Online church helped me as a Catholic convert in the pandemic. But I need an in-person faith.

Sara Scarlett Willson
April 18, 2022

After a few years of slowly becoming absorbed in theology, I began the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at London’s Westminster Cathedral in the fall of 2019. It took until the end of the following summer, after the United Kingdom’s first wave of Covid-19 restrictions had waxed and waned, for me to receive baptism at the age of 32.

The spring and summer of 2020 were some of the hardest months of my life. It was not only a time of tribulation for me, of course, for acute suffering was everywhere. But I needed spiritual succor more than ever, and the new relationships I was trying to build in my adopted community already felt fractured by forces beyond my control. {continue reading}

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What if doubt is actually good for your faith?

Kevin Clarke
April 18, 2022
St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of journalists, and that’s fine. I have nothing against him. But I’ve always thought it should have been St. Thomas the Apostle.

I think of doubting Thomas as the world’s first journalist, determined to get confirmation for rumors he heard floating around the neighborhood about his former rabbi and a mysterious resurrection.

Thomas is considered something of a weak character because he had to see to believe, but I have a great deal of sympathy for him. I get it. He’s like me, looking for a reason to believe. {continue reading}

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Meet Fr. Stu – the real priest, and true story, behind Mark Wahlberg’s new movie

A Pillar longread

“I kept hearing the same message over and over again: ‘There is power in suffering, move him forward.’”

Back in 2007, Bishop George Thomas of Helena wasn’t sure whether to ordain Stuart Long to the priesthood. 

Seminary formators had raised red flags about Stu, who had an aggressive and debilitating muscle disorder with a poor prognosis. A serious chronic illness didn’t seem like it fit with the ministry of a Catholic priest.  

But Bishop Thomas of Helena believed that suffering is a gift in the Christian life — a gift Stu had received in spades. {Continue reading}

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Singing this song on Holy Thursday can purify your soul (and save you time in Purgatory)

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Denver Newsroom, Apr 13, 2022 / 12:39 pm

Did you know that it is possible to sing a special song of adoration on Holy Thursday and have your soul purified?

It's true, and the song is "Tantum Ergo."

First, some background. A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary, and all the saints to remove all the temporal punishment due to sin.

What does this mean? {continue reading}

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The Dangers of Reiki

Beth Anderson was introduced to Reiki in 2004, while attending college. Handling the stress and pressures of university life was challenging, and she started experiencing acute stomach pain. Medication and advice from several doctors didn’t help, and a nun in her parish who was the parish nurse, suggested trying Reiki. A devout Catholic, Anderson was skeptical at first, but when her stomach pain got worse she finally agreed to a Reiki session given by a nun. Soon she was going to sessions on a regular basis. {continue reading}

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New eucharistic movie hits U.S. theaters for one day only

"ALIVE: Who is there?" is a new documentary about personal encounters with the Eucharist. | Hakuna Films/Bosco Films

By Joe Bukuras

Boston, Mass., Apr 7, 2022 / 15:58 pm

A new documentary highlighting the transformative power of the Holy Eucharist will be debuting for one day only in more than 700 theaters across the United States on Monday, April 25. 

Directed and produced by Spanish filmmakers, the Bosco Films and Hakuna Films documentary “ALIVE: Who is there?” features the testimonies of five men and women who share how the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist has transformed their lives. {continue reading}
 

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Priest serving people with same-sex attraction begs Cardinals Marx and Hollerich to "be faithful to your oath"

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 6, 2022 / 09:25 am

Editor’s note: Two of the most influential Catholic prelates in Europe have advocated publicly in recent months for the Church to change its teaching on homosexuality.

In February, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., the archbishop of Luxembourg who serves as president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union and relator general of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, said in an interview that the Church’s teaching that homosexual sex is sinful was “wrong,” arguing that the “sociological-scientific foundation of this teaching is no longer correct.” More recently, in an interview... {continue reading...}

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Pope Francis expresses ‘sorrow and shame’ for Catholic role in abuse against Indigenous peoples

Pope Francis meets Canadian Indigenous leaders at the Vatican on April 1, 2022.
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Apr 1, 2022 / 07:50 am

Pope Francis on Friday expressed his “sorrow and shame” for the role Catholics have played in the abuse of Indigenous peoples in Canada, especially in residential schools.

During a meeting with representatives of the Métis, Inuit, and First Nations groups at the Vatican on April 1, the pope condemned colonization, saying he was sorry for the historic evil committed against Canadian Indigenous peoples. {continue reading}

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Pope francis to visit indigenous peoples in canada in july

Pope Francis meets members of the First Nations at the Vatican on March 31, 2022. | Vatican Media

By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Apr 1, 2022 / 05:50 am

Pope Francis has said that he will travel to Canada in the summer, possibly for the feast of St. Anne on July 26.

He made the announcement during a meeting with Canadian Indigenous leaders at the Vatican on April 1. {continue reading}

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Why is the First Saturdays devotion called the 'unfulfilled part of the Fatima message'?

Crowds looking at the Miracle of the Sun, occurring during the Our Lady of Fatima apparitions. | Public Domain.

By Joe Bukuras

Boston, Mass., Mar 30, 2022 / 15:07 pm

When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima, she asked that certain devotions be followed in order to bring peace to the world.

The most well-known of her requests is for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. But there is another request Our Lady made: For people worldwide to dedicate the first Saturday of the month, for five consecutive months, to prayer, confession, and attending Mass.

These days of prayer are commonly known as the Five First Saturdays devotion.

This devotion is considered by some to be the “unfulfilled part of the Fatima message," one Fatima expert told CNA.

With another first Saturday approaching on April 2, here is some background about this powerful spiritual practice...{continue reading...}

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Vatican releases text for March 25 consecration prayer for Ukraine, Russia

An image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Peter's Church, Vienna, Austria. | Pope Francis | Diana Ringo via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0 at) | Vatican Media

By CNA Staff Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 22, 2022 / 10:41 am

The Vatican has sent bishops around the world the text of the prayer that Pope Francis will lead on March 25 for the consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Here is the full text of the prayer obtained by CNA:

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace... {continue reading...}

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Russian Bishops: Consecration to Mary is prayer, not magic

Russian Conference of Catholic Bishops 
Russia's Catholic Bishops hail Pope Francis' decision to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, recalling that consecration to Our Lady is an act of faith and prayer, and not recourse to some sort of magic.

By Vatican News staff reporter

Following Pope Francis' announcement that he will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bishop Clemens Pickel, of Saratov, Russia, said the Bishops of Russia, who have just ended their plenary assembly, are "happy that he has decided to do this."

Speaking to Vatican News, Bishop Pickel noted that Russian Bishops are now planning for this Act of Consecration, focusing on helping the Russian faithful understand it well.{...continue reading..}

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The Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph

Ukrainian refugees. 

The message of Our Lady of Fatima is not intended to satisfy apocalyptic curiosities about the end of the world, but launches a heartfelt appeal for conversion so that humanity may be saved from the selfishness that destroys. At a time marked by devastating wars, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia

By Sergio Centofanti

"In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!"  These were the words of Our Lady to the shepherd children of Fatima over 100 years ago, words that give hope in the midst of the clamour of wars. On March 25, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At Wednesday’s General Audience, he prayed intensely for peace: "Lord Jesus, who died in a mother’s arms in a bunker in Kharkiv, have mercy on us… Stop the hand of Cain!”  The meekness of prayer overcomes the arrogance of evil.{...continue reading...}

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POPE INVITES BISHOPS TO JOIN HIM IN CONSECRATION OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINEOn March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 

The Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be pronounced by the Pope on the afternoon of Friday 25 March in St Peter's Basilica. The act of consecration will be performed in communion with the local Churches throughout the world.

By Vatican News

In response to questions from journalists, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has confirmed, “Pope Francis has invited the bishops of the whole world, along with their priests, to join him in the prayer for peace and in the consecration and entrustment of Russia and of Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” {... read more...}

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EXPERTS RESPOND TO BIDEN: BIOLOGY AND THEOLOGY AGREE, HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTIONPhotomicrograph of a human zygote with two pronuclei, 20x magnification. | Vladimir Staykov/Shutterstock

By Joe Bukuras Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 4, 2022 / 11:08 am

After repeated, recent statements by U.S. President Joe Biden that he does not believe human life begins at the moment of conception, or characterizing such a belief as a matter of faith, scientists and doctors have pointed out that this belief can be arrived at through natural reason -science - alone.... {continue reading..}

Blessed Martyrs of Compiègne were guillotined for their faith on July 17, 1794. | Photo illustration.

By Kelsey Wicks. - Denver Newsroom, Feb 25, 2022 / 13:40 pm

Their voices sang out from the scaffold as they went to their death on July 17, 1794, during the Reign of Terror, the frightening period of the French Revolution which oversaw the execution of at least 17,000 people.

At the request of the bishops of France and the Order of Carmelites Discalced (OCD), Pope Francis agreed on Feb. 22 to open a special process known in the Catholic Church as “equipollent canonization” to raise the 16 Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne to the altars. {continue reading...}

WAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC: A THREAT TO HUMANITYUkraine: the bombardment of Kyiv  (ANSA)

The attack on Ukraine has begun. War in Europe in the 21st century seemed impossible. The risks of an escalation are unimaginable. Pope Francis calls us to counter the power of arms with the ‘weakness’ of prayer.

By Sergio Centofanti
There are some who couldn’t believe it: A war in Europe in the third millennium: it seemed improbable, almost impossible. Now, there are already many dead. There are fears of a bloodbath. The usual innocent, defenceless victims, who wanted nothing more than to live in peace with others, with everyone, even if they have a different flag. The powerful care nothing for the weak who are perishing. There are many cynical Herods about; the slaughter of the innocents has not stopped...  {continue reading...}

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UKRAINE CRISIS: POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR GLOBAL DAY OF FASTING FOR PEACE ON ASH WEDNESDAY

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Feb. 23, 2022. | Daniel Ibanez/CNA

By Courtney Mares. - Vatican City, Feb 23, 2022 / 03:07 am

Expressing great sadness at the worsening situation in Ukraine, Pope Francis asked world leaders on Wednesday to “make a serious examination of conscience before God.”

Speaking at his live-streamed general audience on Feb. 23, the pope called for people to fast for peace on March 2, Ash Wednesday, praying that “the Queen of Peace will preserve the world from the madness of war.” ...{continue reading}

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UKRAINE MAJOR ARCHBISHOP RESPONDS TO RUSSIAN INVASION: "THE LORD IS WITH US"

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, pictured at Vatican Radio, July 8, 2019. | Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

By Hannah Brockhaus. - Rome Newsroom, Feb 24, 2022 / 05:00 am

God is always on the side of the victims of unjust aggression, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said on Thursday, hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk supported Ukraine’s right to defend its independence as Russia attacked Ukrainian military targets on the morning of Feb. 24.

“It is our natural right and sacred duty to defend.... {continue reading}

 

Week of February 13 2022
The concept of chastity has fallen on hard times.

Several years ago, I was invited to speak to a group of students at a Catholic university. The invitation came with a request and a caveat. I was to speak on chastity, but ideally, I was to avoid using the word. The Dean of Theology, who had invited me, had appraised the situation this way: perhaps more than anything else, the students need a challenge to chastity, but they are so turned off by the word that if we mention it in the title, very few will show up.

His hunch was right on both scores: the need for chastity in their lives and their aversion to the word. That’s also true for our culture... {read more}

By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Feb 18, 2022 / 06:30 am

Pope Francis has advanced the sainthood cause of an Argentine cardinal who helped to organize the first World Youth Day celebrations.

The pope confirmed a decree on Feb. 18 declaring that Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio (1920-1998) lived a life of heroic virtue.

Pironio was a member of the Roman Curia for two decades. He was brought to Rome in 1975 by Pope Paul VI and participated in the conclaves that elected John Paul I and John Paul II in 1978.

Pope Francis, who was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he became pope, has said that Pironio was his friend when they both lived in Argentina. The future pope even heard Pironio’s confession at one point. {continue reading...}

By Hannah Brockhaus, Vatican City, Feb 6, 2022

When all your efforts feel futile and leave you disappointed and empty, Jesus wants to be close to you, Pope Francis said on Sunday.

In his public message on Feb. 6, the pope said: “Every day the boat of our life leaves the shores of our home to go out into the sea of daily activities; every day we try to ‘fish in deep water,’ to cultivate dreams, to carry out projects, to live love in our relationships.” {read more...}

By Anna Poce 29 January 2022

Twenty-three new priests were ordained on Friday in Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral, during a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, O.C.D.

He was accompanied in the celebration by Monsignor Fernando Reis, Chargé d'Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Korea, as well as Cardinal Andrew Yeom and the Archdiocese’s Auxiliary Bishops.

Live-streamed Mass

The Mass, which was attended in-person only by the parents of the new priests—in full compliance with the South Korean government's Covid-19 protocols—was streamed live on the diocesan channel, Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation TV, and on its YouTube channel... {read more...}

Who is Benedict XVI? Cardinal Filoni shares his testimony
By Cardinal Fernando Filoni

Vatican City, Jan 28, 2022 / 14:00 pm

Who is Benedict XVI? This is the question that has emerged in the minds of many in recent days; days of great suffering for him and for the Church.

At the beginning of his pontificate in 2005, he wanted to say that he saw himself as a humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord, thinking of the parable found in the Gospel of Matthew (21:33-43). In that parable, Jesus criticized the behavior of those who, by their infidelity, ruined the vineyard planted with sacrifice and devotion. In that vineyard, loved by God, the owner had sent workers to ensure it was well cultivated. It belonged to him and the workers should have taken care of it and not taken possession of it.{continue reading}

St. Irenaeus of Lyon. | Wolfymoza via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Jan 21, 2022 / 04:50 am

Pope Francis on Friday officially declared St. Irenaeus of Lyon as the 37th Doctor of the Church, with the title “Doctor Unitatis” (“Doctor of Unity”).

“May the doctrine of such a great Master encourage more and more the path of all the Lord's disciples towards full communion,” the pope wrote in a decree signed on Jan. 21.

The pope signed the decree mid-way through the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, taking place on Jan. 18-25. {continue reading...}

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Jan. 19, 2021. | Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Jan 19, 2022 / 05:10 am

Pope Francis has encouraged people to encounter God’s mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, with a reminder that the tender forgiveness of God is greater than the “ugliest” sin.

“God is not afraid of our sins, he is greater than our sins,” the pope said in his general audience on Jan. 19.

“God always forgives: put this in your head and heart. God always forgives. We are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness. But he always forgives, even the ugliest things,” he said in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Speaking about God’s tenderness and mercy, Pope Francis said that the “things of God always reach us through the mediation of human experiences.” {continue reading...}

Jesus affirms the truth that we have guardian angels: See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father (Mat 18:10). On the Feast of the Guardian Angels, we consider the beautiful truth that God assigns each of us an angel to have special care for us; it is a sign of His very specific love for each of us as an individual. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has much to say on angels. Here are just a few verses:

The whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels … In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God … From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God (CCC #s 334-336 selectae). (Continue reading...)