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From the HPR Archives – Part IV
Originally published 1923–24 MARRIAGE LAWS OF THE CHURCH By Stanislaus Woywod, O.F.M., LL.B. The Diriment Impediments of Marriage The term “diriment impediments” (from the Latin verb dirimire: to destroy) indicates that … continue reading..
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Homilies for June 2025
For the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Pentecost Sunday, and the Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Saints Peter and Paul Seventh Sunday of Easter – June 1, 2025 Readings: Acts 7:55–60 • Psalm 97:1–2, 6–7, 9 • Revelation 22:12–14, […]
Loving As the Trinity Loves
Though the doctrine of the Trinity is the central mystery of our faith, it can have surprisingly minimal impact on our spiritual lives. We affirm that in God there is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but how the relationship among the Divine Persons might guide our efforts to grow in prayer and virtue is not […]
Corpus Christi: The Original Eucharistic Revival
At the height of his power and prestige in 1215, Pope Innocent III called the Fourth Lateran Council to put forth reforms to root out the weaknesses and wickedness of the clergy.1 The Council’s canons capture the depth of corruption: they commanded priests and bishops to abstain from gluttony and drunkenness (including not participating in […]
Corpus Christi, Corpus Dei
St. John Henry Newman says that to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant. This is true regarding our doctrines on the true presence of the Eucharist. The Council of Ephesus anticipates the teachings of transubstantiation at Lateran IV and Trent. St. Cyril of Alexandria’s communication of idioms demonstrates the unity of […]
Remembering More
Many people remember Thomas More as a martyr for his disagreement with King Henry VIII, but the theological principle under dispute is often misremembered. This recurring amnesia inspired the historian E. E. Reynolds to answer one essential question: what was the inviolable principle for which Thomas More was resolved to give his life?1 This answer […]
Happily Never After: The Ugly Side of Romantic Fiction and Its Effects on Marriage
In general, when someone says they enjoy reading for a hobby, one assumes that person has a wholesome hobby. However, reading of modern romance novels is often used as a means of entertainment or escape for women, and this activity can be far from beneficial. One can see two predominant impacts from long-term or obsessive […]
Questions Answered – June 2025
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. According to St. Thomas Aquinas and Catholic theology, natural disasters are indirectly related to Original Sin, though they are not directly caused by it. […]
Book Reviews – June 2025
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 Ted Hirt. (skip to review) Custos: Total Consecration through St. Joseph: The 33-Day Preparation for Fullness of Divine Sonship […]
Recent & Upcoming Homilies
Homilies for June 2025
For the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Pentecost Sunday, and the Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity, … more...
Homilies for May 2025
For May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25, and May 29 (Ascension Thursday) Third Sunday of Easter – May 4 … more...
From the Editor
The Restoration of the Permanent Diaconate After the Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council marked a pivotal moment in the life of the … more...
Celebrating 125 Years of Homiletic & Pastoral Review
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring … more...
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