scientific community between those who demand hard proof and those who say the ivorybill has persisted against all odds...

As Death Toll Climbs in Lahaina, Video Shows Maria Lanakila Church Miraculously Untouched by Devastating Maui Wildfires

Incredible video shows Lahaina church miraculously untouched by devastating Maui wildfires - while famous banyan tree that spans two acres IS still standing | Daily Mail Online: A small act of mercy has come to light in Maui where Lahaina Church has been spared the devastation that has razed the rest of the historic town to the ground. A video posted to TikTok shows the Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in downtown Lahaina still standing amidst the rubble. The church, which has stood since 1846, is seen in a video posted to TikTok standing proud with its stain glass and tower structure in place even as the ground around it smolders.

Some U.S. Seminaries Report Surge in Enrollments Even as Nationwide Numbers Remain Flat

Some U.S. seminaries report surge in enrollments even as nationwide numbers remain flat | Catholic News Agency: Seminarian enrollment in the United States has been on a decadeslong decline as fewer young men seek out the priesthood and the number of active priests in the U.S. continues to dwindle. But some dioceses are reporting a notable surge in enrollment, signaling a potential turnaround in some regions.

How “America’s most expensive road” (Interstate 70 through Colorado’s mountains) works — and how it was built

New%20Advent%3A%20How%20%u201CAmerica%u2019s%20most%20expensive%20road%u201D%20%28Interstate%2070%20through%20Colorado%u2019s%20mountains%29%20works%20%u2014%20and%20how%20it%20was%20built: Courtesy of Wendover Productions...

Why Jesus Cleansed the Temple Twice (A Long-Standing Mystery Solved)

Why%20Jesus%20cleansed%20the%20temple%20twice%20%28a%20long-standing%20mystery%20solved%29%20%u2014%20Lamb%27s%20ReignMCDURMON: A long-standing problem of New Testament studies has been why Jesus is recorded as having cleansed the temple of the moneychangers twice. John records it happening at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and the Synoptic Gospels all record it happening at the end. Which is it? Or is it both? If so, why? What sense does that make? In the next few minutes, I will make sense of it for you.

The Treason of the Professions

The Treason of the Professions | Catholic CultureLAWLER: My friend A, a lawyer, tells me that he is dismayed by what it happening to his profession. The weaponization of the justice system, the flagrant favoritism showed by prosecutors, the growing tendency of judges to enforce their own preferences all trouble him. It has probably always been the case, A concedes, that a wealthy man can expect better treatment from the courts than his poor neighbor...

Maria Lanakila Church still stands in Hawaii, but Waiola Church is gone

Maria Lanakila still stands, but Waiola Church is gone | Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Despite reports to the contrary, historic Maria Lanakila Catholic Church is still standing amid the ashes and devastation left by the massive fire that destroyed much of Lahaina this week. The Rev. Terrence Watanabe, vicar of Maui and Lanai, said the evidence of the building’s survival is found in photographs taken after the fire showing the sanctuary and the neighboring rectory intact. “For us, it’s like a miracle,” Watanabe said Thursday. “When we saw the news and saw the church steeple rise above the town, it was a great sight to see.”

This Sunday, When Storms Swamp Your Boat and the Church Seems Lost … Jesus Isn’t Far

This%20Sunday%2C%20When%20Storms%20Swamp%20Your%20Boat%20and%20the%20Church%20Seems%20Lost%20%u2026%20Jesus%20Isn%u2019t%20Far%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Early in Christ’s public ministry, Jesus was asleep on a storm-tossed boat until his terrified apostles awakened him. As the wind and waves rise again on the apostles in the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus is nowhere to be found — until he walks to them on the water. As I go through the Life of Christ in The Extraordinary Story podcast, the two storms at sea caught me by surprised. I never really compared the details of these similar stories...

Crucial Test Case in Maryland: Muslim, Jewish and Christian Parents Versus ‘Pride Storybooks’

Crucial%20Test%20Case%3A%20Maryland%20Parents%20Versus%20%u2018Pride%20Storybooks%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, have had enough. Progressive ideologues captured the local public school system and thought they'd gotten away with it. Now a group of parents from various religions have taken them to federal court, demanding that school officials respect their right to opt their children out of indoctrination in gender ideology...

Back to school, back to the future, and back to Ohio

Back to school, back to the future, and back to OhioCONDON: As we are about round the corner into the second half of August, we’re entering what has previously been my favorite time of the summer for holiday-making. The end of this month leading into and through the Labor Day holiday has long been the window in the calendar through which I try to slip for, if not a full-on vacation, at least a quiet change of scenery, now that I work from home. It’s been fairly easy to manage...

‘Unprecedented Disaster’: Pope Francis Offers Condolences After Deadly Maui Wildfires

Pope Francis offers condolences after 55 die in Hawaii wildfires | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis offered his condolences after at least 55 people died in wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The pope sent a condolence telegram on Friday expressing his sadness and solidarity with all who are suffering due to the destruction caused by the wildfires, which have destroyed hundreds of buildings and left scores missing or homeless.

John Paul II’s ‘Revolution’ in Denver: Cardinal Stafford Remembers World Youth Day ’93

John%20Paul%20II%u2019s%20%u2018Revolution%u2019%20in%20Denver%3A%20Cardinal%20Stafford%20Remembers%20World%20Youth%20Day%20%u201993%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: This year marks the 30th anniversary of World Youth Day in Denver — a worldwide gathering that Pope St. John Paul II would later call a “revolution.” The host of the Aug. 12-15, 1993, event, Denver archbishop emeritus Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, looks back on the historic “ecclesial experience” and reflects on its legacy in the Church today.

A New York Priest and a Front Porch Historian: Father Thomas Shelley, In Memoriam

A New York Priest & a Front Porch Historian: Thomas J. Shelley, In Memoriam ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: Everybody, including me, always called him Father Shelley when I was at Fordham University (though he was named a “monsignor” at some point). Also, the German title for the director of a doctoral dissertation is doktorvater, or “doctor father”—and he was mine. Nevertheless, I always thought of Thomas J. Shelley, priest of the archdiocese of New York, Professor of Church History at Fordham, and prolific writer of histories of American Catholic institutions...

Despite persecution, there is hope in Iraq

Despite persecution, there is hope in IraqLOPEZ: I once put Kim Kardashian’s name in the title of a column about Christian persecution in Sudan. There was some weak justification, but mostly I just wanted people to click through to possibly care for a minute about the plight of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Over the past two weeks, I had the honor of spending some extended time with Archbishop Bashar Warda of Irbil, Iraq. Earlier this summer, he was actually a guest at a dinner...

33 Ways To Live La Dolce Vita – And Be More Italian

Lifestyle%3A%2033%20Ways%20To%20Live%20La%20Dolce%20Vita%20%u2013%20And%20Be%20More%20Italian%20%7C%20The%20Journal%20%7C%20MR%20PORTER: The Danes have hygge, the French their terrasse culture, and the Australians their enviably sun-soaked indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Still, when it comes to the art of living beautifully, no nation has mastered it quite so well as the Italians. In the bel paese, revelling in life’s simple pleasures – be it a leisurely evening stroll with friends or beautifully cut blazer – is part of the national identity. Here, one works to live (never the other way around), with implausibly long holidays and even longer mealtimes.

How to stop spam calls on iPhone and Android phones

How to stop spam calls on iPhone and Android phones | Digital Trends: While regulators are doing everything they can to stop robocalls in their tracks , it's an uphill battle, and some calls will inevitably slip through and make it to your phone.

This Treasure We Have: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition

(4) This Treasure We Have: The Catholic Intellectual TraditionROYAL: The Catholic intellectual tradition is the richest, broadest, deepest, and longest-standing in the entire world, and perhaps in all of human history. It addresses all the fields we think of as “intellectual”: theology, philosophy, literature, the arts, history, politics, anthropology, psychology, astronomy, and more—even as it remains a powerful inspiration to ordinary people. If we’re concerned (as we should be) with what we need now, I’m prepared to say that what we need more than anything is the tradition’s full and balanced and sane set of truths and practices.

We are not mere cogs in the divine wheel

Not Mere Cogs in the Divine Wheel | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: Adam’s disobedience brought on many unpleasantries. God removed the Tree of Life that would have led to our eternal (and mysterious) divinization. Work became a chore. “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life… In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

How not to let go…

How%20not%20to%20let%20go%u2026%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: Recently I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night with a single sleepless thought in my head: Letting go of things is too darn hard. Of course, this stress arises from a perspective of responsibility, and I suppose there are those who find it easy to walk away from responsibility, disregarding the chaos that will typically follow. But I have discovered that legitimately passing on responsibility to others can be a challenging task all its own.

Healing Your Image of God and Yourself

New Advent: Healing Your Image of God and Yourself: "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." — E.E. Cummings

WYD participant returns to Catholicism after involvement in the occult: “I had to say Yes”

WYD Participant Returns to Catholicism After Involvement in Occult: "I Had to Say Yes": From Aug. 1-6, Pope Francis joined 1.5 million Catholics for the World Youth Day celebration in Lisbon, Portugal. Throughout the week, countless young people prayed, attended Mass, and participated in various gatherings to grow in their Catholic faith. EWTN News attended the event, asking many attendees why they journeyed to Lisbon.

“Excess of sorrow laughs”: I disagree with Megan Rapinoe’s politics, but I understand why she laughed after missing the penalty kick...

Excess%20of%20Sorrow%20Laughs%3A%20Megan%20Rapinoe%u2019s%20Miss%20-%20Word%20on%20FireKACZOR: In the recent World Cup soccer match against Sweden, the United States women’s team was eliminated from competition in a penalty shootout. After Megan Rapinoe missed her penalty kick, she laughed. And she was widely ridiculed for her reaction to her miss. The Daily Mail reported, “As she jogged back to the halfway line, she was—much to the confusion of fans watching back home—smirking and laughing to herself, which left fans on social media enraged.” Consider the headlines from various outlets...

CORRECTION: Maria Lanakila Church Still Stands as Satellite Photos Show Before and After of Maui Fires

Satellite Photos Show Before And After Of Maui Fires - Videos from The Weather Channel: Satellite photos show the scale of destruction after the wildfires swept through historic Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii.

Pope Francis Names New Patriarch of Lisbon Following World Youth Day

Pope Francis names new patriarch of Lisbon following World Youth Day | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis on Thursday named Bishop Rui Manuel Sousa Valério as patriarch of Lisbon, just days after the conclusion of World Youth Day in the capital city of Portugal. The pope on Aug. 10 also accepted the resignation of Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente, who has led the patriarchate since May 2013. Clemente turned 75 last month.

Author Carrie Gress looks at the connection between Percy Shelley, the occult, and the feminist movement

Author Carrie Gress Explains Feminist Movement's Connection to OccultGRESS: The English Romantic poet Percy Shelley, who died in 1822 at age 29, played a significant role in developing the ideas of the feminist movement, author Carrie Gress says. Ideas of the “the occult, smashing the patriarchy, and free love” played a significant role in Shelley’s writing and ideology, says Gress, author of the new book “The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us.” Shelley was a “barbaric man” who was “involved in the occult,” Gress says...

2 Ways You Can Listen to the Ultimate Audio Book

Two Ways to Listen to the Ultimate Audio Book - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Listening is a foundational human activity, and it demands more than meets the eye, or ear. Our ability to listen is threatened today by several factors, not least of which is the audio onslaught we experience. There is so much to hear that we tend either to gorge ourselves or simply shut down and stop listening. Perhaps the better move is to do as we should with food: limiting fluff eating makes space for healthy eating, and healthy eating lessens our craving for fluff. We can exercise discipline and regulate our listening for the sake of health of mind and soul.

You can’t excel in sports without good coaches, and you can’t have an intellectual life without good mentors...

Mentors on the Road Toward Vocation - Word on FireKACZOR: I first met Peter Kreeft in a course entitled “Thinking about Religion.” Another professor had warned me not to take his class — so of course I took his class. Kreeft began the semester in a way that still sticks in my memory: “Either God exists, or God doesn’t exist.” Kreeft paused and looked around the room inviting questions, of which there were none. “If God exists, either there is only one God or there is more than one God.” Again, he waited...

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, Pray For Us!

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, Pray For Us!| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Ask most people what they know about St. Lawrence and they will mention his being martyred on a gridiron. We know he was a deacon who was martyred and killed on Aug. 10; many of the other details, while passed on over the centuries, may be harder to establish. He died in A.D. 258 during the persecution of Emperor Valerian. To some extent, the persecution was connected with internal politics within the Empire...

167-Year-Old Maria Lanakila Catholic Church Among Historical Sites Lost in Deadly Maui Wildfires

Lahaina%u2019s%20historic%20and%20cultural%20treasures%20go%20up%20in%20smoke%20%7C%20Honolulu%20Star-Advertiser: The fire that rampaged through Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a devastating blow to Hawaii’s historical and cultural resources. The area in and around Front Street — designated a National Historic Landmark since 1962 — was leveled by the massive overnight blaze, and so were its historic buildings, landmarks and sites. A spokesperson for Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen wasn’t ready late Wednesday afternoon to list the landmarks that were destroyed by the fire, saying access to the area was still restricted and crews were still actively fighting the fire.

Who Will Be the Great Saints of Our Present Age?

Who Will Be the Great Saints of Our Present Age?| National Catholic RegisterWEDDELL: It is essential to remember that even in the darkest of times for the Church, God is always at work, calling forth disciples whose wildly different lives, situations, personalities and responses to God will send out ripples that converge and together change the direction of history. Most U.S. Catholics know that King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church in England, beheaded Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, and began suppressing the ancient religious communities. The years spanning 1533-1539 marked the dramatic beginning of generations of persecution and suffering...

What does the Pope’s Tuesday motu proprio on personal prelatures mean for Opus Dei?

What the pope changed about prelatures: Pope Francis issued a new motu proprio Tuesday amending canon law on the leader and members of Opus Dei, the Church’s only personal prelature. The changes, which cover two canons in the Code of Canon Law, technically apply to all personal prelatures, although there is actually only one such prelature existing in the Church. But what do Francis’ latest legal amendments mean for Opus Dei in practice? And what is a personal prelature, anyway?

U.S. Bishops Protest Biden Administration’s Addition of Abortion to Pregnant Workers Protections

Bishops%20protest%20Biden%20administration%u2019s%20addition%20of%20abortion%20to%20pregnant%20workers%20protections%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Catholic bishops are criticizing the Biden administration’s proposed rules related to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that would force employers to make accommodations for women who receive abortions.

Pope announces flurry of diplomatic activity in coming months

Pope announces flurry of diplomatic activity in coming months | Crux: In a recent interview, Pope Francis either confirmed or announced a flurry of upcoming diplomatic initiatives focused on several of his key priorities, including the war in Ukraine, climate change and inter-faith relations, especially outreach to Islam.

New technology uncovers mysterious doodles hidden in a 1,300-year-old copy of the Acts of the Apostles

The mysterious doodles hidden in a 1,300-year-old book - BBC Future: Around 1,300 years ago, a woman leant over a precious book, and etched some letters into the margin, along with some cartoonish drawings. She didn't use ink – she scratched them in, so they were almost invisible to the naked eye. Until last year, no-one knew they were there. The 8th-Century book – a copy of the Act of Apostles from the Christian New Testament – is now kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Researchers have known for a while that the religious text was probably owned by a woman, but they weren't sure who.

St. Dominic, secret shopper, and balloon harpoons

St. Dominic, secret shopper, and balloon harpoonsJDFLYNN: I have the great good fortune to know a lot of Dominican priests and sisters — and it’s my observation that Dominicans are close by whenever good things are happening in the life of the Church. But it turns out that I don’t actually know very much about St. Dominic — most of my knowledge of the early Dominican order centers around St. Thomas Aquinas, the great saint who was born just four years after Dominic died. It also turns out that mine is not an uncommon problem...

Post-Dobbs Lessons in Love from Mother Mary Agnes, the Founder of the Sisters of Life

Post-Dobbs Lessons in Love from the Founder of the Sisters of Life | National ReviewLOPEZ: “We are pro-woman and we are pro-baby. And we must take care of both of them.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York pays tribute to Mother Mary Agnes Donovan and the Sisters of Life while not so subtly reminding those in the audience that the pro-life movement requires love above all. His remarks were part of an introductory video for the Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award (“Joy and Hope,” borrowing a title of an encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II).

Can I be a good person apart from God?

Can I Be a Good Person Apart from God | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: It makes sense for a person of no visible Christian faith or understanding of Christianity to identify himself as a good person with no correlation to God. The characteristic or charism of being good defines what the person genuinely believes is the correct mode of living. There are many reasons why a person would affirm the virtue of goodness apart from God, from being raised in a community where Christianity was either not considered important or did not exist entirely, which is possible now more than ever. Or, the notion of embracing any form of religion was considered anathema just because it represented a God the person disagreed with.

Miracle at Fátima? World Youth Day Pilgrim Regains Her Sight After Receiving Holy Communion at Mass

Miracle at Fatima? World Youth Day pilgrim receives her sight after Communion at Mass | Catholic News Agency: “I opened my eyes and I could see perfectly,” said Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim who said she miraculously recovered her sight after receiving the Eucharist at Fátima, Portugal, during a Mass there. This possible miracle has moved hearts and filled with hope all those who have been following the events at WYD, which brought together more than a million young people in the Portuguese capital last week.

Take #1 (from a young Catholic woman): ‘Barbie’ extends a peaceful hand in a cultural frenzy

A%20Catholic%20Young%20Woman%u2019s%20Take%3A%20The%20Heart%20of%20%u2018Barbie%u2019%20Is%20Humanity%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterSCHULTZ: This summer, swathes of pink-clad women flooded into movie theaters to attend the much-anticipated premiere of Barbie, director Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster debut. Until now, indie films were Gerwig’s bread and butter. Her projects largely center on female protagonists and pursue themes related to femininity: examining female friendship, women as artists, and the progression from girlhood to womanhood. Both Ladybird (2017) and Little Women (2019) performed and reviewed well, but neither came close to the sweeping success of this most recent project.

What It Means to Be Part of a Family in ‘Across the Spider-Verse’

What%20It%20Means%20to%20Be%20Part%20of%20a%20Family%20in%20%u201CAcross%20the%20Spider-Verse%u201D%20-%20Voyage%20ComicsTUTTLE: Following the popular acclaim of its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continued the comic book aesthetic of the previous film, explored some neat coloring tones that helped express the mood in different scenes, and really doubled down on the themes of family, child-rearing, and child-parent relationships.

Take #2 (from a Catholic film expert) — ‘Barbie’ underscores the confusion of our postmodern culture

Postmodern%20%u2018Barbie%u2019%3A%20Grown-Ups%20Playing%20Badly%20With%20Kids%u2019%20Toys%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterNICOLOSI: From a film theory standpoint, a delineator of a postmodern movie is the exhuming of cherished icons from the past, usually reframing them through a cynical lens. Postmoderns do this trenchantly, which masks the thinly veiled despair that underlies the whole process of recycling and desacralizing. The societal ache of our world today is confusion. It’s agonizing because we are essentially rational beings.

Elite press skips doctrine at World Youth Day in favor of (#surprise) scandal and politics

Elite%20press%20skips%20doctrine%20at%20World%20Youth%20Day%20in%20favor%20of%20%28%23surprise%29%20scandal%20and%20politics%20%u2014%20GetReligionLISI: This summer has been a very busy one for Pope Francis and the church. Adding to all this news was World Youth Day held in Lisbon, Portugal. Last held in 2019, the event — often nicknamed the “Catholic Woodstock” — was initiated by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1985. The concept of World Youth Day has been influenced by the Light-Life Movement that has existed in Poland since the 1960s, where Catholic teens celebrated a “day of community” during youth camp retreats...

Pope Francis Gives Interview on Flight Home From World Youth Day, Explains Why He Skipped Fatima Prayer for Peace

Pope Francis explains why he skipped Fatima prayer for peace | Catholic News Agency: On his return flight from World Youth Day on Sunday, Pope Francis explained why he opted to skip reading a prayer in Fatima that consecrated the Church and “countries at war” to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When asked by a journalist why he did not pray publicly for an end to the war in Ukraine during his visit to the Fatima shrine, the pope explained that he prayed for peace but did not want to “advertise” his private prayer.

Career U.S. intelligence officer explains how the devil engages in ‘spiritual spying’ to steal souls

Spiritual%20Spying%20%u2013%20How%20Demons%20Recruit%3A%A0%20Part%20II%20%u2013%20Spotting%20%u2013%20Roma%20Locuta%20Est: All of God’s children are legitimate targets for the demons. Every son or daughter of the Father will be attacked in one way or another during their lives. The attacks will frequently become more ferocious the closer you are to God. In the intelligence community, recruiting a senior official from an adversary’s government is a valued prize...

Pope at Closing WYD Mass: ‘The Church and World Need Young People Like the Earth Needs Rain’

Pope at WYD Mass: Church and world need young people 'like the earth needs rain' - Vatican News: At the concluding Mass for this year’s World Youth Day, Pope Francis echoed the words of the Apostles who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ on the Mount: “It is good for us to be here!” At the same time, he challenged the young people to ask themselves, “What will we take back with us to the valley of our daily lives?” Drawing on the day's Gospel, the Holy Father proposed three verbs: to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.

‘Stone in the shoe’: Why Pope Francis’ real revolution lies outside the Church

Why%20Pope%20Francis%u2019s%20real%20revolution%20lies%20outside%20the%20Church%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: A broad consensus regards Pope Francis, who today wraps up a five-day trip to Lisbon for World Youth Day, as a revolutionary figure. His ambitious change agenda over the last decade has aroused both delight and division, both inside and outside the Catholic Church. However, the pontiff’s most recent blockbuster media interview – and the preponderance of such interviews is, itself, part of what makes him such an earthquake...