Is St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy for everyone? Yes — for without a friend like Aquinas, even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious...
The philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas is highly systematic, profound, mystical and elaborate, and was recorded in the 13th century. In a word, it is “formidable.” And yet, Aquinas is the master par excellence of common sense. His philosophy has a remarkable affinity with the human mind and the organs of sensation. His philosophy is to the human mind what Bach’s music is to the ear or what the sculptures of Michelangelo are to the eye...
Synodality: A Church ‘too harsh and out of step?’...
Northjersey.com’s report on the results of synodal discussions in New Jersey reveals the fault lines among those who self-identify as Catholics and have been willing to take part in the synodal process. The headline is revealing: ‘Too harsh’ and ‘out of step’: Survey finds NJ Catholics want a more inclusive church’. The story is somewhat more complex than that...
Don’t be a ‘Low-Bar Thomist’ — there’s nothing Christ-like or courageous about winning the praise of the world this way...
We cannot make Christ credible again and we cannot break the chains of the hegemony of the “immanent frame” that enslaves us if we turn every hard choice we face—choices demanded by the Gospel—into a “gray area” of “complex circumstances” crying out for a lowered bar of expectation. It is easy to be “inclusive” when you do not think anything at all is ever “exclusive...
Why politics may not be the magic bullet in terms of refilling the pews...
Germany’s bishops now have delivered to Rome the long-awaited results of their “synodal path,” a controversial national consultation of the country’s Catholics, and anyone with a passing familiarity with German Catholicism over recent decades won’t find many surprises. In broad strokes, Germany’s Catholics seem to want more empowerment of laity...
Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec Accused of Sexual Assault...
Lauretta Brown: Catholics who proclaim their faith — then work against it...
The synodal 1%, the real St. Roch, and the ‘militant’ Rosary...
Today is the feast of St. Roch, and you’re reading The Tuesday Pillar Post. The fourteenth century St. Roch, by most popular biographies, was born marked with a red cross on his chest — taken as a sign of the Lord’s love in his life even from infancy. Again, from the hagiographies, Roch was a deeply pious child, given to regular fasting and long periods of prayer...
The Atlantic’s hysterical piece demonizing the Rosary is a harbinger of persecution...
In both Orthodoxy and Catholicism, today -- August 15 -- is the feast of the transition of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, into eternal life. Catholics call it the Assumption, because they believe she was "assumed" (taken up) into heaven at the end of her earthly days without tasting death; Orthodox call it the Dormition (falling asleep)...
We have many friends in Heaven...
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The New Testament Letter to the Hebrews celebrates the faith and actions of Old Testament heroes: beginning with Abel, Enoch, and Noah; Abraham and Sarah; Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; Moses and Rahab; Israel’s judges Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah; David, Samuel, and all the prophets...
On the ever-accelerating passage of time...
The tip-off from a Nazi that saved my Jewish grandparents...
Clear answers on a sensitive topic...
Syro-Malabar Archbishop: Nuncio Said Resign in 24 Hours or Be Fired...
Learn to recognize the 5 stages of persecution (and it looks like we’re headed for stage 5)...
With the recent article in The Atlantic linking the Rosary to extremist gun culture we see a gross misunderstanding in the nature of spiritual warfare and its true target, Satan. The rosary is a weapon, but a spiritual one. While it is possible that the author simply misunderstands our allegorical references to warfare, I rather doubt he is that dumb...
Admit it: the Rosary IS a threat...
Thus spoke Hillaire Belloc, answering an anti-Catholic heckler, while campaigning for a seat in Parliament in 1906. After the publication of a rabble-rousing article in The Atlantic entitled “How the Rosary Became an Extremist Symbol,” some timid Catholics may be inclined to hide away their Rosary beads (assuming they can find them)...
New cardinal says he is worried about ‘survival of Christianity’ in Nigeria...
A week before Cardinal-designate Peter Obere Okpaleke found out that Pope Francis would be making him a cardinal, a news alert claiming he had died circulated on Facebook. Thus, it wasn’t hard for him to presume that the pontiff’s decision was, like his alleged death, fake news. When the diocesan chancellor called him with the news...
Bianca Jagger says Nicaraguan regime has ‘declared war’ on Catholic Church...
There’s a risk in accepting Jesus Christ in your life. Are you willing to take it?
Entering a Catholic Church for the very first time, Michael did not know what to expect. There was a visible fear across his face because he had been searching for direction and meaning in his life having dabbled in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Atheism, and ultimately a non-denominational community of believers. He was hoping to find acceptance and refuge from a world he had come to realize did not offer the answers of hope and love he was searching for...
Elvis Presley checked out of Heartbreak Hotel 45 years ago today...
It has been 45 years since Elvis Presley checked out of Heartbreak Hotel. On Aug. 16, 1977, as night fell on Memphis, Tennessee, Presley was found dead. He was just 42 years old. As the news of the death spread around the world, the overriding emotion beyond shock at so untimely a passing was one of sadness. For all Presley’s success and acclaim...
Somebody needs to tell The Atlantic that firebombings are bad, and Rosaries are good...
When Our Lord says ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,’ here’s an example of what He means...
What is St. Michael’s Lent? The powerful little-known tradition we need for our times...
Have you ever heard of St. Michael’s Lent? St. Michael’s Lent dates back to the 13th century when St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14). Much like a ‘mini-Lent,’ the devotion lasts 40 days (excluding Sundays). This period of prayer, fasting, and penance begins on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug...
Traditional stained-glass windows are making a comeback in churches around the country...
The traditional style is hallmarked by realism. Recently, for St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax, Virginia, Beyer made all-new Gothic Revival windows, highlighted by seven windows behind the altar depicting the Seven Sorrows of our Blessed Mother. Beyer described the windows as colorful and reflective of the Munich style. Among aisle windows...
A guide to navigating ‘election season’ in the Catholic Church...
41 Dead, 14 Injured After Fire Rips Through Packed Coptic Church in Cairo During Sunday Liturgy...
Did Jesus explicitly claim to be God? Yes, He did...
In America’s heartland, Catholics quietly are going about the work of rebuilding the Church...
It doesn’t matter what I think...
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