Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God—January 1, 2016 Mary Our Mother Purpose: God’s superabundant love for us invites us into the relationship of adopted sons and daughters; in Mary, we find a true mother. Readings: Neh … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2015
The Prophetic Power and Practice of Jubilee
A Gift of Shalom
December 28, 2015 by Dr. Marc Tumeinski
Introduction: “Rich with Joy and Peace” St. Luke's description of Jesus' proclamation of His mission tells us that, on a sabbath day in a synagogue in Nazareth, the Lord stood up to read ... “He has sent me ... to proclaim the accep … [Read more...]
Reflections on the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Trinity
December 28, 2015 by Kathleen Curran Sweeney
The source of our holiness as Christians is rooted in the revelation of God as Trinity with an interior life of total reciprocal, self-giving love between unique, distinct Persons who are, together, the Divine Unity. But the Divine Trinity … [Read more...]
The Curse of Crying and the Gift of Tears in The Confessions
December 28, 2015 by Sr. Mary John Kramer, OP
Tears manifest the reality of the finitude of man. Tears are most often an expression of being overwhelmed by passion. They can be consented to, embraced, wallowed in, squelched, or avoided. Tears are a silent confession of man’s own r … [Read more...]
Christian Friendship and the Communion of Saints
December 28, 2015 by Stephanie H. To
Not too long ago, the rector of the local Cathedral died after a battle with cancer. Though not entirely unexpected, his departure from this life affected me deeply. At his funeral, his usual chair next to the choir stalls remained empty, … [Read more...]
The Our Father: Ladder to the Heavens
December 28, 2015 by R. Thomas Richard, PhD
In my article previously published in HPR, “Overlooked and Underprayed: the Our Father,”[1. hprweb.com/2015/11/overlooked-and-under-prayed-the-our-father/] I tried to point out several unique and important characteristics of the prayer, the … [Read more...]
Winter Reading for January 2016
December 28, 2015 by Book Reviews
Introducing the Old Testament: An Overview of Its Content and Its Message. John F. Fink. (Staten Island, NY: St. Paul’s Publishing, 2015) 136 pages; $12.95. (Reviewed by Kenneth Colston) The Marian Mystery: Outline of a Mariology. Denis F … [Read more...]
About The “Year of Mercy”
December 8, 2015 - November 20, 2016
December 14, 2015 by David Vincent Meconi
Pope Francis has declared the period between the recent Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 2015) until the Feast of Christ the King (November 20, 2016), the "Year of Mercy." Rooting the Church’s renewed focus on Divine Mercy in … [Read more...]
Priests and Penance: Confession and Confessors
December 14, 2015 by Fr. Donncha Ó. hAodha
The Call to Confession “Let us place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the center, once more, in such a way that it will enable people to touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands.”[1. Francis, Bull of Indiction of the Extra … [Read more...]
A Fresh Look at the Song of Songs
December 14, 2015 by Melissa Maleski
With recent legal cases around the world, with the United States Supreme Court’s decisions, as well as the recent Irish referendum on same sex marriage, there are now reports of a group of bishops and theologians discussing the need for a “ … [Read more...]
Vulnerability as a Place of Divine Encounter
December 14, 2015 by Deacon James Keating
God acts only for the good. God acts only to share himself as Love, namely, Jesus Christ. The human person is invited to respond to this revelation of love with his own vulnerability; he is invited to allow God to act in his being. In … [Read more...]
The Transforming Power of Love
December 14, 2015 by Rev. William J. Nessel, OSFS
A rich Japanese widower decided to retire from the city to a high cliff above the ocean. He built a beautiful mansion overlooking the ocean and was very happy, surrounded by beauty and solitude. He liked to gaze down the beach and observe … [Read more...]
Contraception and Original Sin
December 14, 2015 by Dr. Terence J. Hughes, PhD
Alice von Hildebrand wrote, regarding Satan, “Abortion is his greatest victory since original sin.” (New Oxford Review, "To the Editor," May 2015). May I demur? Artificial contraception is. Why? Because it repeats the original sin of Adam an … [Read more...]
Questions Answered
December 14, 2015 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Question: I would like to study the problem of universal ideas in Thomas Aquinas. Can you give me some insight into understanding this problem, and some sources on how to research this problem in Catholic authors? Answer: Pope Benedict i … [Read more...]
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