St. John Henry Newman to Be Declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV

St John Henry Newman set to become newest Doctor of the Church - Vatican News: One of the great modern thinkers of Christianity, a key figure in a spiritual and human journey that left a profound mark on the Church and 19th-century ecumenism, and the author of writings that show how living the faith is a daily “heart-to-heart” dialogue with Christ. A life spent with energy and passion for the Gospel—culminating in his canonization in 2019—that will soon lead to the English cardinal John Henry Newman being proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

I do hope Pope Leo gives us an encyclical on Artificial Intelligence, and soon...

Trenton MonitorSCALIA: For years I've kept a little "prayer list" close by me — sometimes it's just a slip of scrap paper with names jotted down haphazardly as the needs became known. There is also a little book I keep, prayers for "long term" issues that I know will require ongoing intercession — a friend whose wife has been struggling with cancer and chemo for nearly eight years can be found there...

Cardinal Pell Ordered Investigation Into ‘Potentially Illegal’ APSA Banking System

%282%29%20Pell%20ordered%20investigation%20into%20%u2018potentially%20illegal%u2019%20APSA%20banking%20system: Cardinal George Pell instructed the Vatican’s auditor general to conduct an “urgent and immediate” investigation into “potentially illegal” banking transactions by APSA, the Holy See’s asset manager and paymaster, in a 2016 memo obtained by The Pillar. The memo, dated April 8, 2016, when Pell was the prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy...

Pope Leo XIV Surprises Crowd of 120,000 Pilgrims at Jubilee of Youth With Unannounced Popemobile Salute

Pope Leo XIV surprises crowd at Catholic youth festival with unannounced popemobile salute | AP NewsWINFIELD: Pope Leo XIV surprised tens of thousands of young Catholics on Tuesday and showed up unexpectedly at a Holy Year welcome ceremony, thrilling the kids and receiving a rock star’s welcome in the first big youth event of his pontificate. Leo emerged in St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile at the end of an evening Mass that kicked off the Jubilee of Youth, a weeklong celebration for young Catholics. The estimated 120,000 young pilgrims who had packed the square erupted...

The Fool’s Vanity: A Reflection on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The%20Fool%u2019s%20Vanity%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Eighteenth%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20-%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: Trust in God—as the Rock of our salvation, as the Lord who made us His chosen people, as our shepherd and guide. This should be the mark of our following of Jesus. Like the Israelites we recall in this week’s Psalm Response, we have made an exodus, passing through the waters of Baptism, freeing us from our bondage to sin. We too are on a pilgrimage to a promised homeland, the Lord in our midst, feeding us heavenly bread, giving us living waters to drink (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-4)...

Now is the time to end organ harvesting from “dead” donors

Now%20is%20the%20time%20to%20end%20organ%20harvesting%20from%20%u201Cdead%u201D%20donors%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20Report: A recent article in The New York Times (NYT) titled “A Push for More Organ Transplants Is Putting Donors at Risk” uncovered that 55 medical workers in 19 states “had witnessed at least one disturbing case of donation” using an organ harvesting technique called “donation after circulatory death” (DCD). The article highlighted multiple cases of organ retrieval either beginning or nearly beginning on living patients, one of whom recalled feeling afraid while in the hospital.

Pilgrims Travel to Rome for Jubilee of Digital Missionaries

Pilgrims travel to Rome for Jubilee of Digital Missionaries | Catholic News Agency: As 500,000 people gather in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, the crowds are also joined by pilgrims on a mission to evangelize with the help of social media and the internet. Jonathan Strate, the president and CEO of Catholic media and publishing company Ascension, said the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries is “an exciting moment for the Church.” He added: “This is the first time that they’ve done something like this.”

The Risk of Responding to God

The Risk of Responding to God | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: Within the structure and content of Sacred Scripture, there is a simple yet poignant formula that exists between God and man. As God speaks, man has the opportunity to respond. It can be summed up in the following phrase: As God reveals, we respond in faith, or revelation and the response of faith. The intimacy between how God chose to communicate to man...

Here in Chiclayo, everybody’s got a story about Pope Leo XIV...

%282%29%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20%u2014%20%u2018My%20friend%20Robert%u2019%20-%20by%20JD%20FlynnJDFLYNN: I’m down in Chiclayo, Peru, the city where Pope Leo XIV spent eight years as diocesan bishop. Down here, they still call him Monsignor Robert. And here in Chiclayo, everybody’s got a story about the pope. In fact, I came down here to learn those stories — because I’m convinced that if we want to understand the pope, we have to understand these cities and villages, and we have to know the people of Peru’s slums and pueblos.

Canon-Law Expert Edward Peters Is Third Faculty Member Fired by Detroit Archbishop

Canon-Law Expert Edward Peters Is Third Faculty Member Fired by Detroit Archbishop| National Catholic RegisterMATTMCDONALD: Canon-law professor Edward Peters is the third faculty member at Detroit’s seminary to announce that he has been fired by Archbishop Edward Weisenburger in recent days. Peters, 68, had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2005. “My Sacred Heart Major Seminary teaching contract was terminated by Abp. Weisenburger this week. I have retained counsel,” Peters wrote in a social-media post Friday night.

A Castel Gandolfo Encounter With St. John Paul II

A Castel Gandolfo Encounter With St. John Paul II| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: The return of Pope Leo XIV to Castel Gandolfo was widely welcomed, even if only for a few weeks. The previous custom was that the popes would go there soon after the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29) and remain well into September. Leo may well return to that custom in future years. It was in that context that, 30 years ago, on July 26, 1995, I had one of the more memorable papal encounters of my life.

10 Things You Should Know About the Psalms

10 Things You Should Know About the Psalms - St. Paul CenterHARROLD: The word “Psalm” comes from the Greek word for a “song” (psalmos), which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word for a song or melody. In Jewish tradition, however, the book of Psalms is known simply as the “Praises.” Here we’ll explore ten different facets of this extraordinary collection of hymns and prayers. First, the Psalms are split into five books. In their book A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament, Scripture scholars John Bergsma and Brant Pitre offer the following breakdown...

Listen to Pope Leo: Take a Summer Vacation

Listen to Pope Leo: Take a Summer Vacation | National ReviewLOPEZ: Stop. Listen. Pray. Make time for God. A Nigerian priest was giving a weekday sermon at a suburban church in New Jersey. The kind of church, architecturally, that doesn’t do much to inspire meditation. Beauty can draw us out of ourselves and the busyness of our lives. But, with screens everywhere, we can easily miss it. Sometimes a baby must cry for us to realize what a gift we are in the presence of...

Can One Man Save A City?

Can One Man Save A City? | Parishable ItemsFELTES: This morning, I believe I should preach to you about the City of Sodom and the City of God, about the importance of Christ and the importance of Confession. In today’s first reading, Abraham intercedes with the Lord concerning the possible destruction of Sodom. Abraham asks: ‘Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city...

Warsaw Archbishop Asks Vatican to Defrock Priest Charged With the Killing of a Homeless Man

Warsaw archbishop asks Vatican to defrock priest charged with the killing of a homeless man | AP News: The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an ax and set on fire. Prosecutors on Saturday charged the priest, only identified as Mirosław M. in line with Polish privacy rules, with murder with particular cruelty. He is being detained ahead of a trial and faces 15 years to life behind bars...

Pope Leo XIV: May Blood of 38 ‘Martyrs’ in Sunday’s Congo Church Attack Become Seed of Peace

Pope%3A%20May%20blood%20of%20%u2018martyrs%u2019%20in%20DRC%20church%20attack%20become%20seed%20of%20peace%20-%20Vatican%20News: ”May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people,” the Pope writes in his message following a brutal attack on a Catholic Church in Komanda town in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nearly 40 people were killed Sunday in eastern Congo's Ituri province when rebels stormed a Catholic church during a vigil and opened fire on worshippers.

The Prayer That Will Stop Worry From Running Your Life

New Advent: The Prayer That Will Stop Worry From Running Your LifeSTEFANICK: Have you ever noticed how worry can take up residence in your mind, setting up camp as commander‑in‑chief? But here’s the good news: You don’t have to live in a state of constant worry. When your biggest fears seize your attention, joy and focus are the first casualties, but prayer offers a frontline strategy to reclaim your mind. In this episode, we dive into the kind of prayer that doesn’t just scratch the surface, but actually roots out anxiety at its core.

Imposter Syndrome, the feeling that you’re a fraud and unworthy, is nothing new. Here’s how to roll with it...

Imposter Syndrome and Ministry - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Recently, I have been blessed to have some great professional moments, including leading priest assemblies and convocations for dioceses. Generally, I am the only lay person in the room. I’ve helped form Catholic professionals from across the country and internationally, had deep conversations with folks that are struggling and be able to help them. and been “in the room” for the planning of huge initiatives that are having a global impact...

Can AI Ever Understand Purpose?

(2) Can AI Ever Understand Purpose? - by Stacy TrasancosTRASANCOS: I asked AI for a writing prompt, and AI told me to answer this question. “Can AI Ever Understand Purpose?” Thinking myself clever, I put the question right back to AI. You tell me. AI’s answer was that it “processes data, recognizes patterns, and generates responses based on algorithms, but it doesn’t ‘understand’ like humans.” So there. We're done. Well not quite. Then AI switched to first person and addressed me directly...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ as You’ve Never Seen It Before

New%20Advent%3A%20%u2018The%20Wizard%20of%20Oz%u2019%20as%20You%u2019ve%20Never%20Seen%20It%20Before: This "Wizard of Oz" isn't in Kansas anymore. In fact, it's in Las Vegas, where Sphere is presenting the Judy Garland classic as you've never seen it – a 16K immersive experience on a screen larger than four football fields, with tornado effects, and artists and AI expanding the visions of Emerald City...

At Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV Urges ‘Ceasefire, Release of Hostages, and Full Respect for Humanitarian Law’ in Gaza

Pope%20Leo%u202FXIV%20urges%20%u2018full%20respect%20for%20humanitarian%20law%u2019amid%20food%20crisis%20in%20Gaza%u2028%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Leo XIV called for peace negotiations and respect for humanitarian law in Gaza, 10 days after an Israeli strike caused the death of three people at the only Catholic church in the enclave. “I renew my heartfelt appeal for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, and for the full respect for humanitarian law,” the pope said, speaking of the nearly two-year-old war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

‘A Voice Told Me Not to Be Afraid’: Sudden ALS Healing Declared 72nd Miracle of Lourdes

%u2018A%20voice%20told%20me%20not%20to%20be%20afraid%u2019%3A%20The%20story%20of%20Lourdes%u2019%2072nd%20recognized%20miracle%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Antonia Raco, a 67-year-old Italian woman long affected by an incurable neurodegenerative illness, was officially introduced to the press on July 25 in Lourdes, where her healing was recognized as the 72nd miracle attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary since the apparitions of 1858.

Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal, and the Sound of Searching Souls

Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal, and the Sound of Searching Souls| National Catholic RegisterTOWELL: I don’t romanticize the Ozzfest concerts I attended long ago. Far from it. Ozzy Osbourne and his bandmates were not role models, and a lot of what I saw and heard wasn’t good for the soul. But I also saw people — young, messy, wounded people — who were searching. That is where the Church founded by Jesus Christ belongs: not standing timidly far from the cross, but carrying light into those places with the clarity and love only Christ can offer.

Saturday is the feast of Our Lord’s grandparents. Here are some resources for the persistent knockers at God’s door

%282%29%20Grandparent%u2019s%20Day%20-%20by%20Frances%20Smit: One of my favorite days of the year to work at a school is Grandparent’s Day. As the students wait for their grandparents to make their way to the classroom, the first graders’ anticipation is palpable. The children eye the door expectantly, hoping the next person who walks in belongs to him/her. The wait feels like forever. When their guest finally arrives, and the pair spot each other, it’s impossible to tell which party is more delighted. The look on the grandparent’s face rivals only their own grandchild’s expression of pure delight.

‘This News Came as a Shock’: Ralph Martin Speaks Out on Detroit Seminary Firings

Firing%20Was%20%u2018A%20Shock%u2019%20for%20Theologian%20Ralph%20Martin%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Prominent Catholic theologian Ralph Martin says Detroit’s new archbishop told him he fired him from the archdiocese’s seminary faculty over undefined “concerns about my theological perspectives.” Martin, 82, who had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2002, said Archbishop Edward Weisenburger told him Wednesday he “was terminating my position at the seminary effective immediately.”

Banana Boat S‘mores Are the Ultimate Campfire Dessert

Banana%20Boat%20S%u2018mores%20Are%20the%20Ultimate%20Campfire%20Dessert: S’mores are a quintessential camping snack, and it’s no wonder. The treats are the perfect combination of crunchy, melty, and chocolatey goodness. If you want to put a spin on the classic treat, this campfire banana boat s’mores recipe from The Kitchn takes it to the next level.

The Chaotic, Crash-tastic Sport of Auto Polo from the 1910s

The Chaotic, Crash-tastic Sport of Auto Polo from the 1910s | Moss and Fog: Imagine this: it’s the early 1910s, the American Midwest is buzzing, and a new sport is crashing onto the scene, literally. Called Auto Polo, it took the traditional game of polo and gave it a gutsy, gasoline-fueled upgrade.

James Hitchcock, Church Historian and Popular Author and Professor, Dies at 87

James Hitchcock, Church Historian and Register Contributor, Dies at 87| National Catholic RegisterMCKEOWN: James Hitchcock — a noted historian of the Catholic Church, popular author and longtime college professor — is being remembered by friends and colleagues as a man of prophetic insight who defended Church teaching and helped to make the Catholic intellectual tradition accessible for his students and readers. Hitchcock died on July 14 at age 87.

This Sunday, Fellow Beggars, There is One Ask Our Father Never Refuses

This%20Sunday%2C%20Fellow%20Beggars%2C%20There%20is%20One%20Ask%20Our%20Father%20Never%20Refuses%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: We know the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father,” so well, we can forget what it means. In the Gospel for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, Jesus in the Gospel of Luke gives the prayer along with explanations, which can help us reconsider its meaning — and he saves the best part for last. Here are five takeaways drawn from Sunday Readings columns at this site and the Extraordinary Story podcast.

Despite rainy weather, Catholics in a Paraguayan town dress as birds to honor their patron saint

Despite rainy weather, Catholics in a Paraguayan town dress as birds to honor their patron saint | Crux: The rainy weather did not prevent Blanca Servín from dressing her 7-year-old son like a bird. They joined a procession honoring St. Francis Solanus, the patron saint of a town in Paraguay about 20 miles from the capital city of Asunción. Like her child, dozens of Catholics in Emboscada wear elaborate feathered garments each July 24. Dressing up is a ritual aimed at fulfilling promises made to the Spanish friar...

On the Way, On the Road, and Nuclear Winter

(2) On the way, nuclear winter, and on the road - by Ed. CondonCONDON: Happy Friday friends, and a happy feast of St. James the Greater to you all. If you’re like me, you may have wondered what is so great about him, relative to other James in the game. As Lucy might note, he never got his picture on bubblegum cards, after all. Well, I’m reliably informed, and thus so are you, that the designation was likely about his age or height, relative to James the Lesser...

Ralph Martin on His Firing: ‘This News Came as a Shock’

Firing%20Was%20%u2018A%20Shock%u2019%20for%20Theologian%20Ralph%20Martin%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMATTMCDONALD: Prominent Catholic theologian Ralph Martin says Detroit’s new archbishop told him he fired him from the archdiocese’s seminary faculty over undefined “concerns about my theological perspectives.” Martin, 82, who had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2002, said Archbishop Edward Weisenburger told him Wednesday he “was terminating my position at the seminary effective immediately.”

The 10-Point Plan to Overcome Hyperactivity

The Ten-Point Plan to Overcome Hyperactivity | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: An amusing Jewish-mother joke worthy of a Seinfeld episode goes like this: A mother telegraphs her daughter with an urgent message. “Bad news coming tomorrow, begin worrying today.” The account of Mary and Martha in the Gospel is lovely. The gentle repetition of Martha’s name is a charming example of a loving rebuke of Martha’s hyperactivity. "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things...

Shake-Up in Detroit: New Archbishop Fires Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria

Shake-Up in Detroit: New Archbishop Fires Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria| National Catholic RegisterLIEDL: Two prominent theologians who critiqued what they saw as doctrinal ambiguity under the late Pope Francis have been fired from their longtime posts at the Archdiocese of Detroit’s major seminary by the local archbishop, the Register has confirmed. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger removed Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria from their positions at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on July 23, both theologians told the Register separately.

‘Sovereignty Protection’ Bill Introduced to Preserve Leo XIV’s U.S. Citizenship, Exempt Popes From Federal Taxes

%282%29%20He%u2019s%20a%20real%20American%3A%20Bill%20aims%20to%20protect%20pope%u2019s%20US%20citizenshipFIGGE: A bill introduced in Congress last week would exempt popes with U.S. citizenship from federal tax obligations, and prevent their citizenship from being revoked during their tenure as supreme pontiff. The bill, the Holy Sovereignty Protection Act (H.R. 4501) was introduced July 18 by Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd of Colorado. It comes amid concern at the Holy See over possible legal complications stemming from the election of Leo XIV as the first American pope.

Caught on the Kiss Cam: 8 Catholic Lessons From a Scandal That Went Viral

Caught on the Kiss Cam: 8 Catholic Lessons From a Scandal That Went Viral| National Catholic RegisterARMSTRONG: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin quipped at the reaction caught on the kiss cam at a July 16 concert in Massachusetts. His guess turned out to be correct after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR chief, Kristin Cabot, went from happy to horrified to hiding when they were caught cuddling on camera.

French Bishop Issues ‘Fraternal Correction’ Over ‘Appalling’ Spina Appointment

%282%29%20French%20bishop%20issues%20%u2018fraternal%20correction%u2019%20over%20%u2018appalling%u2019%20Spina%20appointmentBELTRAN: A French archbishop has publicly criticized the appointment of a priest convicted of rape as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Toulouse, calling the appointment was “unacceptable and untenable.” Archbishop Hervé Giraud of the Diocese of Viviers criticized the appointment of Fr. Dominque Spina in the Toulouse archdiocese, which caused uproar among French Catholics earlier this month first in a social media post...

The Risk of Making an Examination of Conscience

The Risk of Making an Examination of Conscience | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: There is a beautiful sequence in Psalm 51 if someone were to describe King David’s sin of adultery as anything but beautiful, where he finally faces his sin of adultery and murder. He begins the journey of repentance, begging for the Lord’s mercy, vowing to purge himself clean because of his sins, and seeking joy. Psalm 51, also known as the prayer for cleansing and pardon, says the following...

Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger Than Protestant Bibles

New Advent: Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger Than Protestant BiblesBERGSMA: Let’s tackle this question head-on, explaining the origins of the Biblical canon, its development throughout Salvation History from the time of Moses, and how the Catholic Church agreed upon an official list of inspired books in A.D. 382. Furthermore, we explain the history behind the Protestant Bible as well as the changes that were made following the Reformation. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible in Stunned by Scripture.

Swiss Politician Faces Criminal Charges After Firing 20 Shots at Image of Mary and Jesus

Swiss Politician Faces Court After Firing 20 Shots at Image of Mary and Jesus| National Catholic RegisterWIMMER: Swiss prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Zurich councillor and former Green Liberal Party leader after she posted images of herself firing approximately 20 shots at a Christian image depicting the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. According to the Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten, the Zurich public prosecutor’s office accuses Sanija Ameti of publicly disparaging religious beliefs and disturbing religious peace under Article 261 of the Swiss Penal Code.

Miracle Declared in Rhode Island: Vatican Says Newborn Saved by Prayer to Father Salvador Valera Parra, ‘Spanish Curé d’Ars’

Miracle declared in Rhode Island: Vatican says newborn saved by prayer: Pope Leo XIV recently declared the first miracle of his papacy – the recovery of an unresponsive newborn baby in Rhode Island around 18 years ago. The Vatican proclaimed that the survival of an ailing baby boy at the former Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket was due to his doctor's prayers, according to the Diocese of Providence.

‘Horrifying’: Feds to Overhaul Donation System After Investigation Finds Organs Taken From Living Patients

Organ%20donation%3A%20HHS%20says%20it%20will%20begin%20reforms%20after%20federal%20investigation%20finds%20%u2018horrifying%u2019%20problems%20%7C%20CNN: The US Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that it’s undertaking an initiative to reform the country’s organ donation system, after a federal investigation found that one organization in the Kentucky region began the process to take organs from people who may not have been dead.

Why Our Priests Need Hope, and Community, Now More Than Ever

Why Priests Need Hope, and Community, Now More Than Ever| National Catholic RegisterISACCO: Tragic news broke this month of an Italian Catholic priest who died by suicide. As a Catholic psychologist who works closely with seminarians and priests, I found the story especially troubling. The priest’s young age, just 35 years old, was jarring, and the grief expressed by his community made clear how deeply he was loved...

Asked and Answered: A Reflection on the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Asked and Answered: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - St. Paul CenterHAHN: Though we be “but dust and ashes,” we can presume to draw near and speak boldly to our Lord, as Abraham dares to do in this week’s First Reading. But even Abraham, the friend of God, our father in the faith (see Romans 4:12), did not know the intimacy that we know as children of Abraham, heirs of the blessings promised to his descendants. The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to His disciples in this week’s Gospel...

Fake Pope Leo XIV: Coming Soon to YouTube?

(2) Fake Pope Leo XIV: Coming soon to YouTube? - by tmattMATTINGLY: Every time that I turn on YouTube to check the channels that I follow, it’s impossible to miss the growing spectre of AI junk. Let’s say that you are interested in the controversies swirling around superstar Caitlin Clark and the WNBA leadership’s attempts to figure out (Welcome to red v. blue America) how to minimize the impact of her massive fanbase on their league. Clark v. Nike is another popular topic for gossip, mixed with tiny amounts of real news.

Pope Leo XIV Marks 56th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing With Call to Buzz Aldrin

Pope Leo XIV marks 56th anniversary of moon landing with call to Buzz Aldrin | AP News: Pope Leo XIV marked the 56th anniversary of man’s arrival on the moon Sunday with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin. After praying the Sunday Angelus at his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, Leo headed to the astronomical observatory located in the Pontifical Villas, where he took a close look at the telescopes that have supported celestial exploration from a faith-based perspective for decades.

Darwin, Design and Doctrine: How Catholics Engage Science 100 Years After Scopes

The Scopes Trial, Cardinal Schoenborn, and the Enduring Quest for Intelligent Design| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Exactly a century ago, national attention was focused on a Tennessee courthouse. It was truly — with apologies to O.J. Simpson some 70 years later — the “trial of the century.” In July 1925, it seemed that the very Word of God was in the dock, in the apparently contesting accounts of origins offered by the Bible and Darwin’s theory of evolution. Even today, the legacy of the “Scopes Monkey Trial” lives...

Reformed and Renewed: US Catholic Seminaries Enter a ‘Golden Age’

US%20Catholic%20Seminaries%20Said%20to%20Be%20in%20a%20%u2018Golden%20Age%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterBEALE: For decades, Catholic seminaries — buffeted by the post-Vatican II turmoil of the 1960s and the sex-abuse crisis — have seen the ranks of candidates for the priesthood steadily shrink. So far, that trend hasn’t changed, but it no longer reflects the reality within seminaries, which are at the healthiest point they have been in for decades in terms of culture and quality of priestly formation, experts say.

Pope Leo XIV in Albano: Summer Is a Time to Savor Prayerful Moments With God

Pope Leo XIV: Summer is a time to savor prayerful moments with God | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Leo XIV encouraged people on Sunday to embrace the summer season as a time to deepen their relationship with God through silence, reflection, and time spent with others. “Summer can be a providential time to experience the beauty and importance of our relationship with God, and how much it can help us to be more open and welcoming to others,” Pope Leo said during a homily at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Pancras in Albano, a town about 16 miles south of Rome.

St. Thomas More’s Skull May Be Exhumed From Canterbury Vault for 500th Anniversary of Martyrdom

St.%20Thomas%20More%u2019s%20skull%20may%20be%20exhumed%20from%20Canterbury%20vault%20for%20saint%u2019s%20500th%20anniversary%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The skull of St. Thomas More may be exhumed and preserved to coincide with the 500th anniversary of his historic martyrdom, according to a spokesperson for St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury, England, the Anglican church in which the relic reportedly currently rests.

‘Archbishop Harold Holmes’: Pop Art from Jack White, John C. Reilly, and Flannery O’Connor

%u2018Archbishop%20Harold%20Holmes%u2019%3A%20Pop%20Art%20from%20Jack%20White%2C%20John%20C.%20Reilly%2C%20and%20Flannery%20O%u2019Connor%20-%20Word%20on%20FireFERENCE: In this Year of Our Lord 2025, we celebrate both the Jubilee Year of Hope and Flannery O’Connor’s one hundredth birthday. No doubt more Catholics are celebrating the former, but the two are related, as O’Connor was a devout Catholic, and although her fiction is dark, violent, grotesque, and unsettling, her ultimate vision is one of hope. America’s greatest Catholic writer, born on the feast of the Annunciation...

The Ancient Temple’s Hidden ‘Bread of the Presence’ Reveals a Stunning Eucharistic Truth

The Jewish Roots of the Catholic Altar: The Golden Table (Part II) - AdoremusPITRE: The second altar from Jewish Scripture that prefigures the Catholic altar is probably less familiar to most people than the bronze altar we examined in Part 1 of this series. Here in Part 2, we will focus on the “golden table” of the “Bread of the Presence.” 1 Like the bronze altar of sacrifice, this golden table was located in the Tabernacle of Moses. Unlike the bronze altar, the “Table of Showbread” (as it is sometimes called) was not in the outer courtyard, but in the inner sanctuary of the Holy Place.

God loves repetitive prayer. The next time someone says otherwise, just show him this Psalm

Jesus Wants Repetitive Prayer | Catholic Answers MagazineRAY: It is not from Fundamentalist TV preachers that we should receive direction on how to pray. We should learn how to pray from heaven itself and the divine instructions provided in Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Both heaven and divine revelation teach us how to pray, and the practice of repetition is part of that instruction. Prayer is more than just asking God to give us things or do things for us...

Don’t Panic: A Step-by-Step Guide on What to Do When Your Airline Loses Your Bag (and How to Get Paid)

What to do when your airline loses your bag (and how to get paid): You arrive on vacation and you’re waiting for your bags to show up on the belt. You wait. And you wait. And you wait some more. And eventually you realize they’re not coming. Your bags have been lost, or at least delayed (I’ll explain the difference later). Now what? As frustrating as it can be, you shouldn’t panic, and you definitely shouldn’t yell at any of the airline employees who are on hand to help you...

The Many Hidden Saints of Kent: Holy Men and Women Who Remain ‘Powerful Intercessors’

The%20Many%20Hidden%20Saints%20of%20Kent%3A%20Holy%20Men%20and%20Women%20Who%20Remain%20%u2018Powerful%20Intercessors%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: “It’s like an epicenter of holiness,” said Canon Marcus Holden, “like several continents put together, all in one little place.” Canon Holden, who formally established the Shrine of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Ramsgate in 2012, was referring to the “remarkable” Catholic history of the county of Kent in England, an area slightly smaller than Rhode Island but with close links to possibly as many as 80 saints...

How St. Camillus Beat Addiction to Sin and Became a Servant of the Sick

How St. Camillus Beat Addiction to Sin and Became a Servant of the Sick| National Catholic RegisterTHOMASGRIFFIN: St. Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614) was a priest who spent the majority of his ministry caring for the sick and suffering. However, his early life had a rocky path. He was known to have a bad temper and a strong will that made him difficult to be around. By the age of 12, he was hanging around groups of friends who were not living the virtuous life. He quickly became addicted to gambling and struggled with the temptation for much of his early life...

This Sunday’s Gospel: Martha, Mary, Abraham — and Mass

This%20Sunday%2C%20When%20the%20Lord%20Comes%20to%20Dinner%3A%20On%20Martha%2C%20Mary%2C%20Abraham%20%u2026%20and%20Mass%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus comes over for dinner to the home of friends in the Gospel reading for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, and one host, Mary, we are told, “sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak,” while her sister Martha “burdened with much serving, came to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’” The story is simple but endlessly instructive.

The Red Cross, Perverse Mercy, and a Crime Against Nature

(2) The red cross, perverse mercy, and a crime against natureCONDON: Happy Friday, friends, and a very happy feast of St. Camillus de Lellis to you. Camillus was the founder of the Camillian order in service to the sick. Born in the Kingdom of Naples in 1550, the future saint appears to have been raised mostly by his father, who was himself a professional soldier serving, as best I can tell, if not the highest bidder then at least more than one master...

Pope Leo XIV Calls Cardinal Pizzaballa About Attack on Gaza Church

Pope Leo XIV calls Cardinal Pizzaballa about attack on Gaza church | CruxCOLLINS: On Friday, Pope Leo XIV spoke to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, about the situation in the Gaza Strip, where on Thursday the area’s only Catholic church was hit by a shell from an Israeli tank, killing three people. Several others were injured, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of the church.

Mexico City Government Projects Pro-Abortion Images on Cathedral’s Façade

Mexico%20City%20government%20projects%20pro-abortion%20images%20on%20cathedral%u2019s%20fa%E7ade%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The Metropolitan Cathedral’s communications office in Mexico City expressed its dissatisfaction with the projection of pro-abortion messages on the façade of the church during a show organized by the capital city’s government.

‘You Are Gods’: The Catholic Doctrine of Divinization Is Making a Comeback

%u2018You%20Are%20Gods%u2019%3A%20The%20Ancient%20Theology%20That%u2019s%20Making%20a%20Comeback%20%u2014%20and%20Could%20Help%20Unite%20East%20and%20West%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: When Grace Simcox came across the concept of deification last year, the Catholic theology student thought she might be dealing with something more pagan than Christian. The Franciscan University undergrad was debating her now-boyfriend, an Eastern Orthodox catechumen, and wasn’t sure if his constant emphasis on how the Christian life was aimed at theosis, or becoming like God, squared with her Catholic commitments — or if it did at all.

Lord in the Ring? Catholicism and Bullfighting in Portugal

(2) Lord in the ring? Catholicism and bullfighting in PortugalDAVILLEZ: The Church of Our Lady of the Castle commands an impressive view over the rural town of Coruche, which is about an hour’s drive from Lisbon, Portugal. Towards the end of the town you can clearly make out the impressive local bullring. António Ribeiro Telles knows both local landmarks well. The Ribeiro Telles family name is synonymous with bullfighting in Portugal. António and his two brothers are third generation bullfighters, and his own son and several nephews are carrying the torch into the fourth.

Dao Lu, Brave Anti-Abortion Buddhist Monk, Jailed by Chinese Communists (Who Have a Reputation for Lying About Charges Like This)

Dao Lu, Hero or Villain? Anti-Abortion Buddhist Monk Detained in China: The story of a well-known anti-abortion Buddhist monk has sparked considerable discussion among Chinese internet users. Some people support the government’s criticism of the monk, Dao Lu, believing he is a fraud. However, others think he has been wrongfully accused after challenging the government with his campaigns, which highlight that, despite the government’s focus on population issues and financial support for having children, many poor women in China still feel pushed to have abortions or abandon their babies.

Monastic Luxe: The Style Pendulum Has Swung Back to Timeless Patterns, Rustic Wood, and a Vibe of the Sacred

(2) Trending: Monastic Luxe - by Carrie GressGRESS: My family and I recently had lunch with friends on their Virginia farm. As I stepped out of the car, summer heat scented with lavender and the Mediterranean style home in yellow stucco immediately took me back to the many months I spent in Provence during and just after college. The husband explained that despite his modest earnings, his family lived on an expansive farm with breathtaking views because of the generosity of his parents...

Scott Hahn and Rob Corzine: Why the Old Testament Still Matters

New Advent: Scott Hahn and Rob Corzine: Why the Old Testament Still Matters: Does the New Testament completely replace the Old and is the Catholic Church’s stance anti-semitic in nature?

More scandal surrounding a high-profile Catholic personality. For all of us, it’s a call to reflection...

New%20Advent%3A%20Another%20high-profile%20Catholic%20personality%20is%20involved%20in%20a%20new%20scandal.%20For%20all%20of%20us%2C%20it%u2019s%20a%20call%20to%20reflection...HOLDSWORTH: A recent scandal involving a high-profile Catholic personality has shaken many faithful. In this video, I explore the dangers of Catholic influencer culture, the spiritual risks it poses, and the serious responsibility that comes with any form of public evangelization. This is a call for deeper discernment, accountability, and reform...

This Is the Heart of the Matter...

The Heart of the Matter - The Catholic ThingMAIER: When an ambitious man is young, his thinking is a race car. It runs full throttle toward the target of success, however he imagines it. Men of more senior years, with fewer ticks left on the clock, think differently. The mind turns to making sense of things; to getting to the heart of the matter of one’s time in the world. The task becomes ordering a riot of random memories into a coherent story; the fabric of a life that has meaning...

Losing Sleep Over 'Educating' Our Children

Losing Sleep Over 'Educating' Our Children - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: My father-in-law once explained why he wanted to ‘homeschool’ when almost no one else in the state was doing so. “I wanted my children to be like their mother rather than like the teachers in the schools.” Whether this was or is the best practical conclusion, it in any case indicates a key starting point: education is much more than academics. To ‘homeschool’ or not and for how long is but one important question for parents in a broader project at the heart of marriage and household...

Cardinal Pizzaballa says ‘not sure’ whether Israeli attack on Catholic church was accident or retaliation against Christians

Pizzaballa%20%u2018not%20sure%u2019%20Gaza%20parish%20strike%20was%20%u2018mistake%u2019: Pope Leo XIV and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem have strongly condemned the shelling Thursday of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza. While the Israeli government has said that tank fire on the Gaza parish on July 17 was not deliberate, Cardinal Pierrebattista Pizzaballa has expressed doubts.

Pope Leo XIV Demands Ceasefire After Deadly Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV urges immediate ceasefire after deadly attack on Catholic parish in Gaza | Catholic News Agency: Following an airstrike against the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, which left at least two dead on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire. In a telegram signed on the pope’s behalf by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pontiff expressed his “deep sadness” over the military attack and offered his prayers...

‘Take My Yoke’: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Reveals Brown Scapular’s Enduring Spiritual Power

Why Our Lady of Mount Carmel Gave Us the Brown Scapular| National Catholic RegisterKIRBY: As we celebrate the “scapular feast” of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are invited to draw closer to the Lord Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Brown Scapular is one of many sacramentals in the life of the Church that are meant to help us in the spiritual life. In the early Church, Christian hermits followed the example of the Old Testament prophets and prayed and fasted on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land.

Weird ‘Yeti Blood Oath’ Prank Divides Denver’s St. John Vianney Seminary

%u2018Yeti%20blood%20oath%u2019%20divides%20Denver%20seminary%20-%20by%20Ed.%20CondonCONDON: Clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver are divided over the handling of a controversial “blood oath” ceremony involving a vice rector and seminarians during a ski trip last year. A group of seminarians studying at Denver’s St. John Vianney Theological Seminary were taken on the trip in January 2024 by then-vice rector of the seminary, Fr. John Nepil, during which they were woken in the middle of the night and invited individually to swear a “blood oath” in a ceremony involving a dagger and a man in a yeti costume.

Lincoln Bishop James Conley Has the Care of 75,000 Catholics — and 10,000 Bees

Bishop%20Conley%20the%20Beekeeper%20Enjoys%20Time%20in%20the%20%u2018Really%20Real%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterZANOTTI: For Bishop James Conley, of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, there is peace in wild things. In addition to his pastoral duties, Bishop Conley is the caretaker of more than 10,000 bees in two hives — a pastime that he now uses to help educate, and demonstrate, a care and concern for the environment that could have a massive impact on the next generation’s relationship with God’s creation. And that’s an education that is desperately needed...

Pope Leo XIV’s Hometown of Dolton, Illinois, Buys His Childhood Home, Eyes Historic Landmark

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20hometown%20purchases%20his%20childhood%20home%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The village of Dolton purchased Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood home for $375,000 on Tuesday, July 8, after the village board unanimously approved its purchase at a special meeting the week before. Newly-elected Dolton Mayor Jason House said on July 10 that a steering committee would be formed in order to plan how to manage the property, which will become a historic site open to the public. He said the committee would then “lay out the plans to trustees and the community.”

King Charles III’s Annual Swan Census Begins on the River Thames

King Charles' annual swan census begins on the River Thames | AP News: Scarlet uniforms flashed against the riverbank. Wooden skiffs glided in formation. A young swan, gently lifted from the water, was measured, inspected and released. The annual five-day census of swans belonging to King Charles III – known as Swan Upping -- began Monday on the River Thames to assess their health. One of the British monarch’s less-known titles is Seigneur of the Swans — Lord of the Swans — and according to ancient lore, he or she owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain’s open waters.

Can Your Brain Run Out of Memory?

Can your brain run out of memory? | Live Science: You can use up all the storage on your phone or max out your computer's drive, but can you use up all the memory space in your brain? Despite how you might feel before an exam or after a sleepless night before a work deadline, neuroscientists say that for a typical, healthy brain, memory capacity isn't fixed or easily used up.

Pure Courage in the Christian Tradition: Knowing St. Kateri Tekakwitha and Her Living Legacy

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Women of Auriesville, N.Y.: Pure Courage in the Christian Tradition | National ReviewLOPEZ: Watch some of the women who work and volunteer in Auriesville, N.Y., in action for even an hour of their lives, and you won’t doubt they live that mantra. And with an all-important sense of perspective — as they are on missions to find a relic of the True Cross for veneration to make a pilgrim’s miracle thanksgiving complete or to pick up hot dogs and buns for an anniversary event barbecue...

Waiting on the Lord: A Reflection on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Waiting on the Lord: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - St. Paul CenterHAHN: God wants to dwell with each of us personally, intimately—as the mysterious guests once visited Abraham’s tent, as Jesus once entered the home of Mary and Martha. By his hospitality in this week’s First Reading, Abraham shows us how we are to welcome the Lord into our lives. His selfless service of his divine guests (see Hebrews 13:1) stands in contrast to the portrait of Martha drawn in this week’s Gospel.

The Floods Still Speak: Baptism, Chaos, and the Saving Hand of God

Waters Deadly and Domesticated - The Catholic ThingDESOUZA: The floodplains of the Guadalupe River in Texas seem to be a place of elevated Biblical literacy. I imagine then that when the raging waters brought death and destruction, more than a few turned to Psalm 69. That psalm will be prayed at daily Mass today. And more than a few congregants, and perhaps a few preachers, will think about those who were overwhelmed by the floods in Texas...

SSPX Investigated for Theft and Damage After Removing Altar and Furnishings From French Church

SSPX investigated for theft and damage after removing altar and furnishings from French church: The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has removed furniture from a dilapidated church in Vaucluse, southeastern France. The group, made up of a priest and around a dozen SSPX faithful, is said to have been given authority by the municipality. However, the diocese was not consulted.

Plans in Train to Exhume Holy Remains of Martyr St. Thomas More

Plans in train to exhume holy remains of martyr St Thomas More: St Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury has revealed plans to exhume and preserve the remains of Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More. The plan is to put the centuries-old holy relic on display, before placing it in a shrine in 2035, lining up with the 500th anniversary of More’s execution. More was Henry VIII's lord chancellor but was best known for defying the King and was executed for treason in 1535 in Tower Hill, London.

Poland Leads Europe in Priestly Vocations as 208 Set for Ordination in 2025

Poland leads Europe in priestly vocations as 208 set for Ordination in 2025: Poland is set to ordain 208 men to the sacred priesthood this year, the highest number of any European country. A total of 141 men will be ordained for the diocesan priesthood. The Archdiocese of Warsaw, the country’s second largest by Catholic population, is set to ordain 12 men. However, the diocese with the largest number of new priests will be the Diocese of Tarnów, in the south of Poland, which will ordain 13 men.

The Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology of Happiness

The%20Philosophy%2C%20Theology%2C%20and%20Psychology%20of%20Happiness%20%u2014%20Thomistic%20InstituteKACZOR: It is 2008, it is my 16th wedding anniversary, and I am walking into the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to pray for a miracle. I am about to turn in my letter of resignation from a dream job in Washington, DC. I am about to give up a forty percent raise, wonderful friends, and the best parish I have ever joined. So, I make my way past various side chapels until I find the statute of Our Lady of Sorrows. I kneel down. I am in tears. I pray for a last-minute miracle...

Convents and Monasteries Are Becoming Popular Retreats for Gen Z Women

Convents and Monasteries Becoming Popular Retreats for Generation Z Women | National ReviewLOPEZ: ‘I feel the nuns have been expecting us. They knew our last nerve would disappear at some point.” The quote is from a piece in Vice. (How perfect is that?!) “Gen Z Women Are Booking Convents Instead of Beach Houses This Summer.” The subhead reads: “Move over, shared beach houses and Aperol spritzes. This summer, a growing number of Gen Z women are checking into Catholic convents and monasteries instead — on purpose.” They are not staying for good...

A Catholic Reading List for Midsummer Merriment

Humanities Syllabus for June: Midsummer MerrimentCONLEY: Summer is a time of rest and fun, and, with it, our Jubilee Year pilgrimage reaches its halfway mark. Midsummer Eve, the midway point of an historically longer summer season and also of the entire year, has been traditionally observed with bonfires (literally bone-fires) on June 23, the eve of the Nativity of John the Baptist. According to ancient reckoning, it was the time of the summer solstice, when the sun was at its full strength...

Why Do Catholics Keep Body Parts and Other Memories of Saints? A Beginner’s Guide to Relics

(2) Relics: An Introduction - by Deacon Tom - Weird CatholicTOMMCDONALD: St. Catherine of Siena is counted among the thirty-seven Doctors of the Church and is one of the most respected and revered woman in all church history. She was a mostly-illiterate laywoman, a third-order Dominican who worked among the sick and poor. She is revered not only for her deep piety and spiritual wisdom, but for using her supernatural skills of persuasion to mediate conflicts among the most powerful men of the 14th century...

After Texas Flood, Families and Faith Camps Face Hard Truths About a Beloved Summer Tradition

(2) Crossroads -- Challenges for small camps, after latest Kerrville floodMATTINGLY: Most of the Lone Star State is, and I note this as a prodigal Texan, a large slab of sun-baked concrete. But there is one small, strategic, complex and almost magical exception to that rule — the Texas Hill Country. The region is defined by the Guadalupe River and the rocky plateau around Kerrville. The prevailing winds come from West Texas and even New Mexico. Consider these numbers...

Rome Readies for Jubilee of Youth: ‘You Will Never Experience Anything Like This Again’

Rome%20readies%20for%20Jubilee%20of%20Youth%3A%20%u2018You%20will%20never%20experience%20anything%20like%20this%20again%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: With less than a month to go before the Jubilee of Youth begins, the pope’s diocese is making final preparations to welcome tens of thousands of young people from around the world who will participate in this event of great spiritual significance. “Young people will never experience this in their lives again. I’m sure of it. In practice, it will be like a World Youth Day,” explained Father Alfredo Tedesco, director of youth ministry in Rome, the host diocese.

Lonely Planet’s 23 Best Beaches in America

The 23 best beaches in the USA - Lonely Planet: From sea to shining sea, the USA features coasts and lakes that are littered with glorious stretches of sand. As well as the superstars grabbing the limelight (hello, Venice Beach), you'll find tucked-away, small-town gems that are the perfect location for a relaxing time with friends.

How One Monk Began Rebuilding the West

How One Monk Began Rebuilding the West ~ The Imaginative ConservativeSTAUDT: July 11 is the feast of St. Benedict and the anniversary of the refounding of St. Peter’s Abbey of Solesmes, France in 1833 by Ven. Dom Prosper Guéranger and five other priests. Apart from the Benedictines, you may wonder why this event has significance. Solesmes became a great center of renewal for the entire Church and its refounding brought forward a larger-than-life figure, who would oversee this renewal. Guéranger (1805-1875), originally a diocesan priest...

Despite Vatican agreement, China continues to arrest priests, nuns and faithful who refuse to join CCPA...

Wenzhou, New Crackdown on Catholic Conscientious Objectors: Pope Leo XIV is reportedly deliberating on the future of the recently renewed Vatican-China deal from 2018. Meanwhile, authorities in Beijing are intensifying their crackdown on Catholic conscientious objectors who oppose the agreement. They are part of an underground church that, in theory, should have merged with the government-controlled Patriotic Catholic Church and ceased to exist. In the southeastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, particularly within the Diocese of Wenzhou...

How the Parents of St. Thérèse Can Help You Raise Children for Heaven

How the Parents of St. Therese Can Help You Raise Children for Heaven| National Catholic RegisterGRIFFIN: Parenting advice is offered by many. You can find no lack of resources online or in books that claim to know the secret for how to raise your children best. For Catholics, we are blessed to have the witness of the saints to guide us. They shine a light on how we are called to live, and they reveal what happens to those around us when we make Jesus the center of our lives. Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin were the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux...

Prefecture of the Papal Household Poised for Renewal Under Leo XIV

Prefecture of the Papal Household Poised for Renewal Under Leo XIV| National Catholic RegisterGAGLIARDUCCI: The post of prefect of the Papal Household has been vacant since the Vatican’s brief announcement in June 2023 that Archbishop Georg Gänswein’s term had ended the previous February. But in effect, the position has been unfilled since 2020, when Pope Francis asked Archbishop Gänswein not to return to work. Since then, the Prefecture of the Papal Household has been managed by the No. 2 in command, or regent, Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza. Now, however, Pope Leo XIV appears poised to appoint a new prefect.

Your Peace Is Getting Hijacked. Here’s the Fix...

New%20Advent%3A%20Your%20Peace%20Is%20Getting%20Hijacked.%20Here%u2019s%20the%20Fix...STEFANICK: Your brain is hardwired to look for threats. That’s great if you’re in a jungle being chased by a bear. Not so great when you’re trying to live in the peace Jesus died to give you. In Week 2 of our Living Peace summer series, I delve into the real reason why so many of us are stuck in fear, outrage, and constant conflict, and how Jesus flips the script in one of His most famous parables: the Good Samaritan...

Fr. James Martin’s Homosophistry Takes Advantage of a Clear Double Standard

Fr.%20James%20Martin%u2019s%20homosophistry%20takes%20advantage%20of%20a%20clear%20double%20standard%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportCHAPP: I am not a “traditionalist”. At least not in the sense that the term has come to mean these days in common ecclesial parlance. I have sharp theological disagreements with the theological tendencies among some traditionalists on a range of issues. Nevertheless, they are a part of the Church, and their concerns should not be trivialized as unimportant or summarily dismissed via the pathway of lazy and breezy caricatures of them as just a gaggle of “anti-Vatican II” malcontents.

The Decline of Liberal Catholicism

The Decline of Liberal Catholicism - The Catholic ThingBATULE: When I was ordained a priest in 1985, my first pastor was about to turn 50 years old; he was a member of the Ordination Class of 1962. He saw himself and others saw him too as a “Vatican II” priest. There were meetings galore, a lot of “co-ministry” with women Religious, and, in discussions, frequent references to the marginalized and minorities of various kinds...

Pope’s Sunday Angelus at Castel Gandolfo: ‘To Live Eternally, We Do Not Need to Cheat Death, But to Serve Life’

Pope at Angelus: We cannot cheat death, only serve life to gain eternal life - Vatican News: As his summer holidays continue in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV joined pilgrims who came out to the hilltop town near Rome in praying the traditional Marian prayer of the Angelus. In his address to those gathered in Freedom Square, the Pope reflected on the question put to Jesus in the Gospel...

This Sunday, See Christ and Be Christ By Receiving Christ, the Good Samaritan

This%20Sunday%2C%20See%20Christ%20and%20Be%20Christ%20By%20Receiving%20Christ%2C%20the%20Good%20Samaritan%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: A scholar asks Jesus a key question to begin the Gospel reading this Sunday: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks him “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” in other words, “You don’t need me to tell you what the purpose of life is. You already know it.” The man answers: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Exactly, says Jesus...

5 Key Symbols of Grace in the Bible

5 Key Symbols of Grace in the Bible - St. Paul CenterHARROLD: There are many different ways to define grace. One simple way of thinking about it is as a divine gift. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life” (1996). Every hour of every day, God is sending us free gifts to help us on our journey back to Him. And throughout the Scriptures, He provides us with a host of symbols which help convey the beauty and the power of this amazing grace.

This Flemish Renaissance Artist Painted Bugs Like Jewels — And Changed Science Forever

New%20Advent%3A%20This%20Flemish%20Renaissance%20Artist%20Painted%20Bugs%20Like%20Jewels%20%u2014%20And%20Changed%20Science%20Forever: Produced in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art...

Want biblical proof for the Catholic Eucharist? Read the Book of Revelation, and consider the end of the world...

The Eucharist and the End of the World | Catholic Answers MagazineHESCHMEYER: On Easter morning, two disciples of Jesus are on their way from Jerusalem back to Emmaus. They might be husband and wife, but the text doesn’t say for certain. St. Luke names only one of the two: Cleopas. If they are a married couple, they might be Jesus’ aunt and uncle. (Hegesippus, a Christian writer from the second century, references “the Lord’s uncle, Clopas.”) If Cleopas and Clopas are the same person...

Apologetics Alone Is Never Enough

Apologetics alone is never enough | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Catholic apologetics—that is, the careful argumentation for the veracity of the Catholic faith—is an important tool in spreading the Gospel, but by itself it is rarely enough to convert anyone. This frustrating reality presents a challenge that we may not always know how to meet. Let’s take a few minutes to understand the nature of the problem...

In Viral Letter, Famed Liberation Theologian Repudiates ‘Social Issues’ Focus: ‘Proclaim Jesus Christ and His Grace’

Former liberation theology leader calls on Latin American bishops to change tune | Catholic News Agency: Friar Clodovis Boff has written an open letter to the bishops of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops’ Council (CELAM, by its Spanish acronym), who recently met in assembly, asking: “What good news did I read there? Forgive my frankness: None. You, bishops of CELAM, always repeat the same old story: social issues, social issues, and social issues. And this has been going on for more than fifty years.”

A Pilgrimage to Częstochowa

A%20Pilgrimage%20to%20Cz%u0119stochowa%20-%20The%20Catholic%20Thing: Across hundreds of miles in Poland, the land is flat. Likewise, Częstochowa, though the monastery which houses the miraculous icon of the Black Madonna sits atop a hill. The choice of the site probably had much to do with its defensibility. It’s the only monastery that I have visited which has ramparts. The one hundred Pauline monks – named for St. Paul the Hermit c. A.D. 345 – who live there, as well as an extensive cadre of sisters, staff the premises...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Praying Like Jesus

New Advent: A Step-by-Step Guide to Praying Like JesusSTEFANICK: Prayer is so powerful that it’s actually life-changing. And here’s the best part: God really delights in every moment you spend talking with Him. But how exactly did Jesus pray, and what can His prayer life teach us about drawing close to the Father? In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with seminary professor Scott Powell to journey through Jesus’ prayer life, from the blazing summit of the Transfiguration to the raw honesty of the Psalms...

Hope Against Hope: A Priest’s Tale Made for the Movies

Hope%20Against%20Hope%3A%20A%20Priest%u2019s%20Tale%20Made%20for%20the%20Movies%20%7E%20The%20Imaginative%20ConservativeDEAVEL: If you’re looking for a short, punchy thriller with a spiritual component as well as physical action, Andy Fowler’s 2024 novella, The Condemned is probably for you. Inspired by the story of a nameless priest murdered while ministering in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, this tale of an American priest in a small, northern Mexican town starts with cartel violence and ends with cartel violence...

Will Leo XIV Weigh in on France’s Criminal Chancellor?

(2) Will Leo weigh in on France's criminal chancellor?JDFLYNN: A French archbishop is standing by his decision to appoint as chancellor a priest who was convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy, and who spent four years in prison for the offense. While Archbishop Guy de Kerimel of Toulouse argues that appointing the priest to a prominent archdiocesan position is an act of mercy, Catholics in France and the U.S. seem skeptical, with some asking why Fr. Dominique Spina is eligible for any diocesan assignment at all.

Alleged Apparitions in Slovakia: What’s the Vatican Saying?

Alleged%20apparitions%20in%20Slovakia%3A%20What%u2019s%20the%20Vatican%20saying%3FCOPPEN: The Vatican’s doctrinal office gave the green light Wednesday to devotion associated with alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Slovakia. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published July 9 a letter from its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, approving a declaration of nihil obstat (“nothing stands in the way”) for the Marian devotion connected with Mount Zvir, located in northern Slovakia, close to the Polish border.

Pax, French Clericalism, and American Iconography

Pax, French clericalism, and American iconographyJDFLYNN: Happy Friday friends, and a happy feast of St. Benedict to you all. I am back after having taken last week off, though unfortunately this season’s edition of covid meant we had to turn around and come home after only a day away. I‘d been looking forward to this particular vacation for a while, and I nursed a certain sense of undirected injustice as we drove home early, that we’d been cheated of something we had coming to us, as a family...

Bishops Draw the Line at Border Wall Expansion

Bishops Draw the Line at Border-Wall Expansion| National Catholic RegisterLIKOUDIS: Congress has, after much debate and delay, passed a sprawling budget bill, colloquially termed the “big beautiful” bill. Among other expenditures, the bill devotes roughly $46.5 billion to new segments of the border wall, along with another approximately $120 billion to other Department of Homeland Security and immigration-enforcement infrastructure, including the expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).

Diocese of San Bernardino Grants Sunday Mass Dispensation to Those Fearing Deportation

San Bernardino diocese grants Sunday Mass dispensation to those fearing deportation | Catholic News Agency: Bishop Alberto Rojas of the diocese of San Bernardino, California has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass for those within the diocese who fear deportation. The bishop said all of the faithful within the diocese who possess “genuine fear” of arrest while attending Mass are dispensed from the obligation until further notice, and are "encouraged to maintain their spiritual communion with Christ and His Church through acts of personal prayer.”

Priests of West Bank’s only remaining all-Christian town issue urgent appeal against Israeli settler violence

Priests%20of%20West%20Bank%u2019s%20only%20remaining%20all-Christian%20town%20issue%20urgent%20appeal%20against%20Israeli%20settler%20violence%20-%20CatholicVote%20org: The three priests of Taybeh in the West Bank issued an urgent appeal for justice this week after Israeli settlers reportedly escalated their acts of violence and intimidation against Christians in the region’s only remaining all-Christian town. “We, the priests of the three churches of Taybeh — the Greek Orthodox Church, the Latin Church, and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church — raise our voices on behalf of the people of our town and our parishioners to strongly condemn the ongoing and grave series of attacks targeting Taybeh,” the three pastors wrote in a letter.

Pope Leo XIV Shares Message to Pilgrims at Historic Mass in Canterbury Cathedral

Pope Leo XIV Shares Message to Pilgrims at Historic Mass in Canterbury Cathedral| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Catholic faithful packed Canterbury Cathedral on Monday evening for a historic Mass, complete with a papal blessing and the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated by the apostolic nuncio to honor St. Thomas Becket and the translation of his relics in 1220. Since at least the late 20th century, the Cathedral’s Anglican leaders have allowed the local Catholic parish of St. Thomas of Canterbury to celebrate the translation (transferal) of the relics every July 7 with a Mass at the high altar.

That’s Some Bad Fish Story – Spielberg’s “Jaws” Turns 50

That%u2019s%20Some%20Bad%20Fish%20Story%20%u2013%20Spielberg%u2019s%20%u201CJaws%u201D%20Turns%2050%20%7C%20DominicanaBUCKNER: There’s nothing like a good fish tale. Man grappling with nature. The allure of the vast ocean. The earnest exaggerations of a man with skin sunburnt and leathered by time. And this summer one of our era’s biggest and boldest fish tales turns 50. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, an adaptation of Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel of the same name, has now terrified beachgoers for five decades. And while the title typically conjures up images of bloodied shorelines, gripping dolly-zooms, and small-town woes...

We Don’t Just Choose Right or Wrong — Our Moral Choices Make Us Who We Are

Truly Becoming Ourselves - The Catholic ThingSTEPHENWHITE: Human beings, having a rational nature, are free to choose between good and evil. This freedom constitutes, in the words of Pope Leo XIII, “the highest of natural endowments.” We are not only free to choose between good and evil, but we are also responsible for those choices. We are responsible for the intentions by which we act, for the actions themselves, and, to some degree, for the consequences of those actions...

Pope Leo XIV pens gracious letter — in Latin — to congratulate Cardinal Burke on 50 years of priestly ministry

Pope Leo XIV thanks Cardinal Burke, who clashed with Francis, for 50 years of priestly ministry | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV has written a warm and detailed letter to Cardinal Raymond Burke, thanking the American cardinal for 50 years of priestly ministry, in a gesture that marks a shift in tone following years of tension between Burke and Pope Francis.

Eucharist Returns to Canterbury: Papal Nuncio Celebrates Historic Mass in England’s Ancient Catholic Heart

Historic Mass celebrated by papal nuncio at Anglican cathedral in rare event | Catholic News Agency: For the first time in modern history, the apostolic nuncio to the United Kingdom has celebrated Mass in England’s most celebrated Anglican cathedral. On Monday, July 7, which marked the feast of the Translation of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass at Canterbury Cathedral with hundreds in attendance, including the Vatican’s cricket team.

Camp Mystic, Texas Floods and Grieving for Lost Children

%u2018There%20Is%20No%20Pain%20Greater%u2019%3A%20Grieving%20With%20the%20Parents%20of%20Lost%20Children%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTOMMCDONALD: There is no emotional pain on earth greater than that of a parent who has lost a child. As we read the news of so many deaths from the Texas floods, those of the children hit particularly hard. That so many of them were attending a Christian camp is particularly troubling to many: If this is how God rewards innocent children gathered to praise his name, what does Christian faith even mean? There’s a great deal of theology about evil and suffering, but it is of little comfort in a moment like this...

When Protestants say Peter can't be ‘the rock,’ they have it exactly backwards

Matthew 16 and a Parallel for Peter | Catholic Answers MagazineAKIN: I grew up in the American South, and I was raised in a Protestant family. But when I was six or seven years old, my parents had some kind of disagreement with the elders of our church, and they stopped going. So after that, I was raised nominally Protestant, and we’d go to church only once or twice a year when we visited my grandparents. When I was a teenager, I was involved in the New Age Movement, but I broke with that when I turned 18.

A Divine Plan for Changing Diapers

A Divine Plan for Changing Diapers - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: There is always a reason for the way things are, even when this is not apparent. An easily missed aspect of the natural order of household life offers a standout example of this truth. In short, the things we must do to address our bodily needs offer a perfect context to address our higher needs too. What might seem ho-hum at first shows itself on closer examination to be breathtaking...

The Ascension vs. Human Composting

The Ascension vs. Human CompostingWEIGEL: There are many reasons to regret the transfer of the Solemnity of the Ascension to the seventh Sunday of the Easter season. Among other things, the transfer shortens the Church’s time to reflect on this great feast, whose meaning has become ever more important in this cultural moment. What does the Ascension of the Lord mean? The Ascension means that humanity — the human nature assumed by the second Person of the Trinity at the Incarnation — has been incorporated into the life of God himself.

Pope Leo XIV Shares Message to Pilgrims at Historic Mass in Canterbury Cathedral

Pope Leo XIV Shares Message to Pilgrims at Historic Mass in Canterbury Cathedral| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Catholic faithful packed Canterbury Cathedral on Monday evening for a historic Mass, complete with a papal blessing and the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated by the apostolic nuncio to honor St. Thomas Becket and the translation of his relics in 1220. Since at least the late 20th century, the Cathedral’s Anglican leaders have allowed the local Catholic parish of St. Thomas of Canterbury to celebrate the translation (transferal) of the relics every July 7 with a Mass at the high altar.

Shocking Appointment: Priest Convicted of Raping 16-Year-Old Boy Under Spiritual Direction Named Chancellor by French Archbishop

Toulouse, France, archbishop names rape-convicted priest as chancellor | Catholic News AgencyWIMMER: The archbishop of Toulouse, France, has drawn fierce criticism for appointing a priest previously convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy to serve as diocesan chancellor, sparking outrage from victims’ advocates and the local Catholic community. Archbishop Guy de Kerimel named Father Dominique Spina as chancellor and episcopal delegate for marriages, effective Sept. 1, according to a decree published June 2 on the archdiocese’s website...

32 Martyrs of Orange Guillotined in Roman Theater During French Revolution

32 Martyrs of Orange Guillotined in Roman Theater During French Revolution| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: America celebrates the Semiquincentennial of the United States in less than a year. The struggle of the United States for liberty was a defining feature of its national psychology, especially in its early years, which led to conflicted attitudes about the French Revolution that began in 1789. On the one hand, France had been an ally without whose help the young American Republic probably would not have wrested independence from the British...

What Pope Leo XIV’s Little-Seen Thesis Reveals About His Theology of Leadership

What%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20Thesis%20Reveals%20About%20His%20Theology%20of%20Leadership%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTOWELL: On May 17, just over a week after white smoke rose above St. Peter’s Square, I offered the first public analysis of Pope Leo XIV’s doctoral dissertation — five days before The New York Times published its own. Since then, interest in the text has only grown. Catholic educators, theologians and many friends — both lay and clerical — have all asked me the same question: What else is in the dissertation?

ISS Astronaut Captures a Rare Phenomenon From Orbit — a Giant ‘Sprite’ Rising High Above a Thunderstorm

ISS%20astronaut%20captures%20a%20rare%20phenomenon%20from%20orbit%20%u2014%20a%20giant%20%27sprite%27%20above%20a%20thunderstorm%20%7C%20Space: U.S. astronaut Nichole "Vapor" Ayers captured a spectacular view of a phenomenon known as a "sprite" blazing to life above an intense thunderstorm — and she did this while orbiting 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The Powerful Puzzle at the Heart of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson’s ‘Teenage Symphony to God’

(2) Listening for the Divine, inside Brian Wilson's headMATTINGLY: I grew up near an ugly coast on the Texas-Louisiana border, where the beaches were defined by muddy, often dirty, water and swarms of mosquitoes. If the humid wind blew the wrong way, the pollution from nearby refineries was a nice touch. Thus, I have no memories of my friends listening to the Beach Boys. The local vibe was our own Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter and ZZ Top.

The Risk of Searching for Christ

The Risk of Searching for Christ | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: In St. Matthew’s Gospel, we encounter an immediate sense of the risk involved in following God. As a protagonist event, the temptation of Jesus in the desert reveals what will occur if you choose to follow the will of God. In the case of Jesus, the entire temptation sequence reveals the sins he will encounter throughout his journey to save the souls of humanity through his death on the Cross...

Catholic Evangelization 101: What is Conversion?

Catholic Evangelization 101 - What is Conversion? - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Have you ever actually read the entire terms of use for a new app on your phone? If so, did you understand everything in it? Even if you didn't, you probably still checked that you would “read and agree” to everything in the document. This kind of half-hearted consent is similar to what happens for a lot of Catholics every Sunday. When we get to the creed, many Catholics aren’t really paying attention to what their words mean...

What We Must Do: A Reflection on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What We Must Do: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - St. Paul CenterHAHN: We are to love God and our neighbor with all the strength of our being, as the scholar of the Law answers Jesus in this week’s Gospel. This command is nothing remote or mysterious—it’s already written in our hearts, in the book of Sacred Scripture. “You have only to carry it out,” Moses says in this week’s First Reading. Jesus tells His interrogator the same thing: “Do this and you will live.” The scholar, however, wants to know where he can draw the line. That’s the motive behind his question...

Sunday Is Not the Sabbath

Sunday Is Not the Sabbath | Catholic Answers MagazineSTAPLES: One of the most appealing teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination is their insistence that Christians must obey the Ten Commandments . . . all ten of them. They rightly expose the errant thinking among many Protestant Christian sects that claims, “We don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments for salvation anymore.” Of course, Jesus has a reminder for us...

The 11 Best Affordable Family Vacations in the US

The Best Affordable Family Vacations in the US | Conde Nast Traveler: Planning a family vacation that checks all the boxes—fun, memorable, and affordable—can feel like a tall order. Between different interests, varying age ranges, and budgeting for meals, lodging, and entertainment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you’ve even packed a bag. But good news: creating lasting family memories doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Across the US, there are plenty of wallet-friendly destinations that offer big fun without draining your savings.

During WWII, Peter To Rot Chose Martyrdom Over Polygamy and Silence

During WWII, Peter To Rot Chose Martyrdom Over Polygamy and Silence| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: One of the problems in talking about art in relation to modern saints like Peter To Rot (1912-1945) is that there often isn’t any. Yes, being painted could be a vanity project for some, but once upon a time, people had their portraits made because there were no photographs. One can hardly imagine what they might have thought of the modern phenomenon called the “selfie.” Peter To Rot has, however, been memorialized in a somewhat neglected modern art form: the postage stamp. He’s appeared on two series of stamps from his native Papua New Guinea, the large island north of Australia.

‘They Had Their Rosaries’: Two Sisters, Catholic School Students, Lost in Texas Flood Remembered for Their Faith and Kindness

2 sisters, Catholic school students, lost in Texas flood remembered for faith and kindness | Catholic News Agency: Two sisters who attended St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas were among the victims of the Texas Hill Country flash floods that have devastated parts of the state, the school confirmed in a statement on Saturday. Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were vacationing with their parents and grandparents on the Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas. The flash flood raised the river more than 22 feet in half an hour in the early morning hours of July 4, dislodging and carrying away their cabin, in which they were staying with their grandparents.

Russia’s ‘Sacrilegious War’ Shatters Orthodox Unity, Prompts Response From Pope Leo

Russia%u2019s%20%u2018Sacrilegious%20War%u2019%20Shatters%20Orthodox%20Unity%2C%20Prompts%20Response%20From%20Pope%20Leo%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: In the history of ecumenism, this June 28 was most unusual. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople — primus sine paribus (first without equals) among Orthodox Christians — customarily sends a delegation to Rome for the patronal feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The Holy See reciprocates in November for the feast of St. Andrew, patron of Constantinople. Pope Leo XIV welcomed the Orthodox delegation in the Apostolic Palace, assuring them...

Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Castel Gandolfo for Summer Vacation

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Castel Gandolfo for summer vacation | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by well-wishers upon his arrival to his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on Sunday. Crowds of people standing behind barriers greeted the Holy Father, taking photos and shouting “Viva Papa!” as he walked toward the papal palace located southeast of Rome.

Catholics Mobilize Aid After Historic Flash Floods Devastate Texas Hill Country

Catholics mobilize aid after historic flash floods devastate Texas Hill Country | Catholic News Agency: Catholics are responding with prayers and aid after record-breaking flash floods in central Texas devastated communities along the area’s rivers and killed at least 27 people. The flash flooding began in the early hours of July 4. Heavy rainfall filled the creeks that emptied into the several rivers that wind through the normally arid hills known as the Texas Hill Country, located north and west of San Antonio and Austin.

Defunding Planned Parenthood Is Only a Baby Step

Defunding Planned Parenthood Is Only a Baby Step | National ReviewLOPEZ: It’s a historic moment — defunding Planned Parenthood, now that Congress has sent the “Big, Beautiful” mess to the White House. But also make no mistake that this defunding of Planned Parenthood is a baby step. There is so much more to do to build an authentic culture of life in the United States. I’m grateful that Congress kept any defunding in it in the end...

Why Was Moses Not Allowed to Enter the Promised Land?

Why Was Moses Not Allowed to Enter the Promised Land? - St. Paul CenterHARROLD: Since ancient times, Jewish and Christian interpreters alike have puzzled over God’s decision to prevent Moses from entering the Promised Land. The immediate context for the decision is found in Numbers 20. It’s the fortieth and final year of the Exodus, and the Israelites have once again run out of water in the wilderness. Faced with this calamity, the people begin complaining against Moses and Aaron, saying they wish they had stayed in Egypt.

How many new priests are there in Europe?

(2) How many new priests are there in Europe? - by Luke CoppenCOPPEN: How many new Catholic priests will be ordained in Europe in 2025? It’s a simple question, but difficult to answer, given the continent consists of more than 40 nations, with varying attitudes to record-keeping. Does the answer matter? Yes, because it would be one way of taking the spiritual temperature of Europe, which remains the geographical center of the Catholic Church, despite long ceasing to be its demographic center.

Racing With the Devil

Racing With the Devil ~ The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: I have sought since my conversion to use the gifts that God has given me to glorify Him and to bring souls to Him, in contrast to the way that I had previously used those same gifts to glorify hatred and to lead souls astray. This remains the rationale behind my vocation as a Catholic writer. I echo the words of G. K. Chesterton who said that he had been received into the Catholic Church in order to have his sins forgiven...

Pope Leo XIV Returns to 400-Year-Old Papal Tradition of Summer Retreat at Castel Gandolfo

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20moves%20to%20the%20%u2018second%20Vatican%20City%2C%u2019%20Castel%20Gandolfo%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyBROCKHAUS: Two months into his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV will leave Rome to spend two weeks on a pontifical estate in the lakeside town of Castel Gandolfo, 18 miles south of the city, and sometimes known as the “second Vatican City.” The pontiff will stay on the hilltop Vatican property “for a period of rest” from the afternoon of July 6 to the afternoon of July 20, the Vatican announced last month...

6 Things You Should Know About This Sunday’s Readings

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Delivers%20Personal%20Instructions%20for%20the%20Mission%20of%20Life%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: The story of Jesus sending his disciples is related to the story of Jerusalem nursing her children. Jesus sends out the 72 disciples with very specific instructions. “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way,” he says. “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’” These Christians are being asked to depend entirely on God...

Tragedy at Rattlesnake Falls: Opus Dei Mourns the June 18 Drowning Deaths of Three of Its Members

Tragedy at Rattlesnake Falls: Opus Dei Mourns the Drowning of Three of Its Members| National Catholic RegisterMATTMCDONALD: The hikers could just barely hear Val Creus’ cries of distress over the roar of Rattlesnake Falls. Moments before, the 59-year-old had jumped off a ledge near the scenic cascade in the northern California wilderness for a refreshing plunge. Now, somewhere in the frigid water 20 feet below them, he was in trouble. Matt Schoenecker didn’t hesitate. An avid biker and climber who also was a skilled high-platform diver...

God’s Answer to the Pain of Adolescence

God%u2019s%20Answer%20to%20the%20Pain%20of%20Adolescence%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMILLS: “I wouldn’t go through that again for anything,” said a friend a few stools down at our local place. She and the bartender had been discussing their teenage years. They’d grown up in the same town about 10 years apart, one in a difficult situation, the other a star athlete, but they both had stories. “Yes,” I answered my friend. I hadn’t thought about my teenage years in a long time, but once I did...

Vatican Spokesman Downplays Leaked Documents on Traditional Latin Mass

Vatican downplays leaked documents on Latin Mass | Catholic News Agency: A Vatican spokesman has played down the significance of recently leaked Vatican documents that appear to cast doubt on Pope Francis’ rationale for restricting the Latin Mass, calling the documents “partial and incomplete.” The documents appear to show that bishops had a more favorable outlook on the Traditional Latin Mass than Pope Francis suggested when he issued controversial restrictions on its celebration in 2021.

What I Discovered When 10 Nuns Came Over for Dinner

What I Discovered When 10 Nuns Came Over for Dinner| National Catholic RegisterLUKAS: My mother and father regarded priests and nuns as individuals who sacrificed much in their lives, and secular Catholics like us should show our gratitude to them in a tangible way. Since we had invited our beloved pastor, Father John Dronzek, for several dinners, my parents announced that they would invite the 10 Polish American Franciscan nuns who taught at St. Michael’s Elementary and Junior High School in West Lynn, Massachusetts.

Canonical Trial Advances for Rupnik as Vatican Appoints External Judges

(2) Cardinal Fernandez: Rupnik judges chosen - by Edgar Beltran: Vatican doctrinal chief Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández announced Thursday that a panel of judges for the canonical trial of mosaic artist Fr. Marko Rupnik has been chosen. Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said July 3 that the panel was “made up of judges who are all independent and external to our dicastery.”

How many new priests are there in Europe?

(2) How many new priests are there in Europe? - by Luke CoppenCOPPEN: How many new Catholic priests will be ordained in Europe in 2025? It’s a simple question, but difficult to answer, given the continent consists of more than 40 nations, with varying attitudes to record-keeping. Does the answer matter? Yes, because it would be one way of taking the spiritual temperature of Europe, which remains the geographical center of the Catholic Church, despite long ceasing to be its demographic center.

Message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (July 2, 2025)

Message of the Holy Father for the tenth World Day of Prayer for the Care of CreationCOATOFARMS: Dear Brothers and Sisters! The theme of this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, chosen by our beloved Pope Francis, is “Seeds of Peace and Hope”. On the tenth anniversary of the establishment of this Day of Prayer, which coincided with the publication of the EncyclicalLaudato Si’, we find ourselves celebrating the present Jubilee as“Pilgrims of Hope.”This year’s theme thus appears most timely...

We Are Improbable, But Here We Are

We Are Improbable, But Here We Are - Word on FireBARROS: If someone places their trust in science, then they must also accept at least one miracle. That miracle is the moment when everything began. According to current cosmological understanding, the entire universe—space, time, matter, and energy—originated from a singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago. There was no physical cause, no preceding event, and no natural mechanism. Everything emerged from what appears to be nothing.

Killed for Being Christian: The Personal Stories of All 22 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs

Killed for Being Christian: The Personal Stories of All 22 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: Imagine longing so deeply for the Eucharist that you would hike nearly fifty miles each way to go to Mass every Sunday, traveling through dense forests, fighting off wild animals, and crossing multiple rivers to do it. Imagine being so eager to die for Jesus that you would actually joke with the one who was sentencing you to death. Imagine having friends so kind and so loving that when they called you out on your sin you would leave both the women you were sleeping with and live in poverty while providing for their needs.

Quiet high schooler paints portraits of entire class to reconnect before graduating

New Advent: Quiet high schooler paints portraits of entire class to reconnect before graduating: According to many of her senior classmates here at Waunakee High School in Wisconsin, 18-year-old Molly Schafer was a loner. But before graduation, she leaned on her artistic skills to reconnect and learned an important lesson in the process. Steve Hartman has the story ‘On the Road’...

The Tomb of St. Peter Explained

New Advent: The Tomb of St. Peter Explained: Beneath layers of history in the Vatican City lies the tomb of St. Peter...

Next year is the 250th birthday of the US — and “We, the People” need to get our act together

Independence Day #249WEIGEL: In the twelve months leading up to next year’s American semiquincentennial, the tale will frequently be told of Benjamin Franklin’s encounter with Philadelphia matron Elizabeth Willing Powel, who asked, as Franklin left the Constitutional Convention: “Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?” To which the 81-year-old sage replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” That caveat remains as true today as when Franklin engraved it in the national memory on September 17, 1787.

‘Never Despair of God’s Mercy’: A Rule for Families, Not Just Monks

To Become a Witness to Mercy Today - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Home is our workshop of life, and we are artisans. We discover, pattern and forge–for spouses, friends, children and others–the key features of a human life. In an unforgettable line, St. Benedict enunciates a key to the whole project: “Never despair of God’s mercy.” In his Rule, one of the most influential documents ever written, St. Benedict offers in the fourth chapter a lengthy list...

St. Otto, Whose Feast Day Is July 2, United the Fractured Faith of a Fractured Europe

St. Otto United the Fractured Faith of a Fractured Europe| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: St. Otto of Bamberg, whose feast is observed July 2 in the United States, is also honored in a special way on two local calendars in Europe: June 30 in Germany and July 1 in some dioceses of northwestern Poland. Historically, Germany and Poland have not been the best of friends, so how is it that St. Otto features on both their calendars? Two big reasons: the investiture controversy in what is now Germany and conversions in today’s Poland.

Saints and popes have lauded the benefits of trade. So where do tariffs fit in?

The Church's Low View of Tariffs | Catholic Answers MagazineJOHNCLARK: In recent months, the word “tariff” seems to be on everyone’s lips. Those in favor of tariffs insist that the survival of America necessitates huge trade restrictions. Those in favor of free trade, on the other hand, often hold that widespread tariffs will inevitably lead to recession or even the next depression, as global supply chains delink across the globe.

Leaked Vatican Report Challenges Rationale for Traditionis Custodes, Shows Most Bishops Opposed New Restrictions

EXCLUSIVE: Official Vatican Report Exposes Major Cracks in Foundation of Traditionis Custodes: New evidence has come to light that exposes major cracks in the foundation of Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’ 2021 decree that restricted the traditional Roman liturgy. This journalist has obtained the Vatican’s overall assessment of the consultation of bishops that was said to have “prompted” Pope Francis to revoke Summorum Pontificum, Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter liberalizing the vetus ordo, more commonly known as the “Traditional Latin Mass” and sacraments.

Obergefell Must Go

Obergefell Must Go - First ThingsROBERTGEORGE: Last week marked ten years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges—the case that invalidated state laws defining marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife and required states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex partners. The decision had a stunning impact on American public opinion. Same-sex marriage, once rejected by a solid majority of Americans, became acceptable, for a while at least...

Pope Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Rodi, Names St. Louis Auxiliary as Successor

Alabama archbishop retires; St. Louis auxiliary is successor: The Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, will welcome a new shepherd, as Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis as his successor. The resignation and appointment were announced in Washington July 1 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S. Archbishop Rodi, 76, had submitted his resignation to the pope in March 2024 upon reaching his 75th birthday, as required by canon law.

England is at war with itself — it’s essentially a Catholic kingdom, but increasingly ruled by a Death Cult

England%u2019s%20National%20Religion%20Is%20a%20Death%20Cult%20-%20The%20Catholic%20ThingMORELLO: For those not living in these Isles, it’s very difficult to imagine what it’s like here. Depression, bordering on despair, is almost palpable and crops up everywhere. Recently, I got chatting to a stranger in a pub, and mentioned that I was soon to attend the citizenship ceremony of a friend who had immigrated from Eastern Europe. “Why would anyone in their right mind want to join this country?” the chap remarked. “That’s like climbing aboard a sinking ship.”