The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was established in 1670 at Rennes in France. The main person behind its establishment was St. John Eudes. Five years later, a religious sister of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary at … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – October 2026
Organ Transplants and Church Teaching Question One: I was reading that it is not morally permissible to transplant a person’s brain or gonads according to Catholic Moral Theology. Why is this the case? Answer: Modern medical advances h … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – August 2026
July 29, 2026 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
What Do Muslims Believe About Jesus? Question One: Someone said on a podcast that Islamic theology is tied to a Christian heresy. How can this be the case? Answer: The emergence of Islam in the seventh century cannot be separated from … [Read more...]
Climbing the Mountain of Carmel
June 26, 2026 by Carolyn Humphreys, OCDS
In the thirteenth century, a small band of lay hermits settled on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Israel. They were former pilgrims, merchants, penitents, and soldiers who wanted to live a simple, quiet life centered on the Gospels and … [Read more...]
Bring Back Communion Under Both Species
May 26, 2026 by Frank D. Tinari
“It is vital, then, that you preserve your traditions without attenuating them, for the sake perhaps of practicality or convenience, lest they be corrupted by the mentality of consumerism and utilitarianism.” (Pope Leo XIV, Address to Par … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – May 2026
April 27, 2026 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
Homily vs. Sermon: Does the Difference Matter? Question One: According to the liturgy of the Catholic Church, what is the difference between a homily and a sermon? Answer: The distinction between a homily and a sermon in the Catholic … [Read more...]
The Easter Candle: History and Meaning
March 30, 2026 by D.D. Emmons
He called me “keeper of the flame.” Assigned as the parish sacristan, I remember receiving guidance from the pastor. Among the instructions was that I should be mindful of the sanctuary candle, seek to keep it burning — transfer the flame to … [Read more...]
Spies, Siberia, and the American Connection: Divine Mercy after St. Faustina Died
March 30, 2026 by Wanda Skowronska, PhD
What happened after St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in 1938? While many know the general story of the saint’s life, few know of the events involved in spreading the Divine Mercy message after her death. In fact, these involved war and e … [Read more...]
The Triumph of Our Lady
September 29, 2025 by Fr. Dominic Verner, O.P.
The Christians were outnumbered; the odds were stacked against them. The sea was speckled with great ships and gleaming swords. The Ottoman armada had assembled, come to conquer the Christian world. It was around this time of year, some 450 … [Read more...]
Questions Answered – September 2025
August 29, 2025 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
The “Great Schism”: What Happened and Why? Question: Dear Father Cush, why did the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church split? What does the Catholic Church teach about receiving the Sacraments in the Orthodox Churches? Answer: The … [Read more...]
Book Reviews – September 2025
August 29, 2025 by Book Reviews
Preaching to a Divided Nation: A Seven-Step Model for Promoting Reconciliation and Unity. By Matthew Kim and Paul Hoffman. Reviewed by Randall Woodard. (skip to review) A Concise Introduction to Bernard Lonergan, S.J. By Rev. John P. C … [Read more...]
Corpus Christi: The Original Eucharistic Revival
May 29, 2025 by Jason Openo
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. Derek Holmes and Bernard W. Bickers, A Short History of … [Read more...]
Remembering More
May 29, 2025 by Fr. Anthony Hollowell
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 … [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...]
Questions Answered – March 2025
February 21, 2025 by Rev. John P. Cush, STD
Do Anglicans Believe in the Real Presence? Question: Dear Father Cush, thank you for answering the question about what the Lutherans believe concerning the Real Presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Surely, the Episcopal … [Read more...]
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