When you work in Catholic settings, such as in a parish, you begin to think about the hallmarks of Christian leadership. Let me get to the jugular right away: the hallmark is humility. When Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles in the Gospel of John, the Lord was making a symbolic statement through ...

The sermons are by a priest whose books and talks are often mentioned on this site--Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa: LENTEN SERMONS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY FATHER[Emphasis added by me] VATICAN CITY, 6 MAR 2009 (VIS) - At 9.00 a.m. on Friday 13 March in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Pala...

Blogger Mark Shea recently posted this email, in case you can help (courtesy of our Rhode Island friend): A dear college friend of mine, Emily, became a missionary down in Comayagua,Honduras with the Missioners of Christ after graduating college last year. Recently the Franciscan Friars of the Renew...

All forms of the Holy Mass are powerful in the sense that the bread and wine become the body and blood of the Lord. Yet, contrary to the unquestioned assumptions of many traditionalists, it is my firm conviction that the renewed liturgy (that's the term used by Pope Benedict XVI) that emerged after ...

Below is an excerpt from the Catholic News Service: Archbishop Dolan said the Latino contribution of vitality and celebratory, joyful faith as well as a sense of pride in family is a "tonic to the Catholic Church in the United States." He said the church historically is the most successful, effectiv...

For some of us with linguistic roots other than English, Lent ("spring") is literally, for example in Spanish, "cuaresma," the period of 40 days. For 40 years, Israel wandered in the wilderness before finally entering the Promised Land (by the way, a generation had to die out before the entry into t...

AMERICA WITH CHRIST. LIVE THE MISSION[Emphasis added by blogger] VATICAN CITY, 24 FEB 2009 (VIS) - The Pontifical Commission for Latin America today published its annual message for Hispanic-American Day, which is celebrated annually in the dioceses of Spain. This year the Day falls on Sunday 1 Marc...

FREEDOM IS ACHIEVED IN SERVICE TO OTHERS[Bold emphasis added] VATICAN CITY , 21 FEB 2009 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father visited the Major Roman Seminary for the occasion of the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Trust. The Pope presided at a "lectio divina" for the seminarians on the ...

Below is a great excerpt from Vatican II's Gaudium et Spes ("Joy and Hope"), a favorite of John Paul the Great (bold emphasis added). Read it thoughtfully and slowly. 22. The truth is that only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light. For Adam, the first man, was a...

VENERABLE BEDE: SAINT AND SCHOLAR[Bold emphasis added by blogger] VATICAN CITY, 18 FEB 2009 (VIS) - In the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 15,000 people, Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to St. Bede the Venerable. Bede was born around the year 672 in...