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A nativity scene featuring Mary in brown and blue, an angel with wings, Joseph in purple holding a staff, and baby Jesus in a manger. Surrounding figures include animals like an ox and donkey.

Ladies and Gentleman: Start your Christmas Novena Today!

Your challenge, should you accept it:  Try completing this simple novena.  It will change your outlook on Christmas and inspire good meditation on the Nativity of Our Lord.  His birth in humble means.  The trials Mary and Joseph faced to make it happen.  The circumstances of not even being welcome.  All of the Old Testament…

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Black and white illustration of Jesus in a robe facing a Roman soldier, with text "PONTIVS PILATUS" above. Crowd and buildings in the background. Catholic Passion theme."

Elections: Screaming for Barabbas?

I was aghast at some of the irrational mental gymnastics I’ve seen tossed about in the name of Catholic thinking about this election. For instance, Simcha Fisher, who writes for Catholics, is propounding that she voted for Hillary Clinton. Coverage of this has occurred elsewhere in social media, and you can read a pretty good analysis at blog Mahound’s…

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Sexistentialism: Isn’t Life About Something More than Copulation?

The New Era of Sexistentialism Equating happiness with sex and sexual experiences is on the rise. Expressing sexuality through social media is growing.  This is because of the increased overuse and dependence on technology and entertainment.  As a result, more people are sexistentialists.  Sexistentialism is, basically, men and women who actively seek self-worth and value through sexuality. To understand this phenomena we…

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Thanksgiving Day text with a religious theme. A list of five gratitude prompts, each ending with "let us give thanks to the Lord." The text is in black on a white background."

And They Can’t Figure Out Why People Don’t Go to Mass

Among all the other things Mass is meant to be, it certainly stands out that it is meant for us, as the people of God, His children, to worship Him together. A priest and friend from an unknown parish, in an unknown American location sent this photo of a booklet found in the sacristy. These are…

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Book cover titled "God in America" by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., with a photo of the author, a Catholic priest in clerical attire. The book cover is blue and red with gold stars indicating a review rating. Text mentions themes of spiritual legacy and moral choices in prison."

Gain the Freedom to Love God Anywhere, Anytime! 5-Star Book Review: With God in America by Fr. Ciszek

Get Access to New Fr. Cizszek Writings! Gain the Freedom to Love God Anywhere, Anytime! 5-Star Book Review: With God in America!!!

If we have a living, trusting, acting faith, then we know that God is around every corner of our life, that he does indeed walk with us and talk with us and love us, so deeply, so immensely that our life for him, our dearest friend, is like a tiny flame of a match compared to the burning world. Do we act on this all day long? Don’t we often act as though God is somewhere out there in the vast, impersonal sky, too concerned with the really big things of the world to be thinking of us? Aren’t we often like the apostles in the boat, thinking they have to wake God up so that he will pay attention to us?

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Black and white illustration of Catholic themes: angels, children adoring the Eucharist with text "Factus Cibus Viatorum" and "Vere Panis Filiorum." Latin text at bottom reads: "IHS FIFTY YEARS ADORING OUR LORD 1893-1943."

Runaway Memes: Pumpkin Spiced Sacrilege on the Feast of St. Gennaro

I have a buddy named Gennaro, and every year I think it’s the coolest thing because on his feast day, one of the most famous blood miracles occurs or does not occur. It’s sort of like the groundhog day of the Catholic calendar, in the sense that the event might happen, or it might not. Some…

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A portrait of Saint Robert Bellarmine in cardinal's red robes, holding a crucifix. He has a beard and is depicted with a halo. Text reads: "S. ROBERTUS CARD. BELLARMINUS S. SOC. JESU. MARCELLI II P.M. NEPOS."

Bellarmine on Hell-Bound Popes. Our Patron’s Feast today.

Today is the feast of St. Robert Bellarmine, the patron of the Bellarmine Forum/Wanderer Forum Foundation. It is the perfect opportunity to illustrate one of the many, many, many examples from his life of why he is the perfect saint for our time in America.  The trouble is that there are so many reasons! We could discuss…

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Nuns in white and blue habits walking outdoors with a man, urban setting, Catholic theme.

7 Secrets Fr. Hardon Observed about Saint Mother Teresa’s Power

Although many people think Mother Teresa was already canonized, some thinking it happened several times already, today it was official.  Some news services are calling her Saint Teresa.  Even Pope Francis said it was going to be difficult to change how we refer to her, from “Mother Teresa” to “Saint Teresa.”  I think, mostly because…

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Bronze statue of a man in a suit sitting on a bench, holding papers. The bench has the Indiana University logo. Set outdoors with brick walls and greenery in the background.

Notre Dame Will Never See the Likes of Moose Krause Again

Ed. Note:  This weekend begins one of the great American pastimes–college football. It is always an exciting time of year and one which we relish. Beer, brats, wings, tailgating, and cheering for our favorite teams! In particular–even though the principal authors here generally hail from Jesuit institutions–we at the Bellarmine Forum have always been Notre Dame fans. Our Chairman, the late Charles…

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Illustration from St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2 showing two girls, one holding a doll and the other hitting it with a stick. Text reads: "We are all born selfish." The illustration is in black and white with red accents."

Back to School Challenge: Find these 5 ideas in your child’s catechism!

Ahh, back to school time…  I remember having to make book covers out of old grocery bags, and then needing to promptly doodle, draw, and/or write on the covers to immediately identify them.  Then, I’d scan the book for pictures and see just what was in this new thing. It’s the time of year and…

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