Every now and then, I find in the offices of pastoral leaders and theologians, as well as in the homes of some families I know, a picture of them shaking hands with one of the recent popes.
Up Front and Personal
Kevin Is Proof That Angels Still Exist Among Us
On Friday, Nov. 3, there was a solemn and beautiful celebration at St. Nicholas of Tolentine for Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate. The Mass was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop James Massa who spoke so eloquently about the importance of the Word of God.
Private Conscience And the Church
by Father John Catoir
The late Bishop Fulton Sheen explained that there are two kinds of truths: “Outer truths, which we master, like the distance of the Sun from the Earth; and inner truths, which master us; for example: God is merciful to the penitent. Inner truths affect a person’s destiny, like a vocational calling; they are matters of conscience.”
Catholics Are Compelled To Honor the Dead
by Rita Piro
November is well known as the time of year when the Church remembers her dead. Right on the heels of the joyous All Saints Day, Nov. 1, comes the more somber All Souls Day, Nov. 2, when we remember those we love who have been called home to God.
To Be or Not To Be Addicted
As old as the poem “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is, its lesson is very apropos for our technological age.
Las Vegas Incident Reminds Us That the Devil Is Real
by Father John Catoir
To some, the devil is nothing more than a silly Halloween costume. Nothing could be further from the truth.
What God Has Joined Together…
by Father John Catoir
Everyone agrees with Jesus, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder” – Mark 10:9. When a marriage case comes before any Diocesan Tribunal, the question before the Chief Judge is this: Was this marriage joined together by God, or not? In other words, the presumption of validity can be challenged.
Ancestry Reminds Us We Are the World
by Carol Powell
Prior to a year ago, if anyone asked me what nationality I was, I would have said, “I am American of Italian descent.” That was before I sent a sample of my DNA to Ancestry.com.
The Option of Adoption Gives the Gift of Life
by Kathleen M. Gallagher
My friend Mary is one-of-a-kind. She is a retired police lieutenant from suburban Long Island, where we both grew up. Today Mary has relocated to a rural hamlet in the northernmost county of New York State. She owns a 300+ acre farm that includes goats, cows, horses, a donkey, two dogs, and lots of chickens, some of whom occasionally roam through the farmhouse.
Stay Calm and Journey On
by Father John Catoir
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote: “Most of us reflect our surroundings. However, men (and women) with quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened; they carry on in times of fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.”