For Sunday Liturgies and Feasts Homilies for April 2014 Fifth Sunday of Lent – April 6, 2014 Martha’s Grief and True Hope Purpose: The Lenten readings summon us to experience a foretaste of Christian hope in the raising of Lazar … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2014
Youth and Technology Revitalize the Pro-Life Movement
March 24, 2014 by Mary Beth Smith
So, why are college campuses “ground zero” for pro-life activism? Because Gallup Poll statistics report that upon entering college, 47 percent of women were pro-life, but by graduation 73 percent said they were pro-choice. The equation “ … [Read more...]
Searching for Clarity in Vocational Discernment
March 24, 2014 by Fr. Bryce Sibley
... The call of the Lord usually comes to us in a more subtle and indirect manner ... left up to us, with the assistance of divine grace, to discern whether we are being called to the priesthood or consecrated life. Christ calling Peter … [Read more...]
The Holy Cross: A real life “Mockingjay” for Catholics
March 24, 2014 by Dusty Gates
To me, the idea that ties the religious significance of this story together best is the “mockingjay.” I find in the image of the mockingjay a clear and resounding symbol of the Cross of Jesus Christ. The popular trilogy of novels turne … [Read more...]
The Side Effects of the Pill: Why the Church Has So Much to Say about Contraception
March 21, 2014 by Dr. William Newton
The Church pays special attention to the issue of contraception ... because so many of the modern errors in moral theology converge in this particular question of conjugal morality. There is an impression out there–in the world and even w … [Read more...]
Finding Jesus in the Catholic Church
March 21, 2014 by R. Thomas Richard, PhD
Our mission (as Church) is to bring about that meeting that can change lives, that can make disciples. Then, as a loving mother Church, we are to nurture and guide those disciples into fruitful holiness in Christ. Christ Healing the B … [Read more...]
Questions Answered
March 2014
March 21, 2014 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Can you tell me the origin of the discipline of celibacy and why the Western Church puts so much emphasis on it? Has the Church changed its teaching on the subject of condom use to prevent the spread of the HIV virus? Question: In … [Read more...]
Early Suggestions on How Our Parishes Can Observe Divine Mercy Sunday This Year
March 9, 2014 by Dr. John M. Grondelski
The feast is intended to highlight divine mercy as God's greatest attribute, the crowning work" of all his works. As such, it should form a Catholic's spiritual attitudes and behaviors. Divine Mercy image of Christ. Each year since 2 … [Read more...]
The Latest Book Reviews
For March 2014
March 7, 2014 by David Vincent Meconi
Late-Winter Reading for March 2014 A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching. By Kevin E. McKenna, revised ed. (Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press, 2013), 192 pp., $16.95. (Reviewed by Rev. John J. Conley, S … [Read more...]
What Happened to Catholic Ireland: An Irish-American Historian’s View
March 6, 2014 by John P. McCarthy, PhD
Just like the Church in the United States, the Irish Church is enduring hard times. However, what makes it so upsetting in Ireland ... is the disappearance of what had been a Catholic society. When first coming to Ireland more than a … [Read more...]
Why the Jews Are Not the Enemies of the Church
March 6, 2014 by Dr. John Lamont
It is not true, in any sense, that the Jews are the enemies of the Church, and the characterization of them as enemies... (is) unjust. It is worthwhile explaining why this is so, because (it was) once widely held, and is still found in some … [Read more...]
Our Lenten Imitation of Christ
Editorial for March, 2014
March 4, 2014 by David Vincent Meconi
...Lent is a time of imitating Christ ... a plan to follow Christ, led by the Spirit, to wherever he desires to take us. For the Church’s Season of Lent this year, Pope Francis has invited us all to reflect on the significance of 2 Cor … [Read more...]
Lent: A Time for Conversion
March 4, 2014 by Fr. Richard Gribble, CSC
Each and every day, we have the opportunity to be converted, to draw closer to Christ, and to better, and to more fully understand, our Christian responsibility to complete Jesus’ work in our world. Many years ago, while walking with a … [Read more...]
1 Kings 13 and the Child of Isaiah 7: Precedence and the Numerology of Matthew’s Gospel
...(Pope Benedict's) last book, and his announcement of his retirement, were an affirmation of the Virgin Mary’s predestination, and her child’s virginal conception at the Annunciation. ... Pope Benedict had great trust in the continued mate … [Read more...]