On September 10, 2001, First Officer Steve Scheibner packed his suitcase and waited for the call confirming his assignment to fly American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. The call never came…. Only much later did he realize the fate of that first plane to reach the World Trade Center would have been…
CBJ-Today, October 7th, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast instituted in the 16th century in gratitude for one of the most remarkable, seemingly unlikely turn of events in human history—the Battle of Lepanto. Below please read a recounting of that battle culled from history and highlighting G.K. Chesterton’s poem, Lepanto.…
CNA—Pope Francis appointed Father Gregg Caggianelli, an Air Force veteran and Florida priest, as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, on Friday. USAF for more than 30 years Caggianelli, 56, has served on active duty and in the reserves for more than 30 years. He currently works at the U.S. Air…
CNA—After the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, a local priest made his way to the scene “to be present” with the grieving families. Father Frederick Edlefsen, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Arlington, Virginia, shared about how he was able to be present to the families that night in an…
Crisis—Our Lady of Guadalupe was there at Lepanto, hearkening to the Rosary recited by the soldiers processing round the decks, her quiet, pregnant power blazing at that apocalyptic battle with all the splendor of the star-crowned Woman of Revelation. Most Catholics wouldn’t consider the motherly image of Our Lady of Guadalupe a martial image. The…
On this Feast of the great Saint Michael the Archangel and ultimate defender of Christ in the hierarchy of Creation, we herein post a truly inspiring and fascinating talk about St. Michael and the Angels, delivered by Fr. Sebastian Walshe O.Praem., a Norbertine priest of St. Michael’s Abbey, located in Santiago Canyon, California. Please share!…
CNA—Arthur James Gregg, a convert to the Catholic faith who held the distinction of being the first Black American to achieve the rank of lieutenant general in the U.S. Army, died last month at 96. According to an obituary published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Gregg died on Aug. 22 in Richmond, Virginia. Born in South…
VN—At an event held at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, the Vatican Secretary of State says Pope John XXIII’ Encyclical Letter ‘Pacem in Terris’ is a testament, and affirms that the concept of ‘just war’ needs to be reviewed. Even if sometimes diplomatic efforts seem to produce small results, “we must…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Entrusting to God’s mercy all of their comrades-in-arms who have died serving their countries and defending peace, Pope Francis urged Catholic members of the military to let their faith inform their service. “The world needs you” to Catholics serving in the military “The world needs you, especially at this dark moment…
CNA—In recognition of Veterans Day, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is calling for prayers for the servicemen and serivce women who have fought to defend the United States. “They risk their lives, sacrifice time with family and friends, set aside jobs, and often suffer the effects of their service…
On October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, more than on any other feast day, I feel especially emboldened in faith and hope, no matter what the news of the day! The reason is simple. The power of praying the Rosary was manifest in such a remarkable, historical and tangible way on…
In addition to being the founder of one of the largest religious orders in the world and the author of the “Spiritual Exercises,” St. Ignatius of Loyola is also the patron saint of soldiers. Here’s how this Iberian soldier-turned-priest and missionary was canonized a saint and came to be the protector and patron of soldiers…
Crisis Magazine—“It is a mistake, even heresy,” warned St. Francis de Sales, to “banish the devout life from the company of soldiers.” But the current U.S. administration did just that by evicting priests from the facility, and turned Holy Week into Hell Week for Catholic servicemembers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The issue,…
CNA, CBJ—“Most of us will never die a hero’s death… But all of us are called by the idea of faith, day in and day out, to give of ourselves,” said Newark Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, who presided over the Four Chaplains 80th Anniversary Mass at St. Stephen’s parish in Kearny, New Jersey, on…
CNA—Father Daniel Mode was the chaplain for the “Lone Survivor” SEAL team in Afghanistan and has authored a book about the famed “Grunt Padre,” Father Vincent Capodanno. Now there’s a new distinction on Mode’s impressive service record: Leading the chaplaincy efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the first Catholic priest to hold that important role…
The U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference (USCCB) on Nov. 15 elected Archbishop Timothy Broglio, a former Vatican diplomat and the long-serving (since 2008) and much-beloved and respected Archbishop for the Military Services, as the new president of the USCCB. National Catholic Reporter refers to the position as “essentially the nation’s chief Catholic chaplain.” Archbishop Broglio received…
Reuters—Aug 16, 2021—China carried out assault drills near Taiwan on Tuesday with warships and fighter jets exercising off the southwest and southeast of the island, in what the country’s armed forces said was as a response to “external interference” and “provocations”. Taiwan, which Beijing claims as Chinese territory, has complained of repeated People’s Liberation Army…
FoxNews—Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned lawmakers during a briefing over the weekend that terror groups like al-Qaeda may be able to grow at a much faster pace and pose a threat to the United States in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, a source confirmed to Fox News.…
The Sun—TALIBAN death squads have reportedly marked the doors of prominent Afghan women with paint as several female anchors are axed from TV in a chilling crackdown. Female journalists in Afghanistan are fearing for their lives and many have been “taken off air” as the Taliban’s reign of terror begins after the jihadi army seized…
As the USAF C-17 managed to depart from Afghanistan with at least 640 Afghans on board and two who sadly met their death as they fell off the outside of the plane as it took off, one wonders where that plane will land. To where will Afghans flee? With president Biden stating that “This did…
