The globe hums with 7,100 different languages. Which one is the world’s oldest?

What's the World's Oldest Language? - Scientific American: Language comes in different forms—including speech, gestures and writing—which don’t all leave conclusive evidence behind. And experts use different approaches to determine a language’s age.

Who Sits at Jesus’ Right and Left? The Testimony of Art...

Who%20Sits%20at%20Jesus%u2019s%20Right%20and%20Left%3F%20The%20Testimony%20of%20Art%20%u2013%20Building%20Catholic%20CultureSTAUDT: James and John make a bold request in Mark 10: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37). Jesus invites them to follow him into his Passion but essentially says “no” to this request, because: “to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (10:40). What did they mean by this question? Most obviously, they want the two seats of highest honor...

From Granny Smiths to Fujis, here are 10 common apples ranked from tart to sweet

What Are the Sweetest Apples? (Ranked from Tart to Sweet) | The Kitchn: Ah, the first signs of fall: There’s a crisp feeling in the air, a strong desire to go back-to-school shopping, and most importantly — it’s the start of apple season. Whether you find yourself at an orchard ready to pick a few freshly grown fruits or are shopping for the perfect variety to make apple pie, consider this your comprehensive guide. Before you start making all of the best apple recipes out there, here’s everything you need to know about the sweetest apple varieties as well as the delightfully tart ones.

Amazing Rare Footage of Cities Around the World (Plus a Pope) in the 1890s

New Advent: Amazing Rare Footage of Cities Around the World (Plus a Pope) in the 1890s: From the YouTube description, here are the clips listed in order...

St. Jerome Did Well to Carry That Stone

St. Jerome Did Well to Carry That Stone| National Catholic RegisterMARCUM: Is there anything more comforting than a notably flawed saint? I do not mean a “bad guy turned good” situation like St. Paul. His story and conversion is beautiful and proves that no one is beyond redemption. But what if you are not actively persecuting Christians? What if your vices are less dramatic but still dangerous?

Pope Francis Creates 21 New Cardinals: ‘Mother Church, Who Speaks All Languages, Is One and Catholic’

Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals, expanding body's geographic diversity | Catholic News AgencyLIEDL: Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals from across the world at a Saturday morning consistory in St. Peter’s Square, reflecting on how the geographic expansion of the Church’s leadership represents a fulfillment of the promise of Pentecost. The Sept. 30 consistory, which saw cardinals created from 15 different countries, was in continuity with Francis’s steady geographic diversification of the College of Cardinals, carried out over the nine consistories he has held during his 10-year pontificate.

Dispatches From Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenian Christians Flee Another Genocide

Dispatches From Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenian Christians Flee Another Genocide: In recent months, good news has been hard to come by in our troubled world. While we try to stay focused on the seemingly endless Ukraine-Russian conflict, our attention was suddenly distracted by a deadly earthquake in Morocco, soon followed by tragic news from Libya, where devastating floods cost some 10,000 lives. Meanwhile, despotic leaders have never ceased to plague the planet. And today, another crisis brings to mind the evildoing of Adolf Hitler. One of the Fuhrer’s most infamous quotes bears review and reflection.

California governor signs bills that would penalize schools that refuse to teach LGBT content

California governor signs bills that would penalize schools that refuse to teach LGBT content | Catholic News Agency: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that would reduce funding to schools that restrict LGBT content from their classrooms. The bill would centralize state authority over school curricula by fining schools that restrict books that cover homosexuality and gender ideology. Some school boards have done so out of concerns that the content is too sexually explicit for young children.

Ecumenical Gathering at the Vatican Will Be a ‘Little Assisi’

Ecumenical%20Gathering%20at%20the%20Vatican%20a%20%u2018Little%20Assisi%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Saturday will be a day like none other in Vatican history. It begins with a consistory for new cardinals in the morning — always a big event in Rome, but a regular occurrence. The same day in the afternoon, however, will be an ecumenical meeting to pray together ahead of the Synod on Synodality. Indeed, the event is entitled “Together — Gathering of God’s People.” It will include both Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the head of Orthodoxy, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Anglican Communion...

Here’s why you should put luggage in your hotel room’s bathtub, according to experts

Here's Why You Should Put Luggage in Your Hotel Bathroom: What’s the first thing to do when you step in a hotel room? Test out the mattress? Raid the minibar? Peep the view? Check your hotel room for intruders or other hotel safety issues? Maybe you set your brand-new luggage set on the bed and start unpacking. Or maybe you put your suitcase in the bathtub. That’s right, the bathtub! But why would you put your luggage in the hotel bathroom, you ask? There’s actually a really gross reason. Here’s what the experts say.

This Sunday, We Say ‘Amen’ … But Do We Do What He Asked for His Vineyard?

This%20Sunday%2C%20We%20Say%20%u2018Amen%u2019%20%u2026%20But%20Do%20We%20Do%20What%20He%20Asked%20for%20His%20Vineyard%3F%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus tells a story that’s deceptively simple on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. The Parable of the Two Sons seems so slight and so obvious it almost isn’t worth talking about: A man tells his two sons to work in the vineyard. One says he’ll go but doesn’t; the other says No, then goes. Which did the father’s will? The one who went to the vineyard. My natural reaction when I hear that is to shrug my shoulders and say...

Is the Synod on Synodality ignoring the concerns of most Catholics in the pews?

Is the synod ignoring the concerns of most Catholics in the pews? | America MagazineSOLENNI: The lead-up to the upcoming Synod on Synodality in Rome has me discouraged. Pope Francis has invited all the baptized to participate in the theme of “Communion, Participation, and Mission.” He has also given clear instruction that participating in the synod means first listening—not so much to others or to ourselves but to God in personal prayer. That is how we prepare for the second step, walking together. And walking together is how we get to the third step, witnessing to each other.

“Their Thoughts Become Sharper Than Usual” and People Experience “New Dimensions of Reality” When Dying, Groundbreaking Study Reports

People%20Experience%20%u2018New%20Dimensions%20of%20Reality%27%20When%20Dying%2C%20Groundbreaking%20Study%20Reports: Scientists have witnessed brain patterns in dying patients that may correlate to commonly reported “near-death” experiences (NDEs) such as lucid visions, out-of-body sensations, a review of one’s own life, and other “dimensions of reality,” reports a new study. The results offer the first comprehensive evidence that patient recollections and brain waves point to universal elements of NDEs.

Your Go-To Guide for the 3 Archangels: Handy Facts Every Catholic Should Know

Your Go-To Guide for the 3 Archangels: Handy Facts Every Catholic Should KnowBURKEPILE: Saint Michael the Archangel is the most popular of the Archangels. He is often depicted decked out in armor, holding a sword and crushing the head of a serpent. Saint Michael the Archangel is mentioned multiple times in scripture. His most notable battle is described in the book of Revelation, where he defeats Satan and casts the fallen angels out of Heaven. In the Old Testament, he aids the prophet Daniel. Saint Michael the Archangel is invoked during times of physical or spiritual danger...

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael the Archangels, Mighty in Power

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael the Archangels, Mighty in Power| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: A paradox of recent times has been that while a focus on the theology of the angels — angelology — has gone into eclipse in the Church, a kind of New Age “spirituality” fascination with them has spread in secular circles. The number of “angel” books in the religion section of bookstores (to the degree those institutions still exist) has grown. That New Age fascination with angels, however, hardly has the richness of the Church’s millennia old theology of angels...

The College of Cardinals 2023: Global, Diverse and Unpredictable

The College of Cardinals 2023: Global, Diverse and Unpredictable| National Catholic RegisterBUNSON: As Pope Francis welcomes the latest members of the College of Cardinals — including 18 new electors eligible to vote in any prospective conclave — he continues to build on the work of his predecessors by making the college more international, even as he puts his personal stamp on its membership. As of the consistory on Sept. 30, Francis’ college will have 136 cardinal-electors, meaning they are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in any papal election...

German Bishops Conclude Tense Gathering With All Eyes on Synod on Synodality in Rome

German Bishops Conclude Tense Gathering With All Eyes on Synod on Synodality in Rome| National Catholic RegisterWIMMER: As German bishops wrapped up their plenary meeting on Thursday with a final press conference amid tensions over same-sex blessings and a whole host of underlying issues, the focus was clear: All eyes were turned toward the fraught relationship with Rome and the forthcoming Synod on Synodality. Bishop George Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, took public issue with the apostolic nuncio in Germany, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, for reminding the German bishops of statements by Pope Francis on anthropology, including gender ideology.

Suiting up, making the case, and guess who’s coming to dinner

Suiting%20up%2C%20making%20the%20case%2C%20and%20guess%20who%u2019s%20coming%20to%20dinnerCONDON: This weekend is the consistory at which Pope Francis will formally create the slate of new cardinals which he announced back in July. It promises to be a weekend of pomp and pageantry in Rome. However much it’s now en vogue for cardinals to play down the trappings of their status, it’s my experience that they get pretty into it for their big weekend. A friend of mine in Rome tells me that Gammarelli, the papal tailoring house, has had to put ordinary business on pause for weeks as it tries to fill all the custom-fitted orders in scarlet watered silk.

These 7 daily habits can cut your risk of depression by 57%, a new study finds

7 daily habits can cut the risk of depression by 57%, a new study finds : Shots - Health News : NPR: If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, here's a strategy that may help boost your mental health: Spend the next week observing your daily habits. You can jot them down in a journal to keep track. How well are you sleeping? Are you eating foods that nourish you? Did you make time for a favorite hobby and exercise? Did you gather with friends or loved ones?

Pope Francis on Imperialism: Is Russia a Special Case?

Pope Francis on Imperialism: Is Russia a Special Case?| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: A month after Pope Francis spoke in favorable terms about Russia’s imperial past, the diplomatic ramifications still reverberate. Last week, the Holy Father received the credentials of the new Russian ambassador, a rather routine encounter, though with a Vatican statement about how friendly the meeting was. A few days later, on Friday, the Holy Father received the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See in a private audience, which is absolutely not a routine encounter...

St. Wenceslaus, Pray For Us!

St. Wenceslaus, Pray For Us!| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: The celebration of St. Wenceslaus is an optional memorial in the United States, which makes me think that it’s largely unobserved except in parishes of which he is patron, in the few Czech Catholic communities around, or by curious Catholics who find the reference in the back of their missalettes. For those who do notice, I bet many think of the Christmas carol. C’mon, admit it: you started humming.

After Rocky Tenure in Steubenville, Bishop Jeffrey Montforton Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

Steubenville's Monforton appointed Detroit auxiliary: Steubenville’s Bishop Jeffrey Montforton was appointed an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit Thursday, less than one year after the bishop announced an eventually stalled merger between the Steubenville diocese and its neighboring Diocese of Columbus. The bishop has reportedly been the subject of two Vatican-ordered Vos estis lux mundi investigations, but the results in neither case have been publicly released.

You’ll be better for knowing about the life of Dominican Father William Holt. I sure am...

Father William Holt: Humor and Holiness, Even from Jersey City | National ReviewLOPEZ: Father Holt went viral on social media twice. The first was during Covid shutdowns. A women who took a video of him smoking at the top of the tall staircase to the Dominican priory where he lived on Lexington Avenue posted it on TikTok. (Yes, priests are human. And God works with everything.) The world was freaking out, and he was the same as he ever was. “Why can’t I be more like him,” she wrote, describing the scene of him in his white habit as “CHILL LEVEL IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS.” The second time...

Discipline of Sister Ivanka Hosta, Who Led Community Co-Founded by Disgraced Father Marko Rupnik, Raises Questions

Discipline of Sister Who Led Community Co-Founded by Father Rupnik Raises Questions| National Catholic Register: A religious sister who co-founded a community with the ex-Jesuit and accused abuser Father Marko Rupnik three decades ago was quietly removed in June from the governance of the community, banned from contacting current or former sisters for three years, and ordered to make monthly pilgrimages to pray for Father Rupnik’s victims. Sister Ivanka Hosta, the superior general of the Loyola Community since 1994, is staying in a monastery in Braga, in northern Portugal, following the conclusion of an investigation into her leadership of the religious community by the Diocese of Rome, according to the Portuguese religious news outlet Sete Margens.

Ancient Greek wisdom to help with the difficulties of life...

Facing Discouragement: A Greek Insight - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Discouragement, or at least its temptation, regularly accompanies intentional living. Even if we do not formulate it explicitly we find ourselves feeling “why do the good things I want have to be so difficult?” It is a consolation to know this is not unique to our time. “Fine things are really hard to achieve,” says Plato’s Socrates in the Republic. In fact, he is reflecting on something much akin to our situation, namely, how someone with a ‘philosophic nature’ tends to fair in the world. The image he uses resonates:

“Stay prayed up”: Actor Mark Wahlberg honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in viral video with millions of views

Actor Mark Wahlberg Honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in Viral VideoBURKEPILE: Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg recently paid homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a video published on his official Instagram account. While the Sept. 24 video is brief and contains a shoutout to the Hallow App, it also loudly proclaims his love for the Catholic faith and Our Lady. While praying and making the Sign of the Cross, Wahlberg kneels before a large statue of Our Lady and encourages his followers to "stay prayed up."

Is single parenthood the problem? If so, should the government try to fix it? [Note: The Atlantic paywall]

Is Single Parenthood the Problem? - The Atlantic: The most heavily anticipated economics book of the year makes a radical argument: Having married parents is good for kids. I know, I know. It seems like a joke, right? Of course having two involved parents living in a stable home together is good for kids. Anyone who has considered having children with a partner or was ever a child themselves must know that. But for years, academics studying poverty, mobility, and family structures have avoided that self-evident truth, the economist Melissa Kearney writes in The Two-Parent Privilege, released this week. And while the wonks avoided the topic, the rise of single-parent households in America exacerbated inequality and contributed to astonishingly high rates of child poverty.

The abolition of man continues apace, and the human body is now its clear target...

The Battle for the Body | Carl R. Trueman | First ThingsTRUEMAN: Given the chaotic and volatile nature of our culture, what should the church focus on in her teaching? This is one of the pressing questions of our day. The answer, of course, is “the whole counsel of God.” That is true but also somewhat glib. Do peculiar times not call for specific emphases in our teaching? As the fourth century wrestled with the doctrine of God, the fifth with Christology and the nature of God’s grace, and the Reformation era with sacraments and salvation, so our age wrestles with the question of anthropology...

“Night shall be thrice night over you”: The Church’s revolutions

The%20Church%u2019s%20Revolutions%20by%20Richard%20Rex%20%7C%20Articles%20%7C%20First%20ThingsREX: In 1489 the Catholic Church felt, and was, hemmed into a corner of the world. The view from Rome was of Africa and Asia long lost to heretical churches or to Islam, and Europe divided between Catholicism and Orthodoxy (itself seen as heretical), while Ottoman power advanced relentlessly up the Balkans. By 1689 the shattering impact of the Reformation had left much of Northern Europe committed to new versions of Christianity...

Bishops helping Congress: The one thing needful?

Bishops helping Congress: The one thing needful? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: I was glad to see that the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops included the need to reduce “unsustainable deficits” in his offer to help congressional leaders avert a government shutdown. Phil Lawler had emphasized this very problem last Thursday in The debt limit as a moral test, though he also noticed that limiting governmental debt has seldom been an episcopal priority. Nonetheless, one wonders why the Conference should have a specific political agenda at all, or why it should offer its own political brilliance to avert a government shutdown...

Pope’s Follow-up to ‘Laudato Si,’ Document on the Environment, to Be Released Oct. 4; Name Will Be ‘Laudate Deum’

Pope%20Francis%u2019%20next%20environmental%20document%20to%20be%20called%20%u2018Laudate%20Deum%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: Pope Francis’ new document on the environment, to be released Oct. 4, will be called Laudate Deum. The pope shared the name of his latest apostolic exhortation during a meeting with Latin American university rectors on Sept. 21, though the speech was only made public by Vatican News in Spanish on Monday afternoon. According to Vatican News, while speaking about the environment and the “culture of abandonment,” Pope Francis revealed that his new document on the topic will be titled Laudate Deum, which means “Praise God” in Latin.

Pumpkin spice birthday, and a ‘Pachamama moment’

Pumpkin spice birthday, and a 'Pachamama moment'JDFLYNN: First, let’s start with some good news. Last week, we reported to you that a priest in Nigeria, Fr. Marcellinus Obioma Okide, was kidnapped as he traveled home to his parish last Sunday afternoon. Fr. Okide is one of dozens of priests who’ve been abducted in Nigeria in recent months — and commercial kidnapping is on the rise in his diocese. Well, the priest was released Thursday evening, after his diocese paid an unspecified ransom for his return...

Unbelief in our culture is more serious than most people imagine

Unbelief in Our Culture Is More Serious Than Most Imagine - A Reflection on the First Commandment - Community in MissionPOPE: We live in times when many people make light of the fact that others do not believe in God. Many have relegated faith to a purely personal and largely irrelevant aspect of one’s life. This attitude even exists among many Catholics who, though believers themselves, don’t seem to be overly concerned that many others do not believe. The assessment of others seems to be a rather vague evaluation of whether they are “nice” or not. Once most people, Catholics included, decide that a person is “nice,” little else seems to matter.

The Fifth Circuit recently issued a landmark free speech ruling, but you’d hardly know it from the limited press coverage.

A Rebuke to Biden-Tech Censorship - WSJ: The decision in Missouri v. Biden deserves more attention because it defines the constitutional limits to coordination between government and private actors and may be headed to the Supreme Court. Missouri and Louisiana—joined by individuals whose posts opposing government views on Covid were censored—sued various federal officials for violating their First Amendment rights. Federal Judge Terry Doughty ruled against the government on nearly all points. The three-judge Fifth Circuit panel largely upheld his findings of fact and law while narrowing his injunction.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Pray For Us!

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Pray For Us!| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: They’ve become an optional memorial in the current Roman Calendar, displaced from their traditional feast day on Sept. 27 because the Church decided that St. Vincent de Paul is more significant to Catholics of our times. But Sts. Cosmas and Damian are always mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer and, since the Roman Canon was the Eucharistic Prayer for centuries, the fact these two brothers are included every time it is prayed suggests we learn something about them.

This Button Is the Most Underrated Button on Your Microwave

The Most Underrated Button on the Microwave - Better Report: The microwave has long been considered a miracle invention for a good reason: it reheats food in a cinch, cooks full meals in no time, and is energy efficient. One of the appliance’s handiest buttons is the express button, which instantly adds 30 seconds of cooking time, just enough to reheat leftovers or warm up your coffee. While that button is undoubtedly helpful, there is another under-utilized button that will change your microwave game: the power button.

Pope Makes ‘Church of St. Mary of the Isle’ on UK’s Isle of Man First Co-Cathedral in British History

Pope makes UK church first co-cathedral in British history | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis has awarded a U.K. church “co-cathedral status,” making it the first of its kind in Britain’s history. The Church of St. Mary of the Isle, located in Douglas on the Isle of Man, has achieved this rare status after Douglas was formally recognized as a city during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

How to find serenity through the will of God

How to Find Serenity Through the Will of God| National Catholic RegisterCLARK: Over the past few years, some Catholic publishers have reintroduced classic spiritual writings to a new generation. That is a tremendous gift. Today, when so many of us Catholics seem inordinately focused on temporal affairs like politics, there is a need to refocus on the Last Things — and this can be well accomplished through spiritual reading. Dan Burke’s Finding Peace in the Storm is a welcome addition to this category. His book not only polishes an old gem by St. Alphonsus Liguori...

“Verdigris” is the color of oxidation, impermanence, and the Statue of Liberty

The Paris Review - Verdigris: The Color of Oxidation, Statues, and Impermanence: It’s hard to imagine now, but people once gathered together freely, shoulders rubbing against shoulders, breath exchanged between lungs, bodies open to one another—all this closeness, almost a million people standing in a crowd just to watch a statue get undressed.

A ‘very human life’ is the hallmark of Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs’ sacred art

A 'very human life' is the hallmark of Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs' sacred art: Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs said her husband Andrew asked her after Mass, “Did you see the guy with Jesus hair?” She did see him and had wanted to run after him, but she hesitated, and now she regrets it. He would have made a great model. It was one leap she didn’t take, but only one. Four years ago, she and her husband took a chance, and now she supports the family full-time with their home business, Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs Sacred Art. She mostly paints commissions and also teaches painting in person.

This angel-botherer knows: If you call angels, they will come!

This angel-botherer knows: If you call angels, they will come!SCALIA: Parents are all too familiar with the sort of anxiety that can subconsciously nag at you all day long, before really kicking in at night. While we’re up and about and keeping busy, it’s possible to shush the parental panic that ever resides just below our breastbones — that is implanted within us at our children’s births. It begins as a seed that we water and over-water with our worst fears and deepest imaginings of all the ways they are vulnerable, all the ways kids can be hurt either physically or emotionally or in the psyche...

German Bishops Engage in Tug-of-War Over Blessing Same-Sex Unions

German bishops in tug of war over blessing same-sex unions | Catholic News AgencyWIMMER: The German Bishops’ Conference convenes its plenary assembly today, setting the stage for what promises to be a pivotal gathering amid a period of unprecedented tension within the Church in Germany — and with the wider Catholic Church. On the official agenda for the gathering from Sept. 25–28 in the town of Wiesbaden are topics ranging from handling spiritual abuse to preparations for the upcoming Synod on Synodality in Rome.

The problem with long Masses? It’s not the reverence — it’s the ego...

%u201C..wishful%20thinking%20and%20liturgical%20pretense%u201D%20%7C%20Charlotte%20was%20BothWELBORN: The Mass I normally attend – Novus Ordo, but with lots of Latin, chant and 10-12 minute homilies – is never less than 75 minutes long, is packed, noisy with kids (“the baby choir” as one celebrant memorably and cheerfully described it) and almost everyone stays to the very end of the last verse of the final hymn, of which we do, yes, sing all the verses, sorry, Cardinal – “God forbid we would leave before all five verses of the closing hymn are sung...”

Don’t ask God to be “fair” — ask that He be merciful. Because if He were fair, we’d all be in Hell right now...

Don't Ask for Fairness, Ask for Mercy! - A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: What Jesus teaches in this Sunday’s Gospel is one of those parables that rock our world and challenge our worldly way of thinking. Frankly, that is one of its purposes. We are tempted to side with the laborers who worked the longest, thinking that their being paid the same amount as those who worked only for an hour is unfair. Think very carefully before asking God to be “fair.” What we really should ask of God is that He be merciful, for if He were fair, we’d all be in Hell right now...

Feminism: America’s Best Frienemy

Feminism%3A%20America%27s%20Best%20Frienemy%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20HomeGRESS: For decades, Roe v. Wade stood as the legal Goliath against which pro-lifers battled. Few of us believed that we would see the end of its grip on America. And then it was overturned. We rejoiced and still rejoice at the end of Roe’s legal stranglehold on our great country. But its removal has uncovered something not everyone anticipated. The cultural underbelly of our nation has been revealed, and it isn’t pretty.

When Our Lady of Ransom Rescued Christians From Slavery: The Little-Known September Feast You May Have Missed

When Our Lady of Ransom Rescued Christians From Slavery: The Little-Known September Feast You May Have Missed: The feast of Our Lady of Ransom was officially added to the liturgical calendar in 1960 to be celebrated on Sept. 24.

Controversial Mercy in the Vineyard

Controversial Mercy in the Vineyard | Parishable ItemsFELTES: The landowner in Jesus’ parable recruits workers throughout the day. He goes to the marketplace at dawn, at nine, at noon, at three, and at five, hiring laborers each time and sending them to work in his vineyard. At the end of the day, he pays his longest laborers one silver denarius coin (the wage to which they had previously agreed), but he surprisingly also pays even his briefest employees the same amount. When some grumble at this, the boss replies...

Pope Returns From Marseille, Condemns Euthanasia and Abortion on Papal Plane: ‘You Don’t Play With Life, Neither at the Beginning nor at the End’

%u2018You%20don%u2019t%20play%20with%20life%u2019%3A%20Pope%20Francis%20condemns%20euthanasia%2C%20abortion%20on%20papal%20plane%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis condemned euthanasia and abortion as actions that “play with life” and said there is such a thing as “bad compassion” during a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome on Saturday. “You don’t play with life, neither at the beginning nor at the end. It is not played with!” he told journalists Sept. 23, as he returned from a two-day trip to Marseille, in southern France, to speak at a meeting of young people and bishops called Mediterranean Encounter.

How an extraordinary healing led to the creation of The National Centre for Padre Pio

How an extraordinary healing led to the creation of The National Centre for Padre Pio | Catholic News Agency: As one of the most well-known modern saints in the world, the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina — more commonly known as Padre Pio — has been the source of many alleged miracles over the years. Last year, “EWTN News In Depth” correspondent Mark Irons had the opportunity to meet with various people who were impacted by the legacy of Padre Pio, including a woman who received an extraordinary healing that would later result in the creation of The National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania.

“Wow, this looks like the movies now” — The White House Situation Room just got a makeover. Here’s what it looks like...

The White House Situation Room got a makeover. Here's what it looks like now : NPR: In the bowels of the West Wing, there's a highly secure space where former President Barack Obama sat with his top advisers and watched in real time as U.S. special forces raided a compound in Pakistan and killed Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader who planned the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The area is known as the Situation Room, and over the past year, it has been overhauled and upgraded with more than $50 million in improvements to security and capabilities, and is ready to reopen for operations.

Brain scans of coffee drinkers show its effects go beyond caffeine

Brain scans of coffee drinkers show its effects go beyond caffeine: Many coffee drinkers will tell you there's something about that morning cup that other sources of caffeine just can't match. Researchers in Portugal recently set out to investigate that idea: Is caffeine solely responsible for making people feel more alert, or do other parts of the morning ritual — coffee's smell or taste, perhaps — trigger that energetic feeling?

Pope Francis Travels to Marseille in Southern France, Says Church and Europe Need a ‘New Leap in Faith’

Pope at Mass: Church, Europe need a leap of faith - Vatican News: A cold, indifferent heart “becomes hardened and insensitive, to everything and everyone, even to the tragic discarding of human life,” which we see today “in the rejection of so many immigrants, of countless unborn children and abandoned elderly people,” Pope Francis said during Mass in Marseille on Saturday. By contrast, the Pope said, the hearts of those who truly believe in God and recognize His presence in the events of everyday life “leap for joy”: “Whoever prays, whoever welcomes the Lord leaps in the Spirit, feels that something is moving within, and ‘dances’ with joy”, as David danced before the Ark of the Covenant.

Tyler Bishop Joseph Strickland: ‘No Communication From Rome’ Yet Following Apostolic Visitation

Bishop%20Strickland%3A%20%u2018no%20communication%20from%20Rome%u2019%20following%20apostolic%20visitation%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBUKURAS: Following a report that Pope Francis and Vatican officials held a meeting earlier this month to discuss requesting the resignation of Tyler, Texas, Bishop Joseph Strickland, the prelate said on Wednesday he has not been contacted by the Vatican about such matters. In addition, Strickland said if Pope Francis were to remove him from office he would respect the Holy Father’s authority but would not resign if asked.

Getting better, the Rupnik implication, and something in the air

Getting better, the Rupnik implication, and something in the airCONDON: The Vatican announced yesterday that two bishops from mainland China will be attending next month’s synod on synodality. Bishop Anthony Yao Shun and Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang were listed as papal nominees on an updated list of synod delegates published Sept. 21, and the Holy See confirmed, drawn from a list of Communist Party-approved possible attendees. The temptation here is to view the bishops as likely shills for the CCP and in the pocket of Beijing...

This Sunday, No Matter How You Hyphenate ‘Catholic’, Jesus Says: Get to Work!

This%20Sunday%2C%20No%20Matter%20How%20You%20Hyphenate%20%u2018Catholic%u2019%2C%20Jesus%20Says%3A%20Get%20to%20Work%21%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: We are used to focusing on the pay rate in the famous Parable of the Landowners which Jesus tells on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. That makes sense. But it might be more fruitful to focus on the laborers, the work, and the land-owner. First the laborers: Who are they, and why are they angry? The parable goes like this: A landowner hires laborers throughout the day — some work since morning, some since noon, and others only since late afternoon. But the landowner pays them all the same one-day wage. The all-day workers grumble...

55 of the Best Fall Towns in the U.S. for Foliage

Best%20Fall%20Towns%20in%20the%20US%20for%20Foliage%20%u2014%20Fall%20Foliage%20in%20the%20US: Meet the most stunning spots in America for leaf peeping.

Is it safe to reuse plastic takeout containers? And what about putting them in the dishwasher or the microwave? The answer is...

Is It Safe to Reuse Plastic Take-out Containers? | Epicurious: If your house is anything like mine, you’ve got a kitchen cabinet filled to the brim—no, overflowing—with plastic food containers. Maybe some are ones you’ve bought expressly for the purpose of storing leftovers or decanting dry goods, but chances are you’ve got some (or in my case, many) that originally served as vessels for that curry you ordered for takeout, or the olives you bought from your weekend farmers market. More often than not, these take the form of so-called “deli containers”—you know, those clear cylindrical plastic tubs that come in eight ounce, pint, and quart-sized varieties.

Papal envoy’s leopard-skin vestment stirs social media sensation — not helped by his patronizing excuse about “the poor African peoples”

Papal envoy in leopard print vestment causes social media frenzy - Catholic Herald: A veteran Vatican diplomat recently became a brief cause célèbre in Italy after images of him celebrating Mass in a leopard print chasuble went viral on social media, generating an avalanche of largely derisive commentary and forcing the local cathedral to issue a clarification. Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, 66, currently the papal ambassador to Slovakia, was in his hometown of Ruvo di Puglia in southern Italy on Sept. 4 to celebrate a Mass in honour of Father Salvatore Summo, who was marking his 40th anniversary as pastor of the local cathedral.

UK police apologize to Catholic woman six months after arrest for silent prayer

Police apologise to Catholic woman six months after arrest for silent prayer - Catholic HeraldSIMONCALDWELL: The police have finally apologised to Catholic woman arrested for praying silently outside a closed abortion clinic in Birmingham. Following a six-month investigation, West Midlands Police have confirmed that they will not bring charges against Isabel Vaughan-Spruce. The police told her that “there will be no further investigation into the alleged matter, and there will be no further action taken.”

The Blessed Ulma Family and our Catholic moment

The Blessed Ulma Family and our Catholic momentWEIGEL: It’s a rare occasion when the word “unprecedented” can be used for a Church whose history extends over two millennia. Yet something unprecedented happened in the Polish village of Markowa on September 10, when an entire family, including their unborn child, was beatified. It seems not quite right to refer to the new blesseds by the traditional formula, “Blessed Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and Companions,” the “companions” in question being the Ulmas’ six living children and their unborn child. Let’s instead think about the Blessed Ulma Family and what they might mean for us.

Happy Tolkien Week — and Happy Hobbit Day!

Joseph Pearce on Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week (Sept. 23)| National Catholic RegisterDEMELO: In the month of September, we mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, J.R.R. Tolkien, and we celebrate this week both Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week. This week on Register Radio we talk to author and Tolkien expert Joseph Pearce about the legacy of the devoutly Catholic scholar and his masterwork, ‘The Lord of the Rings.’

Saints Have Died to Defend Christ’s Teaching on Marriage — Why Don’t We?

Saints%20Have%20Died%20to%20Defend%20Christ%u2019s%20Teaching%20on%20Marriage%20%u2014%20Why%20Don%u2019t%20We%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPOPE: We recently observed the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. While we can always look to the glory of his martyrdom, which is intrinsic and rooted in God’s unchanging judgment and will, I sensed a kind of irony in our praise of St. John that reflects poorly on the state of the Church today. Fundamentally, I wonder if we are worthy of great saints like St. John the Baptist, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, considering the casual and almost lax position we have today on the very matter for which they died...

Experts Warn: ‘Destruction’ of 120,000 Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh Is Imminent

%u2018Destruction%u2019%20of%20ethnic%20Armenians%20is%20imminent%2C%20experts%20warn%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyPINEDO: The “destruction” of an enclave of 120,000 Armenian Christians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is imminent, warns Siobhan Nash-Marshall, a U.S.-based human rights advocate. “The impact of the recent attacks and subsequent disarmament will almost certainly result in the destruction of the people of Artsakh,” Nash-Marshall told CNA. In 2011, Nash-Marshall founded the Christians in Need Foundation (CINF) to help Armenian Christians in the region and in 2020 she started a school for children and adults in Nagorno-Karabakh.

There’s a good reason why Americans (and only Americans) refer to autumn as “fall”

The%20Reason%20Why%20Americans%20Refer%20to%20Autumn%20as%20%u2018Fall%u2019: Saturday, September 23, 2023, marks the start of a new season—but what exactly you should call that season depends on where in the world you are and whom you ask. In Great Britain, the third season of the year usually has only one name: autumn. But if you hop across the Atlantic, you’ll find that people use both fall and autumn interchangeably when referring to this time of year, making it the only season in the English language with two widely accepted names. So what is it about the season of Halloween pop-up stores, denim jackets, and pumpkin spice lattes that makes it so special?

Is the Church on track for certain doom? No, not according to the authors of a new book, ‘Revitalizing Catholicism in America: 9 Tasks for Every Catholic’...

Review: 'Revitalizing Catholicism in America: Nine Tasks for Every Catholic'WERNING: If Bing Crosby playing Father O’Malley in “The Bells of St. Mary’s” and Bishop Fulton Sheen preaching on national television captured Catholicism in mid-20th-century America, then predator priests and empty pews represent the Church nowadays for many people in the U.S. culture. Russell Shaw’s and David Byers’ new book, “Revitalizing Catholicism in America: Nine Tasks for Every Catholic” (OSV, $17.95), tracks the Catholic Church’s decline in esteem and membership during the last 60 years...

Are Sunday Masses just too long?

Cardinal Dolan: Are Sunday Masses just too long?DOLAN: In our preparation for the Synod, here in the Archdiocese of New York, close to 7,000 people accepted our invitation to attend listening sessions or respond online to issues of concern in the life of the Church today. One question I always posed was, “How can we get people back to Sunday Mass? Why have so many of our folks stopped coming?” I was amazed at the high interest this generated. At first, I was prone to dismiss this. But, after reconsidering...

It may seem like everything’s in shambles, but why beat your head against a wall? Eyes front! Eyes on Christ...

Eyes on Christ, or beating our heads against the wall? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: To read the Second Book of Samuel in the Old Testament is to be frustrated by both Kind David and, I suspect, ourselves. In David, we have a man who was generally prompt to accept God’s will and to do his best to follow God’s direction. Even when he sinned—as he did egregiously in the matter of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah—he recognized his guilt when rebuked by Nathan the prophet, and immediately admitted: “I have sinned against the Lord.” And after Nathan had announced that God’s punishment would be the sickness and death of the son born of his adultery, David sought to avert this punishment through constant prayer and fasting for the baby.

Jesus says we should forgive one another 77 times, but we need not lose our sense of irony and humor...

Friends and Enemies of Humor | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: In high levels of government, an elderly man dresses like a woman. He looks like a comical character out of Vaudeville or a Monty Python skit, but he’s unashamed. We also have young men who wear women’s swimsuits and easily win female swimming competitions. During the years of the Soviet empire and rigged Olympics, we laughed at comedian Yakov Smirnoff’s joke: “In Russia, if a male athlete loses, he becomes a female athlete.” Today, nobody laughs. Why not?

A new age of Catholic apostolic entrepreneurs

A New Age of Catholic Apostolic Entrepreneurs - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Twice as many people die of drug overdoses in the USA than car crashes - with more than 100,000 people a year who die from overdoses, mainly driven by the growth of opioid addictions. It is expected that in the next 10 years, that number will be cut in half! How? Because the Catholic apostolates (including Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul chapters, and Catholic healthcare systems) have banded together to lead the way in making a change in treating addiction, mental health resources, broken families, poverty, and homelessness. Amazing isn't it??!!

How to find any file on your Mac or Windows computer

Find any file on your computer | Popular Science: You’re sure that file is here somewhere. You saw it only the other day, but it seems to have vanished. Hunting down data stashed on your computer can be a frustrating experience—partly due to our untidy habits when it comes to saving files—but it doesn’t have to be.

What if human fatherhood is but a manifestation of a deeper fatherhood?

Toxic Fatherhood? - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: There are important analogies between a father in a family and a ruler in a nation. This is perhaps especially clear in the consequences of their failure. Aquinas writes that “royal dignity is rendered hateful to many people on account of the wickedness of tyrants.” This provides a key angle into how we think about fatherhood. Apart from philosophical considerations on kingship itself, the common estimation of kings suffered mightily from tyrants—those great abusers of the royal office...

High school football team sings the “Ave Maria” after every game, honoring Our Lady in viral video

High School Football Team Sings the "Ave Maria" After Every Game, Honoring Our Lady in Viral VideoBURKEPILE: One Catholic high school football team in California went viral after sharing how they honor the Blessed Mother after each game. Saint Joseph Academy High School Football Team in San Marcos, Calif. kneels while singing the Ave Maria after every football game. The school recently published the video on YouTube, which quickly gained traction throughout other social media networks. In another video, team captains Isaac and Andrew explain why they sing the Ave Maria after games...

Thanks be to God for souls such as Joan Andrews Bell, calling us to more...

Time in a jail cell isn't too badLOPEZ: Joan Andrews Bell was sitting in a jail cell when former president Donald Trump was interviewed on “Meet the Press.” He talked about how upon reelection he would do something that has never happened: He would negotiate peace among Democrats and Republicans on abortion. He talked about, without naming it, some magic number that could be reached that would settle things. Trump needs to meet Joan Bell. As I write, Bell, in her 70s, is in prison because of the pro-life rescue work she does...

At Wednesday Audience, Pope Francis Lauds St. Daniele Comboni, Missionary Bishop Who Fought to End Slavery in Africa

Pope Francis lauds Catholic saint who fought to end slavery in Africa | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Francis extolled Wednesday the “apostolic zeal” of St. Daniele Comboni, an Italian missionary priest and bishop who fought to end slavery in Africa. Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. In his writings, he spoke of slavery more than 450 times and decried how the slave trade “degrades humankind and turns human beings, endowed like all of us with the light of intelligence, a ray of divinity and image of the most holy Trinity, to the dismal condition of animals.”

A saint's blood, a bishop-prince, and Pius XII

A saint's blood, a bishop-prince, and Pius XIIJDFLYNN: Januarius, a fourth-century bishop, was, by some accounts made the bishop of Naples at the very young age of 20, amid a period of intense persecution for the Church. After hiding Christians from Roman persecutors for months, Januarius was eventually arrested, and beheaded outside of the city. His feast is celebrated by southern Italians around the world — in fact, in “The Godfather Part II,” the feast of San Gennaro is the backdrop for young Vito Corleone’s murder of local mob boss Don Fanucci — the murder by which Vito acquires his reputation and status in their Little Italy neighborhood.

Donald Trump calls 6-week abortion ban a “terrible thing and a terrible mistake”

Donald%20Trump%20calls%206-week%20abortion%20ban%20a%20%u2018terrible%20mistake%u2019%A0%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pro-life leaders condemned President Donald Trump for calling a six-week abortion ban a “terrible mistake” during a Saturday NBC interview. Trump made the comments in reference to Florida’s six-week Heartbeat Protection Act abortion ban signed by his chief opponent in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Blood of St. Januarius ‘Completely Liquefies’ on Feast Day in Naples

Blood%20of%20St.%20Januarius%20%u2018completely%20liquefied%u2019%20on%20feast%20day%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: The blood of the martyr St. Januarius again liquefied in Naples on Tuesday. “We have just taken from the safe the reliquary with the blood of our patron saint, which immediately completely liquefied,” the abbot of the chapel of the treasury of the Naples Cathedral announced on Sept. 19. The declaration that the miracle had again taken place was made at the start of Mass by Abbot Vincenzo De Gregorio.

Take the Red Pill

Take the Red Pill - The Catholic ThingMAIER: The single most iconic moment in late ‘90s cinema is arguably Neo’s choice in the first Matrix film. The Matrix, for those with a leaky memory, posits a future where humans live in an envelope of illusions; a dreamworld of everyday normalcy. In reality, each floats in a narcotic bath managed by sentient machines. Humans created the machines and gave them intelligence. The machines then enslaved the humans. They now use their living, anesthetized human creators as battery power.

Watch guard dogs save sheep from puma attack on a pitch-black mountain in never-before-seen video

1st of its kind footage shows guard dogs saving sheep from puma attack on a pitch black mountain | Live Science: Incredible footage showing guard dogs stopping a puma from hunting sheep in the pitch black Patagonian mountains has been captured using heat sensitive cameras and drones. It is the first time this behavior has ever been filmed.

What are the origins of feminism, and how is modern feminism still shaped by its founders’ ideals? Lila Rose and Carrie Gress discuss...

The Lila Rose Podcast: E54: The Truth About Feminism? with Dr. Carrie Gress on Apple Podcasts: Is feminism a plea for equality and fair treatment, or was it a plot to dismantle the family from the start? These are questions that Dr. Carrie Gress and I discuss as she shares about her new book, The End of Woman. Carrie shares her theories on the origins feminism and its founders, and how modern feminism is still shaped by its founders’ ideals.

Awakening the Church...in souls

Awakening the Church...in souls | Catholic CultureMIRUS: As a last nod to Pope Benedict XVI’s posthumous collection of essays and addresses, What Is Christianity?, I believe I should take a closer look at the famous intervention he wrote for the meeting of episcopal conference heads called by Pope Francis in 2019 to consider the sexual abuse crisis. Pope Francis, however, had no interest in introducing a comprehensive analysis by Pope Emeritus Benedict, and so the analysis was first published after the meeting, in April.

The world needs “fides et ratio,” faith and reason, to soar again

The World Needs Faith and Reason to Soar AgainDEAVEL: What ails the world at this moment is not merely the usual cocktail of selfishness, narcissism, vanity, and anger. Though the modern world (or at least our computers) seems capable of ever greater feats of mathematical and technical tabulation, and consequently wonders of technology and organization that would have seemed marvelous to any other age, we have our own particular Achilles Heel...

The editors of ‘Road and Track’ think these are the 25 coolest cars of the past 50 years. Good list, but we think they missed a few...

Coolest Cars of the Past 50 Years - Road & Track: The past 50 years have provided us with some of the most legendary cars on the planet. From high-end exotics to affordable, obtainable performance cars, there is no shortage of epic, desirable, fun cars from the past five decades. Here are our favorites.

Cleveland Bishop Malesic speaks the truth

Cleveland Bishop Malesic Speaks the Truth - The Catholic ThingFORTE: As American society continues to sink into a mire of solipsism and nominalism, it’s the Church, and perhaps only the Church, that can proclaim and defend those things that are permanent, irreducibly real, and radically good. Such is the courageous and true directive on handling “trans” questions recently issued by Edward C. Malesic, Bishop of Cleveland. Caring for his flock with moral clarity, Bishop Malesic has directed “all offices, parishes, parish schools, and diocesan schools of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland as well as their employees, personnel, volunteers, students, and youth participating in parish or institutional faith formation” to affirm the biological sex of all persons in the Church’s care or employ.

Forgiveness is a gft we must share

Forgiveness is a Gift we must Share | Parishable ItemsFELTES: In Jesus’ parable today, a servant owes his king an astronomically large debt, literally (in the original Greek) “ten thousand talents.” A talent was an ancient measurement of weight equaling something like seventy-five pounds. If these talents were owed to the king in silver, in the ancient world that amount would equal roughly 150,000 years’ worth of day labor. That’s something akin to several billion dollars today. It represents an unpayable personal debt.

The story of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, the Catholic priest and martyr who helped free Poland from the Communists

The%20Catholic%20Priest%20%26%20Martyr%20Who%20Helped%20Free%20Communist%20Poland%3A%20The%20Heroic%20Story%20of%20Blessed%20Father%20Jerzy%20Popie%u0142uszkoPIETRUS: On Sept. 19 of every year, the Polish people celebrate the feast of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, a martyr whose heroic life and death contributed to Poland's liberation from the communist regime. Father Jerzy was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and a Chaplain of Solidarity, or the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union. This union was the main social movement opposing the communist regime in Poland. His ministry started when Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński asked him to celebrate Mass for striking workers.

Here Are All of the 8,291 License Plates in America

All of the 8,291 License Plates in America: During summer vacation car rides as a kid, I remember the thrill of seeing an unusual license plate from a faraway state. There were 50 possible plates to see (plus D.C.) each with distinct colors and often the state motto. Today the game of license plate bingo has gotten incredibly complex. By my count, there are currently 8,291 different vehicle license plates offered by the 50 states and the District of Columbia. States now offer a vast menu of personalized plate options for a dizzying array of organizations, professions, sports teams, causes and other groups.

Synods Through the Ages in the Catholic Church

Synods Through the Ages in the Catholic Church| National Catholic RegisterBUNSON: Pope Francis’ call for a synodal Catholic Church is now the central pillar of his pontificate. As he declared in 2015, at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, “The world in which we live, and which we are called to love and serve, even with its contradictions, demands that the Church strengthen cooperation in all areas of her mission. It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium.”

Catholicism in America: Whither the Bloom?

Catholicism in America: Whither the Bloom?| National Catholic RegisterSHAW: On March 25, 1887, having just received his red hat as a cardinal from Pope Leo XIII, Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore made what was, for him, a famously cautious man, a bold statement. Speaking in Santa Maria in Trastevere, the ancient Roman church that had been assigned to him as his “titular” church in Rome, the new cardinal praised church-state separation in the U.S. in glowing terms...

Tabernacle Containing Blessed Sacrament Stolen from Nigerian Parish Sunday Morning

Tabernacle stolen from Nigerian parish: A tabernacle hosting the Eucharist was stolen early Sunday morning from a parish church in Benin City, Nigeria, with local investigators now looking to find the thieves, and return both the tabernacle and the Eucharist to the parish.

Father Brian Mullady on law, morality, and the roots of a Christian civilization

Father Brian Mullady: Law and morality | Respect Life Radio: Fr. Mullady entered the Dominican Order in 1966 and has been a parish priest, high school teacher, retreat master, mission preacher and university professor. He has had twelve series on Mother Angelica's EWTN television network. He is the author of four books and numerous articles and writes the Answer column in Homiletic and Pastoral Review. In the pages of his new book, Fr. Mullady, answers the question: Should law implement morality or not? He provides you with a compendium of accessible answers to a range of questions on spiritual and moral theology.

New Discoveries May Change What We Know About Jerusalem’s Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher

New%20discoveries%20may%20change%20what%20we%20know%20about%20Jerusalem%u2019s%20Basilica%20of%20the%20Holy%20Sepulcher%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBANDINI: Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of the holiest places in the world for Christians and an important pilgrimage site since the fourth century, is revealing more of its secrets. Ongoing archaeological investigations related to the restoration of the basilica’s floor are at a turning point, with many surprises coming to light.

This Sunday, There Is No Forgiveness Without Gratitude

This%20Sunday%2C%20There%20Is%20No%20Forgiveness%20Without%20Gratitude%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Peter asks a great question, but a question which is, nonetheless, ego-driven on the 24th Sunday in ordinary Time, Year A. He wants to know how often to forgive, and even guesses a number. Jesus gives him a number 1,000 percent higher and tells him a story that demonstrates just how selfish Peter’s original question was. It’s also a story that points to a solution that I’ve found transformative. First of all, this Gospel is a necessary follow-up to last week’s.

A new Google Flights tool tells you the cheapest time to book your flight. Here’s how it works...

New Google Flights Feature Tells You The Best Time to Book - AFAR: Christians have always been unusually vehement in their disapproval of the killing of infants, whether born or unborn, and their legal regime prevailed until the mid-twentieth century when we experienced a religious shift that will probably be understood by future historians as a Second Reformation. Christians are no longer in charge, and their prohibition of abortion—unlike their prohibition of infanticide, at least so far—is regarded by most pro-choice secularists as archaic, illogical, and misogynist. A New Google Flights Tool Tells You When Is the Cheapest Time to Book Your Flight—Here’s How It Works

We are repaganizing. Christianity is like a bright clearing in a dark forest, but the forest is closing in again...

We Are Repaganizing by Louise Perry | Articles | First ThingsPERRY: Christians have always been unusually vehement in their disapproval of the killing of infants, whether born or unborn, and their legal regime prevailed until the mid-twentieth century when we experienced a religious shift that will probably be understood by future historians as a Second Reformation. Christians are no longer in charge, and their prohibition of abortion—unlike their prohibition of infanticide, at least so far—is regarded by most pro-choice secularists as archaic, illogical, and misogynist.

Chinese Catholic Priest Convicted of ‘Fraud’ and ‘Impersonating Religious Personnel’ for Refusal to Recognize Communist-Sanctioned Church

Chinese%20priest%20convicted%20of%20%u2018fraud%u2019%20for%20refusal%20to%20recognize%20state-sanctioned%20Church%A0%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A Catholic priest in China was convicted of “fraud” and “impersonating religious personnel” on Sept. 13, ChinaAid reported. Father Joseph Yang Xiaoming of the Wenzhou Diocese in Zhejiang, China — south of Shanghai — was found to be in violation of the law after he refused to register with the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). The court-imposed administrative penalties on Yang include...

I loved Jimmy Buffett’s music and persona, but he strayed far from his Catholic upbringing. All the more reason to pray for his soul...

Why you should pray for Jimmy BuffettBONACCI: I loved Jimmy Buffett. Loved his music, loved the easy-going island life he sang about. And I loved his persona, his apparent perpetual cheerfulness. He seemed like a guy I would enjoy drinking a margarita with. Of course, I never did. The closest I ever got to him was a concert back in 1994. It was close enough to see that this guy had an amazing gift for connecting with his audiences, and with people in general. That experience made me, if not a full-fledged Parrothead, at least an enthusiastic fan.

Until recently, I had no idea Our Lady of the Skies existed at Idlewild/JFK

Our Lady of the Skies | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: I ran across this a couple of days ago…not sure where. I saved it for a “random” post, but the more I looked into, the more it seemed to deserve its own. We all know about airport chapels and prayer rooms and meditation rooms. I had no idea that about the “Tri-Faith” chapel plaza at Idlewild/JFK. In the renovation of LaGuardia, the interdenominational chapel was…eliminated and the process of attempting to replace it has been problematic. Just one more for the list of how times have changed...

Solidarity with a Martyr-Church

Solidarity with a Martyr-ChurchWEIGEL: Ever since the 1596 Union of Brest reestablished full communion between the Bishop of Rome and several ecclesiastical jurisdictions in eastern Europe, what we know today as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), the principal heir to that act of reconciliation, has suffered greatly for its fidelity to the Successor of Peter. For centuries, many Polish Catholic leaders bent every effort to “Latinize” the Greek Catholics in terms of liturgy, church discipline, and governance...

A man named Martin, secrecy for thee, and a sultan for himself

A man named Martin, secrecy for thee, and a sultan for himselfCONDON: Happy feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, when we “celebrate” in our distinctly Catholic way, the suffering of Our Lady at the foot of the cross. “Celebrating sorrow” is one of those quasi-oxymoronic formulations the practice of our faith can sometimes seem to throw up. But really I don’t think it’s so. Love is always, I think, bound up with a measure of sorrow - for Our Lady the terrible love of a mother for her suffering son and, we are assured, for all of us her children.

Pope Francis and Bill Clinton to appear jointly via remote link at Clinton Foundation on Monday to discuss ‘climate change, the refugee crisis, the welfare of children, and ... Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital’

Pope%20Francis%2C%20former%20President%20Clinton%20to%20have%20%u2018special%20conversation%u2019%20at%20foundation%20meeting%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Francis and former President Bill Clinton will discuss pressing issues facing the world next week at the annual meeting of the Clinton Foundation’s global humanitarian effort, the Clinton Foundation revealed on Thursday. The foundation said in a press release that the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023 meeting would open on Monday, Sept. 18, with “a special conversation between President Clinton and His Holiness Pope Francis” via remote link.

‘The Great Dechurching’ takes a hard look at why people are leaving Catholic and Protestant churches

The Great Dechurching looks at why people are leaving churches: Jim Davis and Michael Graham knew something was up in their hometown of Orlando. But they couldn’t put their finger on it. At the time, both were pastors at Orlando Grace Church, an evangelical congregation, and saw a study showing that their community had the same percentage of evangelicals as less traditionally Christian cities like New York and Seattle. Their city also ranked low on a list of “Bible-minded cities” — with a profile more akin to cities with secular reputations than Bible Belt communities like Birmingham, Ala., or Nashville.

Layoffs at Planned Parenthood National HQ Shake Staff in Post-Roe World: ‘They Could Not Have Picked a Worse Moment in Our Movement’

Layoffs at Planned Parenthood shake staff in post-Roe world: As news of a restructure and layoffs spread at Planned Parenthood Federation of America earlier this year, the tension and uncertainty was palpable throughout the organization. Less than two weeks before the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s repeal of a landmark abortion rights decision, more than 100 employees on Planned Parenthood’s national staff received notice they would lose their jobs, even after a year in which they saw donations rise in response to the decision...

The Pope just approved the establishment of the permanent diaconate in the Philippines. Who else in the world has permanent deacons?

Where in the world are permanent deacons?: In an Aug. 17 letter conveying the pope’s decision, the Vatican said that the step was a “noble initiative for the good of the holy people of God in the Philippines”. This is a significant moment for the permanent diaconate since its restoration in the Latin Church in 1967 as the Philippines has the globe’s third-largest Catholic population after Brazil and Mexico.

On Christian Democracy and the Lost Tradition of Courtesy

On Christian Democracy and the Lost Tradition of Courtesy| National Catholic RegisterMILLS: The young Catholic man criticized a woman he saw on the bus for looking “slutty,” and his disgust for her came through the way he described her. A friend asked him, “Is that the way a gentleman talks?” Clearly puzzled, he said, “I don’t talk that way about ladies, but she was no lady and doesn’t deserve the respect I give you.” My friend noted that this meant that any respect he gave her, and women in general, was conditional on their meeting his standard of perfection as a “lady.” Not that she was a daughter of Eve...

On the illogic and insanity of sedevacantism

On%20the%20illogic%20and%20insanity%20of%20sedevacantism%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportCHAPP: By now it is common knowledge among Catholics who follow social media that the firebrand and rogue traditionalist priest Fr. James Altman has formally declared, in a video posted to YouTube, that Pope Francis is not really the pope and is in fact an anti-pope. This should come as no surprise since he said similar things at a conference for the so-called “cancelled priests” held in June of this year in Chicago...

Relic of St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle and Patron of Desperate Causes, Begins US Tour; 100 Stops Planned Through 2024

Relic of St. Jude, apostle and patron of desperate causes, begins US tour - OSV News: St. Jude may be best known in the United States for being the patron saint of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, a cancer treatment center founded by Lebanese-American entertainer Danny Thomas. Thomas credited St. Jude — also well known among Catholics as the patron saint of hopeless causes and desperate situations — with reviving his career during a particularly low moment. He founded the hospital in gratitude.

On synod secrecy, does Pope Francis risk destroying the village in order to save it?

On synod secrecy, does Pope Francis risk destroying the village in order to save it? | CruxALLEN: As first reported yesterday by Loup Besmond of La Croix, Pope Francis apparently is considering imposing pontifical secrecy on the upcoming Synod of Bishops on synodality, not simply on opinions and votes, as was past practice, but on all issues addressed during synod discussions. The stated aim would be to protect the frankness and honesty of those discussions. According to Besmond, such a provision is currently in the draft regulations for the synod being considered by the pope.

Pope Francis Highlights Life of Service of Venezuelan Blessed at General Audience

Pope Francis highlights life of service of Venezuelan blessed at general audience | Catholic News Agency: During his Sept. 13 general audience, Pope Francis presented the life of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros as an example of the Gospel in action and service to the greater good. The general audience was the latest installment of the pope’s ongoing series on apostolic zeal, which is an opportunity for the faithful to “meet passionate witnesses to the proclamation of the Gospel,” individuals who embodied “the will and also the inner passion to carry the Gospel forward,” according to the pope.

Confession is the only place in the world where we articulate our sins in secret and receive forgiveness with certainty...

The Sacrament of Certainty | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: During the Last Supper, Jesus consecrates the wine at the first Mass, forever linking the Eucharist to forgiveness: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Jesus provides a template for seeking reconciliation: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” Present the evidence, and if he refuses to listen, escalate the matter to another witness or two and, if necessary, the Church...

Don’t be fooled: Loving neighbor depends on loving God first

Don%u2019t%20be%20fooled%3A%20Loving%20neighbor%20depends%20on%20loving%20God%20first%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: A very fine priest in a very fine parish recently gave a homily emphasizing love of neighbor in which he inadvertently got a little carried away when he said, in effect, the following: “It is essential for you to place the highest emphasis on loving your neighbor. You may ask me about the commandment to love God, but the only way we have to love God is by loving our neighbor.” Now, I am convinced that this priest did not mean to emphasize love of neighbor in exactly this way...

“Down in Adoration Falling” — Our Grateful Response to God for the Most Holy Eucharist

%u201CDown%20in%20Adoration%20Falling%u201D%u2014Our%20Grateful%20Response%20to%20the%20Eucharist%20-%20AdoremusMILLARE: Objections to the practice of Eucharistic adoration have come to the fore once more in light of the concerted efforts for a Eucharistic revival in the United States. Recently, Eucharistic adoration has been described as passive in nature, yet I would argue that Eucharistic adoration is a form of devotion and piety that can assist in achieving the “aim to be considered above all else” set forth by the Second Vatican Council regarding the sacred liturgy: active participation.

6 Ways Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows Changed My Life

How Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows Changed My Life: 6 Ways I Experience Her Powerful IntercessionBURKEPILE: I developed a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows within the last three years after discovering the supernatural power of her intercession. I primarily prayed the daily Rosary and turned to Saint Therese of Lisieux, which are both very powerful devotions. (Pray your rosary daily as Our Lady requests!) I initially began praying to Our Lady of Sorrows when I discovered her power in changing hardened hearts and revealing secrets. Sometimes, it's immediate. Other times, I just wait for her to grant my requests.

Will the Synod on Synodality follow Jesus as the Way to a true Catholic vision, or will it give us a substandard sociological substitute?

(4) Jesus the Way and Synodality - What We Need NowFRANKS: When I was asked to write about synodality for The Thomist, an academic journal, I tried to say no. I had not been avidly following developments, but I had noticed a lot of ersatz sociology, generally of poor quality, as well as a marked absence of the name of Jesus Christ. The editor prevailed, however, and, for my sins, I decided to take a fresh look at the topic...

Opus Dei may have to seek new status under canon law, says spokesman

Opus Dei may have to seek new status under canon law, says spokesman - Catholic Herald: A leading member of Opus Dei and its spokesman in the UK has suggested that in light of revisions made recently by Pope Francis to the nature of “personal prelatures”, a status Opus Dei has held under Church law since 1982, the group may be forced to seek another category that better reflects its inner identity.

Witold Pilecki spent 947 days as a prisoner in Auschwitz — and he was free on each and every one of them...

(4) The Prisoner - by Tim Clark - Between The PawsTIMCLARK: The gate closed with a sickening metallic clang. The day had come. Tom was in prison. The first day in prison for a new inmate is never an easy one. The gate closes for the first time, and the world becomes infinitely smaller. Boundaries—vast oceans, roaring rivers, majestic mountains—now replaced by concrete walls, iron bars, and razor wire. No man ever feels the gate close behind him without asking himself, “what went wrong? How have I come to this place? What am I doing here?”

Catholicism makes everything interesting and exciting

Catholicism Makes Everything Interesting | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DameSALKELD: If all of human knowing is done through some combination of faith and reason, it is essential for Catholic teachers to consider the particular synthesis of Christian faith and reason, the worldview that follows from this synthesis, and its tremendous impact on human knowing and human culture. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine any worldview with a comparable impact across the whole range of human endeavors. As the American Catholic writer Walker Percy cheekily put it when asked about the reasons for his own conversion to Catholicism: “What else is there?”

Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s 3 secrets to powerful preaching and evangelization...

Abp. Fulton Sheen, the Eucharist, and Learning to Teach | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DameKASSIEN: I previously outlined what might be considered the philosophy of education of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. That piece detailed some of the bishop’s impressive legacy and unpacked the philosophy that animated his teaching career and his commitment to Catholic education. Having looked closely at his principles, I would like to turn now to Sheen’s praxis. What follows will highlight three of Sheen’s pedagogical practices that made him an extraordinarily successful scholar and teacher and—if I may be so bold—the premier Catholic communicator of the American Church in the twentieth century. Believing firmly that we all have something to learn from the good bishop about teaching and handing on the faith, I hope what follows here serves as an opportunity for inspiration and reflection for those who, like Sheen, have committed themselves to the Church’s hard work of education, evangelization, and catechesis.

Policing Latin and other perfectly legitimate modes of liturgical expression is petty, ignorant, clericalist and insulting

Priorities | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: A few weeks ago, I attended Mass in a diocese where the bishop has not only declared war on the Traditional Latin Mass, but on Latin, period. You can’t have Latin in your Masses more than twice a month or something silly like that. On my travels, I left that place and arrived in a bordering diocese and attended Sunday Mass in the Cathedral parish, a Mass which was full of Latin. Novus Ordo, but every Mass part in Latin – rather creatively sung – for the Gloria, for example, congregation and choir alternating. But, yeah, Latin.

But I have something to say...

But I have something to say | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: As my students began to slumber into their sophomore religion class, I made it a holy habit to meet at the door to welcome them and remind them that “God made you out of love, Christ died for you and you are here for a reason.” My proclamation of faith intended to let them know that they are not alone in their journey with Jesus Christ. They needed to know that someone was willing to walk with them and lead them toward a path of holiness and renunciation of sin...

Benedict XVI brought much light to big questions about Jewish people and the Church

On the Church and the Jews | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Another thing on which Pope Benedict sheds considerable light in his posthumous collection of essays (see Tuesday’s commentary on Islam and Catholicism) is the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. This has always been a fairly difficult relationship for me to understand. Indeed, I have occasionally phrased certain details of the relationship inaccurately, forcing me to make revisions...

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis places spotlight on power of prayer after his daughter suffers seizure

Saints linebacker Demario Davis Places Spotlight On The Power Of Prayer After Daughter Suffers SeizureLISI: The New Orleans Saints won their season opener in dramatic fashion — defeating the Tennessee Titans 16-15 at the Caesars Superdome — but it was linebacker Demario Davis who stole the spotlight after the game with an amazing story of faith. Instead of talking about Sunday’s Week 1 win, Davis, who led all players with 10 tackles, took five minutes to thank God after his 4-year-old daughter Carly-Faith quick recovery after she had suffered a seizure just two days earlier.

Christ’s word, falling into a hole, and the news

Christ%u2019s%20word%2C%20falling%20into%20a%20hole%2C%20and%20the%20newsJDFLYNN: On this date 83 years ago — Sept. 12, 1940 — three French teenagers took a walk in the woods, near their home in southwestern France. It’s possible the boys had a dog with them, and it’s possible the dog was named Robot. It’s even possible that Robot, their dog, fell into a hole. It’s hard to tell what’s true about the dog because that day, Sept. 12, 1940, was special. It was so special that the boys were asked to recount what happened to them dozens of times, and — over time — the story grew into legend, as it sometimes does when teenagers are asked to talk about an important thing...

Thousands Feared Dead and 10,000 Believed Missing After Catastrophic Floods in Libya; Pope Francis Sends Message of Condolence

Pope Francis 'deeply saddened' for loss of life, destruction in Libya - Vatican NewsLUBOV: Pope Francis was "deeply saddened to learn of the immense loss of life and destruction caused by the flooding in the eastern part of Libya". The Pope assured those affected of his "prayers for the souls of the deceased and all who mourn their loss." He sent his condolences to the people of Libya in a telegram signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and sent to the Apostolic Nuncio to Libya, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai.

Exclusive: Archbishop Fernandez Warns Against Bishops Who Think They Can Judge ‘Doctrine of the Holy Father’

Exclusive%3A%20Archbishop%20Fernandez%20Warns%20Against%20Bishops%20Who%20Think%20They%20Can%20Judge%20%u2018Doctrine%20of%20the%20Holy%20Father%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: The incoming prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has warned that bishops — both “progressive” and those from “traditionalist groups” — who think they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father” are on a road to “heresy” and “schism.” Speaking in response to a question on accepting Pope Francis’ magisterium, Cardinal-designate Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández told Register senior correspondent Edward Pentin in an exclusive Sept. 8 email interview...

Swiss Bishop Issues ‘Formal Reprimand’ But Says He Found ‘No Serious Liturgical Violations’ in Viral Video of Woman ‘Concelebrating’ Mass

Swiss%20bishop%20reprimands%20clergy%20after%20viral%20video%20of%20woman%20%u2018concelebrating%u2019%20Mass%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A viral video showing two priests celebrating Mass with a Swiss laywoman at the altar has resulted in a formal reprimand of the pastors by Bishop Joseph Bonnemain of Chur, Switzerland, but there will not be a canonical proceeding.

Sources Tell The Pillar: Pope Francis Meets Officials at Vatican to Discuss Possible Resignation of Bishop Joseph Strickland

Pope Francis meets to discuss Strickland resignation: At a meeting Saturday, Pope Francis discussed with Vatican officials the prospect of requesting the resignation of Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, The Pillar has learned. The pope met Sept. 9 with Archbishop Robert Prevost, OSA, head of the Dicastery for Bishops, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States - both cardinals-elect.

What do we know about Catholics United for Life and New Hope’s St. Martin de Porres Community, which was called a “cult” by a California news outlet?

Catholic%20%u2018cult%u2019%20in%20California%3A%20What%20do%20we%20know%3F%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyMCKEOWN: Earlier this month, reports emerged in a California news outlet about alleged sexual abuse that purportedly took place at a commune run by a Catholic pro-life organization, Catholics United for Life. The allegations come from three biological sisters who say they were abused at various points by men within the organization, which was founded as a Third Order Dominican Catholic community and eventually settled in rural California in the 1970s.

Eduardo Verástegui, Catholic Actor and Film Producer, Files as Candidate for President of Mexico

%u2018Sound%20of%20Freedom%u2019%20producer%20Eduardo%20Ver%E1stegui%20files%20as%20candidate%20for%20president%20of%20Mexico%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Mexican actor, producer, and founder of the Viva México Movement Eduardo Verástegui registered Sept. 7 as an independent candidate for the presidency of Mexico in the 2024 elections. According to electoral regulations, after expressing his intention to run for president to the National Electoral Institute (INE), Verástegui must gather, in no more than 120 days, a number of signatures equivalent to 1% of the list of registered voters in the country distributed over at least 17 states “with an equal percentage in each of them.” This is equivalent to approximately 1 million signatures.

Many children are not all right. What are we going to do?

Consider the Children: Mother Teresa Challenges Us All | National ReviewLOPEZ: Malcolm Muggeridge noticed that Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charities, her order of religious sisters in India, had joy. “Spending a few days with you, I have been immensely struck by the joyfulness of these sisters who do what an outsider might think to be almost impossibly difficult and painful tasks,” the British atheist journalist said to her in 1968 as he was working on a documentary and a book, both titled “Something Beautiful for God.” That BBC interview introduced her to the world. Before that, she was simply a woman loving.

Like Gentiles or Tax Collectors

Like Gentiles or Tax Collectors | Parishable ItemsFELTES: Jesus teaches us today about how to practice fraternal correction. In short, if a brother or sister in the Church sins against you, approach him or her privately. If that fails to persuade, come again with one or two others. If that does not work, bring the matter to the Church. And “if he refuses to listen even to the Church,” Jesus says, “then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” Jesus says to treat an obstinately unrepentant Christian like “a Gentile or a tax collector.” What are we to make of this?

Forgiveness is hard. Correction is harder. One thing is needed for both...

This%20Sunday%2C%20Forgiveness%20is%20Hard.%20Correction%20is%20Harder.%20One%20Thing%20Is%20Needed%20for%20Both%20%u2026%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus begins today’s advice to his disciples with: “If your brother sins against you, go tell him the fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.” St. John Chrysostom points out what Jesus doesn’t say you should do. “He does not say ‘accuse him’ or ‘punish him’ or ‘take him to court.’ He says ‘correct him.’ … Help him see his indiscretion. Tell him what you have suffered from him.”

‘Where Two or Three Are Gathered, I Am in Their Midst’

%u2018Where%20Two%20or%20Three%20Are%20Gathered%2C%20I%20Am%20in%20Their%20Midst%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: Today’s Gospel makes two major points: the need for fraternal correction and the communal context of prayer and salvation. Jesus speaks about how to correct a brother. Before we even look at Jesus’ three-step process for fraternal correction, let’s first consider the concept of spiritual admonishment. We should consider it because it may seem alien to some modern ears. In saying how to correct a brother who wrongs you, Jesus clearly assumes that there is right and wrong and that someone can do the latter. He also assumes that the other brother recognizes there is right and wrong and that someone is committing the latter.

Nigerian seminarian Na’aman Danlami burned alive in attack on rectory

Nigerian seminarian burned alive in attack on rectoryDYIKUK: A Catholic seminarian was burnt to death during an attack on the rectory of his parish in north central Nigeria on Thursday night. Assailants stormed the rectory of St. Raphael parish in the Diocese of Kafanchan at around 8 p.m. Thursday night, diocesan officials said.

Defense of Pius XII reflects concern that Francis could be styled ‘Putin’s Pope’

Defense%20of%20Pius%20XII%20reflects%20concern%20that%20Francis%20could%20be%20styled%20%u2018Putin%u2019s%20Pope%u2019%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Yesterday Crux carried two stories which, at first blush, appear unrelated. The first concerned the latest Ukrainian backlash against Pope Francis’s praise of “Great Mother Russia,” while the second covered the discovery of a previously unnoticed bit of anti-fascist graffiti from the WWII years in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. Yet pushing beyond the headlines, the two stories do actually have something in common: To wit, they point to mounting concern among Pope Francis’s advisers and allies that just as his predecessor Pius XII has been pilloried as “Hitler’s Pope,” something similar could befall Francis down the line vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin.

In Historic First, Church Beatifies Entire Family at Once: Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and Seven Small Children, Martyred by Nazis in 1944

Ulma%20family%20beatified%20on%20a%20%u2018day%20of%20joy%u2019%20in%20Poland%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: On a “day of joy” in Poland, the Catholic Church on Sunday for the first time beatified an entire family at once: Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, who were martyred during World War II for sheltering two Jewish families from the Nazis. “It would be misleading if the day of the beatification of the Ulma family served only to bring back to memory the terror of the atrocities perpetrated by their executioners, on whom, by the way, the judgment of history already weighs heavily,” Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, said Sept. 10 in his homily at a beatification Mass attended by some 30,000 people in the family’s village of Markowa in southeastern Poland.

Major Morocco Earthquake Kills Over 1,000 People; Rescuers Dig for Survivors

Major earthquake in Morocco kills more than 1,000 | Catholic News Agency: Rescuers dug through rubble for survivors in collapsed houses in remote mountain villages of Morocco on Saturday, in the wake of the country's deadliest earthquake for more than six decades, which killed more than 1,000 people.

A modest proposal for synod punditry: The first accusation of ‘heresy’ or ‘rigidity’ loses

A%20modest%20proposal%20for%20synod%20punditry%3A%20First%20accusation%20of%20%u2018heresy%u2019%20or%20%u2018rigidity%u2019%20loses%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: In just under a month’s time, the curtain will go up on the first of two keenly anticipated Synods of Bishops on Synodality, often styled as Pope Francis’s own miniature version of the Second Vatican Council. The event is destined to draw extensive media coverage, most of which likely will focus on a narrow canon of issues (women clergy, married priests, transgender rights, same-sex unions, and so on) and will play up tensions and conflicts.

Watch this stunning mini documentary on the Ulma family

Watch this stunning mini documentary on the Ulma family: When the Ulma family beatification takes place Sept. 10 in Markowa, Poland, it will be an unprecedented event in many respects. For the first time in church history, a child born during the murder of the mother will be beatified, along with the child’s six siblings and parents, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma.

Pray that Mother Teresa guides the upcoming synod assembly

Pray%20the%20Synod%20Follows%20Mother%20Teresa%2C%20the%20G.O.A.T.%20at%20Accompaniment%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: The feast of Mother Teresa, St. Teresa of Kolkata, has me thinking of the Synod coming up in a month — and about Katie and Emily. In the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade last year, I talked to women who had had abortions. One was Emily Johnston, who has spent years serving women who are considering abortion. She still grieves the two children she aborted, and works hard to spare others her fate — others like Katie.

What is the Church?

On the Journey, Episode 128 - What is the Church? Part I - The Coming Home Network: When Ken and Kenny were Evangelical pastors, what did they mean by the word “Church?” When Matt was attending different congregations, how did he understand them in relation to one another? Where did each of them get these understandings of what “the Church” is and how it works? Matt, Ken and Kenny kick off the series by sharing the general ecclesiology of the Christian backgrounds each of them came from, and how they each began to see a need for a richer understanding of what Christ meant to do when he founded His Church.

Good times, good citizens, and the state of our skies

Good times, good citizens, and the state of our skiesCONDON: Representatives of the Syro-Malabar Church’s Synod of Bishops met yesterday with clergy opposed to the introduction of liturgical reforms. The meeting in Kochi, southern India, brought together members of a committee appointed by the synod — the Church’s governing body — and senior priests of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, who reject the new “uniform mode” of the Syro-Malabar Church’s Eucharistic liturgy. We shall see what, if any, tangible progress the new round of talks can make in what has become one of the most bitter and implacable disputes in the Church.

Pope Francis Meets ‘Rocky’ Actor Sylvester Stallone at the Vatican

Pope%20Francis%20meets%20%u2018Rocky%u2019%20actor%20Sylvester%20Stallone%20at%20Vatican%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: Pope Francis received U.S. actor and director Sylvester “Sly” Stallone at the Vatican on Friday morning. The “Rocky” actor met the pope in the Apostolic Palace together with his brother, actor and musician Frank Stallone; his wife, Jennifer Flavin; and their three daughters: Sophie, Sistine, and Scarlet.

From Duracell batteries to Starbucks coffee, here are 199 big brands hidden behind Costco’s Kirkland label...

Are These The Big Brands Hidden Behind Costco's Kirkland Label? | Investing Magazine: Costco is the place where dreams are made for any shopper with a keen eye for a bargain. From moms on the run to dads doing a quick grocery shop at the weekend, there’s something for everyone. For years, consumers have been buying Costco’s own Kirkland label thinking they were getting a good deal, but perhaps a slightly lower-quality product.

Are black holes really the vacuum-mouthed monsters, swallowing everything in the galaxy around them, they are often presented to be?

Do black holes really suck in matter? | Live Science: Despite a primary diet of gas and dust, black holes will consume anything that comes too close — meaning moons, planets and even stars are on the cosmic menu. But does this mean black holes greedily suck in everything around them, like cosmic vacuum cleaners, as commonly imagined? The answer is no. To feed and grow, black holes actually need a little luck, and a big, bright disk of matter around them.

Why did 58 nuns make a trip to the Whippy Dip ice cream stand in rural Michigan?

Why did dozens of religious sisters show up at this rural Michigan ice cream stand? | Catholic News AgencyBARILLAS: For some people, a refreshing ice cream treat on a scorching summer day is like a taste of heaven. All the more so perhaps if it’s in the company of dozens of joyful Catholic nuns. On Aug. 16, Merrill Dairy Bar — affectionately known as the Merrill Whippy Dip — in Merrill, Michigan, had the pleasure of hosting 58 members of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. The sisters were celebrating a postulant member’s profession of vows for religious life with Bishop Robert D. Gruss of Saginaw, near Lake Huron...

Documents Identify Thousands of Jews Hidden by Catholic Religious During Nazi Occupation of Rome

Documents identify thousands of Jews hidden by Catholic religious during Nazi occupation of Rome | Catholic News Agency: Research in the archive of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome has uncovered a list of the names of thousands of Jewish people who found shelter from Nazi persecution in Catholic religious congregations in Rome from 1943-1944.

If Robots and Deacons Confuse You, You’re Not Alone

If%20Robots%20and%20Deacons%20Confuse%20You%2C%20You%u2019re%20Not%20Alone%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterHELDT: Recently a dear friend of mine approached me at a parish event, laughingly saying she had just done something completely funny — and also completely embarrassing. This particular friend does indeed have a fabulous sense of humor and we’re always laughing together, so I leaned in to hear the story. It turns out that just moments before, she had been introduced to a couple she’d never met before...

Sisters of Life Give Hands and Hearts to a Quiet Revolution of Love

Sisters of Life Give Hands and Hearts to a Quiet Revolution of Love| National Catholic RegisterLEWIS: I converted to Catholicism 14 years ago. I have never regretted that decision. Quite the opposite: I have cherished it every day. I’m always conscious of the richness and beauty of the faith. I’m constantly amazed at its seemingly endless depth. I’m thrilled to be part of the Catholic journey. Despite serious medical issues that have occurred since conversion, I feel blessed. Then, occasionally, something happens that accelerates the love I feel for the Church. It always comes as a surprise … as it did recently.

If you didn’t know that Jimmy Buffett was raised Catholic, the last line of ‘Margaritaville’ is a dead giveaway...

Teresa%20of%20Avila%2C%20Good%20Pope%20John%20and%20%u2026%20Jimmy%20Buffett%3F%20-%20Catholic%20ReviewSCALIA: Too often lately, it feels like the offices from which we’ve historically taken our cues — our political and community leadership, the punditry, local authorities and even some church groups — are populated with unserious people who can’t rise to a moment. Those who aren’t peddling pure boilerplate and calling it constructive thought are offering endless scolds about how we should live, think and speak, and how, if things aren’t getting better, it’s because we’re not doing enough of the right things...

Leaders, Good and Otherwise

Leaders, Good and Otherwise - The Catholic ThingMAIER: The finest example of leadership in my life is someone who has also been my closest friend for the past five decades. Joe M. had a long and successful business career before retiring. But he learned how to lead in the Marine Corps. He commanded an infantry company on Vietnam’s DMZ in the late 1960s. Two of his sons also saw combat as Marine officers, and the Corps drilled into all three men that leadership is not about the ego of the leader. It’s about the common objective, obviously, but also about the men one leads, even the cranks and sluggards, because it’s their effort that matters and their blood at risk. It’s why, in the field, a Marine officer typically eats last. His men come first.