During a short papal flight from Boston to New York on October 2, 1979, Father Jan Schotte (later a cardinal but then a low-ranking curial official) discovered that Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, had done some serious editing of the speech Pope John Paul II would give at the United Nations that day.
Month: July 2020
Predestined? Yes, to Be Conformed To the Image of His Son
The human being, the highest and most exalted of God’s creatures, is its own agent in determining its salvation, making use of God’s gifts of free will, rationality, and the sanctifying grace that is actively bestowed upon it. This pathway to eternal life is made accessible through the Redemptive Sacrifice of the Cross, which makes it possible for every human being, past and present, to attain eternal life.
A Prayer for Catholic Schools
One of the key worries that many have concerning the next academic year 2020-2021 is whether classes will be conducted on site or online. What is the best solution? This is a question from so many concerning all levels of education. What will school look like in the future? And, in particular, what can and should Catholic schooling look like next year?
Obituaries, Week of July 25, 2020
Rep. John Lewis, age 80; Deacon Juan J. Calvo, age 88; Mrs. Catherine Cush; Mrs. Diane Jean Longalong-Mercado.
Letters to the Editor, Week of July 25, 2020
A School Closing Feels Like Losing a Loved One; Congratulations to Msgr. Philip J. Reilly; Defend — Not Defund — the Police Department; President Trump Is an Outspoken American.
The Target of Choice for Anti-Catholic Bigotry
As Christians, we need to recognize that racism is probably the most absolute negation of Jesus Christ’s message of love within our society. However, the attacks against churches can’t be dismissed as mere random occurrences, as they have been portrayed in the media. Catholics, may wonder what the vandals are trying to tell you when they tear down a statue of St. Junípero or even Jesus Christ.
Freedom at Its Best
“Mandating face masks is unconstitutional and an affront to my freedom.” Despite the scientific wisdom of this mandate, some citizens vociferously reject it.
The Origin of Our Devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
In a special way in every Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel we put out into the deep recesses of our souls, recognizing that our primary purpose in life is to develop a union with God. Without this, we cannot be prepared someday to give our lives back to God. Our union today predicts how close our union will be at the time of our death.
Baltimore Italian American Community Plans New Statue to Honor Columbus
Weeks after protesters toppled a statue of Christopher Columbus and threw it into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, members of the city’s Italian American community are developing a plan to reproduce the marble monument so it can be displayed in a more secure location.
An Ontological Need
I am hoping that what unifies and ties together this series of columns is my attempt to use insights from philosophy to deepen religious faith. It strikes me that the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel can help in this effort.