Pope Francis announced a "Holy Year of Mercy" which began on Dec. 8, 2015, and will end on Nov. 20, 2016. Many imagine that a year of mercy means that people can lift their arms up to the heavens, crying out for God's mercy, and a … [Read more...]
Archives for 2016
Re-assessing the Role of the Pharisees in the New Testament
October 13, 2016 by Fr. Dempsey Rosales Acosta, SSL, STD
1. Premise: a common perception of the Pharisees It has become traditional in the general readings of the New Testament to think of Jesus as being at war with the Pharisees, and their theological perspectives. This ordinary impression … [Read more...]
Mary, Mother of Mercy, Mother of the Priest
October 13, 2016 by Sr. Mary John Kramer, OP
Marian titles are so numerous, and devotions so diverse, the litany could confuse and confound those less familiar with Catholic popular piety. The various titles show the relationship of a mother with her children. She can be all things to … [Read more...]
Ministerial Rosary Reflections for Priests
October 13, 2016 by Rev. Edward Lee Looney, STB, MDiv
The Church regards the month of October as the rosary month, a practice encouraged by many pontiffs, most especially Pope Leo XIII. Many of our parishioners will dedicate themselves to praying the rosary this month. Some will do so at their … [Read more...]
The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order: A Short Meditation on the Call to Penance
October 13, 2016 by Benjamin J. Vail, OFS
Today there is a new international discussion about Secular Franciscan identity, and the future direction of the Order. The General Chapter of 2014 asked for a “period of serious reflection, involving all members of the Order,” on the fut … [Read more...]
Questions Answered
October 13, 2016 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Question: The Pope has declared this year to be a "Year of Mercy." Can you give me an explanation of what mercy is, and how it relates to justice? Answer: The intention of the Pope in declaring this year a “Year of Mercy” seems to enco … [Read more...]
Homilies for October 2016
September 27, 2016 by Fr. Leo Almazán, O.P.
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time—October 2, 2016 Readings: HAB 1:2-3; 2:2-4; PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 TM 1:6-8, 13-14; LK 17:5-10 http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070316.cfm Exegetical notes During the next five Sundays, our G … [Read more...]
On Reconstructing Mankind
September 27, 2016 by Fr. James V. Schall, SJ
Managed evolution…is a two pronged attack on human suffering. The first prong is positive, namely the fabrication of ever more perfect humans. The second is negative, requiring the elimination of all defectives, beginning with the smallest n … [Read more...]
The 2016 Vote: What is an Informed Catholic to Do?
September 27, 2016 by Fr. Richard Gribble, CSC
While national elections always generate much interest and have their share of controversies, this election cycle can be classified as one “for the record books.” Originally seventeen Republican candidates have now withered away to one, Dona … [Read more...]
Writing that Connects with Parishioners
September 27, 2016 by Msgr. Mike Heher
In an essay about his father, William Buckley, Christopher Buckley wrote that he noticed that the parts that sounded most characteristic of his father were actually added to the drafts late in his process of writing. His father, a famously … [Read more...]
Sacramental Ecclesiology in the Loaves and Fishes
September 27, 2016 by Scott Pauline
In Catholicism, there are those big-time verses that the Church has dogmatically defined as dealing with central questions of doctrine. The papacy is found at Mt 16:18 when Christ himself names Peter as the rock of the one Church he has now … [Read more...]
A Different Perspective on Amoris Laetitia
September 27, 2016 by Richard P. Maggi, Esq.
Because so much of what has been written about Amoris Laetitia has concerned what is considered the controversial eighth chapter on divorced and remarried Catholics, and others living in irregular situations, the primary purpose, beauty, … [Read more...]
The Overlooked Middle
An Attempt to Start a New Dialogue
September 27, 2016 by Deacon Peter Trahan, MATh
In conversation at a recent cocktail party, a wise and elegant lady told me that Catholic publishing (or the publishing of Catholic thought) is a club with strict membership. One “must be an academic” to be considered for membership, she sai … [Read more...]
Christian Life: The Outworking of Christ’s Life Within Us
September 13, 2016 by Fr. John Navone, SJ
Christ Ascends the Mountain to Pray by James Tissot The Christian community of faith is born of the grace of God. Grace expresses what God does for us. Just as when we hear of the wisdom of God in the Bible, we think of how God’s action m … [Read more...]
A Pastoral Approach to Bullying
September 13, 2016 by Deacon W. Patrick Cunningham
In a little over a two-month period, two men in our city killed themselves because of what can only be called “bullying.” Shortly after the New Year, a student, attending a high school I had attended and taught at decades before, ended his l … [Read more...]
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