For May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25, and May 29 (Ascension Thursday) Third Sunday of Easter – May 4, 2025 Readings: Acts 5:27–32, 40b–41 • Psalm 30:2, 4, 5–6, 11–12, 13 • Revelation 5:11–14 • John 21:1–19 bible.us … [Read more...]
Archives for 2025
The Restoration of the Permanent Diaconate After the Second Vatican Council
Significance and Implementation in the United States
The Second Vatican Council marked a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic Church, not only for its aggiornamento, but also for its ressourcement — the return to the sources of Scripture and the early Church. One fruit of this t … [Read more...]
A Deacon Without Vestments
The Deacon is not for the altar, he is there for service. – Pope Francis It is well known that a deacon is called to the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity. But there can sometimes arise the danger or t … [Read more...]
The Mass and the Ascension
Making Present the Entire Paschal Mystery
“In the Eucharist and in all the sacraments we are guaranteed the possibility of encountering the Lord Jesus and of having the power of his Paschal Mystery reach us.”[1. Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter on the Liturgical Formation of the Peo … [Read more...]
The Gift in Commercial Relationships
In his encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the late Pope Benedict XVI asked his sons and daughters to consider the following question: “The greatest challenge before us (…) is to demonstrate, in thinking and behavior (…) that in commercial rela … [Read more...]
Listening, Suffering, and the Young and the Old
In the Book of Tobit we have, in the prayers of Tobit and Sarah (Tobit, 3:1–6, 11–15), the young and the old who are so distressed that they want to die: that they want God to take their life from them or help them — but God helps both of th … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – May 2025
In Memoriam: Fr. Brian Mullady, O.P. We at Homiletic and Pastoral Review mourn the passing of Rev. Brian Thomas Becket Mullady, O.P., STD. Fr. Brian was a noted theologian, preacher, author, and professor. For many years, Fr. Brian was … [Read more...]
Book Reviews – May 2025
The Family as Basic Social Unit: Living Out Catholic Social Teaching. By Kevin Schemenauer. Reviewed by Rev. Ryan Connors. (skip to review) A Guide to John Henry Newman: His Life and Thought. Ed. by Juan R. Velez. Reviewed by Rev. Martin … [Read more...]
In Memoriam: Pope Francis
The Church mourns the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis, who passed from this world at 7:35 A.M., April 21, in his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta. His death was the conclusion of a lifelong battle with respiratory illnesses … [Read more...]
Homilies for April 2025
For the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Divine Mercy Sunday Fifth Sunday of Lent – April 6, 2025 Readings (for Year C): Isaiah 43:16–21 • Psalm 126:1–2, 2–3, 4–5, 6 • Philippians 3:8–14 • … [Read more...]
Faith in the Gospel of John as the Content of Truth
Πίστ- Root Words and Theological Exegesis
Note: This article originated as a paper in the doctoral seminar on the Gospel of John taught by Dr. Daniel Lendman at Ave Maria University in Florida. The theme of faith in the Gospel of John is deceptive. It is more important than the … [Read more...]
The Liturgical Reform and the Jews
Revisiting the Memorandum of the American Jewish Committee
In 1961, the American Jewish Committee composed a document entitled “Anti-Jewish Elements in Catholic Liturgy: A Memorandum to the Secretariat for Christian Unity” (hereafter “the Memorandum”);[1. The American Jewish Committee, “Anti-Jewish … [Read more...]
Servants of the Divine Will
New Covenant Levites Standing in Unshadowed Light
Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he, who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour … [Read more...]
The Divine Mercy Devotion’s Obscure Birthplace
Having visited Poland recently, I had the opportunity to go to a lesser-known place connected with the Divine Mercy: the city of Płock (pronounced “Powotsk”), about two hours north of Warsaw. Those interested in the story of the Divine Merc … [Read more...]
Via Pulchritudinis: On the Relationship Between Beauty and Healing in Pastoral Practice
In 2006, the Pontifical Council for Culture in its plenary assembly recorded the importance of “via pulchritudinis” (the way of beauty) for the transmission of faith in Christ through a pastoral approach. In doing so the Council called to at … [Read more...]
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