The following is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2023. Like a rising star (cf. Num 24:17), Jesus comes to enlighten all peoples and to brighten the nights of humanity. Today, with the Magi, let us lift…
ACI, CNA, Vatican News—There is no doubt that the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5 was a pope’s funeral. Not only was the funeral rite the one foreseen for the death of a pope, but so were all the rites that accompanied it. The rogito For example, the medals and coins of…
In an interview with Vatican News, Dr. Michael Hesemann, a close friend of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and his brother Georg Ratzinger, says: “instead of mourning, it is time to thank God that he was among us”, and reflects on how “we all had the opportunity to rediscover Christianity by his constant inspiration,…
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services: “I remember many meetings with him while I served in the Secretariat of State, and I will never forget his greeting to me at the first General Audience I attended some weeks after his…
BBC—Nearly 200,000 people paid homage to former Pope Benedict XVI during his lying in state over the last three days, the Vatican says. His body has been sealed in a coffin ahead of his funeral on Thursday. Pope Francis will preside over the funeral – the first time a sitting Pope has led his predecessor’s…
The historical, beautiful Rosary and funeral Mass for Pope emeritus Benedict XVI took place January 5, 2023, but don’t fret if you missed it. From the Sagrato of Saint Peter’s Basilica, recitation of the Rosary and Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, presided over by Pope Francis, you will find it all here,…
WSJ—Russia and China want to replace the West. Benedict wanted to save it. A big story the past year has been the firming alliance between the world’s two leading autocrats, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, predicated on their conclusion that the West is in terminal decline. Fortuitously, the world has just lost its…
Below please find a few excellent highlights, clips and videos on Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI… Biography—Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI — Vatican News Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – Gestures — Vatican News First papal remarks of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI — Vatican News Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Short life story — Vatican News Pope Benedict…
Stand firm in the faith! Do not let yourselves be confused!…I have experienced the transformations of the natural sciences since long ago and have been able to see…
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a leading theologian of the 20th century and the first pope to resign from office in nearly 600 years, has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced. His death was announced in Rome on Dec. 31. His funeral Mass will be held on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s…
“First, we make habits, then they make us,” observed a number of famous poets and authors through the ages (too many to mention and each in their own phrasing). Here are five (5) sure-fire ways to improve the odds of truly achieving your 2023 goals: 1. BE SPECIFIC. You won’t know if you achieve a…
The contemplative is the stay-at-home mother within the Church,” reflects Sr. Mary Josefa (Kathleen ’07) Holcomb, O.S.B.. “The stay-at-home mother has a role that is not seen, and probably not appreciated, by many in the world … but how many families need that mother’s presence! The Church is a family, too. It needs the presence…
At this time of year, in the weeks before Christmas, our house is usually bustling with activity as we move decorations from their basement storage to places of prominence on the main floor. My personal favorites are the nativity scenes. You might accuse us of being “crèche obsessed” as we have one in the front…
Pro-Democracy, former media tycoon and courageous Catholic Jimmy Lai sentenced to 69 Months in Communist Prison—December 2022 CNA / WSJ—The godfather of an arrested Hong Kong Catholic entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate says he hopes Jimmy Lai’s courageous example will inspire more calls for justice amid an ongoing crackdown on human rights in now-Communist Hong Kong.…
Each day from Dec. 17 through Christmas, the Catholic Business Journal will post the “O Antiphon” for that day. Below is the first of these antiphons, followed by a wonderful article by Fr. Juan Diego of the Norbertines. Enjoy! —ed. O ANTIPHON — December 17: O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi provsti, attingens a fine…
“Gazing afar off, behold I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering all the land. Go out to meet him and say: tell me if you are the one who is to reign over the people Israel.” So sounds the cry of the world before Christ, a cry placed on the lips…
Beginning to think about Christmas gets a power boost as we get into Advent and the four Sundays before Christmas day. Sharing the daily Bible readings of the Mass and the stories in the various daily devotionals we read gets Pat and me in a reflective mood. There is no question that the world changed…
There is a commonly held belief that Christmas, besides celebrating the birth of our Lord, brings what is known as a Santa Claus rally in the stock market. Since we’re approaching that time of year, I thought it might be interesting to delve into the numbers and see if this perception is truly fact or…
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…
November 22, 2022
The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of…
