Does Sin Cause Natural Disasters? Question: Dear Father Cush, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas and other Catholic theologians, are natural disasters caused by Original Sin? Answer: What a great question! Let’s examine it thoroughly. A … [Read more...]
Archives for 2025
Book Reviews – June 2025
May 29, 2025 by Book Reviews
Jesus and Divine Christology. By Brant Pitre. Reviewed by Sr. Mary Micaela Hoffmann, RSM. (skip to review) The Martyrs of the New Millennium: The Global Persecution of Christians in the Twenty-First Century. By Robert Royal. Reviewed by … [Read more...]
Habemus Papam: Pope Leo XIV!
May 8, 2025 by HPRweb.com
We at Homiletic and Pastoral Review rejoice in the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, the 267th successor to Saint Peter. Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois, the new Holy Father is the first from the United … [Read more...]
Homilies for May 2025
April 30, 2025 by Rev. Brian X. Needles
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...]
The Restoration of the Permanent Diaconate After the Second Vatican Council
Significance and Implementation in the United States
April 30, 2025 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
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
April 30, 2025 by Deacon John Cantirino
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
April 30, 2025 by Fr. Michael Eades
“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
April 30, 2025 by Thomas Hardy
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
April 30, 2025 by Francis Etheredge
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
April 30, 2025 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
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
April 30, 2025 by Book Reviews
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
April 21, 2025 by HPRweb.com
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
March 28, 2025 by Deacon Kevin McCormack
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
March 28, 2025 by David Francis Sherwood
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
March 28, 2025 by Dr. Joseph Shaw
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...]
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