For Mary Mother of God, January 3 (Epiphany), January 10 (Baptism of the Lord), January 17, January 24, January 31 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – January 1, 2021 Readings: Nm 6:22-27 Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Gal 4:4-7 Lk 2:16-21 bib … [Read more...]
Archives for 2020
Can There Be a Catholic History?
Some years ago, in a conversation with a non-Catholic woman of my acquaintance, I mentioned how I made my living. “I write Catholic history texts,” I told her. With head cocked and a challenge in her eyes, she asked, “Catholic history? What … [Read more...]
Evangelization: The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
A significant number of Catholics — according to the latest Pew Research Center survey, almost two-thirds of self-identifying Catholics — do not believe in the Real Presence. [1. OSV Editorial Board, “The Real Presence,” Our Sunday Visitor, … [Read more...]
Hail Full of Grace, the Lord Is With You
Whom does the Archangel Gabriel address when he speaks the words: “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you”? Is it not a humble Virgin named Mary, born to Saints Joachim and Anne in the city of Galilee named Nazareth? She who is known as … [Read more...]
A Contribution of Madonna House to Synodality
The present article was occasioned by reading Adam DeVille’s recent book, Everything Hidden Shall Be Revealed: Ridding the Church of Abuses of Sex and Power (Angelico Press) (NIH). He sees one of the root causes of the sexual abuse scandal a … [Read more...]
Male and Female He Created Them: Ecumenical Reflections
Confusion. Division. Chaos. Heresy. These terms describe the effects of the serious flirtations with the Zeitgeist currently afflicting to a lesser or greater degree the Catholic Church — see the German and Belgium episcopacy — and other chu … [Read more...]
Book Reviews – January 2021
God with Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. By Edward Sri. Reviewed by Lawrence Montz. (skip to review) The Lighthouse. By Michael D. O’Brien. Reviewed by K.E. Colombini. (skip to review) A Legacy of Preaching, Vol. I: Ap … [Read more...]
Should Catholics Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine?
On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern in the wake of the rise of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.[1. “IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus (2019-NCoV).” Acc … [Read more...]
A Conversation about Cancel Culture
Over Thanksgiving break, a friend of mine asked me, “What is meant by the phrase cancel culture?” I thought the best way to get at the answer was to ask him a question of my own, “What does it mean to talk about culture?” That simple questio … [Read more...]
Recollection: The Beating Heart of Prayer
“We must serve GOD in a holy freedom; we must do our business faithfully, without trouble or disquiet; recalling our mind to GOD mildly and with tranquility, as often as we find it wandering from Him.” — Br. Lawrence of the Resur … [Read more...]
The Gift of the Mind: Scholars and Saints
If one thing characterized priesthood fifty years ago (especially in Europe, even if less so here), it was the priest as a man of learning, that is, possessing a broad grasp of knowledge, a true Renaissance man — an in-depth knowledge of a f … [Read more...]
The Sweetness of the Yoke of Christ
Hope for those struggling to live out the teaching of Humanae Vitae
My wife, Kristina, and I were married just weeks after our twenty-second birthdays. We were still in our final year of college, young, naive — and in love. Our Catholic faith was always a central part of our lives and our relationship. We t … [Read more...]
Conception: A Contradiction?
[Cf. Francis Etheredge: Conception: An Icon of the Beginning, St. Louis: En Route Books and Media, 2019: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/conception/ (the publisher’s page includes interviews, reviews, endorsements, Contents and connections … [Read more...]
A Review Essay of The Devil’s Redemption: A New History and Interpretation of Christian Universalism
This is a very important book. In two large and carefully documented volumes, Dr. McClymond, a professor of theology at St. Louis University, has traced the entire history of Christian universalism from its first appearance in the Gnostic … [Read more...]
Homilies for December 2020
For December 6, Immaculate Conception, December 13, December 20, Christmas, December 27 2nd Sunday of Advent – December 6, 2020 Readings: Is 40:1–5, 9–11 • Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13–14 • 2 Pt 3:8–14 • Mk 1:1–8 bible.usccb.org/bi … [Read more...]
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