Recently I’ve been reading The Hobbit to two of my young children. Central to the story is lost treasure: Thorin and his fellow dwarves ask for Bilbo Baggins’ help in reclaiming their trove, which has been captured by the dragon …
Category: Sacraments
Catholic: What It Means, Past, Present, Future
What does “Catholic” really mean? In order to answer that question, to the benefit of Catholic and non-Catholic alike, I’d like to examine the core distinguishing elements of catholicity. I hope to reveal the inner logic of the word, which …
Making Clarity about Amoris Laetitia
Image courtesy of Edward Pentin. At the Congress of April 22ro, at the Hotel Columbus, Rome, just one block from Vatican City, six lay scholars gathered in order to “make clarity one year after Amoris Laetitia” (“fare chiarezza a un …
For Traditionalists, the Insults Will Continue Until Morale Improves
The standard complaint against traditionalists, that we are demanding and obnoxious, has surfaced yet again in the Catholic blogosphere. This time it comes to us courtesy of the site Unam, Sanctam, Catholicam (a blog which I appreciate and enjoy reading …
The Beauty of a Requiem
While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me, with Thy saints surrounded. – from the Dies Irae, sequence of the Requiem Mass One of the most profound moments of religious experience in my life was the first time …
Bishop Morlino Calls for All to Receive Communion on Tongue While Kneeling
For I have learnt for a fact that nothing so effectively obtains, retains and regains grace, as that we should always be found not high-minded before God, but filled with holy fear. –St. Bernard of Clairveux On April 11, 2017, the …
On Married Priests, Cardinal Kasper Says Pope Wants Proposals from Bishops’ Conferences
Today, the German Bishops’ official website, Katholisch.de, published an interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his own priestly ordination. In this context, the German cardinal also made some significant statements regarding the question …
Sacred Music as Occasion of Grace for Modern Man
Some months ago, Maestro Aurelio Porfiri approached me with the idea of authoring a statement in support of genuine sacred music, for the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Musicam Sacram. The statement would express in a clear and simple …
St. Cyprian and the Twin Sins: Presumption and Despair
As the Catholic Church celebrates the season of Lent, it is good for the faithful to understand what the true meaning of this liturgical season is. Many Catholics may rightfully associate the season of Lent with repentance and doing penance …
New Papal Interview Addresses Cardinal Burke, Married Priests
(Image: Screenshot of the papal interview as it appears [with Google translation] in Zeit Online) Today, 8 March, the German newspaper Die Zeit published an interview with Pope Francis which was conducted at the end of February at the pope’s …
