October 13, 2009 Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a saint? Yes, following whatever Our Lord invites us to embrace, of course. But doesn’t it often seem like the most reasonable course of action, especially in controversial situations, is the “middle road?” But, who defines the “middle”—is it culture? peers? media? Pope Benedict XVI culls…
October 13, 2009 From the Vatican: VATICAN CITY(VIS)—At 10 a.m. today the Holy Father celebrated the Eucharist in the Vatican Basilica. During the ceremony he canonised five blesseds: Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski, Polish former archbishop of Warsaw and founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary; Francesc Coll y Guitart, Spanish professed priest of the…
Below is the full transcript of the talk given by the Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone, (pictured above) Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., to Catholic business professionals at the September meeting of Catholics at Work, Oakland chapter, a chapter of the national Catholic Professional & Business Clubs.—ed “A Reflection on Business Ethics in…
September 2, 2009 In this age of globalization and a lack of regard (to put it mildly) for the dignity of the human person and lack of respect for the unborn and elderly, each person individually created in God’s own image and each one destined for fulfillment only in Him, it seems to us important for Catholic business…
September 2, 2009 Short Address by Pope Benedict XVI Recently, Pope Benedict XVI gave a particularly poignant address regarding our obligations as Christian laity to the crowd who had joined to praythe midday Angelus at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Here is a translation from ZENIT: “Intimately Connected and Mutually Illuminate Each Other” [At the end…
July 22, 2009 October 7, 1571, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Feast date was so named for the powerful role of the Rosary in winning the Battle of Lepanto; a victory that literally turned around the unrelenting tide of ongoing Islamic invasion and conquering of Christian Europe at the time. (Remember, today’s city of…
July 8, 2009 “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” — St. Ignatius Loyola What is the connection between surrender and strength? Surrendering to Christ and putting His will before my own for the first…
June 23, 2009 Vatican Spokesman Notes Objectives VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org)—The priesthood is a gift for humanity, but it is enduring more than a few difficulties, and the newly inaugurated Year for Priests aims to address that, says a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, spoke of the Year for Priests during the…
June 19, 2009 Here in the United States, we are preparing celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday June 21. This traditional holiday celebrates the unique contribution to the stability of our society that fathers make in their every day mission of guiding their families. We Catholics understand that the family is the individual building block upon which an ordered…
June 19, 2009 The ongoing demonstrations in Iran, touched off by public outrage at what is believed to be fraudulent vote counting in the recent Presidential election, has completed its sixth day. Not since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 has there been this much sustained, grass roots political protest in what is one of the world’s most closed…
April 3, 2009 VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org)— Below is a translation of the homily delivered by Pope Benedict XVI on April 2, at the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, to mark the fourth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death. * * * [Translation from Italian:] Dear Brothers and Sisters! Four years ago, exactly today [April 2], my beloved…
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2) Dear Brothers and Sisters! At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving,…
February 19, 2009 Receives Speaker of the House Pelosi in Audience VATICAN CITY, FEB. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is urging legislators to uphold the sanctity of human life according to Church teaching, he affirmed in a meeting with U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Pope received Nancy Pelosi and her entourage briefly today after the…
October 8, 2008 When I imagine a fortress, it invokes thoughts of strength, security and protection. The image is comforting, particularly when used in relation to one’s faith. I was speaking with someone I met recently about my faith and learned that he, too, was Catholic. After hearing my story, he explained to me the role faith played…