Manos
First Homily of Pope Francis, SJ
Read the full english text of the first homily of Pope Francis, SJ (courtesy Vatican Radio)
Uplifting anecdotes, and a story for your lent.
Three short stories from yesteryear to give you some meat to chew on for lent.
Kosher Observance is the new Catholic Dating Scene?
Prior to God becoming man, devout souls had only the law, given by God to Moses. It was from God, but the laws is a thing nonetheless, not a person. Prophets got to be with God, know His person in person, but everyone else knew him from the law and what the prophets said. To be…
Augustine was not saved through Navel Gazing
The unfortunate oversight of Matt McGuiness — Augustine did not say that navel gazing and staring into the abyss brings you to Jesus. Good friends praying for a miracle, like St. Monica or Kevin O’Brien, does bring salvation, though — even if you call us “moralists” and think we aren’t “realists”.
Before Lepanto, Mary became known as the Invincible Champion, Triumphant Leader
Today, in Eastern Churches, special services and hymns are sung just after compline to the Blessed Mother. It may seem like an odd practice to American lent goers — after all, Fridays are well known in the Roman Church for the Stations of the Cross. However, given that Mary carried God to us, and hence…
Fasts and Lent. If you want to cast out demons…
Last year, I posted about the history of fasting during lent. I think the article stands up well this year, too. I’d only add that the topic was at least discussed at the most recent USCCB meeting. Rather difficult for me to comprehend how, when Our Lord told us that some demons may only be cast…
St. Valentine — Martyred for Marriage
Happy St. Valentine’s Day! By now, you will have already seen the day play out, there may have been candy hearts with messages on them, notes passed by children in school, and then the adult activities. What precisely was St. Valentine about, though? Let’s take a trip back to the third century. You and I are sitting in…
Lunatics or Henchmen?: Group Claims to have forced Pope’s Resignation… ???
I have never heard of this group, nor of such a court action pending. I hesitate to post this for fear that I may be giving attention to a group of lunatics with a blog. At the same time, this group claims to have achieved a court action in the EU that forced the resignation of the…
KABOOM! The Literary Finale of Pope Benedict XVI was not his abdication.
Pope Benedict arranged a masterpiece, complete with cannon fire. Find out what his literary finale was and why it’s more shocking than the lightening strike on St. Peter’s!
French March for Marriage, they may yet be Romantics
News today from France about Catholics and “others” marching to protest a French bill that would make marriage be defined to include unions between same sex persons spurs some hope in the French. Recently, I wrote about a Russian cultural center to be built in Paris being denied a permit to build. I see some…
