Brothers and sisters, having received the ashes, we walk towards the hope of Easter. Let us turn back to God. Let us return to him with all our hearts (cf. Joel 2:12). Let us place him at the centre of our lives, so that the memory of what we are — fragile and mortal...
The prophet Isaiah boldly challenges us to choose the way of fasting most acceptable to the Lord: “Releasing those bound unjustly … setting free the oppressed … sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your...
The situation could not be more mysterious. Pope Francis is currently in Gemelli Hospital, trying to recover from the complex chronic bronchitis he has been suffering from. A slight improvement was followed by a bronchospasm. The Pope is following medical instructions, remains lucid, continues making decisions, and has sent some important messages. This...
After showing some improvement over the last few days, Pope Francis experienced two episodes of respiratory insufficiency today, renewing the sense of concern over his medical condition. The Holy See Press Office reported the following during their second update of the day: “Today, the Holy Father suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency,...
The Pontifical Academy for Life is meeting in Rome this week, and the theme of this year’s annual gathering is “The End of the World? Crises, Responsibilities, Hopes.” Leading scientists, theologians, and scholars gathered at the Vatican for the purpose of engaging in an interdisciplinary dialogue on the theme. The assembly, held at the...
This is Part Two of a two-part conversation with Dr. Marcus Mescher. In the first part of the conversation we discussed Liberation Theology and the Dominican theologian, Gustavo Gutiérrez. In Part-Two, we dive into the Church’s teaching on the preferential option for the poor, exploring its roots in Scripture as well as its...
I try to limit the amount of autobiographical material I post. For one thing, I have no way of keeping up with the universal and enduring truths which need to be explored. At any given time, there are anywhere from a dozen to fifty things with which I am puttering – aesthetic theory,...
As the years went by and the Church spread further afield, the exercise of charity became established as one of her essential activities, along with the administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the word: love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential...
Vatican News reports: The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition. The Holy Father was promptly subjected...
On October 22, 1939, less than two months after the German invasion of Poland, C.S. Lewis (the author of The Chronicles of Narnia) gave a talk on how to face the challenge of daily responsibilities during times of conflict. The sermon, titled “Learning in War-Time”, offers insight into Lewis’s analysis of how the...
Through the Church—the sacrament of God’s infinite love—her Scriptures, her Tradition, her prayers, and her liturgies, people can encounter the living Christ and experience his love, healing, and transformative grace. But what happens when the men and women tasked with mediating God’s grace, appointed to preach God’s word and preside over the sacraments,...
Pope Francis is currently at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital receiving treatment for double pneumonia. Rumors about his health and the exercise of his ministry are on the rise. How is the Roman Curia experiencing this moment? How does the Vatican see the Church in the United States? How should we interpret the letter that...
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