Hardly a day passes when some barbarous act does not jump to the headlines. Barbarous—there is no other word to describe these vile deeds. Thus, whether it be the sadistic torturing, terrorist beheadings, mass shootings or truck ramming murder sprees (not to mention genocide and war), these acts are becoming ever more … Read more
As we enter 2017, many people are still recovering from the stress and drama of 2016. From a political, social and religious standpoint, 2016 was a year of unexpected and unimaginable turmoil. The year brought us to the edge of a tall cliff. Equally traumatic and unexpected were the last-minute rescues from … Read more
Alcántara, a town on the Tagus whose name means here crossed by a bridge—cantara, and it is situated in the plain of Estremadura, a great field of conflict for the Moslems and Christians of Spain in the twelfth century. Alcántara was first conquered in 1167 by the King of Leon, Fernando II … Read more
Approach the crib of the Child God with me. Let us imagine the arrival of the Magi Kings at the manger, after having followed the Star of Bethlehem with their caravans and treasure-laden animals. These sovereigns—King Balthazar, King Melchior and King Gaspar—offer the Child Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh, in adoration. Looking … Read more
It is Christmas time, and the world stops for a brief moment. It does not stop long because there are too many important things to be done to waste on festive and unproductive folly. It can only be a short pause on Christmas day before the world must almost immediately return to … Read more
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, … Read more
Most Reverend Robert W. McElroy, Bishop of San Diego, convened a Diocesan Synod on October 29-30, with the participation of priests and lay representatives from close to one hundred parishes. The Synod’s purpose was to reflect on the teaching of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia and how to apply it to the … Read more
About two years ago, a heated debate started among cardinals, bishops and lay Catholics regarding some points of Catholic doctrine related to morality and the sacraments. Can Persons Living in Adultery Receive Communion? More precisely, the dispute is about whether divorced Catholics living in new civil unions can receive Holy Communion while … Read more
EXCERPT FROM A SERMON BY SAINT LEONARD OF PORT MAURICE It is not vain curiosity but salutary precaution to proclaim from the height of the pulpit certain truths which serve wonderfully to contain the indolence of libertines. They are always talking about the mercy of God and about how easy it is … Read more
On August 4, 1903 Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto was elevated to the Chair of Saint Peter and took the name Pius X. Twenty days later William and Mary Organ welcomed their fourth child into the world at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Ireland. They named her Ellen but she would eventually be known … Read more
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