Among the many beautiful churches in St. Louis, the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales must be listed near the top. In fact, the Oratory earned the title of the most beautiful church in the county in 2017 by the …
Category: Sacraments
What Sixty Years of Synods Keep Missing
How long ago it seems now, after six and a half grueling, mind-bending years under Pope Francis, coupled with the shock, from which one will never recover, of Pope Benedict’s abdication. It was like transitioning from a post-doctoral theology seminar …
When Children Go to Their Grandparents’ Mass
“Dad, guess what!” My eight-year-old son Joseph came home from a recent weekend stay with his grandparents. It was his first weekend spent away from his parents, and evidently, he had some exciting news. “Oh boy,” I thought, “what crazy …
‘Virtually Impossible with an All-Latin Liturgy’: A Brief History of Active Participation
Although active participation may have dissipated as a liturgical rallying call, it remains an unusually revealing and concise way to track how the Church has evolved over recent decades. This was a new concept in regards to liturgy, and its …
Understanding Sin: Suggestion and Pleasure
In my last piece on this topic a few people pointed out to me a glaring omission. Here I will attempt to remedy this and briefly discuss a few crucial distinctions that we must keep in mind. Suggestion to Sin …
Being ‘Rigid’ Is a Badge of Honor, Your Holiness
Editor’s note: This article comes to 1P5 from an anonymous Catholic. People generally don’t enjoy being insulted. Being rejected by another person is painful, especially when it is your spiritual father. It is a natural reaction to want to reject …
Substance and Accidents: A Beginner’s Guide to Defending the Eucharist
The Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is among the greatest mysteries of our faith. Indeed, the priest celebrating the traditional Roman Rite whispers in the midst of consecrating the Precious Blood, “Mysterium …
Bishops, Missionaries Who Know the Amazon Sour on Amazon Synod
In what seems to be growing concern about the true mission, vision, and motivation of the upcoming Pan-Amazon Synod, two Catholic bishops from the missions in the Amazon have made public statements questioning a foundation of the Vatican’s October event: …
Discerning the Priesthood: One Form or Two Forms?
“Red-pilled” Catholic men these days who are thinking seriously about priesthood or religious life are wondering if it makes any sense to enter a Novus Ordo seminary or community. Could God be calling them to be “infiltrators” who usher in …
Hand or Tongue: The Eucharistic Reception Debate
When we delve into the Word of God, it’s often those smaller details that hand us surprises. Consider the reaction of most biblical persons in an encounter with divine creatures such as angels, let alone the Creator Himself. Recognizing that …