Magazine

Homilies for February 2025

For February 2 (Feast of the Presentation), February 9, February 16, February 23 Feast of the Presentation – February 2, 2025 Readings: Malachi 3:1–4 • Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10 • Hebrews 2:14–18 • Luke 2:22–40 or 2:22–32 bibl … [Read more...]

Retirement from Administration But Not from Ministry

Editors’ Note: This piece originally appeared in The Tablet in February 2024. At the age of seventy-five, bishops are mandated to submit their letter of resignation from administration directly to the Holy Father in Rome. For several y … [Read more...]

On What the Ordinary Has to Offer

“Oh, you must think there is more,” said the spiritual director to his directee. “More?” the directee responded. “More what?” “More than ordinary life,” indicated the director. The directee had just relayed the disarray he felt every time he … [Read more...]

Lay Members of Religious Orders

On January 28, 2023, I was blessed to be received into a fraternity of the Lay Dominicans, Eastern Province, USA. I am, thanks be to God, a member of the Order of St. Dominic, while also remaining in the lay state in the world. Many readers … [Read more...]

Divine Transcendence: A Pastoral Approach to Design

In the late Old Testament (Septuagint) Book of Wisdom we read the inspired author’s interpretation of man’s labored — and sometimes idolatrous — response to the marvels of the created universe: If through delight in the beauty of these thin … [Read more...]

The Spirit of Irrationality

In principio erat Verbum – Jn 1:1 The spirit of our age is one of irrationality. We are suspicious of people that make (universal) truth claims. We are suspicious of our own ability to reason and arrive at such claims. Our Post-Modern a … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – February 2025

Can Catholics Receive Communion in Protestant Churches? Question: Dear Father Cush, I recently had the opportunity to attend a Lutheran Church for their Sunday service. I was encouraged to receive Holy Communion by my friend who told me … [Read more...]

Book Reviews – February 2025

Liturgical Hermeneutics of Sacred Scripture. By Marco Benini. Reviewed by Fr. Vien V. Nguyen, SCJ. (skip to review) Theology as an Ecclesial Discipline: Ressourcement and Dialogue. By Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia, O.P. Reviewed by … [Read more...]

Homilies for January 2025

For January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), January 5 (Epiphany), January 12 (Baptism of the Lord), January 19, and January 26  Homily for Mary, Mother of God by Rev. John P. Cush All others by Br. Lawrence Joshua Johnson, … [Read more...]

Celebrating 125 Years of Homiletic & Pastoral Review

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” So writes T.S. Eliot in his “Little Gidding” in his Four Quartets (1941). The same can be said … [Read more...]

Prayer and Social Transformation

We are now in 2025, the Jubilee year, with the theme of “Pilgrims of hope.” For the whole of the preceding year, our prayer has been preparing us all for this moment. In 2024, we have lived “a privileged time in which to rediscover the value … [Read more...]

Meeting at the Well

Relational Pro-Life Ministry in the Post-Roe Era

It has already been about two and a half years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a stunning political victory for the pro-life movement. At the time of this r … [Read more...]

“Rejoicing in Hope” with Mary

Marian Devotion as Remedy to Secularist Hopelessness

A shortcut to hope For a priest it is always heartening when a woman shares the news that she is expecting a baby, and asks for prayers for her and her new child at Mass. Motherhood is always a source of hope. An expectant mother embodies … [Read more...]

Perseverance in Ministry: Lessons from Saint Peter Faber for Discouraging Times

The Catholic Church in Germany was a total mess. Prelates were more interested in secular affairs and maintaining their own comfort than actually worshipping Jesus or sharing his teachings. When they did preach and engage in “spiritual” or “ … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – January 2025

How Does St. Thomas Aquinas Argue for God’s Existence? Question: I have heard about Aquinas’ five proofs for the existence of God years ago and I never really understood them. Would you be able to explain them and briefly comment on them? A … [Read more...]