Benjamin J. Vail, OFS is a Franciscan tertiary from the USA living with his family in Brno, Czech Republic.
Author: Benjamin J. Vail, OFS
Discovering a Church in Crisis: Vatican II and the Future
The following is Part IV of a series. Read Part I, Part II, and Part III at the links. Tradition, Doctrine and Magisterium (Continued) Ecumenism The 1928 encyclical Mortalium Animos condemns modern notions of ecumenism. It says the Catholic Church …
Discovering a Church in Crisis: Arius vs. the Magisterium
The following is Part III of a series. Read Part I, Part II, and Part IV at the links. Asking Questions and Reading the Signs The current confusion in the Church has been compared to the Arian crisis. When priests, bishops, …
Discovering a Church in Crisis: How Would a Saint Treat the Novus Ordo?
Editor’s note: The following is Part II of a four-part series. Read Part I, Part III, and Part IV at the links. The Sacred Liturgy “Lex orandi, lex credendi.” The order of Mass expresses and teaches Catholic doctrine. The changes to …
Discovering a Church in Crisis: Personal Reflections of a Recent Convert
Editor’s note: The following is the first part of a series. Read Part II, Part III, and Part IV at the links. I. Introduction What is going on in the Church these days? How to understand the origin of our …
In Search of a Secular Franciscan Charism
In the early 1200s, St. Francis of Assisi inflamed the hearts of the faithful with the Gospel message. He did not just speak the Good News; he lived it, with a particular emphasis on poverty and simplicity. As he wandered …