There’s more to the March for Life than politics

(3) Crossroads -- There's more to the March for Life than politicsMATTINGLY: It was a headline guaranteed to make the typical New York Times reader do a double take, if not gasp in shock. That headline proclaimed, “Undocumented Women Ask: Will My Unborn Child Be a Citizen?” Spot the heretical language? The key was that these “unborn children” were part of a designated victim group at the heart of Times coverage of President Donald Trump’s drive to increase the deportation of illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal records...

Catholics, Hippocrates, and reforming American medicine

Catholics, Hippocrates, and reforming American medicine | Denver CatholicWEIGEL: I am the odd man out in a family of medical folk. My maternal grandfather was a physician; his daughter, my mother, was a medical technologist; my mother-in-law, a nurse. My brother is a physician; so is one of my daughters, and so is her husband. An aunt was a registered nurse, and my niece is a hospital nutritionist...

How ‘Alive,’ the Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Andes, Provides Lessons in Hope in the Pope’s New Book

How%20the%20Harrowing%20Story%20of%20%u2018Alive%u2019%20Provides%20Lessons%20in%20Hope%20in%20Pope%u2019s%20New%20Book%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: In his new book Hope: The Autobiography, co-written by the Italian author Carlo Musso, Pope Francis gives a vivid and compelling account of an inspiring testimony to faith-filled hope and the power of the Rosary. It involves the story known as the “Miracle of the Andes,” a 1972 air crash in the Andes of Argentina that was retold in Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, a bestselling book by British Catholic author Piers Paul Read that was later made into a successful movie by the same name.

Before the Doorbell Rings: Inside Mormon Missionary Training

Before the Doorbell Rings: Inside Mormon Missionary Training| National Catholic RegisterFERRISI: Catholic college students gathered in Salt Lake City recently for the 2025 SEEK conference — an event organized by FOCUS, the largest U.S. organization sending Catholic missionaries to college campuses. Less than an hour south, in Provo, Utah, young members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly known as LDS or Mormons) train year-round in their faith and foreign languages before embarking on two-year missions.

How Don Bosco used reason, religion and kindness to turn students into saints

St. John Bosco and The Value of Spiritual Accountability | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The practice of holding a student accountable for his behavior is an action one would describe as normal and affirmed by most. As a student enters a classroom there is a certain presumed expectation that the teacher demonstrates responsible moral and civil behavior and that the student will follow suit. Any teaching environment by nature should invite a practice of ethical and moral responsibility from both student and teacher...

Catholic Priest at Crash Site of Deadly Midair Collision: ‘It Was My Duty’ to Be There

Catholic%20priest%20at%20crash%20site%20of%20deadly%20midair%20collision%3A%20%u2018It%20was%20my%20duty%u2019%20to%20be%20there%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: After the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, a local priest made his way to the scene “to be present” with the grieving families. Father Frederick Edlefsen, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Arlington, Virginia, shared about how he was able to be present to the families that night in an interview with Colm Flynn on “EWTN News Nightly.”

A Call to Prayer in the Wake of Midair Collision in DC

A Call to Prayer in the Wake of Midair Collision in DC| National Catholic RegisterVERRET: For frequent travelers — especially those who pass through Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. — the tragic news of lives lost last night brings a heavy weight. Each person who died was beloved by many — whether as a son, daughter, spouse, sibling, parent or friend. In our world of constant access to news, we often feel deeply connected to tragedies like this one. The images, videos and updates make it hard to distance ourselves from the sorrow. And while it’s not natural to view such heartbreak so often, it’s impossible to avoid. We live in a time where the reality of suffering is so close to home. But we know that God will give us the grace we need to carry our heavy hearts to him.

Vatican Office Clarifies Rules for Transferred Holy Days of Obligation

Vatican office clarifies rules for transferred holy days of obligation - OSV News: When a holy day of obligation falls on a Sunday and so is transferred to another day, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to attend Mass, but they are not obliged to do so, the Vatican said. The feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Dec. 8 fell on the Second Sunday of Advent in 2024 and so, in most dioceses around the world, the feast was transferred to Monday, Dec. 9. Some bishops in the United States insisted the faithful still had a moral obligation to attend Mass on the feast day while others issued a formal dispensation from the obligation.

That I Might Be Seen

That I Might Be Seen - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: The hard conversation with a loved one comes to an impasse. A welter of feelings resolves into one overriding pain: I don’t feel seen. In the end the greatest suffering is to be, or feel, alone. And to feel unseen is the very heart of loneliness. Josef Pieper significantly emphasized that we are ‘made to see,’ but it is just as true...

Making Christianity Weird Again

Making Christianity Weird Again - What We Need NowROWLAND: It’s rare for me to hold a fashionable position but I am delighted to be in the company of high-profile people, from the historian Tom Holland to Bishop Robert Barron and the authors Michael Frost and Nijay Gupta, who all recommend making Christianity “weird” again. For Catholics this means putting our way-laid ecclesial car into reverse...

USCCB immigration, Georgia martyrs, and Fat Tom?

USCCB immigration, Georgia martyrs, and Fat Tom?JDFLYNN: If you’re reading The Pillar, you already know a little bit about the Angelic Doctor, and the substantial contributions he made to Catholic theology and Western philosophy. You probably also know that for Thomas, theological and philosophical work was part of Christian discipleship — that he wanted to be close to the Lord Jesus Christ more than he wanted to win renown or accolades as an intellectual...

Hell is (no) other people

Hell%20is%20%28no%29%20other%20people%20%u2014%20Dappled%20ThingsSCHRAMM: Maybe the moment has passed for the philosophical concept known as solipsism. Maybe its cultural impact was all in my head. However, I still remember recently getting questions from students that revolve around this issue. There’d even be an occasional tweet or tik-tok video about it, though certainly nothing like it was in the subsequent years after the first Matrix movie. The idea in question, solipsism, says that everything you see as real is just a projection of your own mind.

What Books Should You Read?

What Books Should You Read?| National Catholic RegisterDEMARCO: I grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, a city steeped in history and shaped by the rise and fall of its cotton textile industry. By 1920, Fall River had become the largest textile-producing center in the United States, ushering in a period of great prosperity. From that era came magnificent Catholic churches, beautiful government buildings, and an architectural gem that was the public library...

New Vatican document ‘Antiqua et Nova’ examines potential and risks of AI

New Vatican document examines potential and risks of AI - Vatican NewsCERNUZIO: The Pope’s warnings about Artificial Intelligence in recent years provide the outline for “Antiqua et Nova,” the “Note on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence,” that offers the results of a mutual reflection between the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education. The new document is addressed especially...

What Would St. Thomas Aquinas Say About Artificial Intelligence?

What Would Thomas Aquinas Make of AI?| National Catholic RegisterWIMMER: What would Thomas Aquinas think of artificial intelligence (AI), and what does a large language model think of Thomas Aquinas? According to one German theologian, the Catholic saint and doctor of the Church can contribute to contemporary discussions about AI’s risks and its role in society.

Is migration padding the USCCB ‘bottom line’? Let’s take a look at the numbers...

Is%20migration%20padding%20the%20USCCB%20%u2018bottom%20line%u2019%3FHODGE: With only one week completed in a second Trump term term, the White House has already found itself in a battle of words with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops — with the bishops criticizing Trump’s goals and politics on immigration, and bishops pushing back.

Cardinal Cipriani, former archbishop of Lima, denies abuse but Vatican says disciplinary measures remain in force

Cardinal Cipriani denies abuse, confirms disciplinary measuresCOPPEN: After Vatican restrictions emerged Saturday on a Peruvian cardinal’s ministry, the cardinal claimed they were lifted by Pope Francis, and that a 2018 allegation of sexual abuse against him was false. But the Vatican said Sunday that that Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani remains subject to binding written restrictions on his ministry, with only a few exceptions given in limited circumstances.

Jesus wants to meet you in the confessional. Do not doubt his love and mercy and power to forgive you there...

The Importance of Confession | Parishable ItemsFELTES: You may have heard of the Precepts of the Church. I like to think of these rules as prescriptions for medicines which Mother Church absolutely insists her children take for our spiritual health. The Third Precept listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church may strike some people as odd: “You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.” Why is this a rule?

America’s Newest Saints: Pope Recognizes Martyrdom of 5 Franciscans Killed in Georgia in 1597

Pope clears way for beatification of Georgia martyrs - OSV News: Pope Francis has formally recognized that five Franciscan missionaries ministering in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia were killed for their faith. By signing the decree in the sainthood cause of the Georgia martyrs Jan. 27, the pope cleared the way for their beatification, although a date for the ceremony was not announced immediately.

80 Years After Auschwitz’s Liberation: ‘I Ask You Only to Remember’

80%20years%20after%20Auschwitz%u2019s%20liberation%3A%20%u2018I%20ask%20you%20only%20to%20remember%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Jan. 27 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Each year, the camp survivors are fewer in number, and as their testimony and witness remain, the importance of Auschwitz endures. In 2024, more than 1.8 million visitors passed through its gates.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Do We Sense the Unique Authority With Which Jesus of Nazareth Speaks?’

Pope at Angelus: Jubilee an opportunity to renew our encounter with Christ - Vatican News: At the Angelus on the Sunday of the Word of God, Pope Francis reflects on how this Jubilee Year is an opportunity for Christians to acknowledge our need for salvation and renew our encounter with Christ.

The pope who was inaugurated by a bird

(3) The pope who was inaugurated by a bird - by Matthew SewellSEWELL: Fabian was a farmer by trade, having been born likely somewhere around the turn of the 3rd Century. He was also a layman, but other than that next to nothing is known about his prior life. After the death of Pope St. Anterus, in 236 AD, Fabian traveled into Rome from his farm outside the city, with a handful of others, to attend the election to select a new pope...

What responses to the LA fires can teach us in the Year of Hope

What responses to the LA fires can teach us in the Year of HopeSCALIA: How could there not be enough water available to fire hydrants? Why are controlled fires and routine brush clearing not part of normal maintenance in such a fire-prone area? Who will be held accountable for lapses in fire preparedness and crisis readiness? The questions came fast, and they were furious, as we all watched one of the most beautiful, desirable living spaces in the United States...

Wisdom From the Ashes: A Family Reflects on Losing Their Home in a Wildfire

Wisdom%20From%20the%20Ashes%3A%20A%20Family%20Reflects%20on%20Losing%20Their%20Home%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20HomeMERING: In 2017, the Thomas Fire tore through Ventura County, CA, raging from the mountains of Santa Paula, through the town, and westward into Ventura, hopscotching through neighborhoods and leaving devastation in its wake. Among the hundreds of families who lost their homes were Jess and Nathan Haggard, along with their eight children...

Fighting the Clutter in Our Hearts

Fighting%20the%20Clutter%20in%20Our%20Hearts%20%u2013%20Theology%20of%20Home: New Year’s resolutions spark hope, no matter how many times we fail, no matter how old we get. Hope for change, hope for renewal. St. Augustine writes, “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are and Courage to see that they don’t remain as they are.” Our most frequently confessed sin can be the inspiration for resolution.

What do Dune, Hunger Games and Dracula all have in common?

New Book! What does Dune, Hunger Games, and Dracula, all have in common? - Voyage ComicsKOSLOSKI: God is the supreme Storyteller and every time we create a story, we participate in the larger Story He created. On occasion even non-Christian authors can tap into that reality whenever they communicate a narrative that points to what is true, good, and beautiful. Today we’d like to introduce you all to our latest Voyage Compass book...

The Mass Is the Foretaste of Eternity

The Liturgy: Foretaste of Eternity - Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LCSCHNEIDER: Every week or every day, we attend Mass or Divine Liturgy, and it is largely the same. The Eucharistic prayer is just one of a few options, a lot of other prayers like the introductory and Communion rite are always the same. I generally like change and difference: I like a podcast that keeps a consistent format, but I don’t like listening to an episode again...

Father Carlos Martins Faces Misdemeanor Charge After Illinois Church Incident

Father Carlos Martins faces misdemeanor charge after church incident | Catholic News Agency: Authorities investigating a sharply disputed incident at a talk given at an Illinois Catholic church by Father Carlos Martins have filed a misdemeanor battery charge against the well-known exorcist, relic expert, and podcaster, who denies the allegation.

South Carolina Freemasons Announce Jan. 19 Induction of Joe Biden, Raising Questions of Canonical Penalties

Did Joe Biden join the Freemasons?CONDON: An announcement surfaced online Friday from the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Lodge Freemasonry stating that the Grand Lodge of South Carolina had conferred membership on President Joe Biden. According to the announcement, dated Jan. 19 — the day before Biden left office — the president was granted a “resolution of membership” by the lodge in recognition of his “exceptional dedication and service to the United States”...

The problem with pluralism: Politics unguided by truth

The problem with pluralism: Politics unguided by truth | Catholic CultureMIRUS: In the way we most often use the term, pluralism means “a condition or system in which two or more sets of principles or sources of authority coexist by design.” But since no cohesive society can function peacefully without common rules and behavioral expectations, all pluralist societies must suppose the enforcement of some set of overarching common principles within which differences which do not destroy the common good...

No, the ERA is not part of the Constitution. But why not?

No, the ERA is not part of the Constitution. But why not? | Catholic CultureLAWLER: In his last few weeks of hyperactivity before leaving the White House, Joe Biden issued one particularly bizarre statement, declaring—in a post on X (Twitter)—that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is now the law of the land. It isn’t, of course. The outgoing president’s declaration was one more indication of his addled thinking. But before this strange episode is forgotten...

The Way to Make Abortion Unthinkable Is to Wipe Out Feminism

The Way To Make Abortion Unthinkable Is To Wipe Out FeminismGRESS: Like so many other pro-lifers, I always thought that the real enemy we were fighting was Roe vs. Wade and once it was gone, a pro-life America could be restored. A few years out from the Dobbs decision, most pro-lifers have woken up to the fact that overturning Roe wasn’t the silver bullet we had hoped for. Over the last few years, we have watched as state after state has adopted radical abortion policies, with only a few victories in the most recent November elections.

What Does the Bible Teach About Righteous Anger?

What%20Does%20the%20Bible%20Teach%20About%20Righteous%20Anger%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: It’s easy to be angry in today’s world. Between the dishonesty in our politics, the corruption in our Church, and the incendiary effects of social media, many of us find ourselves feeling exasperated and indignant about one thing or other on a weekly or even daily basis. When living in this kind of toxic climate, we often start neglecting the incisive words of Scripture:

Jesus changes everything. So what about our wealth?

Jesus Changes Everything: What About Wealth? | Church Life Journal | University of Notre DameHAUERWAS: To be rich and a disciple of Jesus is to have a problem. Christians have often tried to deal with this by arguing that it is not what we possess that is the problem but our attitude toward what we possess. Some recommend, for example, that we learn to possess what we possess as if it were not really ours. This means we must always be ready to give out of our abundance or even to lose all that we have...

5 Takeaways From This Sunday, When We Receive the Word of God in Holy Communion

This%20Sunday%2C%20We%20Receive%20the%20Word%20of%20God%20in%20Communion%3B%205%20Third%20Sunday%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus, the incarnate God, bursts onto the world stage in a new way in the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent Year C. He has already made some spectacular entrances. He had a birthday celebrated by angels and exotic magi, he was hailed by prophets as a baby in the Temple and by the actual voice of God beside the Jordan at his Baptism...

Why You Should Visit a Monastery

Why You Should Visit a Monastery | Denver CatholicSTAUDT: In his Rule, St. Benedict remarks that a monastery is never without guests. Though he wrote this line 1,500 years ago, the monastery remains alluring even for modern visitors. The monks leave the normal course of the world behind to seek first the Kingdom of God. But the world has a way of coming to see what they’re up to, enjoying visits as an oasis from the loud and busy bustle of life...

How the Pro-Life Generation Is Redefining ‘Unthinkable’

How%20the%20Pro-Life%20Generation%20Is%20Redefining%20%u2018Unthinkable%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: I’ve gone to many Marches for Life since my first in 1975. Two things that have struck me positively: it’s more ecumenical and it’s growing younger. That it’s growing younger is not just a reverse mirror of me getting older. There are more young people there. Nor is it “compulsory attendance on a field trip” from Catholic schools...

UK Study: The number of children who think they’re the ‘wrong gender’ has surged 50-fold in just 10 years

Children%20who%20think%20they%u2019re%20the%20wrong%20gender%20surges%2050-fold%20in%20a%20decade%2C%20study%20finds: Research suggests there has been a 50-fold rise in children who think they are the wrong gender in just 10 years. Analysis of GP records suggests there were 10,000 diagnoses of gender dysphoria in England in 2021 – up from fewer than 200 cases in 2011. The University of York study shows a sharp rise in the number of girls with such concerns, with twice as many cases as in boys.

The Life and Legacy of the Newly-Retired Christoph Cardinal Schönborn

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn: A Theologian at the Service of the Catholic Faith| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: For more than 30 years, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna has been at the center of the Church’s life — far beyond the confines of Austria. His retirement this week at age 80 marks the end of a long ecclesial service closely associated with Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. During the pontificate of Pope Francis, Cardinal Schönborn argued for reading Francis in continuity with Benedict. His arguments did not persuade those who saw a rupture and earned Cardinal Schönborn critics among his former admirers.

We Must Be Crazy, Who’s the Boss, and Star Children

We%20must%20be%20crazy%2C%20who%u2019s%20the%20boss%2C%20and%20star%20childrenCONDON: Today is, of course, the annual March for Life here in Washington. For a generation of us born and raised after Roe v. Wade, seeing the end to that Supreme Court decision was the lodestar of the pro-life movement. It was, for many of us, the reason we marched; opposing it was the mission, the practical purpose of being “pro-life” in America. But Roe is gone now. And, following the last election...

Crowds Arrive at National Mall in Washington, DC, for 52nd Annual March for Life

March for Life 2025: Live updates | Catholic News Agency: The 52nd annual March for Life is taking place in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 24. Thousands of pro-lifers are coming together in our nation’s capitol to march in defense of the unborn. Follow along here for live updates on the march...

Grace and Charity: St. Francis de Sales’ Blueprint for Evangelization

An effective Missionary must be able to demonstrate the Catholic faith in love. | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: An important physical characteristic all human beings possess is the ability to communicate whether through sound, silence, or physical gesture. The nature of our human ability to express ourselves to someone or about something involves I argue an explanation of the message conveyed and a demonstration of how the message is to be lived...

Trump Pardons 23 Pro-Life Activists Imprisoned for Peaceful Abortion Protests

Trump pardons 23 pro-life activists | Catholic News Agency: President Donald Trump issued pardons for 23 pro-life activists on Thursday, fulfilling a promise he made during the presidential campaign. Trump signed the pardons on Thursday in the Oval Office of the White House on the day before the March for Life to be held in Washington, D.C., according to the Thomas More Society.

‘Sins of the flesh’ may lack ‘angelicality’ but they are hurting the Vatican

%u2018Sins%20of%20the%20flesh%u2019%20may%20lack%20%u2018angelicality%u2019%20but%20they%20are%20hurting%20the%20Vatican%20%7C%20CruxCOLLINS: One of the more interesting passages in Pope Francis’s television interview on Sunday was his statement that sins of the flesh are less damaging than “angelic” sins, such as lying or committing fraud. Speaking to Italian journalist Fabio Fazio on the show Che Tempo Che Fa, Francis said the “most serious sins” are those of which angels are capable.

An imperfect male’s guide to successful married life

An%20imperfect%20male%u2019s%20guide%20to%20successful%20married%20life%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: A few days ago, I reviewed Eduard Habsburg’s guide to successful married life (The Habsburgs on marriage and family). Today I offer ten rules drawn from my own experience and reflection. It’s not rocket science; not everybody needs to read a book to figure it out. But it does take thought, prayer and self-discipline to turn all of the points below into the strong habits that create good marriages. I divide my rules into two groups of five, each with its own heading...

Trump Ends Policy of Treating Churches as ‘Sensitive Locations’ for Immigration Raids

Trump%20ends%20policy%20of%20treating%20churches%20as%20%u2018sensitive%20locations%u2019%20for%20immigration%20raids%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald Trump this week rescinded Biden-era guidelines that previously required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to seek their superior’s approval before arresting people at or near “sensitive locations” such as churches, hospitals, or schools.

After Noteworthy Career, Cardinal Schönborn Exits

After noteworthy career, Cardinal Schoenborn exitsCOPPEN: As Cardinal Christoph Schönborn celebrated his 80th birthday Wednesday, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, as expected. A brief line in the Holy See press office’s daily bulletin marked the end of an era not only for Vienna’s Catholics but perhaps also for the Church in Europe...

Jordan Peterson Explores the Biblical Stories That Shape Our Culture

Jordan Peterson Explores the Biblical Stories That Shape Our Culture - Word on FireKACZOR: We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine is a big book. The #1 New York Times bestseller by Jordan Peterson is large in terms of length (544 pages) and vast in intellectual scope. Peterson addresses the biblical stories that shape narratives of our culture from Hamlet to Wicked, from Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov to Disney’s Lion King. In We Who Wrestle with God...

Open Doors: Why We All Should Be Concerned About Online Predators

(3) Open doors into the bedrooms of kids - by tmattMATTINGLY: Here we go again. Faithful Rational Sheep readers will, it’s safe to say, have noticed the many times I have mentioned a small, but powerful, book that I read in the early 1980s while doing graduate work in mass communications at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. One of the big ideas in that book is that way too many parents allow screens to raise their children...

Where Did the Rosary Come From? Here’s the Case for St. Dominic

Where%20Did%20the%20Rosary%20Come%20From%3F%20Here%u2019s%20the%20Case%20for%20St.%20Dominic%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMCAFEE: I have a little bit of a bone to pick. I think it’s well-established that the Holy Rosary has a few different origin stories and some of them are downright off, contradictory, or are really a lazy attempt to fill in the history where we find blanks. Let’s start with the basic version: Modern books love to tell a charming tale about illiterate laypeople who, unable to read the 150 psalms monks recited daily...

Sneauxmageddon: How the South Turned a Snowstorm Into a Celebration

Sneauxmageddon: How the South Turned a Snowstorm Into a Celebration| National Catholic RegisterVERRET: Folks from the Deep South often look at old black-and-white photographs from 1895 and talk about the time the Gulf Coast was blanketed in snow. But no one alive today could tell you exactly what it was like — until this week. Thanks to social media and the news, we’re all flooded with fun reels, photos and stories of families playing in the snow. Cajuns are cutting capers in pirogues (basically kayaks) pulled by ATVs...

Is the Vatican’s China deal making progress on a road to nowhere?

Is%20the%20Vatican%u2019s%20China%20deal%20making%20progress%20on%20a%20road%20to%20nowhere%3FCONDON: The Holy See announced Monday the suppression of a Chinese mainland diocese and the creation of another, along with the consecration of the new see’s first bishop. The announcements bundled two decisions made by Pope Francis regarding diocesan territory last year along with the installation of the new bishop, which took place on January 20.

Joe Biden: When ‘The Last Hurrah’ Met Catholic Lite

Joe Biden: When The Last Hurrah met Catholic Lite | Denver CatholicWEIGEL: Four years ago, this column praised the courage of Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles, then-president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), for his Inauguration Day letter to President Joe Biden. In an entirely respectful tone, the archbishop pledged the bishops’ support for the president’s goal of healing our divided country while raising concerns about the abortion license as “a matter of social justice.” Americans, Archbishop Gómez wrote...

We Need Winter in Our Life, for These 2 Reasons

2 Gifts of Winter - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Many today yearn to live closer to ‘nature:’ a term, nay, a reality with many rich, diverse aspects. From primitive diets and organic farming to bare foot shoes, cold showers and breastfeeding, trends indicate a growing sense that nature, and particularly human nature, gives more direction for life than we have recognized. In this vein, living according to seasons is worth our consideration, especially in the heart of winter.

Nigerian Christian Survivor of Terrorism: ‘Pray for Boko Haram, That Jesus Will Reveal Himself to Their Hearts’

Christian%20survivor%20of%20terrorism%3A%20%u2018Pray%20for%20Boko%20Haram%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A Nigerian woman whose husband was killed by Boko Haram in 2014 has asked for prayers for persecuted Christians and for the terrorist group, “that they will be saved, that Jesus will reveal himself to their heart, so that they will repent.”

Why biological truth is the key to our new politics

Why biological truth is the key to our new politicsBRISCOE: One Sunday morning, two of my uncles – then teenagers – were waiting for my grandmother to head to Mass. They stood in the garage and decided to do a “Three Stooges” style slapstick routine. The one brandished a shovel and promised to swing it hard but to stop it just in front of his brother’s face. He didn’t stop the shovel. Bleeding profusely, they tried to cover the injury, knowing my grandmother would be furious to miss church...

The Monks, the nNews, and ‘Pardon Us’

The%20monks%2C%20the%20news%2C%20and%20%u2018pardon%20us%u2019JDFLYNN: Today is the feast of St. Meinrad, and you’re reading The Tuesday Pillar Post. Meinrad himself was a German monk who lived like a hermit, drew pilgrims who came to seek his wisdom, and was killed by two robbers who believed mistakenly that the monk had a chest of wealth left behind by pilgrims who visited him.

Sodalitium Confirms Its Suppression After News of It Leaks With No Vatican Confirmation

Sodalitium confirms its suppression after news of it leaks with no Vatican confirmation - OSV News: The controversial lay movement Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was forced to confirm news that it was suppressed by Pope Francis after two of its members leaked the news to a Catholic news outlet. In a statement released Jan. 20, the movement said the news site, Infovaticana, “published the news that the Holy Father had dissolved our society of apostolic life” and that while it was true, its article “contained several inaccuracies.”

Brooklyn’s Father Frank Mann chosen to pray at inauguration after ‘unlikely’ friendship with President Trump

Brooklyn%20priest%20Father%20Francis%20Mann%20to%20pray%20at%20inauguration%20after%20%u2018unlikely%u2019%20friendship%20with%20President%20Trump%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn who has been asked to pray at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump is describing the experience — which includes a personal friendship with the president — as “mind-boggling.”

Seven planets are lining up in the sky next month. This is what it really means...

Seven planets are lining up in the sky next month. This is what it really means: Stargazers will be treated to a rare alignment of seven planets on 28 February when Mercury joins six other planets that are already visible in the night sky. Here's why it matters to scientists. Peer up at the sky on a clear night this January and February and you could be in for a treat. Six planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – are currently visible in the night sky. During just one night in late February, they will be joined by Mercury, a rare seven-planet alignment visible in the sky.

Pope Francis appoints Austin, Texas, Bishop Joe Vásquez as archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Pope Francis appoints Austin, Texas, Bishop Joe Vasquez as archbishop of Galveston-Houston | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: In an important move for the Catholic Church in Texas on Monday, Pope Francis named Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez to replace 75-year-old Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. DiNardo, who was made a cardinal in 2007 and who led the U.S. bishops’ conference as president from 2016–2019, turned 75 — the standard retirement age for Catholic bishops — in May 2024.

Pope Francis Invokes Blessings on US as President Trump Begins His Second Term

Pope Francis Invokes Blessings on US as President Trump Begins His Second Term| National Catholic RegisterWIMMER: Pope Francis sent a message to Donald Trump on the occasion of his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, offering prayers for “wisdom, strength and protection” in the exercise of his duties and invoking blessings upon the “beloved American people.” In the message, released by the Holy See Press Office on Jan. 20, the Pontiff expressed hope that under Trump’s leadership...

When Was the Bible Divided Into Chapter and Verse?

When%20Was%20the%20Bible%20Divided%20Into%20Chapter%20and%20Verse%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: As modern-day readers, we’re so accustomed to the ideas of chapter and verse that we can barely imagine the Bible without them. But as it happens, it took over a thousand years for Christians to divide the books of Scripture into bite-sized sections; and the Jewish people were using a chapterless, verseless Old Testament long before that!

Sing to Me, Muse, of the Man

Sing to Me, Muse, of the Man - The Catholic ThingMAIER: Back in my years as a religion news editor (1978-93), one of my self-imposed penances was reading The Nation. A taste for diversity, we’re told, is a good thing. And at the time, the magazine was remarkably “diverse,” at least in its own peculiar way. It had a wide variety of outrage from the bitter Left, curated by a tribe of unhappy, closet Stalinists...

Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman: 10 Things to Know About the Fighting Irish Coach and His Faith

Notre%20Dame%u2019s%20Marcus%20Freeman%3A%2010%20Things%20to%20Know%20About%20the%20Fighting%20Irish%20Coach%20and%20His%20Faith%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: Marcus Freeman is one of the biggest names in college football right now — not just because the Notre Dame head coach has led the Fighting Irish to the brink of its first national championship since 1988, but because of how he has done it. Over his three years as head coach, Freeman, 39, has established a culture at Notre Dame grounded in humility, doing things right and developing the whole person — including the faith lives of his players.

Pope Francis to Suppress Sodalitium Christianae Vitae; Formal Vatican Announcement Expected Monday

Vatican to suppress Sodalitium Christianae Vitae: The Vatican is expected to formally suppress next week the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Peruvian-based religious community, after a 2023 papally-ordered investigation into the community and several years of Vatican-ordered reform efforts.

Does Your Parish Ring Tower Bells at Mass? The National Catholic Register Wants to Hear From You!

Does Your Parish Ring Tower Bells at Mass? The Register Wants to Hear From You!| National Catholic RegisterPRONECHEN: For centuries, the sound of church bells has called the faithful to prayer, not just before Mass but during its holiest moments. Beginning in the late 12th century, many churches rang their tower bells at the consecration and during the elevation of the Host. The practice served as both a sign of reverence and a summons to adoration — a reminder for those inside the church and those working nearby to pause and offer praise to Our Lord.

Go Beyond the Gurus: Here Are 2 Principles of a Higher Approach to Self-Care

Self-Care: 2 Principles of a Higher Approach - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Popular trends today reveal that human nature is always ‘at work’ in people, inclining us toward various good things. At the same time, these trends can illustrate how misconceptions and disordered desires can taint or pervert such good inclinations. A growing emphasis of ‘self-care’ can be a case a point—and an important one in this time of new year resolutions.

5 Takeaways from This Sunday’s Gospel, the Wedding Feast at Cana

This%20Sunday%2C%20the%20Bridegroom%20Transforms%20Us%3B%20Five%20Takeaways%20from%20the%20Wedding%20at%20Cana%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: It is significant that the great public revelation about who Jesus is starts with Mary. The Blessed Mother is the center of the scene. She initiates his miracle with four words to him: “They have no wine.” Christ’s response — “My hour has not yet come” — is a reference to the fact, seemingly well known to both mother and son, that to reveal his glory will lead to “his hour” — his death...

Vatican City Cracks Down on People ‘Evading Border Controls’ — plus 10 Rules for a Young Man on a First Date

Take it all, all are welcome, and manners maketh manCONDON: I am enthralled to the father of monasticism, for a number of reasons. Of course, there is his great theological contribution to combating Arianism. And his popularization of the ascetic life is unparalleled in its effect on the life of the Church — he effectively created an entire new spiritual lung, which is still sustaining the Church through prayer and spiritual combat. But what I love most about St. Anthony is the innocent literalism with which he heard and responded to the words of Christ...

How Pictures of Mary Led an Atheist to Jesus

How Pictures of Mary Led an Atheist to Jesus| National Catholic RegisterTURLEY: Two decades ago, Sally Read was an award-winning poet, an outspoken feminist as well as a vehemently anti-Catholic atheist. Then, unexpectedly, in 2010, she converted to Catholicism. Subsequently, six years later, she published her acclaimed spiritual memoir about that faith journey: Night’s Bright Darkness: A Modern Conversion Story. She has since published books on theology and poetry.

Cardinal Fernández: New Vatican Document on AI Coming ‘Later This Month,’ With ‘Other Works in Progress’

Cardinal%20Fern%E1ndez%3A%20New%20AI%20Document%20Expected%20Soon%2C%20%u2018Other%20Works%20in%20Progress%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is currently preparing documents on a variety of subjects beginning with one on artificial intelligence (AI) written in collaboration with the Dicastery for Education and Culture. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the Register Jan. 15 that the document on AI will be published “at the end of the month.”

What Should Catholics Believe About UFOs?

New Advent: What Should Catholics Believe About UFOs?: How should Catholics think about UFOs? How can the Church respond to evolving scientific discoveries? What are the boundaries for Catholic belief? The McGrath Institute for Church Life is proud to present "Edge of Belief: UFOs, Technology and The Catholic Imagination," a documentary short that explores the outer limits of belief. This film features interviews with Notre Dame theology professors, scientists, and renowned Orthodox iconographer ‪Jonathan Pageau...

Rare video (with sound) of meteorite striking Earth caught on doorbell camera

Sound of meteorite striking Earth caught on doorbell camera: A doorbell camera has captured the remarkable moment a meteorite struck the ground outside a home, scattering dust and producing audible impact sounds—a historic first, according to University of Alberta scientist Chris Herd. In July 2024, Laura Kelly and her partner Joe discovered the rock outside their home on Prince Edward Island, Canada, marking the province's first recorded meteorite fall...

Pope Francis Suffers Bruised Arm But ‘No Fractures’ After Falling at Casa Santa Marta

Vatican: Pope Francis suffers bruised arm from fall | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: The Vatican said Thursday that Pope Francis had suffered a “contusion” on his right forearm after falling at his residence that same morning. While the arm was not fractured in the accident, it was braced “as a precautionary measure,” the brief communication said. Pope Francis’ arm, tied up in a white sling, was visible in photos taken on the morning of Jan. 16 in the apostolic palace during his scheduled audiences.

Confirmed: The corruption Pope Francis chose not to expose

Confirmed: the corruption Pope Francis chose not to expose | Catholic CultureLAWLER: This week, with the publication of his new book, Pope Francis has added one important link to the chain of evidence regarding the fight against Vatican corruption. In April 2012, Pope Benedict created a special commission of three senior cardinals (Herranz, Tomko, and DeGiorgi) to investigate the nasty Vatican infighting that had resulted in the leaking of confidential documents that was quickly dubbed the “Vatileaks” scandal...

In Deal Arranged by Vatican, Cuba Frees 553 Prisoners After Biden Removes It From State Sponsors of Terrorism List

Biden administration will remove Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism: Cuba freed 553 political prisoners Tuesday after an announcement by the Biden administration that it was removing Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list and taking other “goodwill” actions.

Theology of Geography: Jesus’ Baptism Site Brims With Significance

Theology%20of%20Geography%3A%20Jesus%u2019%20Baptism%20Site%20Brims%20With%20Significance%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: The Baptism of the Lord Jesus teaches us something about the theology of geography. There are many places where water for baptism could be found in the land of Israel. Why was Jesus baptized by John in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea? Biblical geography was highlighted last week as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, consecrated a new church at the Al-Maghtas site...

Donkeys and ‘Space’

Donkeys%20and%20%u2018space%u2019JDFLYNN: In the Church’s contemporary calendar, today is Tuesday in the First Week of Ordinary Time, a relatively unremarkable liturgical date. But in medieval France, January 14 was something altogether different: it was the day on which Catholics celebrated the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt — and celebrated the donkey who took the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Jesus himself, to safety. On the Feast of the Ass, as it was known, French cities held festivals and dramatic pageants...

John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ is deeply opposed to Christian hope — and the sacred purpose of a church

'Imagine' replaces hope in the Resurrection with secular dreamsBRISCOE: As Catholics, we understand that music can elevate the soul and express profound and saving truth. But music can also promote troubling philosophies when chosen without discernment. That’s why hearing John Lennon’s “Imagine” performed by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood during Jimmy Carter’s funeral at the National Cathedral struck such a tragic chord. (The same duo performed the song at former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral just over a year ago.)

Priest in Spain accused of hate crime for caring for soul of parishioner (or as The Telegraph puts it, ‘banning gay mayor from Mass’)

Church%20accused%20of%20hate%20crime%20after%20%u2018banning%20gay%20mayor%20from%20mass%u2019: Spain’s Catholic Church has been accused of a hate crime after a gay mayor claimed that he had been banned from receiving communion by his priest. Rubén García de Andrés, the Socialist mayor of Torrecaballeros, near Segovia, posted on X that the village priest had barred him from holy communion “for my sexual orientation and for living with my partner”.

Italian Bishops: Reports of Change to ‘Gay Seminarian Policy’ Are Fake News

Italian%20bishops%3A%20%u2018gay%20seminarian%20policy%u2019%20reports%20are%20fake%20news: The Italian bishops’ conference told The Pillar Monday that its recently published norms do not change the Church's policy on homosexuality and seminary formation. The episcopal conference spoke after worldwide reporting on its norms last week claimed that Italy's bishops had taken steps toward the priestly ordination of men who identify as gay and broken with Vatican policy.

Exorcists’ Group Issues 9 Warnings Against Sensationalism, ‘Healing the Family Tree,’ Other Errors and Abuses

Exorcists: 9 practices to avoid when fighting the devil | Catholic News Agency: The International Association of Exorcists has expressed concern over several erroneous practices, including those carried out by some priests, which confuse the faithful who seek help when possibly facing extraordinary actions of the devil. The association, which has some 900 exorcist members worldwide, issued its warning in a Jan. 6 article on the organization’s website in order to...

Farm Boy, Exorcist, Archbishop: Milwaukee’s New Shepherd Aims to ‘Keep It Real’

Farm%20Boy%2C%20Exorcist%2C%20Archbishop%3A%20Milwaukee%u2019s%20New%20Shepherd%20Aims%20to%20%u2018Keep%20It%20Real%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: Perhaps it was an upbringing exposed to life and death on a Wisconsin dairy farm. Or maybe it’s the experience of being an exorcist in the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly two decades. Whatever the case, when Archbishop-designate Jeffrey Grob found out this past fall that Pope Francis wanted him to be the next shepherd of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, he took the news in stride.

The Catholic Roots of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Catholic Roots of the Presidential Medal of Freedom| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Careful observers of papal-presidential relations were mildly surprised when President Joe Biden did not include Pope Francis in his final list of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients on Jan. 4. Alongside the Congressional Gold Medal, which is voted upon by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Not ordinary bread, please, but the Bread of Life

Not ordinary bread, please, but the Bread of Life | Catholic CultureMIRUS: One of the most encouraging recent news stories is this one: “Philadelphia archbishop launches plan for ‘missionary hubs’. Without intending an excessively invidious comparison, I will mention that many dioceses place a great deal of emphasis on their programs for materially assisting those who are materially poor, but far fewer seem to emphasize their programs for spiritually assisting those who are spiritually poor...

What Are Some Good Bible Study Tools for Catholics?

What%20Are%20Some%20Good%20Bible%20Study%20Tools%20for%20Catholics%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: It’s often said that Catholics don’t know the Bible very well, but this isn’t entirely accurate. The truth is that Catholics who regularly attend Mass are often a lot more well versed in the Scriptures than they realize. Although we still have a lot to learn from our Protestants brothers and sisters about the value of memorizing Sacred Scripture...

‘If I Could Save Just One Thing, Let It Be This’: LA Fire Captain Finds Tabernacle With Blessed Sacrament Inside Burned-Out Pacific Palisades Church

LA Fire captain finds tabernacle inside burned Catholic church: Four days after Corpus Christi Church was incinerated in the Palisades fire, Captain Bryan Nassour of the Los Angeles Fire Department picked his way over a six-foot layer of rubble in the ashen bones of the sanctuary and recovered the tabernacle. “I did it because the whole community has been decimated — it looks like a nuclear bomb has gone off and nothing is standing,” said Nassour, a member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks, whose brother belongs to Corpus Christi.

Inside Germany’s $50 Million Miniature World — a Jaw-Droppingly Detailed Scale Model Covering 370 Acres

New%20Advent%3A%20Inside%20Germany%u2019s%20%2450%20Million%20Miniature%20World%20%u2014%20a%20Jaw-Droppingly%20Detailed%20Scale%20Model%20Covering%20370%20Acres: There’s a 16-km-long model railway, which, if combined, could scale two Mount Everests or circle the globe 26 times...

Beatification Cause of Sister Clare Crockett, Young Irish Sister Killed in 2016 Ecuador Earthquake, Opened in Spain

Sister%20Clare%20Crockett%u2019s%20beatification%20cause%20opens%20in%20Spain%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The beatification cause of Sister Clare Crockett, an inspirational young Irish religious sister who died in 2016, formally opened Sunday with a ceremony at the Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid, Spain. The ceremony marked the beginning of the diocesan phase of the process, in which an elected tribunal will investigate her life, virtues, and reputation for holiness.

Chapel onboard historic Italian three-masted naval ship ‘Amerigo Vespucci’ designated a Jubilee church

Chapel onboard historic Italian naval ship designated a Jubilee church - OSV News: The Italian naval ship “Amerigo Vespucci,” currently completing its global tour, has been designated a Jubilee church for the Holy Year 2025, transforming its onboard chapel into a pilgrimage destination at sea. The ship, a three-masted sailing ship that dates back to 1931 and is named after the 15th-century Italian explorer for whom “America” is named, has been touring the world as a cultural ambassador for Italy since July 2023.

The First Jubilee and the Last Medieval Pope

The First Jubilee and the Last Medieval Pope - The Catholic Thing: The first jubilee was the result of popular piety that found papal approbation. In 1299, word spread across Europe that the pilgrims to St. Peter’s tomb would receive a plenary indulgence with the dawn of the new century. Responding to the growing crowds in the Eternal City, on February 22, 1300, Boniface VIII issued a Papal Bull declaring a Holy Year and formally offering the most indulgent of indulgences to those faithful who venerated the Apostles Peter and Paul at their respective basilicas...

‘Old Communist Tactics’: Polish Archbishop Criticizes Petition to Ban Children’s Confession

Polish%20archbishop%20criticizes%20petition%20to%20ban%20children%u2019s%20confessionCOPPEN: A Catholic archbishop has criticized a petition submitted to the lower house of Poland’s parliament demanding a ban on confession for children under 18. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki of Poznań described the petition submitted to parliament as “a re-enactment of what we faced during Stalinism.” The petition was presented to the Sejm in October by the performance artist Rafał Betlejewski...

St. Hilary of Poitiers Nourished His Flock with Truth

St. Hilary of Poitiers Nourished His Flock with Truth| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: If last week we met a variety of saints — many of whom from North America — this week we have something of a dearth: most of the weekdays are days in Ordinary Time. Except for Jan. 13, the feast of St. Hilary of Poitiers. Hilary was a fourth-century doctor of the Western Church. He was bishop of Poitiers, a city in west-central France, originally founded by a Celtic tribe.

President Biden Awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom ‘With Distinction’

President Biden awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction | Catholic News Agency: U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and named him a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the White House said in a statement. As the nation’s highest honor, the medal is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors,” the statement said.

Pope Francis Sends Prayers as Los Angeles Fires Destroy Churches, Neighborhoods

Pope Francis sends prayers as Los Angeles fires destroy churches, neighborhoods | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis expressed his condolences Saturday to Los Angeles communities affected by devastating wildfires that have destroyed homes and churches, including the historic Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

Elon Musk Is Looking for God on Mars

Elon Musk Is Looking for God on Mars - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Everyone needs an ultimate reason for their existence. This hard-wired reality in humans can be seen in the multitude of ways that we try to answer the questions about our existence with meaning. These pursuits of meaning and purpose reflect an inner compass which God has placed in all of us. It points us toward something bigger than ourselves. I would argue, it also reveals an opportunity for Catholic disciples who want to evangelize.

Let It Linger, Hail Caesar, and the Politics of Heraldry

Let it linger, hail Caesar, and the politics of heraldryCONDON: The Twelve Days of Christmas are over, though we still have the feast of the Baptism of the Lord to look forward to this weekend. So I am holding on to the trappings of the season — if not always the spirit of it — as tightly as I can for a few more days yet. I’m pleased to note that around where I live there are still a good few holdouts with their decorations up...

This Sunday, After the Baptism of the Lord, All Eyes Are On Us: 5 Sunday Mass Takeaways

This%20Sunday%2C%20After%20the%20Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%2C%20All%20Eyes%20Are%20On%20Us%3A%205%20Sunday%20Mass%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is like a second Christmas. The promises we heard in Advent are brought up again and applied to one even on The Baptism of Lord Year B: Jesus Christ being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Here are five takeaways from the readings this Sunday, taken from previous This Sunday columns at this site.

Biden’s Scrapped Vatican Trip Highlights Symbolism of Farewell Diplomacy

Biden%u2019s%20Scrapped%20Vatican%20Trip%20Highlights%20Symbolism%20of%20Farewell%20Diplomacy%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Presidents begin their terms with great attention paid to what will be done on “Day One” or during the first 100 days. But the end of their terms also tells a story. The “interregnum” between the election and the inauguration of the next president can be a fraught time. In recent decades, the new president is usually of a different party than the incumbent...

Family Sings to Mary at Site of Home Burned to the Ground in California Wildfire

Family Sings to Mary at Site of Home Burned to the Ground in California Wildfire| National Catholic RegisterMATTMCDONALD: When Peter and Jackie Halpin and their six adult children and some of their spouses showed up at the site of the family home in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday morning, there was almost nothing left. One of the California wildfires had destroyed it, leaving only the foundation, debris, and singed concrete statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph...

‘God, Please Spare My Church’: Deacon, Parishioners Save Sacred Heart Church From Altadena Fire

Catholic deacon, parishioners save church near LA from fire: As he drove frantically past charred buildings along the smoky streets of Altadena in his SUV early Wednesday morning, Deacon José Luis Díaz had one prayer on his mind: God, please spare my church. A few hours earlier, Díaz and his family had been roused from their beds by a cellphone alert ordering them to evacuate as fierce, dry Santa Ana winds pushed the Eaton Fire into their Altadena neighborhood...

A Catholic Response to the Potential TikTok Ban

A Catholic Response to the Potential TikTok Ban| National Catholic RegisterFIGGE: On April 24, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill into law that would force the popular app to be sold or cease operations in the United States. A U.S. appeals court upheld that the ban was constitutional after TikTok lawyers and creators argued that the ban violated the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. The Supreme Court will hear fast-tracked oral arguments on Jan. 10, 2025, delivering an opinion prior to when the ban is to take effect, Jan. 19.

Poll finds most parents, including Catholics, oppose transgender ideology in schools

Poll finds most parents, including Catholics, oppose transgender ideology in schools | Catholic News Agency: The large majority of parents, including most Catholic parents, are against school policies that impose gender ideology by permitting biological males in girls’ spaces and hiding information about a child’s gender identity from his or her parents, according to a poll released this week. A poll of 1,000 parents throughout the country, commissioned by the nonprofit group Parents Defending Education (PDE), found that more than three-fourths of parents...

Does God want you to fast from the internet on Sundays?

(3) Does God want you to fast from the Internet on Sundays?MATTINGLY: Consider this post an early take on Lent 2025 or, maybe, a very late meditation on this year’s stack of New Year’s Resolutions. Looking ahead: For those in Western Christian traditions, Lent starts with Ash Wednesday on March 5. For the Eastern Orthodox, Great Lent begins this year on March 3, following the rite of Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday, March 3.

Stacked Decks, ‘Conversation in the Spirit,’ and the Catholic future

Stacked%20decks%2C%20%u201CConversation%20in%20the%20Spirit%2C%u201D%20and%20the%20Catholic%20future%20%7C%20Denver%20CatholicWEIGEL: Various cultures — English, Turkish, Chinese — claim to have invented the maxim, “The fish rots from the head down” (a favorite in Your Nation’s Capital during the unhappy years when the Redskins/Commanders were owned by Daniel Snyder). Applied to the Church, the idiom suggests that when theology is decadent, bad things will follow in the life of faith. Or, to put it more stringently...

LA Catholic Churches Welcome Wildfire Evacuees; More Than 10,000 Structures Destroyed, Including Corpus Christi in Palisades

LA Catholic churches welcome Palisades, Eaton fire evacuees: Several Catholic parishes opened their doors to families evacuated from their homes as wind-driven fires continued to burn through parts of Los Angeles County on Wednesday, Jan. 8. St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica was open until almost midnight Tuesday night, offering evacuees from the nearby Palisades Fire a place to freshen up, get snacks, and charge their devices, said Merrick Siebenaler, director of parish life at St. Monica’s.

LA Fire Destroys 2,000 Structures, Including Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades

Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades destroyed in fire: A church in Pacific Palisades appeared to be totally destroyed and more than sixty Catholic schools were closed as several major fires in the Los Angeles area burned overnight into Wednesday. Images shared with Angelus showed only the frame of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church structure remaining as of Wednesday morning. There were also unverified reports of damage to Corpus Christi’s parish school.

‘Brave Adherence to Catholic Faith Amid Persecution’: China’s Oldest Priest, Father Joseph Guo Fude, Dies at 104

China%u2019s%20oldest%20priest%20dies%20at%20104%3A%20a%20life%20of%20faith%20amid%2025%20years%20of%20persecution%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: China’s oldest priest has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of brave adherence to the faith of the Catholic Church in the face of persecution. Father Joseph Guo Fude, SVD, died on Dec. 30, 2024, two months from what would have been his 105th birthday. He was one of the few remaining Catholic priests in China who had been ordained prior to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

How Cardinal McElroy came to Washington

How Cardinal McElroy came to WashingtonCONDON: The Holy See announced Monday Cardinal Robert McElroy as the next Archbishop of Washington, bringing to an end months of speculation about the appointment and a contentious behind the scenes process to name a successor for Cardinal Wilton Gregory. While McElroy was long known to be the preferred candidate of some senior American prelates, most notably Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago...

Prophetic courage in the public square, and everywhere

Prophetic courage in the public square, and everywhere | Catholic CultureMIRUS: When Fr. Jerry Pokorsky wrote that “It is far more costly for the laity to live Gospel truths” than for priests, he made a reasonable if not always accurate point. He pointed out that “espousing the universal truths of Jesus and natural law may damage salaries and reputations in hostile work environments.” In contrast, most priests don’t face that particular sort of risk...

The 50 best books Catholic Culture staff read in 2024

The best books Catholic Culture staff read in 2024 | Catholic Culture: It’s time for the Catholic Culture staff’s roundup of our favorite things we read in the past year! This year we have lists by Phil Lawler, Dr. Jeff Mirus, Peter Wolfgang, Dr. Jim Papandrea, and Thomas Mirus.

One Life Lesson from the Magi

One Life Lesson from the Magi - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Well into January Christians have always focused on one of the strangest stories in the New Testament: the mysterious men from the East. Somehow this story brings Christmas to our daily life. Fathers of the Church found many lessons in the pilgrimage of the Magi, lessons deeply relevant for all ages. I will use their words to direct our gaze toward what might be the central lesson.

California Bars Faithful Catholic Families From the Foster Care System

California%20bars%20faithful%20Catholic%20families%20from%20the%20foster%20care%20system%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportHENDERSHOTT: Demanding special rights has been a successful strategy of the transgender advocacy movement. From lobbying for federal mandates for the inclusion of biological males on high school and college women’s sports teams to requirements for gender-inclusive restrooms and sports locker rooms, trans-rights have dominated much of the conversation about LGBTQ rights these past few years.

The Battle You’re Losing Against Yourself (And 5 Tips on How to Win)

New%20Advent%3A%20The%20Battle%20You%u2019re%20Losing%20Against%20Yourself%20%28And%205%20Tips%20on%20How%20to%20Win%29STEFANICK: Let’s face it: temptations are real. Ever notice how Doritos are impossible to stop eating? They’re engineered to be that way, right? But facing your weaknesses head-on isn’t always the solution. Sometimes, it’s about avoiding situations that trigger them in the first place. The bottom line is this: Your mistakes don’t define you. Real change comes when you understand that God’s grace is enough...

More Than 500,000 Pilgrims Pass Through Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica After Christmas Opening

More%20than%20500%2C000%20people%20pass%20through%20St.%20Peter%u2019s%20Holy%20Door%20after%20Christmas%20opening%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: More than half a million people have passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, two weeks after its Christmas Eve opening. Pope Francis, the first “pilgrim of hope” to cross the Holy Door’s threshold, inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee Year by opening the papal basilica’s door on Dec. 24, 2024.

Mary, the Mass, and Vanilla Priests

Mary, the Mass, and Vanilla Priests | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: The Church solemnly teaches that Mary is the Mother of God. Most would readily agree that Mary is the mother of Jesus. But how can a mere mortal be the mother of the Deity? The Theotokos controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries settled the matter. With every “Hail Mary,” we invoke the Mother of God to “pray for us sinners.” Mary is not a goddess. Our Lady appears only a few times in Jesus’ public life. But when the Evangelists report her presence, the account is decisive.

This soccer-loving nun is now the world’s oldest living person. The secret to longevity? Her Catholic faith, she says...

A soccer-loving nun is now the world's oldest living person | AP News: A soccer-loving nun from Brazil is believed to have become the world’s oldest living person at nearly 117 following the recent death of a woman from Japan. Sister Inah Canabarro was so skinny growing up that many didn’t think she would survive childhood, Cleber Canabarro, her 84-year-old nephew, told The Associated Press.

‘That was easy’ — Cardinal McElroy goes to Washington

%u2018That%20was%20easy%u2019%20-%20McElroy%20goes%20to%20WashingtonJDFLYNN: Today is the feast of St. Raymond of Peñafort, and you’re reading The Tuesday Pillar Post. St. Raymond was a Dominican friar who lived 100 years, from 1175 to 1275. In that century, he was one of first Dominicans, a confessor and consultant to kings, the master of the Dominican Order, and a pal of St. Thomas Aquinas, his slightly more famous confrere.

‘In Jesus’ Name I Play’: Denver Broncos Rookie QB Bo Nix Leads With Faith

%u2018In%20Jesus%u2019%20Name%20I%20Play%u2019%3A%20Denver%20Broncos%20Rookie%20QB%20Bo%20Nix%20Leads%20With%20Faith%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTOMGRIFFIN: The Denver Broncos are in the playoffs. With their win over the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday, they advance to postseason play for the first time since 2015. Amid all of the excitement in Denver, it is their quarterback’s faith and genuineness that is catching notice. Bo Nix is the rookie starting quarterback for the Broncos. He played for Auburn and Oregon in college...

Christ’s Real Presence: ‘Only Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed’

Making Sense of the Real Presence - Word on FireENGELLAND: Each of us could point to our bodies and say truly but trivially, “This is my body,” but Jesus remarkably does not point to his body but instead to this bread and says, “This is my Body.” What is going on? This is not as unusual as it may seem. When children play, they point to a toy and say, “This is a duck,” or “This doll is Camp Counselor Dolores.” They don’t point to something that already is what they are identifying...

St. André Bessette, Miracle Worker, Welcomes All Who Knock

St. Andre Bessette, Miracle Worker, Welcomes All Who Knock| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Jan. 6 in the United States (except when it actually is Epiphany) can be celebrated as the optional memorial of St. André Bessette (1845-1937). In Canada, it’s an obligatory memorial on Jan. 7. Canonized in 2010, he is known for many things. He was a powerful propagator of devotion to St. Joseph. He was the human spiritus movens behind St. Joseph’s Oratory, which towers over Montréal. He was known in his day (and in his sainthood) for the gift of healing.

Pope Francis Names Sister Simona Brambilla as Prefect for Religious Life — First Woman to Head a Vatican Dicastery

Pope Francis names first woman to head a major Vatican office | AP News: Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders.

Pope Francis Names San Diego’s ‘Outspokenly Progressive’ Cardinal McElroy to Lead Archdiocese of Washington, DC

Pope Francis Names Cardinal Robert McElroy to Lead Washington Archdiocese| National Catholic Register: Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy, bishop of San Diego, to lead the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., the Vatican announced Monday. The 70-year-old cardinal, who holds doctorates in moral theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and in political science from Stanford, succeeds Cardinal Wilton Gregory in leading the archdiocese that serves over half a million Catholics in southern Maryland and the U.S. capital.

Catholic Priest in Belarus Convicted of Treason, Sentenced to 11 Years in Penal Colony

Catholic priest in Belarus convicted of treason, sentenced to 11 years in penal colony - OSV News: Father Henrykh Akalatovich, pastor of the Catholic parish in Valožyn, was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony in Belarus Dec. 30 in a move that highlights the growing persecution of Catholics in the Russia-aligned country. The priest, who had been on trial since Nov. 25 in a closed session by the Minsk Regional Court, pleaded not guilty but was convicted for “treason against the state,” according to Belsat, an independent news channel airing from Poland. Due to the secrecy of the hearing, the details of the charges against the priest were not publicly announced.

Dear influencers: We are not built for this much intimacy

Dear influencers: We are not built for this much intimacy: Last December I found myself unable to shake a story I had read in the Wall Street Journal. It has bothered me into the new year. The article chronicled the rise and subsequent demise of David Hollis, Instagram influencer, former Disney executive, and ex-husband of Rachel Hollis, the popular blogger and self-help author of “Girl, Wash Your Face.” The profile was framed as a glimpse...

How to Meet Christ With Tired Eyes and a Hungry Soul

How to Meet Christ With Tired Eyes and Hungry Souls| National Catholic RegisterBECKER: As usual, I’m late to a 7 a.m. weekday Mass, and I sneak into the last pew for the Gospel. It’s the one about God knowing every sparrow and counting all our hairs. I figure he must know, then, that I intended to get to church on time. “The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.” I yawn. After the homily, Father Andrew launches into the liturgy of the Eucharist, and I’m starting to perk up a bit...

Focus Announces SEEK26 to be Held Next Year in Colorado, Ohio and Texas

SEEK to be held next year in Colorado, Ohio, and Texas | Catholic News Agency: Next year’s SEEK Conference is scheduled to be held in Denver; Columbus, Ohio; and Fort Worth, Texas, the annual Catholic event announced this week. Denver is the headquarters of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), which runs the yearly event, while the Fort Worth location may draw students from Texas A&M, the University of Dallas, and beyond.

7 Bible Verses Every Child Should Learn

7%20Bible%20Verses%20Every%20Child%20Should%20Learn%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: When I work with young children I like to remind them that they possess a special superpower: their memory! Although children are notorious for “forgetting” to unload the dishwasher or tidy their rooms, the truth is that God has blessed them with an amazing capacity to learn things by heart. Much like their body, the mind of a child is flexible and resilient, just waiting to be filled with facts, dates, prayers, poems, and psalms.

12 Ways to Obtain a Jubilee Indulgence

12 Ways to Obtain a Jubilee Indulgence| National Catholic Register: The Vatican has detailed how to obtain plenary indulgences — removing temporal punishment for sin through Christ’s merits — during the 2025 Jubilee Year. Requirements: detachment from sin (even venial), confession within about 20 days, Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions (e.g., an Our Father and Hail Mary). Each indulgence requires a separate Communion and prayer...

You are not being asked to be anything other than human…

Being human: The challenging task of 2025 :: Home | New OutlookSCALIA: This column was meant to be a bit of a new year advisory, a heady warning about all the "troubling trends to look out for in 2025," and heaven knows there are enough alarming currents sweeping all around us. One in particular has enough undertows to sink the whole society: the story of Luigi Mangione, his murder of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson and the ensuing hero worship, of him...

Woman, and Women, of the Year

Woman, and Women, of the Year | Charles J. Chaput | First ThingsCHAPUT: January 1 marks the start of a new secular year. But for Catholics, it’s something more. Tucked inside the Christmas liturgical season, it’s the greatest of Marian feasts; the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and a “holy day” of worship. In Christian belief, Jesus is both truly God and truly man. The Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431 thus defined the mother of Jesus, Mary of Nazareth, as the theotokos...

Striking new archaeological evidence shows that the early Christians did, in fact, pray to the saints

New Advent: Striking new archaeological evidence shows that the early Christians did, in fact, pray to the saintsHESCHMEYER: I’m excited to tell you that new archaeological evidence has pointed to yet more evidence that the early Christians prayed to the saints. Some of this is very new evidence — December 2024 is when this was announced to the public — and some of this builds on what we already knew. So a little bit of backstory here. On an episode of Catholic Answers Live recently, Cy Kellett asked me if I’d heard about this evidence out of Frankfurt, Germany...

Jubilee 2025: New Year’s Resolutions and Resources

Jubilee%202025%3A%20New%20Year%u2019s%20resolutions%20and%20resources%20%7C%20Denver%20CatholicWEIGEL: Jubilee 2025 began on Christmas Eve 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s in Rome, and will conclude on January 6, 2026, when that door of the Vatican basilica is closed. The theme of this holy year is Peregrinantes in Spem (Pilgrims in Hope), and, like every other such celebration since Pope Boniface VIII inaugurated the practice of holy years in 1300, Jubilee 2025 is intended to intensify our experience of God’s grace...

Mount Shasta ski resort owner angers Northern Californians by putting up Virgin Mary statue

Calif. resort owner builds giant Virgin Mary statue, angering locals: A story disputed by historians claims that when a Spanish explorer first saw Mount Shasta, he dubbed it “Jesus and Maria,” inspired by what appeared to be its double peaks. Now, around two centuries later, that mythic name has been brought to life with the installation of a towering Virgin Mary statue on the slopes of the mighty volcano.

Mary We Know, Life-Saving Law, and Fake New Year’s

Mary%20we%20know%2C%20life-saving%20law%2C%20and%20fake%20New%20Year%u2019sCONDON: I cannot confess that New Year’s Eve is something I much go in for. The last time I tried to properly “go out” for the occasion was at the turn of the millennium, when I missioned it into central London and was so overcome with fear and loathing for the crowds that I was back home before 11 p.m. Growing up, I’d always imagined that adulthood came prepackaged with invites to intimate black-tie rooftop parties...

This Sunday, Follow the Light to Find the King: 5 Epiphany Takeaways

This%20Sunday%2C%20Follow%20the%20Light%20to%20Find%20the%20King%3A%20Five%20Epiphany%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is The Epiphany of the Lord, when we celebrate the magi that we call “three kings” though they aren’t really kings as they travel to see the infant hidden in Bethlehem who really is a king. It gives us a deeper understanding about what the Kingdom of God is all about. Here are five takeaways from the Extraordinary Story podcast and This Sunday columns at this site.

21,000 Young Adults, Record Number, Flock to Salt Lake City and DC for FOCUS SEEK25

Record numbers of young adults flock to Salt Lake City for SEEK25 | Catholic News Agency: More than 21,000 people have begun the new year seeking Jesus at the biggest Catholic young adult conference of the year in the U.S., being held in two locations. SEEK25, organized by Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), runs Jan. 1–5 in Salt Lake City and Jan. 2–5 in Washington, D.C.

Longing for Home at Christmastime

Longing for Home at Christmastime - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Home is like heaven. What more is there to say? Dickens’s immortal short story of Christmas goes to the deepest longings of the human heart. This stands to reason, as the great drama of human life is always a drama of home, and home-coming. And this tends to come to light at Christmas. Stave Two of A Christmas Carol holds the key. Among a few unforgettable images from Christmas past, that of Scrooge’s dear little sister Fan stands out.

Pope ‘Deeply Saddened’ by New Orleans Terrorist Attack

Pope%20%u2018deeply%20saddened%u2019%20by%20New%20Orleans%20terrorist%20attack%20-%20Vatican%20News: Pope Francis has said he is “deeply saddened” to learn of the “loss of life and injury" caused by a recent terrorist attack in the US city of New Orleans. On January 1, 15 people were killed, and dozens wounded, when a 42-year-old man drove a pickup truck at high speed into a crowd. In his telegram, sent to Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, the Pope assured the entire city of his “spiritual closeness," and commended the victims to “the loving mercy of Almighty God.”

‘In the Beginning’: Creation Through the Eyes of Faith and Art

%u2018In%20the%20Beginning%u2019%3A%20Creation%20Through%20the%20Eyes%20of%20Faith%20and%20Art%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: Even secular people generally know something of the accounts of creation in Genesis 1-2. Whenever people hear the phrase, “In the beginning,” most instinctively revert to the first pages of the Bible. Yet the accounts of creation are often misunderstood. Some people would dismiss them, claiming “science” or, specifically, “evolution” has disproven them. Others seem to adopt a defensive posture...

Pope’s Angelus for New Year’s Day 2025: ‘God Is the First to Forgive Debts’

Pope calls on world leaders to cancel debt of poorer nations - Vatican News: After his traditional New Years’ Day Angelus prayer, Pope Francis issues a powerful call to political leaders, urging them to “set a good example by canceling or significantly reducing the debts of the poorest countries.”

2 Great Icons for the Great Jubilee: St. John Paul II and Blessed Stefan Wyszyński

2%20Great%20Icons%20for%20the%20Great%20Jubilee%3A%20St.%20John%20Paul%20II%20and%20Blessed%20Stefan%20Wyszy%u0144ski%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: As the Jubilee of 2025 begins, the legacy of two great millennial Churchmen has prepared the Church for the “Greater Jubilee of 2033,” now on the horizon. The millennial primate, Blessed Stefan Wyszyński, and millennial pope, St. John Paul the Great, brought to the universal Church the Polish sense of Providence in history. Jubilee 2025 is an “ordinary” jubilee year, held every 25 years...

Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s Powerful Words to President Jimmy Carter

Archbishop%20Fulton%20Sheen%u2019s%20Powerful%20Words%20to%20President%20Jimmy%20Carter%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPRONECHEN: In his 1979 speech, Archbishop Sheen was as masterful as ever, even though months earlier he had spent four months in the hospital after a heart operation. In fact, his cardiologist was with him there that day because of Sheen’s still-serious condition. Yet the bishop who had gained the attention of audiences worldwide with his preaching was as magnetic as ever...

Queen of Queens: The Pietà’s Epic Journey from Rome to America

Queen%20of%20Queens%3A%20The%20Piet%E0%u2019s%20Epic%20Journey%20from%20Rome%20to%20America%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLAMBERT: The Pietà, Michelangelo’s masterful marble sculpture that so mournfully depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Christ’s lifeless body after his crucifixion, is one of history’s most revered and recognizable works of Christian art. It dwells behind a glass encasement in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where it has been for as long as most can remember.