Catholic Culture

A person dressed in papal vestments kneels at an altar, wearing a red and gold robe with white trim. They are praying in front of floral arrangements on the altar, which is adorned with intricate designs and candles. The scene suggests a Catholic religious ceremony or prayer.

Now That You’ve Heard the New Translations: Why?

(Editor’s note: The italicized words are the questions asked by an educated 30-something Catholic, who attends Mass regularly.) “Why are they doing this to us? Why are they changing the words of the Mass? What’s the big deal about a few words here and there?” The person asking these questions is a victim of over-preparation…

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Elderly man in red cardinal's hat and black robe with red trim, wearing a blue sash. Serious expression, Catholic ecclesiastical attire.

From our Friends at the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation

“No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist.” These words of Pope Pius XI that adorn every masthead of every edition of The Wanderer is as applicable today as it was when it was first penned. Along with that revered publication, the Wanderer Forum Foundation and the Cardinal…

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A richly decorated cathedral ceiling with gold accents and blue background, featuring religious paintings of angels and saints. The ornate design includes intricate patterns and a central depiction of the Holy Trinity, surrounded by other religious figures.

Bait and Switch

[Ed. Note. The ubiquity of scandal given by so-called Catholic universities is too much to recount here. One need only to surf the web, find a Catholic college or university and preview its lecture series, theological offerings, campus ministry departments or the general tenor of its university life. With only a few exceptions can one…

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A man in a striped shirt reclines in an office chair, holding a cigarette and a drink. A large saddle is propped up next to him in a dimly lit room with office equipment visible.

For University Students: Authentic Common Sense in An Age of Uncommon Nonsense

I just saw an ad for Google TV. It was entitled “Date Night.” The ad featured a man and a woman sitting on a couch together. The perspective of the viewer is seeing the backs of their heads. Both are watching a screen; playing on the screen is an obvious “romance” movie where a woman…

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Cover of "The Wanderer Forum" Volume 1, Number 2 discussing the translation of liturgy. Features a cross and altar with red cloth. Text includes "Englishing the Liturgy" and Latin phrase "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth."

Englishing the Liturgy

In presenting background for the 2011 linguistic changes in the Mass, the Wanderer Forum Foundation hopes to initiate a revitalization of faith. While many instructions to the faithful merely concentrate on the change in the words, we hope this background on the Mass explains why the change was needed to safeguard the true teachings of…

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A weathered wooden cross and bench surround a grave in an open, arid landscape with sparse vegetation. The scene is serene and isolated under a clear blue sky.

In memoria aeterna erunt justi: Remembering the Holy Souls

One of the curiosities of the Roman Calendar (or more properly, the calendar of the Roman Rite) is the dedication of the month of November to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  For many of us, these souls are also known as the Poor Souls in Purgatory–“poor” because of the sufferings they endure as the result…

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A smiling elderly man in a black hat and green coat, giving a thumbs-up while sitting on public transportation.

Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. Day

Today is Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. Day in Shenandoah, PA. St. Casimir’s, the boyhood parish of Fr. Ciszek hosts this annual day to pray for his Cause of Canonization. In typical good Polish style, there is Mass, a hearty meal, and a social afterwards. Why should we pray for Fr. Ciszek’s canonization? G.K. Chesterton once commented: The saint…

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Black and white portrait of an elderly man in Catholic clerical attire, including a pectoral cross. He wears a skullcap and has a solemn expression.

Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation: “An American Crucible: Barack Obama and America’s Two Great Debates”

 An excellent analysis from the October 2011 Mindszenty Report. Check out our friends at the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation.

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A sepia-toned illustration of Francis Thompson holding a chalice, with text about his poetic vocation. The cover includes a quote from his poem "The Hound of Heaven." The illustration features a man in Victorian attire, emphasizing Catholic themes."

Francis Thompson: A Reflection on the Poetic Vocation

Is there such a thing as a “poetic vocation?” What is it that the poet sees that the rest of us don’t? Veteran Catholic journalist and Wanderer Forum Foundation Board Member Frank Morriss tells us in this truly Catholic appreciation of English poet Francis Thompson (1859-1907).  More than simply an analysis of Thompson and his…

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