The Most Holy Eucharist is the heart of Catholic Christianity. The reason for this is obvious: the Eucharist generates the Mystical Body of Christ and the Mystical Body of Christ is the Church (The Catechism of the Catholic Church {CCC} … [Read more...]
About Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
Fr. James Swetnam, SJ, entered the Society of Jesus in 1945. He was ordained in 1958 and spent 50 years in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. During his Jesuit training, he acquired licentiate degrees in philosophy, theology, and Scripture, and a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Oxford. He maintains a website, www.jamesswetnamsclosereadings.com, and is now in residence at Jesuit Hall in St. Louis, Missouri.
On the Ordination of Women and the Priesthood of Christ
November 16, 2015 by Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
In the past half century, discussion about women priests in the Christian Churches has intensified. Most Churches, in particular, the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, have held firm to the traditional view that only males … [Read more...]
On Understanding Priestly Celibacy: A Suggestion
June 13, 2015 by Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
Discussion has recently arisen about priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church. Such discussion is not new. This time the discussion involves a pope, Pope Francis. The discussion springs from an interview with Eugenio Scalfari (published in … [Read more...]
Mary, Daughter of Zion
January 12, 2015 by Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
In the ancient Near East, a woman, often evoked as a virgin, was frequently used to symbolize a city or a country. For example, at Isaiah 47:1, the city of Babylon is called a “virgin daughter”: “Step down! Sit in the dust, virgin daughter o … [Read more...]
God and Caesar
November 20, 2013 by Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
In the Catholic view, the religious sphere is based on the virtue of faith. This faith is a gift of God ... In contrast, according to this Catholic view, the civil sphere is based on experience illumined by faith. That is to say, it is … [Read more...]
Some Thoughts on the Resurrection of Jesus
April 7, 2012 by Fr. James Swetnam, SJ
This article is intended to be a radically different approach to the empty-tomb narratives in Mark and John. John and Peter racing to the tomb on Easter morning -By Burnard Introduction In a recent issue of Homiletic and Pastoral … [Read more...]
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