Prosecutors drop case of alleged ‘cover up’ against Benedict XVI
A potential legal case against Pope Benedict XVI over his handling of abuse during his...
Seven Teachings on Hell From St. Thomas Aquinas
The teachings of the Lord on Hell are difficult, especially in today’s climate. The most...
Naaman, the Nazarenes and the Germans
To vary Oscar Wilde, the Church’s liturgical life often imitates art by being strikingly appropriate...
Veronica’s Image and the True Mission of Jesus
In the Sixth Station of the Cross, a woman wipes the face of Jesus. A miracle...
How Mary’s “yes” is renewed by every saint and martyr
Often Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation is summarized as her “yes”...
Deacons as Apostles for the New Evangelization
“Whoever believes that Christ the Lord is the way, the truth and the life, whoever...
Who Killed the Catholic University?
Have you not heard of that mad Catholic professor who lit a lantern in the...
It’s World Down Syndrome Day, and I’d Like You to Meet My Brother Gabriel
March 21 marks the observance of World Down Syndrome Day — a celebration of the...
Meet the New Nigerian Secretary for the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization
From a childhood as a war refugee to a career as a Holy See diplomat,...
French church vandalized with satanic and anarchist graffiti
The walls of Sacred Heart Church, located in downtown Bordeaux, France, were vandalized with satanic...
Aesthetics of a Cathedral: Why a Beautiful Place of Worship Is Important to Our Faith
The aesthetic beauty of cathedrals has long been an integral part of the Catholic faith,...
Pregnant with conjoined twins, Detroit mother finds powerful strength in faith
Nicole Duque, 23, has always desired to become a mother. She was born and raised...
How the Irish monks and saints helped save Europe
Only Ireland, on the outer fringe of Western Europe, was left unconquered by the mighty...
Learn About the Image of the Virgin Mary That Wept Tears of Blood on St. Patrick’s Day
On March 17, 1697, on the feast day of St. Patrick and in the same...
A view from Germany: The Synodal Way abuses the Catholic Faith
The consequences of the Synodal Way cannot be gauged yet. Much was decided: The dioceses...
Irish Christianity Needs an Intervention
I have always loved the aesthetic of historic Irish Christianity. The 5th through 9th centuries (the golden...
Thinking of Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day
"When I think of my mother’s death … worn out with persecution, poverty, and, largely...
Spiritual Bouquet for Persecuted Christians
Ambassador Joe Cella has called for Christians to send spiritual bouquets to Jimmy Lai and...
Dana’s ‘Light the Fire’ Honors St. Patrick
Looking for a St. Patrick feast-day song? Irish singer-songwriter Dana Scallon has just released a...
The Starved Man Who Changed the World
Shoulder to shoulder in a chapel last weekend, nine young women stood in modest gray...
How the Virgin Mary Converts Sinners
I have visited at least nine places of Marian apparition. I’ve read the messages and...
At Tuesday’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C., attendees heard inspiring speeches, honored beacons of...
Jesus at the Minnesota Capitol: Eucharist Adored at State Building
On March 3, Amy Smith of Minneapolis made her usual Friday Eucharistic Holy Hour in...
The unshakable Christian faith of the creator of LEGO
You are surely familiar with the famous little colored blocks that fit together and that...
The Amazing Science of Recent Eucharistic Miracles: A Message from Heaven?
This article was originally published April 13, 2020. It has been updated to reflect more...
The Other Roman Killed on the Ides of March
Readers will no doubt be familiar with the story of Julius Caesar and his infamous...
The Metaphysical Meaning of Spring
Each of the four seasons vibrate with transcendent significance. I am particularly fond of a...
The increasingly permissive and unethical standard for organ harvesting
There is tremendous societal pressure to obtain organs for transplantation. Approximately 43,000 organ transplants were performed in...
Vatican-China Deal ‘Not the Best Deal Possible,’ Top Holy See Diplomat Says
The Vatican’s foreign minister has said that the Vatican-China deal was “not the best deal...
On same-sex blessings, Belgium and Germany take different paths
Immediately before participants in Germany’s “synodal way” voted in favor of same-sex blessings last Friday,...
The Catechetical Saints
In a few week’s time, the season of Easter will be upon us. With it...
Tim Keller Calls on God’s ‘Providential Oversight’ Amid Treatment for New Tumors
Tim Keller shared on Sunday that he will once again go through a “brutal” treatment...
How a priest’s visit helped a couple regularize their marriage
In Poland, there is a tradition in parishes of the priests making pastoral visits to...
Report: Nicaragua Closes Vatican Embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan Embassy to Holy See
The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has ordered the closing of the Vatican embassy in...
Pope Francis Celebrates Mass and Records ‘Popecast’ for 10th Anniversary
Pope Francis marked his 10th anniversary as pope Monday with a private Mass with cardinals...
Nigerian seminarian reveals what happened when he was kidnapped
On the evening of January 8, 2020, four students at the Good Shepherd Seminary in...
Secularism is a dark abyss
In late February, a story that one might imagine in an Aldous Huxley novel occurred...
Living the Message of Jesus on the Cross
Ex 17:3-7; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 Living the message of Jesus on the cross...
More About the Meat of the Matter: More Than 70% of US Bishops Allowing Meat on St. Patrick’s Day
In a Nutshell More than 70% of U.S. bishops are allowing Catholics to eat meat...
Third Sunday in Lent: The Samaritan Woman at the Well
In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples “marveled” that Jesus...
Cameroon priest found dead after being lured to a sick call
A Cameroon priest who went missing on March 1 has been found dead in an apparent murder....
Babies born 126 days early named world’s most premature twins
For their first birthday, these Canadian twins got a Guinness World Record. Adiah and Adrial...
Feminists in Latin America attack Catholic churches on International Women’s Day
Various marches were held on March 8 for International Women’s Day in Latin America. Some...
German synodal way backs same-sex blessings
Participants in the synodal way’s final assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a document Friday urging German bishops...
China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app requires faithful to register to attend worship services
A human rights group active in China is reporting that religious believers in a populous...
How Mortal Sin Cuts Off Charity by Us Turning From God
In response to some in the current scene who are dismissing mortal sin as a...
Call to ‘abolish the clergy’ ignites controversy in Belgium
A booklet arguing that “to abolish clericalism, we must abolish the clergy” has ignited controversy...
UK Parliament makes it illegal to pray near abortion facilities
Britain’s House of Commons approved legislation Tuesday to create “buffer zones” around abortion facilities that...
Seeking Interior Peace? Try Confession!
A very interesting phenomenon: observing a person pass from a state of interior tension manifested...
St. Perpetua Used Her Last Moments to Give Glory to God
Of the many wonderful lessons and habits imparted to me and my eight brothers and...
Report: Wave of murders after elections in Nigeria forces Catholic diocese staff to evacuate
Dozens of people reportedly were murdered in post-election attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Benue State...
Abortion activists smash windows at Minnesota pregnancy clinic that provides free diapers
Vandals smashed the windows of a pro-life pregnancy center in Minneapolis and spray-painted it with...
‘Lent Is a Time of Truth’
Lent is a time of truth. Christians, called by the Church to prayer, penance, fasting...
Amber and Dave VanVickle on Finding God in the Midst of Suffering
In moving testimony captured just ahead of Amber VanVickle’s cancer diagnosis in 2019, Amber and her husband,...
Syrian Catholic Monk Once Kidnapped by ISIS Consecrated Archbishop
Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian Catholic monk who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State...
Who Owns the Human Body?
In August of 2000, I was fresh out of graduate school and had just launched...
‘God Really Intervened’: How a Catholic Priest Escaped From His Kidnappers in Haiti
Father Antoine Macaire Christian Noah, a Claretian priest from Cameroon, escaped unharmed from a crime...
Second Sunday in Lent: The Transfiguration
Jesus takes His closest friends up a mountain to pray, an action packed with meaning...
Harrison Butker’s advice on how to be a saint
Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is a champion on the field and...
Pope Francis: Look for the beauty of Jesus’ transfiguration in everyday life
Pope Francis said that we must “see the same beauty on the faces of the...
Eucharist Revival and The Passions
We can all be glad that the bishops have not put someone like me in...
The Cross is the doorway to communion with God
Readings: • Gen 12:1-4a • Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 • 2 Tim 1:8b-10 •...
Can the Eucharist Save Civilization?
During our three year Eucharistic revival in the United States, we know that we need...
Despite ‘no’ from Vatican, German bishops moves forward with plans for synodal council
Despite repeated warnings from the Vatican, a letter by the president of the German Bishops’...
Michigan priest sentenced to prison for sexual abuse of second-grader
A priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has been sentenced for the rape of an...
The Transfiguration Teaches Us That the Cross Leads to Glory
Sunday, March 5, is the Second Sunday in Lent. Mass readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2...
Priest unexpectedly called upon to drive woman in labor to the hospital
Fr. Juan Andrés Verde is affectionately known as “El Gordo” (which means “Fat Guy,” but...
Imagining a Heretical Cardinal
Imagine if a cardinal of the Catholic Church were to publish an article in which...
Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die
“Keep death before one’s eyes daily.” —Rule of St. Benedict On a chilly November evening,...
Merrick Garland grilled on anti-Catholic, pro-abortion bias during Senate hearing
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday fielded questions from lawmakers regarding alleged anti-Catholic, anti-pro-life bias...
McCarrick’s lawyers say he lacks mental competence to stand trial
Attorneys for Theodore McCarrick told a Massachusetts court on Monday that the former cardinal has...
Getting the Order of Treatment Right in the ‘Field Hospital’ of the Catholic Church
In college, while otherwise happy hymns were sung at Mass, I found myself carefully reading...
Dictatorship in Nicaragua bans Stations of the Cross in the streets
The Nicaraguan dictatorship led by Daniel Ortega has prohibited holding the Stations of the Cross...
Does Mercy Need Justice?
Much of the confusion concerning the virtue of mercy lies in the fact that it...
The Adventure of Living in Christ
Jesus is Lord” is the earliest and simplest Christian confession of faith recorded in the...
The ‘Replacement Apostle’
After the Ascension, the apostles had a bit of housekeeping to do, as Acts 1...
Pope Francis plans “unprecedented” reform of pontifical universities
There is an urgent need to initiate a process leading to an effective, stable, and...
What is at Stake in Ukraine
February 24 marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States’s support...
Benedict XVI’s 2009 meeting with artists
Benedict XVI (1927–2022) had a deep interest in the arts, yet his texts on the...
Father Gough: ‘I Was Conceived in the Context of Violence, and My Mother Chose Life for Me’
On Feb.16, two British Catholics were acquitted of all charges relating to praying outside an abortion facility...
Shipwreck leaves more than 50 migrants dead in Italy: The Church expresses pain
Pope Francis and leaders of the Church in Italy expressed their pain and sent their...
Medina admitts killing LA Bishop O’Connell
The man arrested Monday for the killing of Bishop David O’Connell has admitted to the...
It could soon be a crime to gather outside of abortion facilities in Scotland, even for prayer
The pro-life advocates gathering near abortion facilities in Scotland insist they are trying to help...
The Catholic Church in Germany after the Synodal Way: Three Scenarios
The environment and the presumable consequences of the fifth general assembly of the Synodal Way,...
Nigerian Christians brace for election as Islamic clerics call all-Muslim ticket ‘a jihad’
Nigeria’s Christian leaders are calling for both full engagement in the country’s democratic process, and...
What Does Eucharistic Revival Look Like?
What began as an ordinary chapel service at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, has turned...
Who was St. Polycarp?
A few years ago, on Saint Polycarp’s feast day, I attended Mass at a friary...
Four women opt out of German Synodal Way, saying it ‘departs from the universal Church’
Ahead of the German Synodal Way’s final meeting next month, four prominent participants — all...
How Being Pregnant During Lent Helped Me Focus on Christ
Some women sail through pregnancy without incident. For others, it is an extremely painful, arduous...
Lent Is an Opportunity To Let God Empty Us of Our Pride
I am an extremely strong-willed person. I’m not nearly as strong willed as when I...
Pope Francis’ 10 suggestions for Lent
February 22, 2023, marks the beginning of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. To...
Is Ash Wednesday Unbiblical?
Have you ever felt awkward listening to the Gospel reading during Ash Wednesday services? It...
The Catholic Origins of Mcdonald’s Filet-o-Fish
Lent is a penitential season for Catholics preparing to mark the observance of Christ’s death...
When Bishop O’Connell Stunned a Crowd and ‘Sobbed’ Before the Blessed Sacrament
Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was murdered Saturday at his home in Hacienda...
Leaning Into Lent: Father Mike Schmitz’s Tips for a Fruitful Penitential Season
Father Mike Schmitz is a Newman Center chaplain at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and podcast host...
The Art of the Luminous Mysteries: The Last Supper
The Fifth Luminous Mystery is Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist, the moment that he commanded...
The ‘whole point of Lent’: Bishop Erik Varden on finding God this Lent
Lent has a habit of sneaking up on us. We’ve barely finished the Christmas leftovers...
Died: Christian Atsu, Ghana Soccer Star who Praised God in Everything
Christian Atsu kicked his last goal on February 5. He ran up to the soccer...
Church leader arrested in Sudan for preaching to Muslims
Authorities in southeastern Sudan on Friday arrested a church leader for preaching to Muslims, according...
Why Shrove Tuesday is a day for confession
While many are familiar with food aspect of “Fat Tuesday,” originally it was designed to be...
Faith and Reason, Like Milk and Cookies, Are Better Together
The old comedy series “Get Smart” featured a gizmo called the cone of silence. It...
Pipe bomb found behind Catholic church in Philadelphia
An 18-inch pipe bomb was found behind a Catholic church in Philadelphia and removed by...
Housekeeper’s husband arrested in murder case of Bishop David O’Connell
A suspect has been arrested and now publicly identified in the murder case of Los...
More than thoughts and candles
It certainly wasn’t the first deadly shooting on one of our college campuses, but this...
Ten Ways Mother Mary is a Mother to Us
Saint Therese of Lisieux, a young Carmelite saint who died at the tender age of...
8 Nicaraguan Priests Expelled by Ortega Regime Celebrate Mass for First Time in 6 Months
The private chapel at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ imposing, multistoried building in the...
‘Almost no sign’ of international response in Syria
A Catholic charity’s projects coordinator reporting from the scene of the devastating earthquakes has said...
Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Co-Patron Saints of Europe
Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (826-885) were brothers, born in Thessalonica, in northeastern Greece. They became priests...
11 quotes from the saints on love and relationships
In a culture where the family is attacked and love is often confused with lust,...
Nigeria’s newest cardinal shares secret behind the highest Mass attendance in the world
After Nigeria was recognized as having the highest Mass attendance in the world, the African...
Catholic community expresses sorrow, prayers after ‘horrific’ Michigan State shooting
Catholic leaders in the state of Michigan reacted Tuesday to the news of a mass shooting...
Ice Mass: Celebrating the Eucharist Outside on Campus
Outdoor Masses with young people in attendance are a common sight at World Youth Days....
3 Dead, Five Wounded in Shooting at Michigan State University
Three people were killed and five were injured in a shooting on the campus of...
VIDEO: How an NFL Super Bowl Kicker Returned to Catholicism: “We’re All Called to Be Saints
UPDATED: Nicaragua deports more than 200 political prisoners to US, including Catholic priests
The dictatorship of Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega deported 222 political prisoners to Washington, D.C., Thursday,...
Righteousness that Surpasses the Scribes and Pharisees
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave His followers extended, detailed instructions about life...
Meet the priest highlighting England’s abortion ‘censorship zones’
Fr. Sean Gough has become one of the most recent individuals to highlight the existence...
Radical inclusion leads to moral confusion
I came of age in the 1960s. It was an era of civil unrest, race...
Christian quarterbacks lead both Super Bowl teams
Jalen Hurts lost his starting quarterback job under the glare of college football’s brightest spotlight...
Turkey-Syria earthquake: How to help
The scenes are dire. Over 11,000 people are now estimated to have died and many...
From Here to Eternity
Few things challenge our tranquility and provoke a sense of existential dread more profoundly than...
Learning to do nothing: The art of sacred silence
“All of man’s misfortune comes from one thing, which is not knowing how to sit...
FBI Retracts Leaked Document Orchestrating Investigation of Catholics
The FBI says it is retracting a leaked document published on the internet Feb. 8...
Priest kidnapped in Haiti; captors demand ransom
The Claretian Missionaries’ Independent Delegation for the Antilles reported that on Feb. 7 one of...
Churches Come to the Aid of Earthquake-Stricken Syria
In Aleppo, Syria, devastated by a catastrophic earthquake Feb. 6, all nine Christian rites —...
Paul Johnson: one of the great humanists of our time
Paul Johnson, who passed away on January 12 at the age of 94, was one...
Catholic Social Teaching and the Two-Party System: Pro-Life Democrat Dan Lipinski on Pope Leo XIII, Partisanship and His New Teaching Role
Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois, a Catholic, is both taking on a new challenge...
A Reappreciation of Pope Pius IX
On Feb. 7, we celebrate the feast day of Blessed Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, more popularly...
4 Musts that Make a Catholic Marriage
National Marriage Week starts today, culminating in St. Valentine’s Day and coinciding with “World Marriage Day,”...
The Five Foundations for Discernment On the Path to God’s Peace
I have struggled many times with aridity in prayer. I didn’t even know the term...
Ukraine Catholic Church to stop using Russian-associated Julian calendar
The head of Ukraine’s Catholic Church announced on Monday a change to liturgical calendars this...
The ‘Four Chaplains,’ selfless heroes of WWII, honored on 80th anniversary of their deaths
A crowd of military veterans, their families, and Boy Scouts filled a New Jersey parish...
Police say church vandal was about to break into tabernacle — until he saw the statue of Mary
In early January, a man entered a Benedictine monastery in Arkansas and began smashing the...
Pope Benedict XVI Has Found What He’s Been Looking For
In a relatively recent children’s animated movie sequel, “Sing 2” (yes, the sequel to Sing!), the...
The Galleon, the Tyrant and the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki
Raked by frothing waves and howling wind, the galleon San Felipe rode the merciless Pacific...
Litany for earthquake victims in Turkey and region
As we see the horrendous images coming from Turkey and Syria, where a 7.8 earthquake...
Dion DiMucci: The Wanderer
I was about as cold as I’d ever been. The Midwest was in the midst...
The Presentation: An Offertory of ‘The Light of the Nations’
Feb. 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Known unofficially as Candlemas...
Head of U.S. bishops’ conference contradicts Biden’s claims about taxpayer-funded abortions
President Joe Biden is wrong on taxpayer funding of abortion and wrong on Pope Francis’s...
Radical Inclusion Requires Radical Love
I have written of my concerns in the past with the German Synodal Process, as...
Report: Jean Vanier’s L’Arche Hid ‘Mystical-Sexual’ Sect for Decades
Two years after abuse allegations against L’Arche’s late founder Jean Vanier were made public, an...
Life as a priest in a camp for displaced people in South Sudan
Maryknoll Father Michael Bassano, at age 74, has been a missionary in countries across the...
The surgeon general says 13 is too young for social media – is he right?
The US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently said that he thinks 13 is too young...
Acquitted pro-life activist Mark Houck reveals details of ‘reckless’ FBI raid; will press charges
Mark Houck, the pro-life father of seven who was acquitted Monday in federal court of charges of...
Catholic School Teachers: Missionaries of Evangelization
Etched in stone over the majestic double doors of St. Stephen of Hungary School in...
That timely AP interview: What, precisely, did Pope Francis say about homosexual ‘sin’?
Let’s say that Pope Francis decides to sit down for an Associated Press interview, thus...
Supreme Failures from the Court
It should come as no surprise that many conservative legal thinkers consider Roe v. Wade to...
AI Might Teach, But It Can’t Preach
ChatGPT, the eerily accurate artificial intelligence (AI) information-gathering and writing chatbot that launched this past November, is...
What the Sacraments Really Are
Too many times we are trapped by our metaphors, and I’d like to try and...
Biden accused of twisting Pope Francis’ words on abortion
President Biden cited both U.S. Catholic bishops and Pope Francis in defense of federally funded abortions,...
Everything Begins in Mysticism
This month marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of a great modern Catholic genius. Like...
Saint John Bosco: Spiritual Father and Friend of Penitents
In the two-thousand year history of the Catholic Church, there have been many priests who...
The Mother Behind St. John Bosco
When St. John Bosco was discerning the priesthood, he would sometimes ask his mother, Margaret,...
‘Hands Off Africa!’ Pope Francis Says in Democratic Republic of Congo
In his first speech in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, Pope Francis urged...
Farewell to Luther
For many years, I have struggled to understand Martin Luther and his motivations. I am an...
St. John Bosco’s prayer to the Virgin Mary against demonic spirits
St. John Bosco was a holy Italian priest, the recipient of many supernatural visions from...
Where is Mass attendance highest? One country is the clear leader
A compilation of new data by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown...
Saints by the numbers: Catholic martyrs from the first century to the twentieth
How many martyrs have there been in the history of the Catholic Church? This turns...
Biden administration seeks to remove moral objection exemption from Obamacare contraceptives mandate
The Biden administration Monday announced a proposal to eliminate employers’ ability to object to the...
A Warning Ignored
Thirty-seven years ago today, on January 28, 1986, seven astronauts suffered a horrendous death as...
Mark Houck cleared of FACE Act charges in rebuke to Justice Department’s aggressive prosecution
Pro-life activist Mark Houck was found not guilty Monday on federal assault charges stemming from...
Sts. Timothy and Titus — A Comparison of Two Holy Biblical Men
Sts. Timothy and Titus share a feast day (Jan. 26) and their letters from Paul...
Prosecution Rests Case in Mark Houck Trial, Defense Motions to Dismiss the Case
On the second day of witness testimony in the trial of Mark Houck, a pro-life...
“Death to Christians!” Attacks at churches in southern Spain leave 1 dead, 4 wounded
At least one person was killed and four injured after a man entered two churches...
Christian baker loses appeal over transgender birthday cake case
A Colorado appellate court has ruled against a baker who appeared in court once again...
The Art of the Luminous Mysteries: The Sermon on the Mount
The Third Luminous Mystery is the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, which spans the...
Vatican, German bishops spar over proposal for new ‘Synodal Council’
In the latest twist in an ongoing showdown between the Vatican and the German bishops,...
Repentance for Sin and Sacramental Absolution
It’s been widely reported that Pope Francis told seminarians from Barcelona, Spain, in an unscripted...
Vatican issues final ‘stop sign’ on German Synodal Path
Two of Germany’s top canon lawyers have explained that the German Synodal Path must now...
St. Paul in the Public Square
Editor's Note: This reflection from Archbishop Chaput was originally written after the 2008 election. We...
Pro-Life Leader and Catholic Father of 7 Mark Houck Goes to Trial: An Emotional First Day
The prosecution and defense gave fiery opening statements this morning in the federal government’s case...
Paul Never Quoted Jesus?
A common claim in some skeptical circles is that St. Paul never quoted Jesus. A...
2 Suspects Indicted in 2022 Attacks on Florida Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
A crisis-pregnancy center run by the Archdiocese of Miami is among the pro-life pregnancy centers...
St. Francis de Sales: Love for a loveless age
“Nothing so much presses man’s heart as love,” wrote St. Francis de Sales, whose feast...
7 Years Ago, Cardinal Pell Made History in Canterbury Cathedral
One of Cardinal George Pell’s lesser-known accomplishments — one laden with historical significance that furthered...
Walking Through the “Orchard” of Scripture
Premise: Searching for Meaning One of the basic notions that we must take into consideration...
Priest found guilty of blocking entrance to abortion clinic, faces prison time
A Catholic priest who blocked access to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic could face up...
Coach, fans back religious hockey player
Hockey player Ivan Provorov is the latest religious pro athlete to refuse to participate in...
Pakistan Tightens Its Already Far-Reaching Blasphemy Laws
The parliament of Pakistan moved this week to tighten its already far-reaching blasphemy laws, under...
A ‘Dirty Schism’ in Germany? As Synodal Way Nears Conclusion, Lay Group Warns of ‘Worst Possible’ Outcome
Observers of the Catholic Church in Germany have long feared that the country’s ongoing Synodal...
New Syrian Catholic Archbishop Tells How He Survived Captivity by Islamic State
A Syrian priest, whose appointment as archbishop was confirmed by Pope Francis on Jan. 7,...
Will Don Bosco’s mom be beatified?
Don Bosco’s mother, Margaret Occhiena (1788-1856), has had the title of venerable since 2006. She’s...
The Church of England takes a “Third Way” on Gay Marriage
Earlier this week the Guardian reported that the Leader of the House of Commons, the Conservative Penny...
The Prince Who Became a Pauper…and a Priest
In the year 1800, Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin celebrated Christmas Mass in the most backroad...
Cardinal Zen: ‘I Agree with Archbishop Gänswein on Traditionis Custodes’
VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has said Pope Francis’ 2021 decree Traditions Custodes that severely restricted the...
Benedict XVI and the Cosmic Covenant
After the widespread attention that Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical on care for creation has garnered...
Meet the six newest venerable servants of God in the Catholic Church
Pope Francis declared six Catholics as venerable servants of God on Thursday, moving them each...
Supreme Court Failed to Find Source of Leaked Opinion Overturning Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court announced today that it has failed to find the person responsible for...
Report: Christian persecution at its highest point in 30 years
The persecution of Christians is at its highest point in three decades, according to the...
2023 March for Life: 8 things for pro-lifers to know
Pro-life Americans from across the country are planning to attend the March for Life —...
Oldest person in the world, French Catholic nun Sister Andre, dies at 118
Sister Andre Randon, a French nun and the oldest person in the world, has passed...
Rwandan priest forgives his family’s killer: ‘We shared a drink and we were shedding tears’
Father Marcel Uwineza was only 14 years old when he had the painful experience of witnessing the 1994...
Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is in “significant” mental decline and may not be fit to...
First-ever blind Catholic priest in Kenya is ordained
The ordination of the first-ever blind Catholic priest in Kenya will help show people that "disability is...
Pro-life advocate Mark Houck, who was arrested in FBI raid, to stand trial next week
Mark Houck, the pro-life father of seven arrested by the FBI early in the morning...
Thief steals St. Michael statue from church, trips, and is injured by the angel’s sword
A drunken thief was injured after falling on the sword of a statue of St....
Nigerian priest killed in Sunday attack; another in critical condition
A Nigerian parish priest was shot dead early Sunday morning, before suspected terrorists set fire...
Farewell to Luther
For many years, I have struggled to understand Martin Luther and his motivations. I am an...
Spiritual Warfare Lessons from St. Padre Pio
Profusions of written and oral accounts exist about the signs and wonders in the life of...
Apples and Oranges – and Abuse
In August 2018, the Attorney General of Pennsylvania released a Grand Jury report on clergy...
Funeral of Cardinal George Pell to Be at Vatican on Saturday
The funeral Mass of Cardinal George Pell will be held in St. Peter’s Basilica at...
Finding Freedom While Serving Hard Time Behind Bars
In 2012, I sat down with Tom Naemi to talk about his life in prison...
Cardinal Pell: Benedict XVI was complete opposite of the caricatures of his enemies
Editor's Note: Cardinal George Pell spoke with EWTN about the December 31 death of Joseph...
The jubilee year of Thérèse of Lisieux has just begun
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is officially celebrating the 150th anniversary...
Correction? Washington Post on the ‘religious event’ that marked passing of Benedict XVI
Once upon a time, it was relatively clear when a news organization did or did...
Who Will Step Up to Replace Cardinal Pell in Defending Truth of the Catholic Faith?
Immediate reflections following the shocking death of Cardinal George Pell have focused on the Australian...
‘Catechism in a Year’ podcast tops the charts: ‘It has a beauty that speaks to the heart’
For the third year in a row, a Catholic podcast has bolted out of the...
‘God is real,’ says Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen after game honoring Damar Hamlin
There’s been a lot of God talk around the professional sports world since NFL safety for the...
Spirituality “Hacks” for Your New Year
Surely all of us, as we have scrolled through social media, have noticed quite a...
Benedict XVI’s ‘radical renewal’ of worship
The lasting legacy of Pope Benedict XVI will be a shift in the way the...
The Bountiful Blessings of Baptism—A Homily for the Baptism of the Lord
Today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a moment to reflect not only...
Msgr. Nazir-Ali: The Ordinariate Was Benedict XVI’s Path to Unity for Anglicans
One of the late Pope Benedict XVI’s most notable achievements was to create a personal...
George Weigel’s Letters from Rome #2: The True Joseph Ratzinger
The Joseph Ratzinger I knew for thirty-five years—first as prefect of the Congregation for the...
The saints of January offer wisdom about how to keep your resolutions in the new year
January is the month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the feast of the...
The Everyday Grace of Weekday Mass
In many dioceses throughout the world, Catholics have the opportunity to attend Holy Mass, not...
Benedict XVI’s funeral: How to watch, what to expect
The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be held on Thursday in Rome in...
Dan Orlovsky prays for injured Bills safety Damar Hamlin live on ESPN
In one of the most frightening on-field scenes in NFL history, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went...
The Spirituality of Benedict XVI
“In Jesus … man becomes able to approach God in the depth and intimacy of...
Piecemeal coverage of Benedict XVI death reveals ultra-thin ranks of religion reporters
The death of a pope is like a World Series Day for religion reporters, who...
Here Are the Prayers and Readings for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Funeral Mass
The Vatican has released the missal for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass. Pope Francis...
Happy Birthday, St. Thérèse of Lisieux! Celebrating 150 Years of the ‘Little Flower’
As headlines across the globe speak of the life and legacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict...
George Weigel: Letters from Rome
In the days since his death on December 31, several commentators have expressed the hope...
Pope Benedict XVI and Biblical Renewal
From his first moments as pope, Benedict XVI established biblical renewal as a key theme...
Cardinal Müller: Benedict XVI Will Be Remembered as a ‘True Doctor of the Church for Today’
VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Gerhard Müller has paid tribute to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict...
Benedict XVI has died. What happens next?
Benedict XVI died Saturday at the age of 95, almost 10 years after he dramatically...
Benedict XVI dead at 95: The ‘humble worker’ and his legacy of hope to the Catholic Church
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, bringing to a close...
Remembering Benedict XVI: 10 Quotes on Love, Death, Hope, Mary, and Marriage
With the early morning news of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Catholic...
Joseph Ratzinger: A Man Sent from God
Fitting words escape me to praise a man who has impacted the Church so profoundly. I...
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies at age 95
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a leading theologian of the 20th century and the first pope...
Vatican: Benedict XVI’s condition serious but stable
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s condition is serious but stable, the Vatican said on Thursday. “The...
‘We must keep awake’ – Nigerians mourn 40 killed in terror attack
Days before Christmas, Christians in Nigeria buried 40 people killed in terror attacks in the...
Christmas and China at the end of 2022
China’s Catholics have celebrated Christmas in Beijing since the first church was built there in...
Meet the Holy Innocents: The ‘infant martyrs’ who died for Baby Jesus
The Holy Innocents did not know Jesus, but they died in his place. Dec. 28...
Vatican: Benedict XVI under medical care as health takes sudden turn
The Vatican confirmed Wednesday that pope emeritus Benedict XVI has experienced a sudden decline in...
Lessons about life, love, and courage from three feast days this week
This week, we have three significant feast days in a row. First, on December 28,...
Remembering America’s ‘Ambassador to Fatima’
On Dec. 14, Frank Shakespeare, a devout and significant Catholic witness to the 20th century,...
Christmas Humility: 5 Lessons From the Nativity
Sunday, Dec. 25, is the Nativity of the Lord. Mass readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29;...
Mary, the Church, Christmas and Jimmy Lai
Now, on Christmas Day, the nine months have been fulfilled. What began on the day...
Jesus Christ Is Waiting in Your Wounds
There is a song that was written by artist and musician Michael Corsini, a good friend...
‘Beautiful Bright Lights of Hope’ in Bethlehem: Steps From Christ’s Birthplace, Hospital Set to Deliver 100,000th Child
The phrase “How precious life can be” is never more real than when you’re standing...
Christmas Eve with the Von Trapp Family
On Christmas Eve in the morning, the Church sang, “This day you shall know that...
The Manger and the Cross Point to the Same Truth
Two nights ago, my husband asked me to help him put something in the garage....
Meet Sister Bernadette, the most recently-cured person at Lourdes
When she traveled to the small French town of Lourdes 14 years ago, Sister Bernadette...
Catholic Holiness in Less than 10 Seconds
In the Catholic spiritual life, There exists a treasury of short, succinct, 10-seconds-or-less prayers that...
Pavone’s Dismissal Could Have Been Avoided
The year ended with a double helping of distressing news. Just as Catholics were reeling...
Michigan Pro-life pregnancy center, board member’s house spray-painted with graffiti
A Detroit-area pro-life pregnancy center and the home of one of its board members were...
Nigeria terror attacks kill 46, despite hopes for ‘peaceful Christmas’
At least 46 villagers were killed last week in northern Nigeria, in two separate attacks...
The Vatican’s action against Frank Pavone: overdue yet unexplained
Yes, there are other priests—many others, really—whose conduct has been far more egregious, whose public...
Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega: ‘I never had respect for the bishops’
The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, once again attacked the Catholic Church in the Central...
Woman Arrested by English Police for Silent Prayer Near Abortion Facility
A pro-life volunteer has been arrested and charged after silently praying outside an abortion facility...
Biblical sources of the “O King of All Nations” antiphon
When the Church calls Jesus the “King of All Nations,” she does so with various...
St. Peter Canisius: Priest, Catechist, and Doctor of the Church
Saint Peter Canisius, a priest of the Society of Jesus during the 16th Century, was...
David Daleiden Scores Court Win Over University’s Fetal Tissue Research Documents
Following a six-year legal battle, a prominent pro-life activist and investigative journalist has blocked the...
American Girl Jumps on the Gender Agenda Bandwagon
American Girl, the company known for wholesome dolls representing U.S. history, has climbed aboard the...
The Rosary: The Spiritual Sword of Mary
The rosary was forged in an age of chivalry. It is a spiritual weapon, a...
Canon lawyer on Father Pavone’s dismissal from priesthood: Only the Pope can issue a decision without appeal
On Nov. 9, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung Sik, prefect for the Vatican’s Dicastery for the...
Frank Pavone cancels Mass but vows legal action after Vatican dismisses him from priesthood
The national director of Priests for Life, Frank Pavone, canceled a scheduled livestreamed Mass today,...
BREAKING: Vatican dismisses Father Frank Pavone from priesthood
Father Frank Pavone, a well-known pro-life activist and national director of the organization Priests for...
Close Out Advent with the Infant of Prague Christmas Novena
Until recently, I was someone who just didn’t “get” the Infant of Prague. It’s a...
The Last Sunday of Advent: Reflecting on Joseph & Mary
On this last Sunday of Advent, our Gospel calls us to reflect on Joseph, not Mary or...
Reading the O Antiphons Forward
It is a well-known fact that the first letters of the seven titles with which...
St. Joseph’s doubt and the angel’s gift
Readings: • Isa 7:10-14 • Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 • Rom 1:1-7 • Mt 1:18-24...
The Best Books for Christmas 2022
Thanks to everyone who joined us on Direct to My Desk to share their favorite...
Sandy Hook 10 Years Later: Newtown Remembers and Continues to Heal
NEWTOWN, Conn. — Newtown was one of those charming New England towns where everything was...
Cardinal Zen Appeals Conviction in Hong Kong Court
Cardinal Joseph Zen has filed an appeal with Hong Kong’s High Court following his conviction...
The Art of Advent: St. John the Baptist in the Prison
The Gospel passage for the Third Sunday of Advent takes us to the last days...
A Beautiful Christmas poem by St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross has been nicknamed “the most mystical of all poets, and...
Jailed Catholic Belarusian human rights activist receives Nobel Peace Prize
On December 10th, Natallia Pinchuk traveled to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on...
Lessons from the Master of Prayer and Contemplation
The history of the Catholic Church features a number of great spiritual masters, saints, and...
Synodality for the Rest of Us
There has been a lot of talk in the Catholic world over the past year on...
The Truth About Life: A Response to Professors Kay and Ostermann
On December 5, 2022, two of my colleagues at the University of Notre Dame, Tamara...
Heisman Winner Caleb Williams: Catholic School Made Me a ‘Man For Others’
When Caleb Williams stood up to the podium accept the Heisman Trophy Saturday, the University...
Synod on Synodality official: Women priests ‘not an open question’ for the Church
The highest-ranking woman in the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has said that...
Chicago’s Father Michael Pfleger Reinstated to Ministry
CHICAGO — An independent review board in the Archdiocese of Chicago has said there is...
German bishop must face Vatican investigation, abuse council demands
An advisory body of sexual abuse survivors on Monday called for canonical procedures against the...
The Holy Family and Holiness in Ordinary Families
Have you heard the joke about the Holy Family? Poor Joseph. Whenever someone was at...
‘I wanted to give Catholic families an alternative’: At Voyage Comics, telling the stories of saints
What was the world’s first comic book? Aficionados can’t seem to agree. Was it “Master Flashgold's...
The hidden symbolism of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image
When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego and imprinted her image on...
What Our Lady of Guadalupe Means to a Former Abortionist
The famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has become a powerful cultural icon associated...
Where St. Juan Diego Walked
On May 3, 1990, 19-year-old Juan José Barragán hurled himself off the balcony of his...
Gaudete: Rejoice!
This week is Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday. Our Gospel gives us John the Baptist in prison as our...
COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military nears its end
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military service members is just a few steps away from...
How a drug addict’s life was miraculously saved by St. Juan Diego
Juan José Barragán Silva was a drug addict. He was in his 20s and marijuana...
The Perfect Gift Is the Grace and Mercy of Jesus
Sunday, Dec. 11, is the Third Sunday of Advent. Mass readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9,...
Charlie Brown’s Christmas miracle
On Dec. 9, 1965, a young boy threw up his hands in despair and shouted,...
Hail Mary, Conceived Without Sin
Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” First...
More People Are Demanding to Be ‘Debaptized’ — Here’s What’s Wrong With That
In some places, the demand for debaptisms has been going up, which could be rather...
Reuters Exposes Massive Rape and Forced Abortion Campaigns in Nigeria
According to a report published by Reuters today, a massive forced-abortion program has been carried out by...
Our Lady’s Greatest Delight
Often in life it’s best to start with the end-goal and work backwards. For example,...
Abandon preconceptions, Satan’s false conception, and embrace the Immaculate Conception
December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the Patronal...
Conference to focus on controversial Pontifical Academy for Life book
What is the doctrinal status of the Church’s teaching against contraception? How is Catholic teaching...
The Catholic Composer Who Gave Us More Than Music
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born on Sept. 8, 1841, in the village of Nelahozeves, near...
A Catholic Convert’s Journey
“The Christian identity of the United Kingdom is vital,” says a former Anglican bishop who...
UK Supreme Court to rule on ‘censorship zone’ outside abortion facilities
Pro-life and free-speech campaigners in the United Kingdom are awaiting a landmark ruling from the...
Scythian’s maiden holiday voyage: ‘Christmas Out at Sea’
Just when we thought that there were no frontiers left for Christmas music to explore,...
What to know about St. Nicholas – aside from that punch
Among the legends surrounding St. Nicholas, one that has become increasingly popular in online meme...
Supreme Court Considers Case of Christian Website Designer Targeted Because She Won’t Promote Same-Sex Weddings
A Christian website designer in Colorado ought to be able to turn down same-sex weddings...
Catholic Student Center in Nebraska Receives Shooting Threat, Signed ‘Jane’s Revenge’
A Catholic campus ministry center at the University of Nebraska received a death threat Saturday...
Three Saints for Advent
St. Barbara The feast of St. Barbara on December 4 may seem to have no...
Changing their tune
Compared to the Iranian men’s national soccer team, Colin Kaepernick had it easy. Like the...
Canadian veteran offered assisted suicide after asking for wheelchair help
A former Paralympian who served in the Canadian military contacted Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in...
The mighty Mississippi was once named ‘River of the Immaculate Conception.’ Here’s why
“Immaculate” is not a word most people would use to describe the Mississippi River’s famously...
England and Wales no longer Christian ‘by default,’ census shows
Christianity is no longer the “default religion” in England and Wales. The latest census shows...
This Catholic priest fought narcos in Colombia, now he is to lead the peace process
A Catholic priest has been named the second in command of the National Police of...
Murder of Louisiana priest and assistant confirmed, believed to be random
Police have confirmed the identities of both a retired Catholic priest and pastoral assistant whose...
St. John the Baptist, prophet of Advent and preacher of repentance
If you saw John the Baptist preaching on a street corner, what might you think...
Aiding the Oppressed: Network of Shrines to Help Persecuted Christians Underway
“We are delighted by your prayers as oppressed Christians of Iraq,” said Yohanna Towaya, a...
As Cardinal Zen and Jimmy Lai Cases Attest, the Vatican Must Change Its Course With China
It’s pretty easy for Americans to take religious freedom for granted. The same can’t be...
Chaplains Minister to Law Enforcement Personnel in Difficult Time
Being a law enforcement officer has never been easy, but those difficulties have only been...
Cuban priest: Dignity comes from God, not the government
Father Alberto Reyes, a priest of the Archdiocese of Camagüey, Cuba, recently shared a reflection...
A Particularly Eucharistic Advent
The First Sunday of Advent is ecclesiastical New Year’s Day. It is a fitting occasion...
Awkward silence: China official speechless after question on protests – video
China's foreign ministry has defended the Communist party's zero-Covid policy amid rare protests within the...
Father Otis Young identified as one of the victims in brutal Covington slaying
A retired priest at St. Peter Catholic Church has been identified as one of the...
This Feast of St. Andrew, Start an Advent Tradition of Prayer
Every year since I joined the Confraternity of St. Peter, I receive in the mail...
Experiencing the Advent Season Completely
This is one popular statement here in the Philippines: “You are missing half of your...
Dictatorship in Nicaragua prohibits Immaculate Conception procession
The Ortega dictatorship is once again attacking the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, this time by...
What it is like to be a Catholic priest in Qatar
When Father Charbel Mhanna needs to acquire altar wine for Mass, he must use a...
World Cup: Polish captain shares the importance of his faith
With the World Cup garnering millions of viewers around the world, it’s always heartening to...
Clarence Gilyard, “Texas Ranger” who became Catholic, dies at 66
Clarence Gilyard, an actor who played leading roles in the television series Matlock and Walker, Texas Ranger –...
This may be a turning point in China’s history. The West must not miss it
Across China, people are protesting. From Urumqi to Shanghai, from Wuhan to Beijing, from Guilin to...
Analysis: Is the Vatican’s deal with China at stake?
The agreement between China and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops is not...
Russian Troops Capture 2 Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priests and Accuse Them of ‘Subversion’
The Russian National Guard occupying the coastal city of Berdyansk, Ukraine, last week captured two...
6 Ways to Keep Your Advent Holy
In the words of the popular Christmas song, “It’s the most wonderful time of the...
The importance of Easter 2025 for ecumenical dialogue, unity
In a recent interview with the Turkish media, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople stated that conversations are...
A Recipe for Readiness – A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
The first weeks of Advent focus more on the Lord’s second coming in glory than...
A Thanksgiving Tale of Redemption: “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”
The category of “Thanksgiving movies” is a select one indeed, but it is not meant...
We Give God Thanks for His Great Glory
For the wonders that astound us, For the truths that still confound us, Most of...
Thanksgiving 2021: 13 Quotes on Gratitude From the Saints
As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends this year, reflecting on the gifts...
We thank you, O Lord: A Thanksgiving Day Grace
The impulse to thank God is never stronger than on this Thanksgiving Day. While we...
Thanksgiving for the Greatest Gift of All
Thanksgiving is a national Holiday that brings families together to socialize, communicate, connect emotionally, and to...
Thanksgiving with the Saints
It is of course right and proper to keep Christ in Christmas, but can it...
German Bishops Take Perilous Detour From Unity With Rome
Rome asked — begged, actually — the German bishops to take an off-ramp from their...
A Tribute to David L. Schindler: Teacher and Friend
The theologian David L. Schindler once wrote that: [W]e must first recognize that our being...
A Catholic take on cryptocurrencies
Plenty of theologians and Christian leaders have become animated by the temptations of money. According...
Divine Mercy Shrine Defaced with Graffiti at Catholic Parish in Wisconsin
A Catholic parish in southern Wisconsin suffered a graffiti attack overnight on Sunday which saw...
Four Pro-Life Advocates Sentenced to Jail
A judge sentenced four pro-life advocates to 45 days in jail Friday for entering a...
Did you know St. Cecilia’s husband was also a saint and martyr?
While St. Cecilia is a widely celebrated saint in the Catholic Church, her husband is...
On the Presentation of Mary — Who Were Sts. Joachim and Anne
Where in the Bible do we learn that the Virgin Mary’s parents were named Anne...
U.S. World Cup players find their footing in faith
Walker Zimmerman is a pastor’s kid who once stopped a soccer practice to pray for...
Verdict in Cardinal Zen’s trial expected on Friday
Days after Cardinal Joseph Zen’s defense lawyer made his closing arguments in the West Kowloon...
Three lessons for the U.S. bishops from the late Cardinal George
As the U.S. bishops wrapped up their annual Fall plenary assembly in Baltimore last week,...
The Dereliction of Europe’s Religious Buildings
On October 1943, Winston Churchill eloquently expressed the importance of architecture in a speech calling...
The Most Important Conversation in Marriage Is Prayer
We’ve been married for more than 20 years and have welcomed eight children into the...
‘Shame, remorse, sympathy’: Maryland AG seeks to release major report on sexual abuse
The Maryland attorney general’s office is seeking to release a major report chronicling information about...
Rediscovering Our Union with Christ
Asked the purpose of Jesus’ life, many Christians would say something like: “He came to...
‘Decadent’ Young People See Beauty in Catholic Tradition — Will Truth and Goodness Follow?
Latin Mass attendees aren’t the only ones clamoring over the traditional elements of Catholicism. A recent New...
Claiming Land for Christ: On the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul
The Catholic Church does something that sounds rather odd on November 18. On that date,...
‘He Was a Great Soul’: Remembering David L. Schindler
David L. Schindler, founding editor of the North American edition of Communio, the international theological journal,...
Feeding the multitude: Nuns in Cuba go back to producing hosts
Earlier this month, on November 2, the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Havana, Cuba, reported that...
Lessons in generosity from St. Elizabeth of Hungary
In a 2010 General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI said of St. Elizabeth of Hungary: In St Elizabeth...
Mexican archdiocese shares first photo ever taken of image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico has shared the first photograph ever taken of the original...
Popular Protestant YouTube host announces decision to convert to Catholicism
Cameron Bertuzzi, a popular Protestant YouTube host, announced Thursday online that he is in the...
The Faithful Citizenship vote: A Pillar explainer
The U.S. bishops voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reissue without revisions their guide to political engagement, "Forming...
Ahead of 2022 FIFA World Cup, Bishop Calls for ‘Critical Look’ at Situation of Christians in Qatar
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the “sports bishop” of the German Bishops’...
The 7 Secret Symbols of The Rosary
At first glance, the Rosary looks like nothing more than an ancient counting tool. Its...
St. Gertrude’s Love for the Sacred Heart Overflows Into Purgatory
I recently came across the prayer for souls in purgatory that is attributed to St....
As German Bishops Meet at the Vatican, German Catholic Philosopher Urges Pope to Correct Synodal Way’s Course
The German bishops traveled to Rome this week for their ad limina meetings, and Bishop...
Cuban Dictatorship to Interrogate EWTN Correspondent a Second Time
The Cuban dictatorship’s National Revolutionary Police once again summoned Adrián Martínez Cádiz, a correspondent for...
King of Thieves and King of the Universe – A Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King
Jesus Christ is King of Thieves, though He never stole. He is savior of sinners,...
‘Servant of God’ title granted to former FOCUS missionary
On the feast of All Saints, Bishop David Kagan of North Dakota issued a formal...
Hate crimes against Christians on the rise in Europe, report says
Hate crimes against Christians are on the rise in Europe, according to a new report...
Archbishop Timothy Broglio elected USCCB president
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was elected Tuesday to...
Bishop Barron reconsecrates cemetery vandalized on Halloween
Bishop Robert Barron was understandably perturbed when he found a cemetery in his diocese was...
Detroit TV personality Chuck Gaidica’s ‘breaking news’: He’s returned to the Church
Chuck Gaidica has been in the TV business for more than 40 years, telling the...
US Bishops’ Fall Meeting: 10 Things to Expect As Prelates Meet in Baltimore
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will hold its annual fall meeting in...
FBI Releases Video of Attack on Firebombed Buffalo Pregnancy Center, Says FACE Act Charges Possible
The FBI has released a video and photos of the June 2022 attack on the upstate...
Popular French actor converts from from Judaism to Catholicism
The 51-year-old French actor and stand-up comedian Gad Elmaleh has recently shared some interesting stories about...
How do USCCB presidential elections actually work?
The U.S. bishops’ conference on Tuesday afternoon will elect a new president and vice president,...
Eight Conditions of Prayer
Have you ever felt like your prayers are not being heard? It could be a...
These saints will inspire you to pray for souls in purgatory this month
Throughout the month of November, dedicated to the souls in Purgatory, the Church prays for...
Our Journey Through a Passing World – A Homily for the 33rd Sunday of the Year
During the month of November, the Church has us ponder the Four Last Things: death,...
Swiss Bishop: I No Longer Expect Anything Good From the Upcoming Synod
“Boundless hypocrisy,” “confusion,” “instrumentalization of God” — Bishop Marian Eleganti, former auxiliary bishop of Chur...
Post-Roe Midterms: Pro-Lifers Look Ahead After Ballot-Measure Losses, Narrow Gains in House
The first midterm elections after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June yielded some disappointing results...
How the Saints Change Our Lives
I was blessed with a vivid imagination as a child. It never took me very...
How the Persecuted Church Wants You to Pray
The first two Sundays of November, as part of the International Day of Prayer for...
Seminaries don’t form ‘supermen,’ but humble servants, pope says
The mission of a seminary "is not to form 'supermen' who pretend to know and...
Learn From Blessed Carlo Acutis: The Holy Eucharist Marks the High-Speed Lane to Holiness
In this month of November dedicated to a Church-wide meditation on the four last things...
Democrats Poised to Take Three State Legislatures From GOP; Could Impact Abortion Bans
While the results of Tuesday’s election are still trickling in, Democrats appear poised to take...
Newly discovered photos show Nazi Kristallnacht up close
Harrowing, previously unseen images from 1938's Kristallnacht pogrom against German and Austrian Jews have surfaced...
The Fallout for Pro-Lifers
No use pretending otherwise: The pro-life cause took some significant losses yesterday. Several states passed...
After oil spills devastated his homeland, Capuchin seeks to build an orphanage
\ Just three years after Fr. Anthony Kote-Witah, OFM Cap., became a priest in the...
Trump’s biggest midterm bets don’t pay out
It was meant to be a crowning evening for the former president, a chance to...
Fr Ian Ker was a priest and scholar who opened up Newman’s thought to the world
Fr Ian Turnbull Ker, the leading scholar on the life and work of St John...
Responding to God’s Call: A Priest, a Monk and a Religious Sister Reflect During National Vocations Awareness Week
It’s National Vocation Awareness Week, the weeklong period in the Catholic Church in the United States...
Vatican synodality text calls for structural reforms
A working document for the continental phase of the Church’s global “synod on synodality” has...
World’s smallest baby, born at 8.6 ounces, goes home happy and healthy
After five months of incubation, a girl believed to be the world’s tiniest surviving baby...
What Does the Catholic Church Say About Elected Officials?
“Put not your trust in princes,” the psalmist writes (146:3), explaining that we won’t get...
State by State: An Election Day Litany to the Patorness of America
It is well known that on December 12, 1999, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed Our...
Saying Yes Like Mary Said Yes
During his apostolic ministry, roughly two decades after the Ascension of Christ, the St. Paul...
Former atheist says Thomas Aquinas and a dose of humility led him to the Catholic faith
Kevin Vost was raised Catholic but spent 25 years in an atheistic wilderness until he...
Steubenville merger off USCCB agenda
The U.S. bishops’ conference will not vote next week on the prospect of merging the...
Archbishop Cordileone to Pray ‘Rosary for Peace’ on Election Day
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco is inviting the faithful to join him in praying...
The Eucharist and voting our Christian conscience
“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of...
NPR Airs Recording of Woman’s Abortion: ‘What Hell Sounds Like’
NPR listeners heard the sounds of a women’s abortion aired on radio Thursday. “You’re...
Catechism in a Year podcast seeks to deepen the faith of Catholics and non-Catholics alike
With an audience of over 1.5 million around the world, the Bible in a Year...
So, about all those swear words in ‘Father Stu’: A cleaned-up version is on the way!
A new PG-13 version of Mark Wahlberg’s latest Catholic film, “Father Stu,” is coming back...
Attacks on pro-life centers can be charged under FACE act, says DOJ
After months of increased pro-abortion attacks on Catholic churches and pregnancy centers, the Department of Justice...
You Were Made to Be Happy With God Forever in Heaven, Body and Soul
Sunday, Nov. 6, is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; Psalm...
Who Burned the Witches (Part 2)
Editor’s note: Part One of this essay was published on October 30, 2022. (Editor’s note: A different version...
All Souls’ Day: Praying for the Faithful Departed
November is the Month of All Souls. We pray for the souls of all the...
Steubenville priests ask USCCB to delay merger vote
Clergy in the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, have asked USCCB officials to delay a...
Anne Frank’s friend Hannah Pick-Goslar dies at age 93
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Hannah Pick-Goslar, one of Jewish diarist Anne Frank's best friends, has...
The Hallowed Ground of a Cemetery
For the last twenty years, I have lived within walking distance of a cemetery. With...
Why do Catholics pray for the dead? — and other questions about purgatory answered
On All Souls’ Day, the Catholic Church remembers all those who have died and prays...
Fascinating Facts: Discover More About 7 Beloved Holy Men and Women
In All Saints’ Day, the faithful honor all of heaven’s saints. There are myriad popular...
In rare letter to all Detroit parishioners, archbishop warns of ‘extreme’ abortion initiative
In a letter mailed to all registered parishioners in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Detroit Archbishop...
Who Will Be the Next USCCB President? Assessing the Field
The election of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president is typically not a very...
Who Burned the Witches?
The stench of their burning is with us yet. The stakes and gibbets where witches...
Men Should Be Saints and Culture Should Be Saintly
In my confused, impetuous and misspent youth I believed, with the arrogance of ignorance, that...
Colombia celebrates beatification of María Berenice Duque, foundress of three congregations
Mother María Berenice Duque Hencker, a Colombian nun who founded religious congregations, including the Congregation...
Here’s What I’d Like to Ask Archbishop Paglia of the Pontifical Academy for Life
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, has defended his decision...
Cardinal Zen’s trial reopens in Hong Kong days after Vatican-China deal renewal
The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen resumed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, days after the...
Father Willie Doyle: A New Saint for Ireland?
Ireland may have a new saint soon. The cause of Father Willie Doyle, Jesuit priest...
Iranian leaders try to blame protests for gun attack on mosque that killed 15
Iran's supreme leader and its president tried Thursday to link the nationwide protests roiling the...
In Historic Shift, Catholics Now Outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s predominantly Protestant identity has been its foundational premise ever since its creation a...
Uvalde schoolkids send letters to Pope Francis — and he sends his blessings
Children who escaped the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, sent...
Of a Lesser-Known Gospel Story that is Pretty “Cool”
Recently I was talking to a group of young adult Catholics and mentioned a gospel...
Repairing the Relationship Between Priests and Bishops
On Oct. 19, the results of the “National Survey of Catholic Priests” were released by The Catholic...
EWTN/RealClear Poll: As Midterms Approach, Catholics in Key Battleground States Are Focused on the Economy
According to the findings of a new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research survey in the weeks before the...
Cardinal Hollerich: Church Blessings for Same-Sex Unions Are Not a Settled Matter
In an interview with Vatican media, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich said he believes Church blessings for...
“Another Maria Goretti” beatified in Brazil
On October 24, 2022, her feast day, Benigna was beatified. Pope Francis spoke about her...
Analysis: The diplomatic principles behind the Vatican’s agreement with China
The renewal of the agreement between China and the Holy See for the appointment of...
9 Kidnapped Catholics released in Nigeria, including 5 priests
Nine Catholics from Cameroon, including five priests, have been released by their kidnappers in Nigeria,...
Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves — Defending the Unborn in a Post-Roe World
Must Catholic politicians — or Catholic voters, for that matter — support only legislation that completely jibes...
Vatican Renews China Deal for Second Time
The Vatican announced Saturday it has renewed its 2018 deal with China on the appointment...
Humanae Vitae and the Brave New World
What will our future look like? For in discussing the topic of human sexuality, we...
Archbishop Chaput: ‘Biden is not in communion with the Catholic faith’
Archbishop Charles Chaput said on Saturday that Joe Biden “is not in communion with the...
Benedict XVI Reflects on Vatican II in New Letter
In a new letter, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI characterizes the Second Vatican Council as “not...
Encountering the Eucharist: How Colleges Around the Country Are Responding to the Eucharistic Revival
Eucharist-centered community is emerging on college campuses across the nation. For a number of Catholic...
The Legacy of the Vision of Pope John Paul II for Marriage and Family
Not even the bullet from the barrel of an assassin’s gun could stop Pope John...
The Prophetic Witness of St. John Paul II
“We, who are called to hold the Supreme Office in the Church, must manifest this...
Theology of the Body and the Sexual Ethic
There are three frames through which to view sexuality in the light of Christian teaching...
This man was 9-years-old when he saw John Paul II get shot
Years after Saint John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square, a witness from...
Father José Luis Soria, RIP: St. Josemaría Escrivá’s Saintly Doctor
“A canonizable saint.” That was a widely shared judgment upon the death of Father José...
Catholic Doctor Criticizes Pontifical Academy for Life’s Appointing of Abortion Advocates
A leading Catholic physician voiced harsh criticism of the continued appointment of “pro-abortion academics, advocates...
‘Read It, Man’: President Biden Tells EWTN Reporter to ‘Get Educated’ on Roe
President Joe Biden stated Thursday afternoon that he supports abortion restrictions, contradicting his administration’s policies...
Will rebuilding trust be on USCCB’s Baltimore agenda?
The bishops of the United States are facing a crisis of confidence. According to a...
After losing sister to suicide, Phoenix bishop renews ‘urgent plea’ to launch mental health ministry
After announcing Bishop John P. Dolan lost his sister to death by suicide, the Diocese...
Major Newspaper Publishes Completely False Pictures of Unborn Babies
The Guardian published images of gestational tissue from the first 9 weeks of pregnancy without...
Vatican: Pro-abortion member of Pontifical Academy for Life contributes to ‘dialogue’
The Pontifical Academy for Life issued a statement Wednesday defending the recent appointment of an...
Viewing Vatican II Through a Eucharistic Lens
The aim of the Second Vatican Council, the chief subject of its four constitutions, three...
The North American Martyrs and our post-Christian secular culture
“Instead of being a great theologian as you may be in France, you must reckon...
Eucharistic procession takes Christ through Manhattan
A Eucharistic procession through Midtown Manhattan Oct. 11, the Mass that preceded it and the...
What is it like to compose sacred music?
Paul Jernberg is a composer and conductor who has worked in the fields of ballet,...
Marian Consecration: It’s All About Jesus
Like Mary, everything we have is by the grace of God; and in Mary, we...
Why is St. Luke’s symbol an ox or calf?
In Christian art, saints are often depicted with various symbols that represent different aspects of...
Paul Vaughn, Pro-Life Father of 11 Arrested by FBI Speaks Out
About a year and a half ago, a small group that prayed regularly outside of...
Biden vows to codify abortion rights if Democrats maintain control: ‘We can do this’
President Biden vowed Tuesday to introduce legislation codifying abortion protections as his first bill in the...
Catholic voters and the midterm elections: Mainstream news blitz ignores major voter bloc
We are in the middle of another election season and in full mud-slinging mode. Elections...
English town forbids making sign of the cross, using holy water near abortion center
A council in England has made making the sign of the cross and prayer illegal...
St. Luke the Evangelist—Artist, Doctor, Historian, Devout Follower of Christ
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled...
Unfulfilled Legacies of Vatican II: The Renewal of Scripture Study and Marian Theology
We are reading and hearing a lot these days about debates over the reception of...
Pope Francis Announces Decision to Extend Synod on Synodality to 2024
Pope Francis announced on Sunday that the Synod on Synodality will be extended to 2024....
Bishop Chad Zielinski: From Active Duty to Alaskan Shepherd
From Northern Michigan to the Middle East, to the remote reaches of North America, and...
All ‘Rhoades’ lead to Nigeria for South Bend bishop
An Indiana bishop says that U.S. Catholics should strengthen ties with the Church in sub-Saharan...
They died praying for others: Two Catholic priests martyred by Nazis beatified in Italy
Two Catholic priests killed by Nazis while ministering to the dying amid the Boves massacre...
Another Catholic priest has been ‘kidnapped’ by Nicaragua’s government, says exiled churchman
A Catholic priest was arrested and taken into custody on Oct. 13 in the Nicaraguan...
German Cardinal Gerhard Müller visits home of Mark Houck, target of FBI raid
German Cardinal Gerhard Müller visited the home and family of Mark Houck, a pro-life father...
