Brain death (BD), the declaration of death by neurological criteria, is an established medicolegal practice in the USA and many countries worldwide. In 1968, the Harvard Medical School Ad Hoc Committee introduced BD by defining (in the … [Read more...]
Magazine
Addictions: A Pastoral Approach for the Catholic Spiritual Director and Confessor
March 12, 2021 by Fr. Anthony J. Pinizzotto
Saint Paul refers to a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan that is his constant reminder of the need for God’s grace.[1. 2 Corinthians 12:6–7, New American Bible (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2002).] Al … [Read more...]
A Shepherd’s Experience Leading His Flock in a Consecration to Jesus through Mary
March 12, 2021 by Bishop John Keenan
A chance stop at the Children’s Rosary booth in the Conference Centre of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin 2018 brought me my first encounter with what would become my diocesan-led Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary. After a c … [Read more...]
Amy Coney Barrett, the Bible, and the Constitution
March 12, 2021 by Patrick Gray
Criticism of Amy Coney Barrett in the wake of her nomination to the Supreme Court last autumn has focused on her legal philosophy and on her devout Catholic faith.[1. “The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you,” rem … [Read more...]
Deferring Absolution in Clerical Abuse Cases
March 12, 2021 by Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Deferring absolution is the key moment of decision on several key moral issues like contraception and relations with legal but not legitimate spouses, so it ends up being somewhat controversial. However, regarding clerical abuse, I think … [Read more...]
The New Sarah and Abraham
March 12, 2021 by Mark Drogin
“I thank you, Father, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little ones.” (Matthew 11:25) “In the beginning was the Word . . . and the Word became flesh . . .” (John 1) “So shall my Word be th … [Read more...]
Book Reviews – March 2021
March 12, 2021 by Book Reviews
Mary and Bioethics: An Exploration. By Francis Etheredge. Reviewed by Fr. Aidan Nichols. (skip to review) A Year with the Mystics. By Kathryn Lopez. Reviewed by Lawrence Montz. (skip to review) Wisdom from the Psalms. By … [Read more...]
Homilies for March 2021
February 25, 2021 by Fr. Matthew Monnig
For March 7, March 14, March 21, March 25 (Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord), and March 28 (Palm Sunday) Third Sunday of Lent – March 7, 2021 Readings: Ex 20:1-17 or Ex 20:1–3, 7–8, 12–17 • Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 • 1 Cor 1:22–25 • … [Read more...]
Pope Francis and the Girardian Moment
February 25, 2021 by E. Tyler Graham
The promulgation of the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate constitutes a decisive moment in the Magisterial teaching of the Church. Perhaps its most obvious contribution is breathing the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola into the … [Read more...]
The Emerging Catholic Literary Renaissance
Interview with Poet James Matthew Wilson
February 25, 2021 by Roseanne T. Sullivan
“You know, there is, at the moment, an exciting rebirth of Catholic poetry in the United States and it’s full of talented young writers, but even in this interesting cohort James Matthew Wilson, I think, is one of the leading people that you … [Read more...]
St. Joseph “Patris Corde” As a Pastoral Icon
February 25, 2021 by Dr. Tiju Thomas
On the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the patron of the universal church, Pope Francis released the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde,” which means “with a father’s heart.” (1, 2) This is in the spirit of Pope Pius IX’s d … [Read more...]
Joseph the Just
February 25, 2021 by Sharon Doran
Joseph the Just is but one of the many titles given to the husband of Mary, earthly father to Jesus. As a just Jewish man, he lived an upright life guided by the Torah. As a just man, he respected the custom of his time, foregoing any … [Read more...]
An Annunciation Homily
February 25, 2021 by Fr. Peter Stravinskas
On this solemnity which celebrates the high-water point in the history of salvation, permit me to explore with you three Latin expressions. 1. Verbum caro factum est [The Word became flesh]. We find this line, of course, in the Prologue … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – March 2021
February 25, 2021 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Is Moral Truth Always Objective? Question: Can a Catholic accept proportionalism in morals? Hans Kung and many other theologians did in the 70s and 80s. There are still moralists who think it is true. Answer: There has been a concerted a … [Read more...]
Philomena, St. John Vianney, and a Blueprint for Converting Parishes
February 12, 2021 by Tate Hilgefort
Last fall my wife was five months pregnant with our 11th child. We had already named her Philomena after the great wonder worker and favorite saint of St. John Vianney. This is when we found out that Philomena had a heart defect that would … [Read more...]
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