This past week was a major one for Pope Francis. To say that he was the focus in the news would be an understatement. His visit to Mexico was historical; his stop in Cuba was ground- breaking; and his comments on the airplane back, as well as his last Sunday’s Angelus in Saint Peter’s Square proved, once again, why he is the most important thinker in the world today.
Editorials
Humility and Lent
One of the great Roman traditions is the Station Church Masses each day during Lent. Coming out of the traditional Mass calendar, those of the North American College, the priests of the Casa Santa Maria and the priest faculty and seminarians on the Gianicolo go each day to a different Roman church as a pilgrimage […]
Voice of Reason
The recently deceased Justice Antonin Scalia will be a much missed champion of human life and right reason on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, time and time again, Scalia proved to be a voice of reason, a voice calling upon our […]
Living Witnesses
In what was perhaps his strongest words yet on vocations, Pope Francis, at an audience with religious sisters and brothers at the conclusion of the Year for Consecrated Life, said, “Why is the womb of consecrated life becoming so sterile?… Some congregations experiment with ‘artificial insemination’… What do they do?… They welcome … ‘Yes come, […]
Again, Education Tax Credit
This past week, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week, not only in our own diocese but in Sees across the country. The nation is indebted to Catholic schools, not only because of the talent they have contributed to society, but also because of the costs they have saved the government that would have had to educate all those students in public schools.
Missionaries of Mercy
This coming Ash Wednesday at the Vatican, Pope Francis will send forth “Missionaries of Mercy,” priests recommended by their bishops to be “living signs of the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of His pardon.” From what we understand, there will be 800 Missionaries of Mercy commissioned, 100 for the United States alone. During this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, they will be available, at the request of local bishops, to lead retreats and preach spiritual conferences.
The Example of Paul
Saul of Tarsus, whose conversion to the faith we celebrated on Jan. 25, is a fascinating man. We can learn many things from his life and conversion, most especially that it’s okay to be human, provided we allow grace to build upon our human nature.
Still We March
The day before the Jonas storm dumped 26.8 inches of snow on New York City, tens of thousands descended upon Washington, D.C., as they have since the Supreme Court’s terrible Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. They were there to witness to the world, to the president and all lawmakers, of the value of human life, from conception to natural death.
May All Be One
This week marks the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This ecumenical effort is not merely a nice thing to do, but it is indeed a command of the Lord Jesus, from His priestly prayer in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John – “Ut Unum Sint,” or “That they might be one.” It is the Lord’s will that all of His followers be one in Him, as He is in the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Support Our Priests
We have been saddened to read in the past month of the sins and problems of some local priests in the daily newspapers. Struggles with serious drug addiction, failure to live up to priestly promises of chaste celibacy, engaging in lewd and perverted lifestyle, these are just some of the things reported about two priests […]