March is the Month of St. Joseph! Josephologists (counterparts of Mariologists and Christologists) are enthusiastically wondering what Pope Francis might do next in this relatively new theological field of Josephology. But he’s not the first pope in history with a lively devotion to St. Joseph. Today, let’s compare this pope to his 265...
There are two supernatural events narrated in today’s scripture readings. The first event concerns Abraham (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18). Abraham heard God speak, saying, “I have brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you possession of this land.” But Abraham needed a clarification. “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to...
A reflection on the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, March 13, 2022. What came to mind for you when you heard about “the cloud” in today’s Gospel? Most of us are more familiar with “cloud computing,” the sort of cloud which stores our data so that we can access it from...
No compromises with evil! We must not fall into that slumber of the conscience that makes us say: “But after all, it’s not serious, everyone does it”! Let us look at Jesus, who does not make agreements with evil. He opposes the devil with the Word of God and overcomes temptation. (scroll down...
Note: This essay will discuss the political takes of figures to whom I don’t particularly want to direct web traffic. Google “[figure’s name] putin” and most of it will come up. Conservative Catholicism has a long history of receptivity to certain kinds of right-wing authoritarian politics. Whether democratic forms of government are morally...
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has been in the news again. He recently received attention on February 19, when the Canadian professor-turned-media guru Jordan Peterson tweeted out a YouTube video to his 2.4 million followers entitled, “Archbishop Viganò’s IMPORTANT MESSAGE To Canadian Truckers.” Then on March 7, Viganò released a 24-page manifesto entitled, “Declaration...
Typically I don’t post close to midnight just to share a four-year-old article I found, but typically I don’t read articles that are so clear and well-reasoned and strong in their argumentation that I almost become jealous of the author and wish I had written it myself. This April 2018 article on the...
Years ago, Catholic religious education abandoned memorizing questions and answers from the Baltimore Catechism in favor of construction paper, glue, markers, and “God is love” posters. Those of us who were children in the 60s and early 70s were not inculcated with a vocabulary from which to easily pluck answers to faith questions,...
The orientation of the priest during the celebration of the Mass is a liturgical flashpoint. Traditionalists consider the “ad orientem” position to be more reverent. They think that it better represents the transcendence of God. They hold that the “versus populum” position is irreverent and produces a casual, shallow attitude towards the Liturgy....
Temptations are real. Temptations are inevitable. Temptations are an everyday affair. Yet, we do not spend too much time reflecting on them. This is because our focus is on avoiding temptations rather than succumbing to them. The Gospels, however, tell us about the temptations of Jesus. They reflect upon them. They not only...
A reflection on the readings for March 6, 2022 – The First Sunday in Lent. Many of us know the story of Doctor Faustus, written in 1592. In the early version of the legend, Dr. John Faustus, called Faust, has turned his back on God, and decided not to be called a Doctor...
In a little less than two hours (today, March 5, 2022) at 3pm EST (2pm CST, noon PST, 8pm GMT), Austen Ivereigh, Rodrigo Guerra, Stephen Walford, and I will join Pedro Gabriel in an online live event and discussion in honor of the launch of his book The Orthodoxy of Amoris Laetitia. Pedro will...
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