The Exultet is a very lengthy, yet beautiful proclamation of the resurrection of Christ, resembling Haggadah, the great proclamation in the Jewish Pascal supper. The Benedictine theologian of liturgy, Cyprian Vagaggini, points out … [Read more...]
Articles
Mystagogy in the Digital Age
April 4, 2012 by Fr. Michael J. Denk
Mystagogy means to lead those, just initiated into the life of the Church, to an understanding of what it is they are now to become. Every Lent, the Church invites us to immerse ourselves in the three traditional practices of prayer, fa … [Read more...]
Being an American Catholic Today: The Historical (and Current) Challenge
March 31, 2012 by Fr. Richard Gribble, CSC
It is important to understand how the American Catholic experience is unique in the history of the Church. Rally for Religious Freedom March 23, 2012, Seattle Is it possible for one to be both an American, and Catholic, in the 21st … [Read more...]
Papal Infallibility: A Symbolic, Yet Problematic, Term
March 30, 2012 by Rev. John T. Ford, CSC
Although papal infallibility is commonly found in popular conversation, how well the term is understood is another matter. As Danny Garland, Jr., pointed out in his recent article on “The Development of the Dogma of Papal I … [Read more...]
The Sapiential Character of Sacramental Reconciliation
March 28, 2012 by Fr. Richard L. Schamber
Wisdom is not merely a final product of confession, but is diffused throughout the whole of sacramental reconciliation. Return of the Prodigal Son by Murillo Christ gave to his apostles a divine authority to bind and loose for the … [Read more...]
Challenging Islam
March 27, 2012 by Rev. Michael P. Orsi
Today, we face a political/religious challenge, Islam, in which, avoiding hard truths, exposes us to a real and present danger. I am not disposed toward the soothingly facile idea embodied in the popular expression, “Let’s agree to disa … [Read more...]
Conscience Matters
March 22, 2012 by Sr Renee Mirkes
With Health and Human Services (HHS) implementing its mandate, forcing employee insurance to cover contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, and sterilization, it is time to revisit the "right of conscience." This is the best of times. M … [Read more...]
Mary, Mother of Mercy. Christ the Power of Merciful Love
March 21, 2012 by Fr. James McTavish, FMVD
Merciful love is a strong love, is capable of withstanding the cross, both difficulties and challenges. Where does the title, “Mary, Mother of Mercy,” come from? We have many popular prayers that speak of Mary as Mother of Mercy. For exam … [Read more...]
A Prayerful Meditation on St. Joseph
March 18, 2012 by Dr. Edouard Belaga
Every March, we recall the heroic virtues of the holy husband of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph. Coming to appreciate St. Joseph’s mystery If anyone had a special insight into the parable of the hidden treasure, it was unquestionably St. J … [Read more...]
Transcendence and the Meaning of Politics
March 15, 2012 by Brian Jones
Contemplation provides the capacity to understand the meaning and limits of politics. In a recent phone conversation, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with an old friend that I had not spoken with in almost two years. He eventually got … [Read more...]
“Put on the Garments of Christ”: Cyril of Jerusalem and the Origins of Lent
March 13, 2012 by Deacon Carl Sommer
If Cyril of Jerusalem were among us today, he might merely challenge us to take our Lenten devotions a little deeper. In the Spring of 347, Cyril of Jerusalem delivered a series of teachings to the catechumens of Jerusalem. In the … [Read more...]
Cremation: Recalling Some Basic Catholic Truths
March 5, 2012 by Dr. John M. Grondelski
The Church rescinded its prohibition on cremation, but does not consider burial and cremation equally valid methods. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that acceptance of cremation is growing: 40% of deaths in America (and 40% in New Jersey) … [Read more...]
After the Sex Abuse Crisis and Returning to a “Fish on Friday” Ascetism
March 3, 2012 by Dr. Pat Guinan
There is a human need for discipline, which is another word for asceticism. After almost a decade (if you date the modern priest sex abuse crisis from Boston in 2002 [1. www.pbs.org/newshour/bbreligion/jan-june02/boston_3-26.html]), the … [Read more...]
Women and the Priesthood
February 28, 2012 by Renee Pomarico
Is there such a thing as a "right" to priesthood? If so, is it by law, by nature, or by tradition? “The hour is coming and in fact has already arrived, for the vocation of woman to be fulfilled in plenitude, the hour in which woman ac … [Read more...]
Pope Benedict XVI and the Word of God: Distinct Themes of Verbum Domini
February 24, 2012 by Dr. Vincent DeMeo
Verbum Domini was Pope Benedict's response to the Synod of Bishops' discussion on: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church." That a world-class biblical theologian sits on the chair of Peter as Pope is an extraordinary e … [Read more...]
Recent Comments