2024: The Year of Prayer

Pope Francis has called for 2024 to be honored as a “Year of Prayer.” What does this mean? The special character of this year is based on the year following, 2025, which is a jubilee year for the Church. The custom of the jubilee year has … [Read more...]

The New Staff of HPR

Taking effect September 1, 2022, a new team will assume leadership of Homiletic & Pastoral Review. HPR welcomes Rev. John P. Cush, STD, as Editor-in-Chief, with Sister Mary Micaela Hoffman, RSM, S.S.L., as Associate Editor. At the same … [Read more...]

Roe v. Wade Overturned

On the morning of Friday, June 24, in a 6–3 ruling, the Supreme Court issued a historic verdict. In a decision titled Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the court overturned Roe vs. Wade. After nearly fifty years, abortion is no … [Read more...]

The Bill Atkinson Story: An Interview

First Quadriplegic Priest in Church History

Relatively few people have yet heard the story of Fr. Bill Atkinson, an Augustinian priest who died in 2006 — and the first quadriplegic priest in Church history. Fr. Atkinson is now being considered for canonization, perhaps a new patron s … [Read more...]

The Feast of Pentecost: Come Holy Spirit!

“Pentecost” (Detail of Mary)  by Jean Restout Sequence _________ Veni, Sancte Spiritus Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen, allelujah!

Sequence — Victimae Paschali Laudes Christians, to the Paschal Victim Offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father. Death and life have contended in that combat st … [Read more...]

Homilies for November 2016

32nd Sunday of the Year—November 6, 2016 Readings: 2 MC 7:1-2, 9-14; PS 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 THES 2:16-3:5; LK 20:27-38 http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110616.cfm They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the child … [Read more...]

An Open Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church

The following letter was sent in by a reader in response to several articles on HPR, like "Sacrificing Priests on the Altar of Insurance" and "Accusations against Priests: The Need for More Justice and Psychological Science". As with all … [Read more...]

Thank you, Fr. Berg!

Hello, Thank you for the article entitled "What is Moral Conscience?" (January 2012), written by Fr. Thomas Berg, Ph.D.  I have read it a few times, at least, and continue to review it to understand a difficult topic, which I have needed to … [Read more...]

Letter to the editor

Thank you, HPR! Thank you for your most excellent publication.  There are few sources of such well diversified and timely theological topics in article form.  I look forward to receiving each new announcement by email.  God love you, bl … [Read more...]

Come, Holy Spirit!

Feast of Pentecost

Sequence for Pentecost Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Pentecost  by Titian   Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams, which sweetly flow in silent streams from Thy bright throne … [Read more...]

Letters from our readers

Thank you. HPR is great! It will get a "hit" from me every day!! All of you at HPR are in my daily prayers. I give thanks for your vocations; we need all of you so much in these times... Take care. Love in Christ, Jane Stetz, … [Read more...]

Letters from our readers

It is with sadness that I read the online version of the August 2010 editorial in HPR. I understand that the Church can't change her teaching in order to comfort post-abortive parents but, since I fit into that category, and since we … [Read more...]

Letters from our readers

First of all, let me say that I am very capable of misreading and misunderstanding things that I read. I believe we all do, to a certain extent, as we tend to interpret the written word “to our own image and likeness.” Regarding the … [Read more...]

Letters from our readers

Any homiletic programs for high school chaplains?

Do you know of any homiletic programs being offered for priests who are assigned as chaplains to Catholic high schools? It seems the priests are well-trained in their theology, but how to make it relevant to high school students is another … [Read more...]