Regular Contributions

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?

Read More...
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…

Read More...
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…

Read More...
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…

Read More...
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…

Read More...
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…

Read More...
A religious icon depicting a severed head in a chalice, with text: "I must decrease that He may increase." Features warm colors and traditional art style. Catholic theme of martyrdom."

5 Things to Consider on the Beheading of John the Baptist Compared to Today

Today is the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. All great eras have to come to a head — a pinnacle where all the threads of plot swirl in wild tempest to resolution. Of all the stories in the old testament, I think the end of John the Baptist is a lot like Our…

Read More...

Why Do They Hate Us? Part II

This is Part II of “Why Do They Hate Us?” 6 Reasons Explain The Essence of Islam As you recall, CNN host Fareed Zakaria ran a segment “Why They Hate Us.” This article briefly explains why Muslims hate us, according to radical-Islamists and the Quran, and how Muslims in Islamic countries treat others, contrasted to…

Read More...
A statue of a crowned woman in regal robes holding an infant, likely depicting the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. The scene is set within a decorative architectural frame with grapes, symbolizing Catholic themes of nurturing and divine protection.

Act Like You Know the Queen: Fr. Hardon Explains The Queenship of Mary

When I read about the variety of things Pope Pius V did in bringing Mary to a higher place of honor in the Roman Church, I’m often amazed that he wasn’t able, or perhaps, it was not yet time, for the apparent conclusions.  Just consider this short list of changes he made: He added the…

Read More...
A black-and-white photo of a man in a suit with a white object on his head, possibly a religious artifact. Another person is partially visible in the background. The scene appears to be indoors, with a Catholic context suggested by the man's attire and the object on his head.

What Hamish Fraser Saw About Your Children Thirty Years Ago

I’ve been going back and listening to some old cassettes lately. I ran across one quote that is harrowing. I mean it. The insight some of these people had peering into the state of the day reaches across decades to today and is fresh, if not terrible. I can’t help it — anyone who has listened to Fr….

Read More...